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

"Your Majesty is virtuous and benevolent to all the six palaces, and you are the mother of the country. The former and harems all praise your virtue, and even the Queen Mother dares not criticize you casually. You were born to be the master of the Central Palace."

Zhichun said hurriedly.

"There is no such thing as a born Empress Dowager. Even if there is, it wouldn't be me. It would be my second sister."

The Queen smiled upon hearing this, her unremarkable appearance unexpectedly possessing a chilling beauty.

If her second sister had not "coincidentally" fallen into the water, it would not have been her turn to marry into the Eastern Palace.

"I have earned my current position through my own hard work, so even if the heavens want to take it away, I will not allow it."

With a clang, the two halves of the jade comb in the queen's hand fell back to the ground, this time breaking into pieces.

Zhichun lowered his head, not daring to look at his master's face.

Ever since the emperor invited Concubine Gu to ride in the imperial carriage in front of his master, she always felt that his master exuded a terrifying and sinister aura.

"According to the palace servant who reported back, Eunuch He approached Concubine Gu regarding the eldest prince's expenses, saying it was the Emperor's order."

But Zhichun knew that silence was not a good option at this time.

"The Emperor is so concerned about the eldest prince. I'm afraid Fourth Miss Gu might not be able to succeed. If she fails, she will certainly die without regret, but your Majesty's previous efforts will be in vain."

"If she died like this, it would be too easy for her. Let us keep an eye on her from the secret agents in Ci'an Palace."

The queen's expression turned cold as she thought about what had happened during the day.

"So do you want to help?"

Tan Yin asked.

"No need. Our people must not get involved in anything that happens to the eldest prince."

It was not easy for her to train a few secret agents in Ci'an Palace. It was okay for her to clean up some mess for Gu Youxin, but it was not worth it if it would hurt manpower.

Even she was kept in the dark about Gu Youning's matter.

"Besides, it's not just his aunt Gu Youxin who has bad intentions towards the eldest prince, but also his younger brother Xiao Yunan."

The queen thought of the jealousy that Xiao Yun'an could not hide in his eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

Who says children are all innocent and cute? Children’s evil has no bottom line or scruples.

"The Emperor only has eyes for the First Prince, so it's no wonder the Second Prince is unhappy. If the Second Prince can't help but attack the First Prince first, Your Majesty won't have to worry about covering up for Fourth Miss Gu."

Zhichun also laughed.

……

Ci'an Palace.

Jing'anju, where Xiao Yunzheng lived, was only separated from Jingningju, where Xiao Yunan lived, by a corridor.

"They are all princes, look over there."

Two palace maids were standing at the door of Jingning Residence, whispering to each other.

"Don't be ridiculous. How can the Second Prince compare to the First Prince? Look at those people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They treat both princes the same way."

One of the palace maids sneered.

The two watched as a head of the eunuch department, wearing a green cotton robe with silver thread trim, was extremely respectful and attentive to Xian Yu.

"Don't look at it anymore. There's no comparison between princes, and there's no comparison between rooms. We have to clean Jingning Residence ourselves, otherwise we'll have nowhere to put all these things."

"Second prince!"

"What are you doing standing here?"

When the two maids turned around, they saw the small figure behind them. They were scared to death and became very angry.

"Thank you for your hard work, sisters."

Xiao Yun'an, who had originally had a gloomy face, suddenly smiled ingratiatingly, took out a golden melon seed from his arms and handed it over.

"Slave..."

"I thank the Second Prince for the reward."

A palace maid looked at the golden melon seeds in Xiao Yun'an's hand and showed joy, but before she could say anything, the golden melon seeds fell into the hands of another palace maid.

"I will go and make the bed for the Second Prince."

The palace maid who took the golden melon seeds ignored the other one's angry glare and walked into the house with a smug look on her face.

A scornful smile appeared on Xiao Yun'an's lips. They were all idiots, but sometimes idiots were more convenient to use.

Seeing Gu Youxin leading two palace maids towards Jing'an Residence not far away, Xiao Yun'an's smile became even brighter, but that smile on a child's face was a little scary. The palace maid next to him who didn't grab the golden melon seeds shuddered inexplicably.

"Is the eldest prince comfortable living here?"

