At the Empress's evening banquet, all seven prince consorts were present.
Previously, there were only six, but now there was one more: Xu Bao'er.
The moment Xu Bao'er appeared, she stunned everyone. Indeed, the rumors that the Xu family's concubine-born daughter was as beautiful as a celestial fairy, capable of toppling nations, were not false.
For this evening's banquet, Xu Bao'er had specially dressed up in a grand fashion.
She wore a lotus-green gauze skirt with a lotus pattern and gold trim, looking dignified and elegant. A Lotus Forehead Mark was painted on her brow, with a single pearl dotted in its center, making her look radiant and captivating.
Merely sitting there, Xu Bao'er was like a lotus fairy descended to the mortal realm, her every glance stirring the heart.
[What a vixen.]
[Looking like that, I'm afraid she's going to suck Duan Wang dry.]
Hearing the Empress's thoughts, Xu Bao'er was overjoyed that the other woman was praising her so highly in her mind.
"Today, this palace has summoned you for no other reason than the matter of the imperial family's heirs."
The Empress surveyed the seven prince consorts, her voice quite stern.
"The Emperor has spoken with this palace many times about the issue of the imperial family's heirs."
"Speaking of which, Second Prince Consort, you and the Second Prince have been married the longest—eight years now, yet the Second Prince still has no children."
"Even the most recently married, the Seventh Prince Consort, has been wed for over two years."
At the mention of heirs, many of the prince consorts present lowered their heads.
It wasn't just the Emperor who was anxious about this matter; they were too. Only by giving birth to a prince could their positions be secured.
Over the years, because they couldn't produce a son, the Empress had stuffed countless women into their residences.
The prince consorts present were furious but dared not speak out.
The most terrifying part was that even after sending in so many women, not a single one of the seven married princes had fathered a child.
Could it be that Consort Jing's Curse had truly come to pass?
Before Duan Wang's mother, Consort Jing, died, she had cursed the Emperor to be without descendants and to be cast into the eighteen levels of hell after death, never to be redeemed.
The Emperor had initially paid it no mind, but he began to panic when his sons remained childless for years after their marriages.
If it was truly coming true, didn't that mean Consort Jing's final curse would also be fulfilled?
Urged on by the Emperor, the Empress was also in a difficult position. Childbirth was not something she could decide.
"If you are still unable to produce a single child, then your residences will inevitably have more women sent to them."
Hearing the Empress's words, the most displeased was Xu Yu'er.
As the Crown Princess, and with the Crown Prince being the Empress's own son, her residence had been stuffed with the most women among the seven prince consorts.
The Crown Prince was fickle, and his heart had long since strayed from her.
[This old hag. What's the use of sending so many women?]
[Since she can't win the Emperor's favor herself, she can't stand to see others live in peace.]
[So annoying, sending in vixens every day and causing chaos.]
[I'm so envious of Duanwang Fei. Not a single woman has been successfully sent to her residence.]
Listening to the other prince consorts' thoughts, Xu Bao'er found that this Mind-Reading was quite convenient for eavesdropping on gossip.
"Mother Empress, your subject supports you. The matter of imperial heirs is of great importance. Please select a few women from good families and send them to the Crown Prince's residence."
Though Xu Yu'er was cursing the Empress as a bitch countless times in her heart, her face was all smiles as she flattered the Empress.
With the Crown Princess taking the lead, the other consorts couldn't just watch; they had no choice but to chime in with their agreement.
[Not a single woman from the Xu family is any good. Each one is more disgusting than the last.]
[Is there something wrong with Xu Yu'er? Now that she's stated her position, I have to agree too.]
[I'm going to puke, looking at that pretentious act.]
Listening to the thoughts flooding in from all directions, Xu Bao'er was thoroughly entertained. This trip to the palace had not been in vain.
"Then, Duanwang Fei?"
Everyone had stated their position except for Xu Bao'er.
The Empress was clearly targeting Xu Bao'er this time. She had already sent people to the other residences, all except for the Duanwang Residence.
How could she plant her top spies without sending people in?
At this moment, Xu Yu'er was feeling very smug. She just couldn't stand to see Xu Bao'er doing well.
[You rejected me last time. Let's see if you can reject the Empress this time.]
