Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Upon hearing Chen Jinhuan's words, Emperor Huizong's face flushed red. He couldn't help but wonder whether the child in Consort Xian's belly was a royal heir or an illegitimate one, because he vaguely remembered that the last time he had favored Consort Xian was when he couldn't find Chen Jinhuan and was drowning his sorrows in alcohol, which allowed Consort Xian to seduce him. He hadn't favored this woman before or after that night.

Thinking of this, Emperor Huizong quickly calmed himself down, took Chen Jinhuan's hand, and said gently to her, "Consort Luo, don't worry! Even if Consort Xian is truly pregnant with the imperial child, I don't necessarily have to keep this child. Would I want a child born to a disgraced consort? Besides, you will also give birth to a prince or princess for me in the future, don't you agree?"

These words were less to appease Chen Jinhuan and more to comfort himself. Chen Jinhuan saw through Emperor Huizong's suspicions and emotions at a glance but dared not say it out loud. He simply nodded obediently to the emperor, his eyes moist, as if he was moved by the emperor.

At this moment, Xiao Minghao, who was still in shock and dared not utter a sound, finally slowly raised his eyes and came to his senses. He had just watched as Consort Xian was accused by Chen Ge and then forcibly escorted away by the imperial guards. He knew that someone was determined to kill Consort Xian today, and he dared not speak again for fear of getting into trouble. Later, when he heard Chen Jinhuan deliberately inducing the Emperor to say that Consort Xian might be carrying a bastard child, he dared not mention asking the Emperor to keep the imperial child in Consort Xian's womb.

As the emperor said, who cares about the imperial offspring born to a disgraced concubine? It was Consort Hui—his wife's elder sister—who was so foolish. This virtuous consort was merely an ordinary pawn in the harem; now that she's gone, so be it. What difficulty is there in finding another concubine to act as a surrogate?

Xiao Minghao himself had done things like abandoning his wife and children before, but how could Consort Xian compare to Zou Xiaoyan? His Xiaoyanzi had been devoted to him and had even borne him a lovely son. In the end, he had been blinded by power and had no choice but to abandon them. No! He had to find a way to win his Xiaoyanzi back. Thinking of this, Xiao Minghao secretly glanced at Gao Can, a defiant look on his face.

Gao Can sensed Xiao Minghao's hostility, assuming the man was angry with him for failing to protect Consort Xian. He curled his lip, revealing a disdainful expression, but his mind was filled with the scenes of his passionate encounter with Zou Xiaoyan at Tingyu Pavilion the previous day, which suppressed his displeasure. He couldn't understand how Xiao Minghao could be so heartless as to abandon a gentle and affectionate woman like Zou Xiaoyan; he had wanted to hold her day and night, to be inseparable from her.

"Lord Gao, Consort Xian has become the scapegoat. You must plead for Zhang Ruowen one more time." Du Shiniang secretly approached Gao Can and urged him in a low voice. Du Shiniang had actually gotten along well with Zhang Ruowen. Zhang Ruowen was a skilled doctor and a kind person. Everyone in Zixiang Pavilion, whether maids or guards, respected Zhang Ruowen.

When Du Shiniang learned that Zhang Ruowen was the Wolf King's adopted son and a Jin spy infiltrating the Zixiang Pavilion, she initially doubted the veracity of the information. It wasn't until the Wolf King suddenly stormed into the Zixiang Pavilion to stop Zhang Ruowen from rescuing Du Rushuang that she believed Zhang Ruowen's true identity. Later, to save Lin Chong, she didn't hesitate to use Zhang Ruowen as a means of exchange, which led to a falling out with Du Rushuang. These past few days, Du Shiniang felt guilty whenever she thought of Du Rushuang, as she had cherished her like a younger sister.

Now that Gao Can and others have a way to save Zhang Ruowen, she naturally wants to save him as well. However, she knows that she is of low status and her words carry little weight. Zhou Chengquan cannot directly plead for him. Gao Can is deeply trusted by Emperor Huizong of Song, so she still has to rely on him.

The high-ranking official glanced at Du Shiniang, noticing her anxious expression. He knew he had to strike while the iron was hot. Now that Consort Xian had become the scapegoat, persuading the Emperor to release Zhang Ruowen shouldn't be difficult. Therefore, he quickly stepped forward and addressed Emperor Huizong: "Your Majesty, now that the assassination of the Jin envoy has yielded results, shouldn't it be appropriate for Du Shiniang to request the release of the physician Zhang Ruowen, who was wrongly arrested earlier…?"

