Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

A woman wearing a flower crown sat in the center of the float, like a flower fairy. When the float reached the center of the hall, the flower fairy did not bow. Instead, she picked up the flute with her delicate hands, and beautiful flute music rang out. The hall fell silent.

Lan Qingwu could only hear the concubines whispering to each other, fearing that there was another sister in the palace. The New Year's Eve royal banquet had always been the best occasion for court officials to present women to the emperor.

After the flower fairy finished her song, she gracefully saluted from the float. She turned out to be the daughter of the Vice Minister. Empress Dowager Li looked at the emperor's expression and saw nothing unusual. She asked the flower fairy, "What song did you play? It was so refreshing and pleasant."

The Flower Fairy said, "Your Majesty, we meet tonight."

Empress Dowager Li nodded and looked at Emperor Shenwu: "Meeting tonight, meeting on New Year's Eve, the name is good. What do you think of this song?"

All the concubines in the six palaces pricked up their ears to listen to the emperor's answer.

The Emperor Shenwu said, "I have heard the purest and most purest sound in this place. Nothing in the world can compare to it." He waved his hand, and the float withdrew. The Flower Fairy's face suddenly turned pale, but she dared not say anything more. She bowed and took her leave.

Empress Dowager Li frowned and whispered, "Emperor, are you dissatisfied with anything?"

Emperor Shenwu said: "Although you are performing, you didn't bow first, and after bowing you didn't get off the float. You act like a fairy in front of me. How can I be satisfied with such rudeness and lack of manners?" Even the weak were always polite to him, so why should others be an exception?

Empress Dowager Li thought about it and agreed, so she gave up.

The float retreated slowly, and the flower fairy on the float heard the emperor's words, and her face turned even paler.

After the banquet was halfway through, Lan Qingwu signaled to Ruping to go out for some fresh air, and Ruping helped Lan Qingwu out of the hall.

King Kang had been paying attention to the six palaces. He suddenly stood up and walked out of the palace.

Lan Qingwu walked around a bit, feeling less bored. He calculated the time and then led Ruping back to the palace. Ruping, with her sharp eyes, spotted Prince Kang standing in the middle of a small path, clearly waiting for someone. She hurriedly said, "Master, it's Prince Kang!"

Lan Qingwu couldn't help but frown and said directly: "Let's take a detour and go the other way." So they went around to the other side of the path not far from King Kang and walked into the palace.

Prince Kang stared at him blankly, trying to move. But after just two steps, a hand firmly pressed down on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Prince Ding looking at him gloomily: "Second brother, where are you going?"

King Kang pushed his hand away and said, "I've had too much to drink. I just came out to sober up."

Prince Ding looked at him coldly: "You want to die? Don't forget that your ban has not been lifted yet!"

King Kang was flustered for a moment: "What are you talking about? I...I just want to apologize."

Prince Ding said in a deep voice, "Not disturbing them is the best apology you can offer. Whatever you are thinking now, take it back immediately if you don't want to die!"

The banquet was drawing to a close, and everyone left the hall one after another. Lan Qingwu, remembering his appointment with Emperor Shenwu, quickened his pace and headed towards the Plum Garden.

Lady Wen had been keeping an eye on Lan Qingwu, and she slowly followed him.

Lan Qingwu stood beneath a plum tree, gazing up at the red plum blossoms dotting the branches, his eyes carefree. Lady Wen felt a pang of pain at the smile on Lan Qingwu's face. She slowly approached.

Lan Qingwu heard footsteps and said without turning back, "Ruping, you're back." But no one answered. She realized something was wrong and turned her head quickly, but someone still grabbed her wrist.

Lan Qingwu looked at his grabbed wrist and said, "What are you doing? Let me go." Considering her big belly, Lan Qingwu did not dare to struggle hard.

Wen Guiren said, "You are so leisurely and elegant, coming out in the middle of the night to admire the plum blossoms."

Lan Qingwu said: "Let go quickly, don't you care about your own child?" She looked at the palace maid behind Wen Guiren, who trembled and lowered her head quickly.

Noblewoman Wen said, "What should I be afraid of? We are alone here, you and I. If something were to happen to the dragon fetus, who would be held responsible? Who would His Majesty and the Queen Mother blame?"

Noblewoman Wen recalled what Concubine Qi had said that day, that her child was her greatest support and that this child could accomplish many things.

Lan Qingwu calmed himself down and said, "I'm waiting for someone here. His Majesty has an appointment with me here. You came uninvited, pregnant. Can't His Majesty see that you're using this to frame someone? You don't even care about your own child, so how can you expect others to have mercy on you? Don't wait until something happens to your child and then you'll regret it!"

Wen Guiren's expression changed, and she began to hesitate. Caiyun, who was standing behind her, was also frightened and hurriedly said, "My lady, think twice!"

After changing into his regular clothes, Emperor Shenwu quietly walked along the roadside, shrouded in crimson palace lanterns, towards the Plum Garden with Li Xiang. Not far from the large plum tree, Emperor Shenwu spotted three figures, two of whom stood facing each other. He paused, then quietly approached. His footsteps were so silent that the two women facing him didn't notice him until they had taken only a few steps.

Emperor Shenwu frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"

He walked over, took in the scene, reached out and grasped their wrists, separating them. Then he pulled Lan Qingwu behind him and asked, "Mr. Wen, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

Concubine Wen watched as Emperor Shenwu first held Concubine Yi's hand, steadying her before separating his own. Seeing Emperor Shenwu's protective gesture, tears welled up in her eyes. "Your Majesty, I am already very ill and should have returned to the palace to rest. It was Concubine Yi who said she had something to tell me, so I ignored the dragon fetus and came here in the middle of the night."

The Emperor Shenwu's expression was already icy. He turned to Lan Qingwu and said, "Go over there and wait for me."

Lan Qingwu walked away without saying a word.

Emperor Shenwu looked at Noble Lady Wen again and said, "I thought you were a smart person. You are so disregarding the imperial heir. Do you think I can let you do whatever you want for the sake of your unborn child?"

"Seventh Brother!" Noble Lady Wen cried, "How could I, a concubine, neglect my own child? This is my first child! And without asking any questions, could I condemn you right away?"

"If you cared about the heir in your womb, you wouldn't have gotten so close to someone and even held their hand. How could you be so unguarded? I know exactly who Noble Lady Yi is."

Concubine Wen said sadly, "Seventh Brother, we've known each other since childhood, why don't you believe me? I've lost my mind. I heard Concubine Yi say that you two met here..."

"Enough!" Emperor Shenwu growled, "Stop calling me that. Also, return to the palace now. Don't come out unless necessary. If the child is fine, he will be the heir to the throne of Dasheng. If anything goes wrong, you won't be the only one of my concubines who is pregnant!"

Noblewoman Wen murmured, "How can they be the same? How can the children of other concubines be the same as my own?"

Emperor Shenwu said coldly, "To me, there is no difference. You are merely the heir to the throne of Dasheng."

Wen Guiren's heart had never been so cold. "No difference? ... Your Majesty, what if it's her child?"