[Dream on if you think you can monopolize his favor.]
Xu Bao'er heard Xu Yu'er's malicious thoughts but wasn't flustered in the slightest. With a flicker of her eyes, a plan formed in her mind.
It wouldn't be difficult to refuse the Empress.
"Thank you for your concern, Empress. My husband's matter is not something that can be solved by sending women from good families."
"The physician has already examined him. His Highness has been taking medicine all these years."
"His body is severely depleted and needs to be restored and strengthened. He cannot indulge in carnal pleasures."
As soon as Xu Bao'er said this, the entire hall fell silent.
Even the veteran actress, the Empress, couldn't remain composed, her lips twitching.
It's not something that can be solved by sending women from good families. Wasn't that just saying that Duan Wang was impotent?
Although many of the prince consorts present had suspected that the imperial men were the ones with the problem—otherwise, how could so many women fail to get pregnant—no one dared to say it out loud. They could only resign themselves to taking the blame.
But this Duanwang Fei was something else. She actually announced that Duan Wang was on medication in public.
That was just too bold.
Even the Seventh Prince Consort, who had been madly complaining about the Xu family women, now looked at Xu Bao'er with new respect.
To be so daring with her words, she was much better than her hypocritical sister.
A true villain was better than a hypocrite.
The Empress cleared her throat. "Then Duan Wang should still take good care of his health."
What else could she do when Xu Bao'er had put it like that?
If Duan Wang truly couldn't produce an heir, that was great news. There would be no need to even send a spy.
He would be fundamentally excluded from the possibility of inheriting the throne.
Hearing Xu Bao'er's words, Xu Yu'er also felt a sense of relief. Marrying a man who was impotent was no different from being a widow.
No wonder Duan Wang was so perverse, covering Xu Bao'er in bruises last time.
It was inevitable for a living eunuch to be a bit perverse.
Hearing the words "living eunuch," Xu Bao'er couldn't help but let out a laugh. She immediately covered her face, making it seem as if she were crying in sorrow.
"Master Jing'an said that for the prosperity of the imperial descendants, one prince consort is needed to pray for forty-nine days before the Ancestral Ritual Ceremony."
"Then let the Crown Princess set an example and pray for the prosperity of the imperial heirs."
The moment Xu Yu'er heard this, her face fell, though she managed to force a smile afterward.
This prayer ritual was an arduous task. It required kneeling before a Buddha statue to pray every day, as well as copying True Scriptures and maintaining a vegetarian diet.
If she was away from her residence for so many days, who knew how many new vixens would pop up.
Xu Yu'er cursed the Empress countless times in her heart, her thoughts quite foul.
Originally, the Empress had planned to send Xu Bao'er, but since Duan Wang was in such a state, asking his wife to do this would be tactless.
Fine, she would just send the Crown Princess. She couldn't let a woman from the Xu family give birth to the Crown Prince's legitimate eldest son.
At this moment, Zhou Jin also received the news: the person chosen for the prayer ritual was the Crown Princess.
How could this be? Zhou Jin spun the Jade Thumb Ring on his finger, not knowing where he had gone wrong.
He had arranged for Master Jing'an to mention this to the Empress precisely because he wanted Xu Bao'er to spend a few days chanting scriptures and eating vegetarian food to calm her mind.
The Empress's banquet this time was held specifically for Xu Bao'er. It was clear she had taken an interest in Xu Bao'er and wanted to probe further.
This prayer ritual was the perfect excuse.
How could the Empress not seize the opportunity? What on earth had gone wrong?
A few days later, when Zhou Jin learned the truth, he was so furious he nearly drew his sword to go and kill Xu Bao'er.
"Fourth Brother, this is the medicine I've been taking secretly. You should have some too."
Zhou Jin looked suspiciously at the Second Prince. He wasn't sick, so why would he need medicine?
Seeing Zhou Jin's reluctance to accept it, the Second Prince spoke again.
"Don't be embarrassed. None of us brothers can perform anyway. No one can laugh at anyone else."
Can't perform? Who can't perform?
"I never thought that you, Fourth Brother, who commands armies on the battlefield and has such a strong physique, would be so weak in essence."
Weak? Who's weak?
Zhou Jin's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. What kind of nonsense had his Second Imperial Brother been listening to?