Marrying the Crown Prince

The person Zhou Zhou was looking at was Consort Shu.

The Imperial Concubine followed Zhou Zhou's gaze, then quickly looked back, a smug look on her face. "Crown Princess, did you see that? Besides me, even the kindest Consort Shu has come. Tell me, don't you think you've angered everyone?"

Indeed, most of Emperor Chenze's harem members came, but to say they were all there to force Zhou Zhou to do something was more like saying they came to watch the show and, incidentally, to make their presence known to Emperor Chenze.

Of course, if you can't do it in front of Emperor Chenze, then doing it in front of the Imperial Concubine is just as good.

After all, even a tiny bit of something leaking from between the fingers of a high-ranking concubine could be enough to feed and clothe her for a long time.

So, the concubines competed for the emperor's favor not because they loved him so much, nor entirely because of any power or anything like that; they simply treated it as a job, striving to climb the ranks—to get promoted and receive a raise.

The Imperial Concubine was talking too much, giving Zhou Zhou a headache. No... do you realize you're being used as a pawn?

She rolled her eyes at the Imperial Concubine, her obvious disgust written all over her face. "Yes, even the gentlest of the Consorts has been persuaded by you. Your trick is truly brilliant."

Imperial Concubine: "..."

It's clearly a compliment, but why does it sound so awkward? It doesn't sound like a compliment; it sounds like an insult.

Zhou Zhou ignored her and looked at Consort Shu, sighing softly with regret on her face. "Consort Shu, you shouldn't have gotten involved."

Consort Shu pretended not to understand and looked at Zhou Zhou with a guilty expression. "Crown Princess, I... I didn't know you were really here. I was just afraid that Consort Gui would act impulsively and disturb His Majesty's rest, so I made this special trip. I didn't mean to deliberately run into you and His Majesty..."

“Your Highness Consort Shu,” Zhou Zhou raised her voice, drowning out her teasing words, “your speech is so incoherent and unclear, it’s easy for people to have all sorts of wild guesses. Are you deliberately trying to ruin my reputation?”

"No, no, I didn't." Consort Shu hurriedly shook her head. "Your Highness, you've misunderstood. I'm here to help you."

Zhou Zhou suddenly realized, and her eyes lit up. "I see. Thank you, Consort Shu."

For some reason, seeing Zhou Zhou's expression, Consort Shu felt a bad premonition.

Zhou Zhou then continued, "Could you please help me pull the Imperial Concubine out of here, so that her loud voice doesn't disturb Father Emperor's rest?"

"Well, so you're the Consort Shu! I never knew you had such intentions!" The Imperial Concubine suddenly pointed her sword at Consort Shu.

It must be admitted that the Imperial Concubine was a double-edged sword; she was easily provoked and could easily turn her sword against others.

Born into nobility, she couldn't even be bothered to glance at Empress Chu, let alone the other concubines in the harem.

Thinking of this, the Imperial Concubine kicked her directly. The Consort Shu was kicked in the thigh and was in so much pain that she almost fell down. It was the concubine next to her who helped her up.

Zhou Zhou hadn't expected this to be such a good show, and couldn't help but sigh—the Imperial Concubine was indeed somewhat useful.

Wei Yi was extremely anxious and rushed over to persuade her, "Your Majesty, please stop making a fuss! Oh dear, what should we do?"

How to do?

The solution is naturally—

"What is it?" a faint voice came from behind the screen.

Everyone present fell silent. Zhou Zhou quickly faced the screen, bowed, and said, "Father."

Upon seeing this, the concubines also bowed in greeting.

"Cough, cough!" Emperor Chenze coughed twice, paused for a moment, and then continued, "Listen, the Imperial Concubine and the Consort Shu have both arrived?"

Upon hearing Emperor Chenze's voice, Consort Gui was the first to burst into tears, "Your Majesty, you must do justice for me!"

Seeing that she was the one who had falsely accused someone, Consort Shu also started to cry, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! It was Consort Gui who attacked me for no reason."

Emperor Chenze was so annoyed by the noise that his voice was filled with anger, "Shut up!"

