Seizing the throne, abolishing the adopted son, the imperial concubine rose to prominence

Gu Youning ignored Lu Cairen's aggressiveness and looked towards the stone table. Concubine Zheng was sitting on a cushioned stone bench, slowly adjusting the shawl in front of her. She didn't say anything, but she was clearly indulging Lu Cairen.

Gu Youning sneered in his heart. Even the patience of a noble lady from a top aristocratic family was limited by her failure to intercept the favor just once.

"Your Majesty, I have no intention of disrespecting you."

Gu Youning bowed and pleaded earnestly, but his feet showed no sign of obeying.

Concubine Zheng raised her cold eyes and glanced at Gu Youning, with a clear fire in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Gu is disrespectful to the mistress. You must punish her, otherwise there will be no rules in this palace."

Lu Cairen on the side said with hatred.

"I can help you, Madam."

Seeing that Lu Cairen wanted to slap her twice, Gu Youning wanted to laugh. No wonder Lu Cairen couldn't even see the emperor. She was even more stupid than Chen Yufei.

Gu Youning was two levels higher than her in rank and was also favored by the emperor, yet he actually wanted to embarrass her in public.

Concubine Zheng said nothing, but at this time, silence was a sign of agreement.

Lu Cairen walked towards Gu Youning step by step with a sinister smile on her plain face.

Gu Youning responded calmly with a clear gaze. If he wanted to teach her a lesson, it would depend on whether she had the ability to do so.

"Your Highness, please spare Sister Gu. I am willing to pick flowers for you."

Just as Lu Cairen raised her hand, Lin Yunv, who had been cowering like a quail behind Gu Youning, suddenly walked in front of her, knelt down on her knees, and pleaded for Gu Youning with a look of panic on her face.

"Get lost! Who the hell are you? Are you worthy enough to pick flowers for the queen?"

Lu Cairen took advantage of Concubine Zheng's power and even dared to teach Concubine Gu Youning a lesson. Not to mention a mere unfavored imperial concubine, she kicked her to the ground with just a kick.

But unexpectedly, Lin Yunv was very determined. After being kicked to the ground, she immediately turned around and hugged Lu Cairen's legs.

"If the Imperial Concubine and Sister Lu are angry, please punish me and spare Sister Gu."

These words really sound like the love between sisters.

But Gu Youning was not moved. She followed Lin Yunu's occasional glance and glanced behind the pavilion, her eyes slightly fixed.

Gu Youning, who had been fearless and indifferent just a moment ago, suddenly walked down from the pavilion and knelt heavily on the ground, her right knee touching the angular stones used for decoration beside the flowerbed. "I am a clumsy concubine and have disturbed the Royal Concubine's interest. I beg to kneel as punishment to appease the Royal Concubine's anger."

"Your Majesty, Concubine Gu has admitted her fault now. You must not be soft-hearted."

Lu Cairen said with a proud look on his face.

How could just kneeling be enough? She wanted to smack that foxy face.

"Gu Jieyu has only been in the palace for a few days, so the rules in the underground palace are a bit sparse. Lu Cairen has been with the emperor for many years and is older than me, so she will teach me a little bit."

"Yes, I obey your command."

As soon as Concubine Zheng opened her mouth, Concubine Lu couldn't help but agree.

"stop!"

But just as he raised his hand, a majestic and cold shout came from behind.

Concubine Zheng frowned and turned around, and saw the emperor in bright yellow formal clothes walking slowly towards her.

"Your Majesty."

Lu Cairen, who had failed to take action, bowed guiltily.

"Concubine, please pay your respects to the Emperor."

Gu Youning and Lin Yunv did not stand up, but knelt to pay their respects to the emperor.

"Excuse me, my lady."

Just as Concubine Zheng was about to help the palace maid to stand up, the emperor gently pushed her back.

"You two, stand up too."

Xiao Heng sat down next to Concubine Zheng and spoke to Gu Youning and the others.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

While Lin Yunv was still hesitating, Gu Youning had already happily stood up with the help of Tan Yin. However, because he stood up too quickly, his knees went weak. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and pulled himself up with the help of Tan Yin.

Noticing the emperor's gaze coming towards her, she immediately lowered her head.

Lin Yu-nu, on the other hand, seemed to have injured her legs and feet, and could only half lean on her maid. She wanted to look at the emperor, but seemed to be afraid to do so because of something.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Gu committed treason and offended the Imperial Concubine, so I am the one who punished her."

Lu Cairen said anxiously.

"Is that right?"

Xiao Heng just glanced at Lu Cairen indifferently, and his gentle eyes fell on the person beside him.

"Gu Jieyu may have been in the palace for too long, so her words are inevitably a bit impulsive. I just received a message from the Empress today, asking her to follow the rules of the harem."

Concubine Zheng's brows were furrowed just right, combining nobility and fragility, and her expression revealed a unique charm.

"However, Your Majesty is aware of my condition. Although I want to share your worries, I am ultimately unable to do so. For example, today, Concubine Lu got angry and I failed to persuade her."

How straightforward, how angry, Concubine Zheng's gentle words were all aimed at Gu Youning's weaknesses.

"What did Concubine Gu say?"

Xiao Heng looked up at the woman next to him who couldn't stop looking at his knees. His dragon eyes swept across the dark blood-stained stones under the woman's feet.

"It's my fault."

Gu Youning whispered while holding the handkerchief in his hand.

"Your Majesty, look, she has confessed her guilt. After all, she has been thrown into the palace for so many years, and she doesn't have any manners..."

Concubine Lu's excited words were stopped by Concubine Zheng.

"Lu Cairen, don't speak nonsense in front of the emperor."

There are reminders in the warning.

The order to let Gu Youning go to the temporary palace to recuperate was personally issued by Xiao Heng, who was the crown prince at the time. Lu Cairen's words just now were meant to belittle Gu Youning, but she also got the emperor involved.

Gu Youning felt that Concubine Zheng frowned a little too tightly this time.

"Since Lady Lu is so talkative, why not explain to me how Concubine Gu just angered the Imperial Concubine?"

"emperor……"

"I know you can't get angry, so I'll let Lu Cairen speak for you."

Xiao Heng gently held Concubine Zheng's hand and spoke softly.

Concubine Zheng could only smile calmly, and then secretly winked at Concubine Lu when the emperor looked away.

Seeing this, Lady Lu felt even more emboldened and spoke excitedly, "Your Majesty, you don't know that Concubine Gu, relying on her status as the eldest prince's biological mother and your favor, has become overbearing and has no regard for rank. The Imperial Concubine simply asked her to pick a branch of roses to wear as a hairpin, but she refused in every possible way."

"The Emperor and the Empress often teach the concubines to get along with each other in a respectful and friendly manner, but Concubine Gu is arrogant and conceited, and she contradicts her superiors."

Lu Cairen had not spoken to the emperor alone for a long time. When Xiao Heng asked her this time, she was so excited that she glared at Gu Youning with pride.

"The rose is gorgeous and elegant, and is indeed suitable for my beloved concubine's hairpin."

After hearing this, Xiao Heng turned to look at Concubine Zheng, smiled and nodded, his pair of auspicious phoenix eyes filled with intoxicating tenderness.

At least Concubine Zheng was drunk.

But she didn't remain intoxicated for long. The emperor's eyes were still tender, but he looked up at Lu Cairen and said, "I see that the rose in the middle of the flower garden is the most gorgeous and unparalleled. Go and pick it and wear it for the imperial concubine."

The emperor's gaze fell on the rose that Concubine Lu had asked for in order to make things difficult for Gu Youning.

"emperor……"

Lu Cairen called out blankly.