Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Just as the two imperial guards were about to forcibly take Consort Chen Jinyan away, a loud voice drifted into the imperial study: "Wait a moment, I would like to speak with His Majesty about Consort Chen Jinyan." The two guards looked up and saw that it was Xiao Minghao, the Vice Minister of Revenue. This man was a newly favored minister of the Emperor and the son-in-law of the Left Chancellor. They dared not be presumptuous and quickly stood respectfully to the side.

Upon seeing that it was Xiao Minghao who had come uninvited, Liu Guangyu quickly announced loudly, "Xiao Minghao, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, requests an audience with Your Majesty!" When Emperor Huizong heard that it was Xiao Minghao who had come to plead for Consort Xian, his face immediately darkened, but he still uttered a single word to express his attitude: "Summon him!"

Xiao Minghao respectfully approached Emperor Huizong of Song, knelt down and performed the rites of a subject to the emperor, and then said to Emperor Huizong: "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of Consort Xian today, it was Consort Hui who conveyed a message to me, instructing me to come and advise Your Majesty to save Consort Xian's life."

"Why did Consort Hui ask me to protect Consort Xian, that poisonous woman? She bribed the disciples of the Imperial Observatory to change the fates of the imperial concubines, and her own sister was among those she plotted against, almost causing me to lose Consort Luo. What's the point of keeping such a poisonous woman alive if we don't cut off her head?" Emperor Huizong said through gritted teeth, pointing furiously at Consort Xian, who was sitting on the ground in a disheveled state.

"Your Majesty, it's not that Consort Hui is biased towards Consort Xian, but when Consort Xian was still a concubine, she promised Consort Hui that if she gave birth to a prince, he would be given to Consort Hui to raise. Now Consort Xian happens to be more than a month pregnant, so we beg Your Majesty to have mercy and spare her life." Xiao Minghao looked at Emperor Huizong and threw this explosive news into the imperial study.

The high-ranking officials and Ning Weizhi in the imperial study were all taken aback when they heard the news of Consort Xian's pregnancy, and Emperor Huizong frowned. Although he already had more than a dozen princes in his harem, she was still his own flesh and blood. He glanced at Consort Xian, his eyes revealing hesitation.

Consort Luo, Chen Jinhuan, was also shocked by the news brought by Xiao Minghao. She couldn't believe that Consort Xian would be so lucky as to become pregnant at this critical moment. Why didn't she say so herself earlier, and why did she have to wait for Xiao Minghao to say it for her? Thinking of this, Consort Luo walked to Consort Xian's side, stood in front of her, and questioned her condescendingly: "My dear sister, are you really pregnant with the imperial heir? Why didn't you say so earlier, and why did you have to wait for Lord Xiao to say it for you?"

"I don't know! This morning I felt nauseous and vomited. It was Consort Hui who had the imperial physician examine my pulse, but the physician didn't tell me anything at the time. He just whispered a few words to Consort Hui." Consort Xian looked at Chen Jinhuan with a blank expression.

When Chen Jinhuan saw that Consort Xian's eyes were unwavering as she spoke these words, as if she truly knew nothing of her pregnancy with the emperor's child, she was momentarily stunned and unsure how to respond. Fortunately, Du Shiniang reacted quickly, approaching Chen Jinhuan and tugging at her sleeve. She winked at her and whispered, "Consort Luo, since Consort Xian is pregnant with the emperor's child, why don't you be magnanimous and raise the prince she gives birth to in your own household?"

Du Shiniang's words were like a wake-up call for Chen Jinhuan. So what if Chen Jinyan had a dragon's child? It would only make her live for ten more months. It would make her dragon's child recognize her as its mother and let her experience what it means to be a bride for someone else. This would definitely infuriate her "good sister".

Thinking of this, Chen Jinhuan generously said to Emperor Huizong of Song, "Your Majesty, I cannot bear to harm the innocent imperial heir. I beg Your Majesty to let my sister give birth to the imperial heir before she dies. After that, I will definitely raise the child with Your Majesty in my sister's place."

Upon hearing Chen Jinhuan's words, Xiao Minghao's face immediately darkened. He quickly bowed to Emperor Huizong and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Xian promised Consort Hui first. How can Consort Luo suddenly appear and try to take the imperial heir from Consort Xian's womb? This is too unethical!"

Chen Jinhuan glared at Xiao Minghao, about to retort, when she heard Ning Weizhi speak to Emperor Huizong before she could, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe it is not unreasonable to spare Consort Xian's life until she gives birth to the imperial heir before executing her. However, I think it would be more appropriate for Consort Luo and Consort Xian to be raised by Consort Luo in the future, since they are blood relatives. On the other hand, Consort Hui already has three princesses, and she certainly does not have the time and energy to take care of a prince born to a disgraced consort."

Xiao Minghao wanted to say something to refute Ning Weizhi, but Gao Can also joined in the fun. He said loudly to Emperor Huizong, "I also agree with what Minister Ning said. Consort Luo is more suitable than Consort Hui to take care of the prince born to Consort Xian in the future."

Emperor Huizong glanced at Gao Can, then at Xiao Minghao, who looked sullen, and suddenly chuckled twice. He addressed the crowd, saying, "My dear ministers, especially Minister Xiao, it seems you've been far too idle lately, daring to meddle in the affairs of my harem. Whether Consort Xian is truly pregnant with the imperial heir hasn't even been verified yet, and you're already arguing about deciding the custody of the imperial heir for me?"

Gao Can, Ning Weizhi, and Xiao Minghao could easily discern the reproach in the Emperor's words. They immediately turned pale with fright and knelt before Emperor Huizong, pleading in unison, "Your Majesty, we know we were wrong and beg for your forgiveness!"

Emperor Huizong snorted softly and beckoned to Chen Jinhuan, who quickly returned to his side. The emperor embraced Chen Jinhuan, gazing fondly at her delicate, spring-flower-like face, and said softly, "Jin'er, I know you have suffered injustice for many years. I will never let the murderer who harmed you go unpunished. Regardless of whether Consort Xian is pregnant or not, she must atone with her death."

"Your Majesty, thank you for your sincerity towards Jin'er!" Chen Jinhuan said gratefully to Emperor Huizong with tears in her eyes.

Emperor Huizong gently pinched her delicate chin and whispered to her, "Jin'er, you and I will have imperial offspring in the future. Are you really willing to raise the imperial offspring in Consort Xian's womb? When that child grows up, if he knows about the grudges between you and Consort Xian, aren't you afraid that he will take revenge on you?"

"Your Majesty, I am not afraid. I will definitely raise my sister and the Emperor's child with all my heart. Please believe me!" Chen Jinhuan's words were sincere and frank, which made Emperor Huizong's heart tremble. He had always thought that Chen Jinhuan was a pure and lustful beauty and did not understand her personality. Now that he had spent time with her, he felt more and more that Consort Luo was not a weak concubine. This woman was kind-hearted, beautiful, and understanding. No wonder Ning Zhanyan, such a ruthless and cold-hearted man, fell in love with her and kept her in the Mingfu Cave for three years.

Upon realizing this, Emperor Huizong quickly composed himself and ordered Liu Guangyu to summon three imperial physicians to examine Consort Xian. After hearing Emperor Huizong's reprimand, Gao Can and the others dared not utter another word about the nurturing of the imperial heir in Consort Xian's womb.