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

Chapter 277

The Imperial Palace, in Empress Chu's palace.

The once magnificent and prosperous central palace is no more; it is now deserted and desolate, exuding a lonely and oppressive atmosphere.

Empress Chu has been under house arrest by the emperor for several months now.

She had tried everything she could to soften the emperor's attitude towards her, and it seemed there was hope that he would agree to lift her confinement.

As a result, the Shen family was found not guilty, and the emperor became suspicious of the Chu family. He suddenly stopped mentioning lifting Empress Chu's confinement, and the day she regained her freedom became indefinitely postponed.

Even when her father, the Duke of Changguo, came to the palace to see her, it used to be a privilege that didn't even require an announcement, but now it was an opportunity that she had to fight hard for.

At this moment, the father and daughter sat facing each other, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.

Empress Chu already knows about the Shen family's situation. The reinstatement of the Shen father and son to their original positions means that the Chu family's situation will become increasingly troublesome.

Empress Chu gritted her teeth in bitterness: "Father, what are we going to do now... I'm still confined to the palace, and the Emperor won't even come to see me; my second brother was defeated in battle and lost an arm; now the Emperor even suspects our entire Chu family..."

Duke Changguo said in a deep voice, "What can we do? The Chu family has stood for a hundred years and has weathered countless storms. Can't we overcome this little predicament?"

Empress Chu lowered her head and dared not speak again.

No matter the circumstances, the Duke of Changguo, as the head of the family, always stood firm like a pillar, supporting the entire clan.

Changguo changed the subject, asking sharply and directly, "Can your body regenerate?"

Empress Chu's face immediately turned red.

The Duke of Changguo had asked this question many times since she gave birth to a princess and then there had been no further news.

She refused to admit that she could no longer get pregnant. The imperial physicians had examined her countless times, but of course no one dared to assert that the Empress was infertile. They all vaguely said that her health was poor and she needed to recuperate, and that she would definitely be able to conceive again in the future.

But deep down, Empress Chu knew that she probably really couldn't have any more children.

Many of the other concubines were pregnant, which shows that the emperor had no problems. For so many years, the emperor would come to her palace on the first and fifteenth of each month. If she was healthy, how could she not get pregnant?

The Duke of Changguo said in a deep voice, “You are my only legitimate daughter, and I have given you so many years. But the situation of the Chu family is not what it used to be. We are in a life-or-death crisis. Even if you can give birth, the Emperor will no longer favor you, and the chances will only be slimmer than before. We can’t wait any longer.”

Empress Chu's face paled: "Father means..."

The Duke of Changguo said, "I have selected two eligible daughters from the collateral branches of the Chu family. They are both excellent in appearance and temperament, and I plan to have them enter the palace."

He originally didn't want the collateral branches of the Chu family to get involved, but now he really had no choice. Empress Chu couldn't have children, and although the direct line had other daughters, they were too young to enter the palace. He had no choice but to take this step.

Empress Chu's face paled even more: "Father..."

The Duke of Changguo pressed his hand down: "I don't mean to abandon you. How can the daughters of collateral branches be as noble as those of our direct line? Sending them into the palace is just to use them for you. Once they give birth to a prince, you will remove the mother and keep the child, raising him under your care. Although he is not as good as your own son, he is still of the Chu family bloodline."

Empress Chu finally understood what the Duke of Changguo meant, but before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the Duke of Changguo changed the subject again.

“You have your own things to do in the palace. Consort Jing has given birth to a prince, and the Shen family father and son have been reinstated. Even if we can give birth to a prince, he will be a few years younger. Consort Jing and the prince will become our biggest threat.”

Empress Chu was startled. Only after the Duke of Changguo mentioned it did she realize this.

The current Consort Jing has a brother-in-law who has been reinstated as the Marshal of Bei Yi. Consort Jing and the Wen sisters have a deep bond, and her maternal family background is undeniably strong.