After Shi Zhenxiang finished her report, she waited for Sheng Jinyan to let her rise. But after waiting for a long time, the guy hadn't said a single word, and the air fell silent.
Shi Zhenxiang's legs were sore. Just as she was about to speak up for herself, Sheng Jinyan suddenly asked, "Where is the Fifth Princess?"
Shi Zhenxiang....
Seriously? You were silent for all that time just to think about that?
Sheng Jinyan nodded. He had felt like something was missing just now.
After thinking for a while, he finally remembered that this woman had already given birth, and the child hadn't been brought back.
Shi Zhenxiang secretly rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking that this dead man was really infuriating enough to make someone fall over.
Her legs were about to go numb from kneeling, but he was thinking about the child.
It was Old Zhengzi who couldn't stand to watch anymore and quickly spoke up for her, "Your Majesty, the Empress is still kneeling."
Only then did Sheng Jinyan react, waving his sleeve, "Rise."
Shi Zhenxiang really wanted to jump up and give him a big slap.
Her mother's legs were numb from kneeling before he told her to rise.
But on the surface, she still had to grit her teeth and thank him, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
She cursed inwardly, hoping this dog emperor would leave quickly. But instead, he stood there without moving, waiting for a long time before saying, "The Fifth Child should also be given a name."
Shi Zhenxiang sneered, "Then I'll trouble Your Majesty to bestow a name."
Sheng Jinyan fell silent again.
Finally, after waiting for a long time.
He finally spoke, but what he said was, "Let me think it over carefully when I have free time."
Shi Zhenxiang nearly stumbled.
So all that thinking just now meant he hadn't been thinking at all?
Shi Zhenxiang was truly speechless.
Thankfully, the dog emperor finally left.
Shi Zhenxiang silently cursed at his back.
But unexpectedly, Sheng Jinyan suddenly sensed something and turned around.
Shi Zhenxiang barely managed to rein in her expression, hurriedly bowing her head as if seeing him off.
Sheng Jinyan didn't expect that she had been watching him leave the whole time. It seemed that Noble Consort Shi truly had deep feelings for him.
In a good mood, he raised the corner of his mouth and said to Old Zhengzi, "What do you think? Next month, will Noble Consort Shi really be able to conceive a prince?"
Old Zhengzi was astonished.
He hadn't expected the Emperor to actually be considering sharing a room with Noble Consort Shi next month.
After all, when the Empress came to beg, the Emperor refused.
But with just one sentence from Noble Consort Shi, the Emperor agreed?
Could it be out of respect for the Empress Dowager's face?
Yet the Empress Dowager didn't seem to have that much face with the Emperor either.
If it disrupted the Emperor's plans, he wouldn't care about anyone's face.
Could it be that the Emperor actually has some fondness for Noble Consort Shi?
Old Zhengzi couldn't help but see Noble Consort Shi in a new light, silently deciding to treat her with more respect next time.
Only after they had walked far away did Shi Zhenxiang stomp her foot in frustration.
But because she had stood for too long, her feet were numb, and she nearly couldn't stay upright. In the end, she had to be carried back on a sedan chair.
When the news reached Sheng Jinyan's palace, it was said that she had been standing there silently watching him leave, which caused her legs to go numb and made it impossible for her to walk.
Even the rigid Sheng Jinyan couldn't help but sigh to Old Zhengzi, "What do you think? How can Noble Consort Shi love me so much?"
He had heard that back then, she specifically entered the palace with the Empress Dowager because she admired him.
For his sake, she never tried to curry favor or show off, which seemed to indicate she respected his plans very much.
This showed that her love for him was very deep.
Old Zhengzi....
Even so, he always felt that Noble Consort Shi wasn't that kind of person.
Old Zhengzi often accompanied Sheng Jinyan to Shi Zhenxiang's palace. Every time they went, Shi Zhenxiang was very respectful, but she never proactively approached the Emperor, as if afraid of displeasing him.
To outsiders, this seemed like following the rules, but such adherence to rules was abnormal for a woman in the harem.
So in Old Zhengzi's view, Shi Zhenxiang didn't love the Emperor that much. If anything, she might not love him at all, which was why she was so cold.