In Jingning Residence, Gu Youxin personally took out the sweet-scented osmanthus lotus root powder cake from the food box and placed it in front of Xiao Yunzheng, saying lovingly, "Auntie heard that you love sweet cakes the most. Your mother used to keep you at bay in Changchun Palace, so you can eat without worry this time."

As Gu Youxin spoke, she reached out and picked up a piece from the plate and handed it to Xiao Yunzheng's mouth.

"Thank you, auntie, but Zheng'er has been feeling unwell lately and can't eat these cakes."

Xiao Yunzheng glanced at her with longing in his eyes, and shook his head firmly without waiting for Xian Yu to step forward to stop him.

"It's okay to eat a piece. This is a special gift from your royal grandmother. If you don't eat it, she will be sad."

Gu You looked up with a threatening look at Xian Yu, who was full of vigilance.

"Since it is the Queen Mother's reward, our eldest prince is not lucky enough to enjoy it now. Why not pass this blessing on to the fourth young lady?"

The sound of the strings was harsh, and Gu You was furious.

Xiao Yunzheng, who was sitting, glanced at the two palace maids behind Gu Youxin with his dark eyes. He frowned and said softly to Gu Youxin, "The Empress Dowager is kind and good-hearted. She probably won't be angry with me. Besides, I'll feel uncomfortable eating these cakes. How about I go with my aunt to apologize to the Empress Dowager?"

"The Queen Mother is kind and will not be angry with the eldest prince."

The Queen Mother doesn't care about these things, Gu Youxin said gritting her teeth.

“It’s a pity about these cakes.”

Gu Youxin asked the palace maid behind her to put the lotus root powder and osmanthus cake back into the food box. After a sigh, she smiled and coaxed Xiao Yunzheng, "Ci'an Palace is much larger than Changchun Palace where your mother lives. How about your aunt take you around to see it tomorrow?"

"Well, then Zheng'er is waiting for his aunt."

This time, Xiao Yunzheng happily agreed, and Xian Yu beside him couldn't stop him.

Upon hearing this, Gu Youxin happily took the palace maid away.

"Come here, take this lotus root powder and osmanthus cake to the Second Prince."

After leaving Jing'an Residence, Gu Youxin gave instructions to the palace maid behind him.

"If the eldest prince wants to eat some cakes, I will ask Xiao Shengzi to go to the Shangshi Bureau to get some."

Xian Yu saw that Xiao Yunzheng had been glancing at the lotus root powder and osmanthus cake, and said with a loving look on her face.

But Xiao Yunzheng shook his head.

Both my father and mother said that we should not let others cause trouble by taking advantage of our own preferences.

"Actually, the fourth lady wouldn't dare to have bad intentions when it comes to food..."

Xianyu knew how much her eldest prince loved pastries, and he was just a child under six years old.

"I know, but in case something happens, I promised my mother to protect myself first."

Xiao Yunzheng's chubby face was very serious, but after a moment, he curled his eyes at Xianyu, who looked distressed, and said, "Aunt Xianyu, please remember to ask mother to give all these cakes to Zheng'er when you get home."

"Okay, I will tell the master."

Xianyu laughed.

Jingning Residence.

"The eldest prince only gave the things he didn't want to our second prince. This fourth Miss Gu is too much."

The palace maid who got the golden melon seeds looked indignant for Xiao Yunan.

"The cakes here must be delicious. Let's try them together, Sister Haitang."

Xiao Yun'an seemed not to hear Haitang's complaint, but reached out and took a piece with joy in his eyes.

"I thank the Second Prince for the reward."

Haitang stopped complaining after hearing this and happily took a piece and put it in her mouth.

He Cairen was demoted and the Second Prince has always been out of favor, so they can't taste such exquisite and delicious pastries on a daily basis.

"Really delicious."

When Haitang picked up the second piece, Xiao Yun'an put the pastry in his hand into his mouth.

Although he didn't think Gu Youxin would be so bored as to attack him, he still had to try.

The sweet fragrance spread in his mouth, and Xiao Yun'an narrowed his eyes. He hadn't tasted such delicious pastries for a long time.

However, when the pastry was sent to him, it must have been the palace servants of Jing'an Residence who stopped his elder brother from eating it. But as a child, there is no child who doesn't like sweet things.

Xiao Yun'an looked at the remaining lotus root powder and osmanthus cake, and a calculation flashed in his eyes.