Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Emperor Shenwu frowned and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

He sat down on the bed, gently stroking Lan Qingwu's beautiful face with his big hand. "The most beautiful scenery in my life is meeting you! Also, I know you are holding on to Concubine Bai because you are speaking up for those palace maids who died, but I have my own considerations. The saying that a prince who breaks the law is guilty of the same crime as a commoner has always been a way for superiors to restrain those below them. Do you really think there is absolute fairness in this world?"

Lan Qingwu lowered his eyes and said softly, "So Noble Bai is still alive!"

Emperor Shenwu shook his head: "I will compensate the families of those palace servants, and I will also punish Noble Lady Bai. I will handle this matter well. So be it!"

Don’t involve the Fourth Prince anymore. Lan Qingwu heard what Emperor Shenwu had not yet finished saying.

She raised her head and stared blankly at the Emperor Shenwu. The Emperor Shenwu said, "I know your temperament and character, but will others trust you? People in the palace will naturally think that you are suppressing the concubines with princes. I don't want you to suffer this."

Lan Qingwu had untied the sleeves of the Emperor Shenwu. The Emperor looked into those clear, beautiful eyes and sighed, "Wei Ruo Ruo's eyes can see through the good and evil in this world, but, Ruo Ruo, this is the palace! I can't just act based on good and evil, and I don't want these eyes to be tainted by anything else. Ruo Ruo, listen to me from now on! I'll handle these matters, and you just need to watch me!"

Emperor Shenwu gently embraced Lan Qingwu. At this moment, he couldn't bear to look at Lan Qingwu's eyes that might be disappointed and sad. "I'm going to the front hall. You should rest now!"

Emperor Shenwu loosened his arms and turned to leave the bedroom in the rear hall.

The weather is not cool yet, but it is already a turbulent autumn!

Just as Emperor Shenwu ordered his return to the palace that day, Empress Dowager Li fell ill again. Emperor Shenwu had no choice but to postpone his return date.

Concubine Jiang would stay in her palace and never go out unless she had nothing to do. The matter of her niece Jiang Yuxian had not been completely resolved, and the incidents of Du Feng and Concubine Bai had occurred. In order not to offend the emperor and empress, she would never leave the palace unless summoned.

That day, Concubine Wan arrived at Baifu Pavilion. Seeing Concubine Jiang's behavior, she laughed and said, "You're just trying to be a coward, staying in your palace all day and not coming out. You even refused to attend to the Empress Dowager when she was ill. Are you afraid that His Majesty will remember your niece again?"

Concubine Jiang glared at Concubine Wan unhappily. Over the years, the two of them had been getting along more and more like sisters who teased each other. When the three concubines were in power, Concubine Jiang could not even imagine that there would be such a situation between Concubine Wan and herself.

"My niece has been sent to a temple by my brother to cultivate her character. What happens next depends on the will of Your Majesty. The Empress Dowager has been unable to leave for the past two days, and I cannot leave without your permission. The Empress is not fully recovered yet, so I am sorry to trouble you and Concubine Yang and Concubine Liang for your concern."

Concubine Wan curled her lips slightly. "Concubine Yang isn't in good health either. How dare I tire her out? I'll just let her go back to the palace to rest after she's gone through the motions. I hope she doesn't get sick again! So much has happened in this palace lately!"

Imperial Concubine Jiang's expression darkened slightly. "Your Majesty and the Empress were planning to promote Bai Guiren to Noble Lady during the Mid-Autumn Festival, skipping two levels and becoming a Noble Concubine. Then, when the Fourth Prince gets married, she'll have both face and substance. What a pity!"

Concubine Wan's eyes showed disdain: "Who knew that Concubine Bai would be like this in her own palace! So many lives! She is really cruel. But - Sister Jiang, are you also a little suspicious? I'm afraid that the Queen will take action...?"

Concubine Jiang was stunned for a moment, then shook her head: "No!"

"Are you so sure?"

Imperial Concubine Jiang affirmed, "The Empress's character is clear-cut between good and evil. I actually hoped that the Empress would have these thoughts, but unfortunately..."

Imperial Concubine Jiang shook her head. "And what about our Majesty? Sister Wan Fei, what kind of person do you think His Majesty is?"

Concubine Wan was confused and asked, "Hasn't His Majesty always doted on the Empress?"

"Yes! You also said that His Majesty has always doted on the Empress. He is His Majesty! Our Majesty—he has a strong and overbearing personality. He will not allow things to get out of his control. Not even the Empress, who has always been favored by His Majesty, can make him change his mind. Is the Fourth Prince completely innocent in this matter? Anyone with a discerning eye can see that His Majesty has given up on pursuing the matter for the Fourth Prince. It's the Empress who refuses to give up!"

Concubine Wan asked, "Wouldn't the Empress anger His Majesty?"

Imperial Concubine Jiang hesitated and said, "I think it's okay. Have you forgotten that the Empress was injured a few days ago while protecting His Majesty? His Majesty himself would not be willing to be angry with the Empress!"

Concubine Wan thought of the Emperor and Empress running towards each other that day and couldn't help but sigh, "I never thought that His Majesty, with a heart as cold as ice, would see this day! To be honest, I think it's great that the Empress got angry at Concubine Bai. But the thought of Concubine Bai being promoted to the rank of Noble Concubine and joining us makes me sick to my stomach!"

Imperial Concubine Jiang said softly, "But it takes courage to go against His Majesty!"

She herself is a person who lacks courage. Who normal woman would go against her husband?

When Emperor Shenwu heard Li Xiang's report, Nanny Li invited him to go to Quanhe Pavilion again.

Empress Dowager Li's illness was not sudden. When she asked the imperial physician, he said that her body was weakened and she needed to rest well, not get angry, and stay calm and take good care of herself.

Emperor Shenwu frowned, his heart flaring with anger at these repetitive words. He knew his mother must be grieving over another son, causing her to become ill. Prince An hadn't done anything out of the ordinary lately, meaning he hadn't found another virtuous wife. But there was one matter that couldn't be rushed: the abandoned Prince Zhou Qihuai! Thinking of this, Emperor Shenwu felt a pang of melancholy.

However, Emperor Shenwu still visited Empress Dowager Li at Quanhe Pavilion every day. On this day, Emperor Shenwu went to Quanhe Pavilion to visit as usual, and Empress Dowager Li finally couldn't bear it anymore.

Empress Dowager Li leaned against the head of the bed. After Concubine Liang fed her the medicine, she waved her hand and asked everyone in the hall to leave.

After consulting the imperial physician, Emperor Shenwu could only ask the palace servants to serve Empress Dowager Li with all their heart and soul.

Seeing Empress Dowager Li's expression, Emperor Shenwu remained calm and just waited for Empress Dowager Li to speak.

Empress Dowager Li hesitated for a long time before finally speaking: "Your Majesty, I called you here today because I want to discuss something with you."

The Emperor Shenwu's expression remained unchanged. "Tell me! I want to hear what it is."

Empress Dowager Li coughed softly a few more times. "I've been sick these past few days because I've been having a nightmare. Your Fifth Brother has been begging me! Please save him! Something must have happened to him. Your Majesty, I'd like you to make an exception and let me go to the prison to visit your Fifth Brother!"