But he dared not say this.
He could only echo Sheng Jinyan, "Your Majesty is right. The Imperial Consort is deeply in love with you."
Sheng Jinyan nodded with satisfaction.
Back then, his father the Emperor had scolded him for being indifferent to human feelings, saying that no woman would love him in the future.
Now he wanted to tell his father the Emperor that there were plenty of women who loved him.
The Empress, such an arrogant person, came specially to beg for his favor; Noble Consort Shi also loved him silently. His father the Emperor simply didn't understand and still had the nerve to criticize him.
It was a pity that his father the Emperor had already passed away, or else he would go argue with him and show him how much women liked him.
Old Zhengzi....
He felt that the former Emperor had been right, but he dared not say it.
At the Empress's palace.
An informant came to report the chance encounter between Shi Zhenxiang and the Emperor. Even news about the Empress Dowager giving Shi Zhenxiang a child-seeking talisman had spread. The Empress was so angry she smashed a cup.
"I previously thought Noble Consort Shi was content with her lot. It seems I misjudged her."
"Nanny Huang, go find a dose of infertility decoction. I absolutely cannot let Noble Consort Shi conceive a prince."
This prince must be born by her.
Although Nanny Huang felt it was risky, for the sake of the Empress's status, she still went to carry it out.
Two days later, the medicinal decoction was smuggled into the General's residence.
As soon as Shi Zhenxiang saw the servant bring the decoction, she sensed something was wrong, "I never ordered any decoction. Where did this decoction come from?"
The servant looked bewildered, "It seems to have been ordered from the palace."
As for who in the palace ordered it, it couldn't be determined.
Sister-in-law Shi wondered, "Could it be a reward from His Majesty?"
Shi Zhenxiang shook her head, "Impossible."
Sheng Jinyan did everything by the book; he wouldn't operate so ambiguously.
"Could it be the Empress Dowager?"
Unsure, Shi Zhenxiang picked up the bowl and sniffed it. The strong bitter smell made her frown.
Good medicine wouldn't have such a foul smell. Could someone be trying to harm her?
After all, she was the only one in the palace who could give birth. It was only natural for someone to want to harm her.
Sister-in-law Shi frowned upon hearing this, "I'll go find a doctor to take a look."
But Shi Zhenxiang waved her hand, "Find a dirty rat."
At times like this, not alarming the snake would allow her to strike with a single blow.
Sister-in-law Shi thought this was a good idea and had someone catch a rat from the sewer.
They added a lot of meat and sweets to the decoction before the filthy rat reluctantly took a few sips.
Shi Zhenxiang and Sister-in-law Shi stood before the cage observing.
After a while, the rat suddenly started jumping around frantically, as if in discomfort.
Then it began vomiting, even bleeding.
Shi Zhenxiang frowned deeply, "Sure enough, someone is trying to harm me."
Sister-in-law Shi slammed the table, "Who is so bold?"
Daring to plot against an imperial consort.
"Ninth Sister, should we go complain to His Majesty?"
Shi Zhenxiang shook her head, "You need to catch a thief with the evidence. Secretly spread a rumor back to the kitchen that after I drank the decoction, I started bleeding and am now calling for a doctor."
Sister-in-law Shi had someone do it, then asked her, "And then what?"
Would the culprit come out upon hearing this news?
Shi Zhenxiang shook her head, "Send someone to watch the kitchen. See who leaves after hearing the news, then follow them."
Sister-in-law Shi went to give the orders.
Soon, a maidservant headed toward the harem.
Shi Zhenxiang understood, "It's someone from the palace."
Sister-in-law Shi wondered, "Could it be the Empress?"
Otherwise, who would have the nerve?
Shi Zhenxiang thought about her recent chance encounter with the Emperor and the child-bearing talisman from the Empress Dowager. It was indeed possible.
Previously, the Empress had been cold and indifferent toward her, but hadn't shown murderous intent.
However, over time, the jealousy from being the only one who could conceive while she herself couldn't would indeed drive the Empress to murderous thoughts.
Moreover, the Empress was very afraid that Shi Zhenxiang would actually give birth to a prince, which would destabilize her position. So of course, she would get the idea to kill her.
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