Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 123

Consort Jing immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

If Shen Lingjun hadn't found out, she would have been finished!

Consort Jing grabbed Shen Lingjun's hand in fear: "Lingjun, can I still keep this child?"

If it's already beyond saving, she'd rather not have the child; at least she wouldn't lose her life or bring disaster to her family!

Shen Lingjun asked, "How long has Your Highness been drinking this fruit tea?"

Consort Jing said, "I started drinking it just two or three days ago."

Shen Lingjun breathed a sigh of relief: "Then it shouldn't be a big problem. You need to eat this fruit for a long time to see results. As long as you stop now, your child's skin color won't be affected."

She then asked, "Where did this fruit tea come from?"

Consort Jing said, "These were sent by the Imperial Household Department. Many concubines use these fruit teas instead of tea when they are pregnant."

Shen Lingjun pondered for a moment. The fruit tea prepared by the Imperial Household Department was certainly not problematic, but it wouldn't be difficult for someone to secretly add something to it during its journey to Changxin Palace.

"Your Majesty, who do you think is most likely to harm you in this palace?"

Without hesitation, Consort Jing said in a deep voice, "It's either Empress Chu or Consort Yu."

Shen Lingjun had also heard about the situation of Empress Chu and Consort Yu.

Empress Chu and Consort Jing were about the same age. They only had one daughter, the Third Princess, and for some reason, she never conceived again.

If Empress Chu never has a legitimate son, the throne will inevitably fall to another prince. This would mean that the Chu family's glory and prestige might not continue.

Consort Yu has already given birth to the Sixth Prince, who is deeply loved by the Emperor. If no other prince is born, the Sixth Prince will be the only one who can inherit the throne.

Therefore, Empress Chu and Consort Yu not only fought fiercely against each other, but were also the people in the entire harem who least wanted to see other concubines get pregnant and give birth.

There have been several cases of concubines in the imperial harem miscarrying after becoming pregnant, and a prince has also died young. Of the three princes currently in the harem, one is crippled, another is mentally challenged, and the sixth prince almost drowned in the lake before being saved by Shen Lingjun.

The current state of the royal family's dwindling numbers is very likely the work of Empress Chu and Consort Yu.

Shen Lingjun said, "Your Majesty, please don't make a fuss. Just pretend you don't know anything. Pretend to drink the fruit tea that the Imperial Household Department sent, and let them continue to send it. Keep the items as evidence. Once your child is safely delivered, you can settle accounts with them when the time is right."

Consort Jing nodded, understanding Shen Lingjun's meaning.

The Chu family held absolute power in Bei Yi, and Empress Chu's position in the harem was as secure as a rock. Consort Yu, on the other hand, was the emperor's most favored concubine.

The fact that royal offspring have been so cruelly persecuted over the years, yet the mastermind behind it has never been uncovered, speaks volumes about the perpetrator's ruthlessness.

The sixth prince's fall into the water was most likely caused by Empress Chu, but the investigation ultimately failed to uncover the truth, with only a few insignificant palace maids and eunuchs taking the blame.

If we make a scene now, it will most likely fizzle out and nothing will come of it.

It would be better to let the other party feel that they have succeeded and no longer need to worry about Consort Jing, so that they can at least give birth to the child in a more stable manner.

Shen Lingjun then thoroughly inspected Consort Jing's Changxin Palace, inside and out, to ensure that no one had tampered with it.

When she was preparing to leave the palace and return home, the emperor came to visit Consort Jing.