Quick Transmigration: The Charming Beauty Who Was Short-Lived and Alluring

The news of Consort Zhao's pregnancy was like a pebble thrown into water, causing ripples throughout the imperial court and the inner palace.

A favored concubine is not a threat, but a pregnant favored concubine becomes significantly more important. Not to mention, the Emperor has no children, so if Consort Zhao can give birth to a son, she will truly be honored as a mother.

Others thought that Consort Zhao's status was due to her son, but Luo Yingdian and others felt that it should be the son who gained status through his mother.

Although His Majesty values ​​the child, he clearly cares more about the Empress. Whenever he has time, he visits Luoying Palace to accompany her and is concerned about her daily meals. He pays less attention to the child.

This is understandable, as Qi Jingheng knew the child was fake and therefore couldn't develop genuine feelings for him. Compared to a fake child, Chu Yun was naturally more important.

To prevent anyone from noticing anything amiss, Chu Yun drank genuine pregnancy-preserving medicine every day. However, all medicines have some degree of toxicity, and Qi Jingheng was afraid that something might happen to her. He would tell her that she didn't have to drink it if she didn't want to, but Chu Yun didn't appreciate it and drank it all every time. Qi Jingheng watched from the side and felt like he was having difficulty breathing.

After taking her medicine that day, Chu Yun ordered the palace maids to leave, her bright eyes falling on Qi Jingheng, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Ah Yun, speak your mind," Qi Jingheng said gently.

Chu Yun immediately spoke up: "Does Your Majesty... dislike this child?"

Qi Jingheng froze for a moment, but he reacted quickly and denied it outright: "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I not like this child?"

This time, Chu Yun didn't let him get away with it so easily. "Your Majesty, please don't try to fool me. I can tell that Your Majesty doesn't like this child."

Her eyes were red at the corners and filled with tears, but she stared straight at Qi Jingheng with a stubborn look.

Qi Jingheng knew that Chu Yun was always sensitive. Although he tried his best to hide it, she still saw through his disguise. He could only sigh and say, "A-Yun, it's not that I don't like children, it's just that I'm a little scared."

"Afraid?" Chu Yun repeated hesitantly, not quite understanding what Qi Jingheng, as an emperor, had to be afraid of.

"Ah Yun, although I am the emperor, I am in an awkward situation. There are many things I cannot control. I do not know if I can protect you and the child." Qi Jingheng rarely showed a confused and vulnerable expression. It was seven parts fake and three parts real, which made people feel sad.

"Your Majesty." Chu Yun looked at him with concern, having long forgotten her questioning and feeling guilty for stirring up Qi Jingheng's bad memories. "It was Yun's fault. I shouldn't have let my mind wander and made Your Majesty feel troubled."

Qi Jingheng forced a smile, which made Chu Yun feel even more guilty. She buried her head in Qi Jingheng's shoulder and said, "It's my fault, Your Majesty. Please don't blame me."

Qi Jingheng knew he had gotten away with it this time, but his heart felt as bitter as if he had swallowed a bitter pill.

After this incident, Qi Jingheng became even more convincing in his acting, lying on Chu Yun's lower abdomen every day, ostensibly to be close to his unborn child.

He did this to put Chu Yun at ease, but as time went on, Qi Jingheng almost forgot that there was no child at all, that it was all a lie. He often felt that Chu Yun really was pregnant with their child.

For example, today, Chu Yun was more than two months pregnant. Qi Jingheng gently lay on her lower abdomen and belatedly realized that Chu Yun's waist was thicker than usual. Although the change was small, it had really happened. Not to mention that Chu Yun had vomited so much during the meal just now, which was clearly a symptom of morning sickness.

Qi Jingheng found it very strange, and using the excuse that he had important business to attend to, he left Luoying Palace and summoned Imperial Physician Luo.

"Let me ask you, is Consort Zhao truly not pregnant?" He lowered his voice, intentionally putting pressure on Imperial Physician Luo.

Physician Luo said solemnly, "Her Majesty is indeed not pregnant."

"Then why does Consort Zhao have symptoms of morning sickness?" Qi Jingheng pressed.

Physician Luo said, "The false pregnancy drug must have worked, causing some changes in the Empress's body."

"You told me that the false pregnancy pills would not harm Consort Zhao's health," Qi Jingheng wanted to hear his assurance again.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Her Majesty's health will be perfectly fine," Physician Luo replied.

"Alright, go down now. In a few days... you know what to do." Qi Jingheng said meaningfully.

Upon receiving the hint, Physician Luo immediately replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, everything is ready."

Qi Jingheng waved his hand, "You may leave."

After Physician Luo left, Qi Jingheng sat in his seat for a long time. He suddenly felt very tired. He would be able to achieve his goal in a few more days, but for some reason, he couldn't feel happy.

During this period, under the pretext of building the Star-Picking Tower for Chu Yun's unborn child, Qi Jingheng successfully recruited the talented people he had gathered over the years into the palace. He spent time with them every day discussing political affairs, hoping to break the predicament of the aristocratic families monopolizing the path to officialdom.

A few days later, the grand opening ceremony of the Star-Picking Tower was the most important step in the entire plan.

Qi Jingheng had waited too long for this day. The grand ambitions he had been looking forward to, and everything he wanted, seemed to be within reach. Yet, his heart remained uneasy, always feeling that something bad was about to happen.

Time would not stop for his worries, and Qi Jingheng would not abandon his plans for this vague feeling. The grand ceremony for the completion of the Star-Picking Tower arrived as scheduled.

Qi Jingheng wanted to build the Star-Picking Tower. Chu Yun tried to dissuade him several times, but knowing it was useless, she stopped trying. Now, standing on the top of the tower, she felt that looking down at the imperial city from above was truly awe-inspiring.

"Our imperial son will live here from now on; he was born to be among the clouds." In front of all the imperial concubines, Qi Jingheng spoke affectionately to Chu Yun. The profound meaning in his words shocked everyone. Consort Shu and Consort Xian looked embarrassed and exchanged glances, as if they had made up their minds.

Chu Yun looked at Qi Jingheng with a touched expression, knowing that he was deliberately trying to provoke her, and that there was bound to be a big show to be put on today.

Sure enough, with just a glance from Qi Jingheng, Eunuch Gao stepped forward with the imperial edict conferring the title of Consort Zhao upon Chu Yun.

In front of all the other concubines, Qi Jingheng bestowed upon Chu Yun the title of Consort Zhao. He was truly a man of talent, sparing no effort to make Consort Shu and Consort Xian hate Chu Yun.

"Your Majesty, I thank you." Chu Yun showed a look of surprise and delight, her tender and affectionate appearance constantly stimulating the nerves of Consort Shu and Consort Xian.

"Your Majesty, the banquet is about to begin. Consort Zhao, no, Consort Zhao is pregnant and must be tired. Please, Your Majesty, take your seats." Even the usually composed Consort Xian looked unwell. Before the child was even born, His Majesty had already elevated Chu Yun to the rank of Consort. If she were to give birth to a prince... the Empress's position would likely be within reach. Consort Xian had been scheming for years; how could she possibly accept that someone else would seize the Empress's position first? She suppressed the pain in her heart and forced a smile.

Needless to say, Consort Shu was in love with Qi Jingheng, but she had been unable to win his heart for many years. Seeing Qi Jingheng neglect her in every way while doting on Chu Yun, she felt as if a thousand ants were gnawing at her heart, and she was so distressed that she could not speak.