Reborn as a concubine's daughter and entering a noble family: Xie Lang, don't be too seduc

Is this asking her to... fake a pregnancy?!

After careful consideration, Hawthorne said, "Isn't this inappropriate?"

Even though Granny Guo only wanted her to make an appearance so that outsiders would guess that she was pregnant, not for her to say anything about being pregnant, if she didn't actually get pregnant in the future, outsiders naturally wouldn't blame her.

She can perfectly avoid this crisis.

They can then withdraw unscathed...

It sounds like a great idea, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that His Majesty and Consort Qi's invitation to Xie Lin to attend the "family banquet" was nothing more than an attempt to dispel rumors of discord among the people of Shengjing.

She used the excuse of being "pregnant" to avoid coming, even if it was just a pretense, to make people suspect that she was pregnant and therefore could not come as a matter of course.

But the truth will eventually come out. If His Majesty and Consort Qi know she is not pregnant but is pretending to be... her future days will not be easy. This plan may avoid immediate danger, but it is not a long-term solution.

The fact that Granny Guo was willing to take such a risky step for her made Huo Sanghua, who had just begun to dispel her suspicions about Granny Guo, become even more vigilant.

These words sounded like Granny Guo speaking from the bottom of her heart, giving her advice.

But there's a flaw...

Once someone discovers her weakness, it could be fatal.

As for whether this flawed plan was a trap deliberately set by Granny Guo, that's hard to say.

"Second Madam, rest assured, it's all up to you to decide. Since I am your dowry maid, in the eyes of outsiders, I am naturally one of your people. If anything happens to you, outsiders will naturally blame me, and I will not escape responsibility." Granny Guo bowed, speaking clearly and distinctly.

Sensing Hawthorne's doubts, he took the initiative to state his position, cleanly and decisively, without any hesitation.

At the same time, remain calm and explain things clearly one by one.

“Granny Guo,” Huo Sanghua said, having already figured things out, “tell me… what are His Majesty’s true feelings towards me?”

Upon hearing Huo Sanghua's question, Granny Guo was startled. She glanced at him briefly before immediately lowering her head.

"There are many women in the palace who are prettier than me. His Majesty... has repeatedly provoked me. What is your intention? If we're talking about affection, he once favored Consort Qi even more. Is it really because Consort Qi is getting old and he wants to find someone younger to replace her?" Huo Sanghua was not afraid and asked the question in front of Granny Guo.

After all, Granny Guo was a veteran who had served in the palace for many years. If she couldn't understand the situation in the palace today, then no one else could understand His Majesty's intentions.

Knowing her relationship with Consort Qi and Li Lang, Consort Qi, though not exactly kind to her, had at least given her food to eat, and she naturally remembered this kindness.

But His Majesty's repeated provocations clearly showed that he was interested in her, and she might not be able to fool him by pretending to be stupid.

If Consort Qi were to find out what His Majesty had done to her, it would not only damage the long-standing relationship between His Majesty and Consort Qi, but also undermine the years of nurturing kindness between Consort Qi and Huo Sanghua.

Not worth the candle.

Even if he wanted a woman younger than Consort Qi, it didn't necessarily have to be her.

Therefore, Hawthorne concluded that behind His Majesty's actions, besides a man's lust for beauty, there must be other intentions.

If she wants to get out of this mess unscathed, she has to...

Let's figure out His Majesty's true intentions.

"..." Granny Guo carefully observed Huo Sanghua's every reaction. She knew that Huo Sanghua always considered her to be Consort Qi's person, and therefore harbored resentment towards her. If she wanted to completely dispel Huo Sanghua's resentment, the only way was... "His Majesty's favor towards Consort Qi is not just about loving Consort Qi as a person."

"What do you mean?" Huo Sanghua did not understand Guo Mama's hint.

“Your Majesty has always had someone in your heart, and that person is not Consort Qi. The reason why Consort Qi has been favored to this day is entirely because she looks exactly like that person.” Granny Guo calmly explained the whole story. “If we’re talking about resemblance, General Huo’s wife is more similar, but unfortunately she was already married back then. Your Majesty had no choice but to settle for second best and get another one who looks like her. It’s good enough.”

Granny Guo said that later, when the Huo family suffered a disaster, Huo Sanghua was found in the ruins and sent back to the capital, barely alive.

His Majesty already felt guilty towards the Huo family and harbored a slight infatuation with General Huo's principal wife. Therefore, he entrusted Huo Sanghua, the orphaned daughter of the Huo family who was raised under the name of Madam Huo, to Consort Qi, who volunteered to raise her.

It was because Consort Qi was the elder sister of Madam Huo, and it was most appropriate for her to raise the illegitimate daughter of her own sister.

Consort Qi, knowing His Majesty's thoughts, offered to raise the orphaned girl under her deceased sister's name, thus relieving His Majesty's burden and naturally gaining more favor from him.

And so...

Consort Qi obtained the right to raise Huo Sanghua, but she did not treat Huo Sanghua well. Instead, she used the Emperor's debt to the Huo family to make up for it through Huo Sanghua, and frequently used Huo Sanghua to win over the Emperor.

"... ...Isn't Consort Qi favored because of herself?" Huo Sanghua had heard about this, but never doubted that it was true.

If the reason why Consort Qi was favored was not because of herself, nor because she gave birth to Li Lang.

Rather, it was because she looked remarkably like someone else, and under the guise of raising the orphaned daughter of the Huo family, she gained the Emperor's trust and acquired the power to assist the six palaces...

Who is that person?

"The former dynasty, Empress Wang." Without hesitation, Granny Guo uttered this name.

Whether it's Consort Qi or Madam Huo, they're merely benefiting from the influence of the former Empress Wang.

Huo Sanghua was an orphan raised by Consort Qi. His Majesty was not a particularly compassionate person. When the Huo family suffered misfortune, he turned a blind eye and only took in an orphan girl as a show for the officials. In private, he never cared about Huo Sanghua's upbringing and didn't even know what kind of life she was living in the palace.

Until one day, Hawthorne was to get married.

He suddenly saw Hawthorne as an adult, and was shocked to realize that the face...

They look just like people from the previous dynasty.

After Madam Huo's death, as Consort Qi gradually aged and lost her former beauty, there was someone who resembled that person even more than they did, and was even younger and more beautiful.

How could he not be tempted?

Therefore, they spare no expense in trying to gain even a small share.

Even more extreme, he attempted to forcibly take away the wife of a courtier, disregarding all propriety and shame, and snatched back Huo Sanghua, who was already the second wife of the Xie family, to his side.

"...There are some things that Consort Qi hasn't said, but it's not that she doesn't know. It's just that she can't confront His Majesty directly. But once the Second Madam makes a move, she'll immediately face difficulties from Consort Qi. She should know what to do." Granny Guo kindly reminded her, wondering if this misstep could lead to victory...

Hard to say.

But if you make just one wrong move, you'll immediately gain two enemies.

For Hawthorne, everything hinged on her single thought.

Huo Sanghua also knew that these words must be what Granny Guo really thought.

Consort Qi wouldn't dare to challenge His Majesty, but she could challenge Huo Sanghua. Even if someone wanted to save her, they would likely find it difficult to ask, even His Majesty...

Consort Qi turned a bad hand into a new and interesting one.

It was obviously directed at her.