“What did he ask you?” Jing Guifei’s voice trembled slightly.
She had almost forgotten that the Emperor’s Black-Clothed Shadow Guards were everywhere – not just guarding Taiji Hall, but also patrolling throughout the imperial harem.
“He asked me…” Liu Chan’s eyes reddened instantly, “He asked if I had climbed into his bed on my own accord. But sister, I truly don’t know what happened that day. I don’t even know how I ended up in that room…”
As she spoke, she began to cry.
Jing Guifei exchanged a worried glance with Chun’er, who immediately stepped forward to comfort her. “Don’t be afraid, Miss Liu. Her Highness has already sent the maid who helped you into the room yesterday to the Laundering Room. That maid was new to our Weiyang Palace and actually committed such a foolish act.”
Liu Chan nodded with red-rimmed eyes, then added quietly, “The Emperor also asked…”
She deliberately drew out her words, watching as Jing Guifei grew more tense. Only after the consort had swallowed several times did she continue unhurriedly.
“The Emperor asked if it was your doing!”
“What did you say?!” Jing Guifei’s eyes widened, her voice cracking slightly.
Fortunately, Chun’er nearby coughed twice, calming Jing Guifei down, though the anxiety on her face remained unmistakable.
Finally, Liu Chan spoke.
“I told him that sister loves the Emperor most dearly and would never do such a thing.”
Jing Guifei composed herself, managing to force a faint smile. “Good Chan’er, you’ve suffered injustice because of this matter. It’s all my fault.”
Liu Chan shook her head. “I told the Emperor how well you treat me, and he said nothing more.”
The room fell into silence for a long moment.
Jing Guifei forced another nod and smile. She couldn’t quite set her mind at ease – previously she had only schemed against other consorts competing for favor, but this was her first time plotting against the Emperor herself.
After some thought, she gritted her teeth and said, “Chan’er, you’ve been in the palace for some time now. Why don’t I have someone escort you back tomorrow morning?”
She regretted not sending Liu Chan out of the palace immediately after last night’s failed scheme, rather than letting the Emperor take her away now.
Perhaps if she left the palace, the Emperor would simply treat it as a misunderstanding.
Liu Chan looked at her and said softly, “Sister, if I leave tomorrow right after the Emperor questioned me tonight, wouldn’t that make him suspicious?”
Jing Guifei froze again.
Chun’er nearby quickly nodded in agreement. What if the Emperor thought Weiyang Palace was acting out of guilt?
“The Empress Dowager’s Birthday is in three days…” Liu Chan pondered. “Why don’t you openly present me before the Empress Dowager in three days, then send me out of the palace? Then the Emperor probably wouldn’t suspect anything, right?”
“Good Chan’er, then stay in the palace with me for three more days.” Jing Guifei forced a smile. “In two days I’ll have someone see you out. You should…”
She wanted to tell her to stay out of sight in Weiyang Palace, but then reconsidered – hiding would also appear suspicious.
After all, the entire palace knew she had brought a younger sister from home to keep her company.
And the matter hadn’t become public knowledge yet.
None of the harem knew what had happened in Weiyang Palace. If they tried to hide Liu Chan, people would inevitably grow suspicious. If nothing else, that woman in Yanxi Palace…
“You should go rest now.” Jing Guifei suppressed the unease rising in her heart and spoke softly.
Liu Chan curtsied and withdrew.
The Jing Guifei behind her stared fixedly at her retreating figure, her heart in turmoil.
Chun’er beside her immediately sensed her mistress’s unsettled mood and stepped forward to console her, “His Majesty has always doted on you, my lady. He would never suspect you. If it comes to it, we can simply shift the blame onto Liu Chan.”
“If His Majesty has questioned her, he likely suspects me as well. Shifting the blame may not be so easy,” Jing Guifei sighed.
She turned and sat down, lowering her gaze to her exquisitely maintained, fair and soft hands. They bore no adornments, not even nails an inch long, let alone ornate nail guards.
A noble consort who should have been dignified and luxurious, yet she dressed so plainly every day, all because the Emperor disliked excessive adornment—he even disapproved of her wearing makeup.
Now twenty-five years old, how many more years could this plain appearance sustain his favor?
Xiao Lin treated her well, sending a steady stream of novelties to Weiyang Palace.
But in truth, she always felt that Xiao Lin’s regard for her… was as if he were seeing someone else through her.
Chun’er thought for a moment and whispered, “Are you really going to send her out of the palace? The Empress Dowager hasn’t given you much time. Liu Chan at least bears some resemblance to you. If you send her away, it might be hard to find another like her.”
Jing Guifei shook her head with a bitter smile. “If I could conceive myself, why would I need to borrow another’s womb? Since she failed and even drew the Emperor’s attention, we’ll send her away for now. We can select someone else later.”
Everyone in the palace envied her great favor and good fortune—even the current Empress Dowager was her aunt.
Yet she never felt secure…
She wanted a child.
If she couldn’t bear one herself, she would have someone else do it for her.
With this thought, Jing Guifei’s resolve gradually solidified. If Liu Chan couldn’t succeed with the Emperor, she would simply bring in another common-born girl.
After all, the Empress Dowager had given her this opportunity!
The Empress Dowager had also secretly promised her that, no matter the means, if the child under her care carried the Liu family’s bloodline, she would help her ascend further—to the position of Empress, becoming Xiao Lin’s rightful wife.
In the future, when the prince ascended the throne, she would become the Empress Dowager who could sit in Cian Palace, chatting and laughing at will!
**
Liu Chan returned to her quarters.
Because Weiyang Palace was favored, the Di Long heating throughout the palace was exceptionally warm. Having just been in Jing Guifei’s presence, she was already drenched in sweat.
She removed the Large Fur Coat draped over her shoulders and tossed it carelessly onto the floor.
Time was running out for her.
Xiao Lin had lost his birth mother in childhood and struggled step by step in the palace, making him extremely distrustful of others. He hid his thoughts deeply and detested women who tried to climb into his bed.
In her past life, a palace maid who thought herself beautiful had attempted to seduce him under the guise of coincidence. Without a word, Xiao Lin had her dragged away and beaten to death—showing not an ounce of mercy.
Yet, the most justified way to remain in the palace was still to climb into Xiao Lin’s bed.
But unlike her past life, this time she needed to make Xiao Lin clearly understand that she was an innocent white lotus—that everything was Jing Guifei’s doing. If he wanted to resent anyone, it should be Jing Guifei, but he must take “responsibility” for her.
She intended to gradually erode Jing Guifei’s special place in the emperor’s heart, establishing herself as the one standing above all others beneath the sovereign in the palace.
Replacing the position of a deceased white moonlight was difficult, but… men were all the same.
From Xiao Lin’s genuine affection for Xu Jing’er, it wasn’t hard to see that beneath his cold-blooded exterior, he yearned for a woman who truly understood him.
Liu Chan wasn’t afraid of failing—what she had observed by Xiao Lin’s side would surely suffice!
Just then, a soft inquiry came from the doorway.
“Miss Liu, are you unable to sleep?”
Liu Chan instinctively glanced toward the tightly shut door, her eyes lighting up instantly. “Xiao Cui?”
“It is this servant.”