"You two, you barged into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and I'm already being lenient by not punishing you. You still dare to come here crying and making a scene?"

Upon seeing that the person had lost their temper, the crying of the Imperial Concubine and the Consort Shu stopped abruptly, and neither dared to make another sound.

"Hmph!" Emperor Chenze was still furious and immediately ordered them to leave. "You've already barged into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, fought, and woken me up. Are you still going to cause trouble?"

The Imperial Concubine quickly shook her head, "Your Majesty, I will not make a fuss anymore."

After hearing her say that, Consort Shu could only reply, "It is my fault, I deserve to die. I haven't seen you for so long, and I was worried, which is why I broke the palace rules and barged in."

Upon hearing Consort Shu's words, Consort Gui suddenly remembered her original purpose for today. "Yes, Your Majesty, please see me."

"Yes, Your Majesty, please allow me to see you," Consort Shu pleaded.

Wei Yi hurriedly stood in front of the screen, "No, Your Majesty, His Majesty's illness is contagious. You absolutely must not go in."

"Then how could she be here?" The Imperial Concubine pointed at Zhou Zhou, her face full of indignation.

Zhou Zhou looked on with gratitude, saying, "Perhaps it was my filial piety that moved Heaven and the Bodhisattva that protected me and allowed me to escape unharmed."

Her shamelessness left even the Imperial Concubine dumbfounded.

"Alright, I need to rest now. You may all kneel and take your leave," Emperor Chenze's voice rang out again.

Zhou Zhou looked at the Imperial Concubine with a smug expression.

The Imperial Concubine gritted her teeth, wanting to say something more, but then heard Emperor Chenze say—

"Crown Princess, you may also leave."

Unexpectedly, such a joyous occasion occurred. Fearing that Emperor Chenze might change his mind, and also worried that Zhou Zhou might cause trouble again, the Imperial Concubine quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I will obey."

As she spoke, she took Zhou Zhou's hand and said, "Come, Your Highness, I'll go with you."

Zhou Zhou: "..."

This sudden display of affection is truly terrifying.

Seeing that the leader was about to leave, the other concubines who had come to join in the fun also turned around.

Consort Shu was somewhat disappointed, but not too disappointed, because the concubine standing next to her suddenly felt a pain in her calf and fell over.

The screen collapsed to the ground with a "thud" as she pressed down on it.

The scene behind the screen was revealed to everyone.

Emperor Chenze sat on the bed, leaning against the pillows, and swept his gaze over everyone, giving a cold laugh. "Zuo Jin, get in here!"

Everyone knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive us."

"The Imperial Concubine and the Noble Consort are spoiled and arrogant, acting arbitrarily and behaving inappropriately. As high-ranking concubines, they are unable to assist the Empress in managing the harem. Instead, they cause trouble everywhere and are constantly causing trouble. They are truly despicable!"

At this point, Emperor Chenze became too emotional and coughed heavily twice.

"emperor……"

Consort Gui looked up with concern, wanting to go forward and comfort him, but when she met Emperor Chenze's cold and disgusted gaze, her heart shattered.

"Issue the order: Consort Gui and Consort Shu, your salaries will be suspended for one year, and you will be required to copy the palace rules ten times. You are not to leave your palace without this order. You two will stay in your palace and reflect on your mistakes!"

"As for you, one or two of you, each of you will copy the palace rules twenty times."

Such punishment was only truly severe for Consort Gui and Consort Shu. Therefore, all the concubines quickly kowtowed to express their gratitude for the Emperor's grace, saying, "Your Majesty, we accept the decree."

"Zuo Jin, send them out, and then send someone to watch the palace gates of the Noble Consort and the Consort Shu, so that they don't come out and bother me again!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand." Zuo Jin received the order and looked at the Imperial Concubine and the Consort Shu. "Your Majesty, please."

"Wait a minute," Emperor Chenze called out to the person.

Consort Gui thought Emperor Chenze had changed his mind and turned around happily, only to hear him say—

"Zuo Jin, go and invite the Empress here."

"I want to see how she manages the harem and how she disciplines the concubines. It's utterly absurd!"

"Yes."