Before Gao Can could finish speaking, Chen Jinhuan, who was beside Emperor Huizong, suddenly collapsed into the emperor's arms as if she had no bones. He immediately shut his mouth. Emperor Huizong quickly embraced the beauty in his arms and asked with concern, "Consort Luo, what's wrong?"

"Your Majesty, my headache has flared up again, and only Physician Zhang Ruowen can cure it... Back in the Zixiang Pavilion, it was always... Ouch! It hurts so much!" Chen Jinhuan could barely speak properly as she leaned against Emperor Huizong's chest, clutching her head with both hands, her face pale as she cried out in pain.

Emperor Huizong was heartbroken. He waved his hand dismissively, ignoring Gao Can, and glared at Ning Weizhi. He then ordered Ning Weizhi, "Lord Ning, hurry up and bring Zhang Ruowen out of the Dali Temple prison. Tell him to come to the palace immediately to treat my beloved concubine's headache!"

“But Zhang Ruowen is a prisoner. Is it inappropriate to let him treat the Empress’s headaches because of his status?” Ning Weizhi, undeterred by the Emperor’s imposing presence, raised her question.

"I order you to release Zhang Ruowen immediately! If you continue to talk nonsense and delay the treatment of Consort Luo, I will cut off your head!" Emperor Huizong of Song hugged Chen Jinhuan tightly and roared at Ning Weizhi in a clearly displeased and threatening tone.

Seeing the emperor's anger, Ning Weizhi quickly turned and left. Emperor Huizong, seeing Chen Jinhuan constantly complaining of a headache in his arms, felt as if his heart was being stabbed repeatedly. He immediately scooped up the beauty in his arms, ignoring the astonished gazes of his ministers, and hurriedly carried Chen Jinhuan out of the imperial study. Seeing this, Liu Guangyu coughed lightly and then called out, "Your Majesty pays respects at Qixia Palace! Gentlemen, please return."

As Gao Can, Zhou Chengquan, and the others watched Emperor Huizong carry Consort Luo away, Xiao Minghao couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark to Gao Can: "Lord Gao, judging from His Majesty's tense appearance just now, it seems your sworn sister—Consort Luo—is about to be promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine. She's very fortunate! I'm sure that you and your son will be increasingly favored by His Majesty in the future!"

Gao Can snorted twice, not even glancing at Xiao Minghao before turning his sleeves and leaving. He thought to himself that although Consort Luo was more intelligent and a hundred times more beautiful than Consort Xian, she was not a docile and obedient pushover. She might stab them in the back one day. If it weren't for Consort Xian's sudden betrayal, he would never have chosen to let Chen Jinhuan enter the palace.

However, Gao Can was genuinely surprised that Chen Jinhuan had only feigned a headache and used a bit of coquetry to persuade the emperor to release Zhang Ruowen. He hadn't expected Emperor Huizong to be so fond of Chen Jinhuan, to the point of disregarding the pressure from the Jin state and the opinions of his ministers. It seemed he would have to be more polite to Chen Jinhuan in the future and try to get her to cooperate with his plans and actions in the harem.

Unlike Gao Can's surprise, the man disguised as Chen Ge, the commander of the Imperial Guards, watched Emperor Huizong carry Chen Jinhuan away, his eyes filled with jealousy and resentment. Ning Zhanyan knew that Chen Jinhuan had been feigning a headache to save Zhang Ruowen, but he simply couldn't bear to see Emperor Huizong carrying her. The thought of his beloved woman having to force a smile for another man, to please another man, made Ning Zhanyan want to kill that man with a single sword stroke, regardless of whether he was an emperor or a mere mortal.

Gao Can glanced at Ning Zhanyan, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot, standing behind the door of the Imperial Study. He gently patted Ning's shoulder and said sarcastically, "Commander Chen, no! Lord Ning, how does it feel to watch your beloved woman fall into the arms of another?"

Ning Zhanyan glared at Gao Can, touched the scabbard of his sword at his waist, and spoke with a threatening and angry tone, but only uttered six short and powerful words: "Shut up if you don't want to die!"