At a single glance from Jiang Yunshu—
Erya had no choice but to swallow her anger.
Jiang Yunshu bent her knees even lower and lowered her head further.
Meanwhile, she mentally cursed An Jieyu’s ancestors for eighteen generations.
Just then—
The eunuch announced loudly,
“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!”
An Jieyu’s expression stiffened.
Of all times to come… why now?
For Jiang Yunshu, however, it couldn’t have come at a better moment.
Perfect timing.
She turned with the other consorts and bowed to greet the Empress.
But what no one expected was—
The Emperor was with her!
The Emperor and Empress had always been at odds like fire and water.
Had His Majesty actually spent the night in the Empress’s palace?
This was earth-shattering news!
Yet somehow, not a whisper of it had spread overnight.
The Empress instructed everyone to rise.
Jiang Yunshu stood together with the other consorts and took her seat.
Only after both the Emperor and Empress had arrived did Noble Consort Wan and Consort De leisurely make their appearance.
The Emperor’s face darkened.
“Noble Consort Wan. Consort De.”
His voice was cold.
“Is this how you pay your respects to the Empress?”
In the past, Noble Consort Wan and Consort De had treated the Empress with utter contempt, practically stepping on her dignity.
But now, seeing the Emperor present—and actually defending the Empress—they turned pale with fright.
Just as the Emperor was about to continue, the Empress spoke first.
“Noble Consort Wan has disregarded the rules of the imperial harem. She is confined to her palace for ten days.”
Everyone was stunned.
The aloof, detached Empress, who had always remained above worldly affairs, had actually dealt Noble Consort Wan a direct blow.
Noble Consort Wan looked at Chu Yi with tearful, pleading eyes.
Chu Yi acted as though he hadn’t seen her.
Her eyes reddened.
“Your Majesty…”
Before she could continue, Chu Yi slammed his hand onto the table.
“What else do you have to say, Noble Consort Wan?”
Every word was spoken through clenched teeth, a clear warning for her not to overstep herself.
Unable to do anything else, Noble Consort Wan accepted the punishment.
She shot Consort De a sideways glance.
My rank is higher than yours. If even I’m being punished, surely you won’t escape either.
To her surprise—
The Empress personally stood up and helped Consort De to her feet.
“Consort De is carrying the imperial heir. From now on, you are exempt from attending the morning greetings. Remain in your palace and focus on nurturing the imperial child. I hope you will soon give His Majesty a prince.”
If the Emperor spending the night at the Empress’s palace had been shocking—
Then Consort De’s pregnancy was an even greater sensation.
The entire hall fell silent.
Jiang Yunshu was the first to recover.
She immediately rose and offered her congratulations.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Consort De.”
Only then did the other consorts snap out of their shock and hurriedly echo her congratulations.
Chu Yi looked at the quick-witted Jiang Yunshu and raised his hand slightly.
“You may all rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Consort De’s plump face was glowing with pride.
Especially when she looked toward Noble Consort Wan.
She was practically flaunting her victory, her nose nearly pointed at the ceiling.
At that moment, Chu Yi spoke again.
“The Empress is the mistress of the Central Palace, Mother of the Nation, and an example to all under Heaven. She has worked tirelessly managing my harem. I expect all of you to conduct yourselves properly. Do not stir up unnecessary trouble and burden the Empress.”
The meaning behind his words was unmistakable.
Respect the Empress.
To insult the Empress was to insult the Emperor himself.
Hearing this, Jiang Yunshu secretly studied Chu Yi.
She could clearly sense the displeasure buried in his heart and the suppressed fury churning beneath his calm expression.
Something significant must have happened in court…
And it undoubtedly involved the Empress.
He hated her.
Yet he had no choice but to respect her and preserve her dignity as Empress.
Still…
Something about it felt strange.
A man as intelligent as Chu Yi would never have placed the Empress in that position without reason.
Nor could he possibly have failed to anticipate that the civil officials would use the Empress to pressure him.
Jiang Yunshu discreetly glanced at the Empress.
She remained as distant as ever—
Like a pristine white lotus blooming atop a snow-covered mountain, untouchable and cold.
After only a brief look, Jiang Yunshu lowered her eyes again.
She had a feeling…
The imperial harem was about to undergo major upheaval.
Chu Yi was retreating only to advance.
He was preparing to purge the imperial court.
After all, someone like him would never allow himself to remain vulnerable forever.
As she pondered this, Chu Yi addressed the Empress once more.
“Empress, I leave Consort De’s pregnancy in your care. The entire harem is entrusted to you as well. You’ve worked hard.”
The Empress nodded calmly.
“These are my duties, Your Majesty. Rest assured. I will take good care of Consort De and ensure she safely delivers a prince.”
Chu Yi’s gaze softened ever so slightly.
But the moment he looked away, the warmth disappeared, replaced once more by icy indifference.
The perceptive Wang An stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, Minister Liu requests an audience.”
After exchanging a few more words with the Empress, Chu Yi rose and headed toward the Imperial Study.
As he passed Jiang Yunshu, his eyes briefly rested on her.
She caught his gaze.
With playful innocence, she rolled her eyes mischievously, her lively expression both charming and alluring.
In an instant, the gloom weighing on Chu Yi’s heart vanished.
This little thing always knows how to make me smile.
She looked as though she understood everything, yet deliberately pretended to be innocent.
It made him want to bully her.
Had they not been inside the Empress’s palace, he might have pinched her cheek right then and there.
Come to think of it…
He hadn’t visited her palace for several days.
Naturally, Wang An noticed the Emperor’s lingering glance.
He quietly leaned over to Li Quan.
“Later, tell Noble Lady Jiang that His Majesty has been overwhelmed with state affairs these past few days and hasn’t been sleeping or eating well.”
If Noble Lady Jiang was truly clever, she’d understand the hint.
The Emperor had been exceptionally difficult to serve lately.
If she could cheer him up, life would become much easier for everyone around him.
His Majesty’s face had been clouded with darkness for days.
Yet after seeing Noble Lady Jiang just now, some of that icy gloom had visibly faded.
That was enough to convince Wang An—
Noble Lady Jiang was the one person who could soothe the Emperor’s heart.
Not long after the Emperor departed, the Empress dismissed the assembled consorts.
As Noble Consort Wan was leaving, she shot the Empress a vicious glare, as though she wanted to tear her apart.
The Empress was hardly someone to be trifled with.
Meeting her gaze calmly, she asked,
“Noble Consort Wan, are you dissatisfied with my decision to confine you?”
Having grown accustomed to behaving arrogantly before the Empress, Noble Consort Wan found it unbearable to suddenly lower her head in submission.
She reluctantly bowed.
“I would never dare.”
The Empress’s gaze drifted over her indifferently.
“Then you may leave.”
“Yes… Your Majesty.”
Noble Consort Wan spoke through gritted teeth.
Little did she know…
For her, confinement would ultimately prove to be a blessing rather than a curse.
Jiang Yunshu was the last to leave.
She couldn’t resist giving the Empress one more glance.
Coincidentally, the Empress was looking at her as well.
Their eyes met.
Jiang Yunshu immediately lowered her head.
The corners of the Empress’s lips curled into an enigmatic smile.
Shuiyue also looked toward Jiang Yunshu before quietly saying,
“Your Majesty, that young mistress seems to have recently won a great deal of His Majesty’s favor.”
The Empress let out a faint, almost mocking smile as she looked up at the blue sky.
“The Emperor’s favor?”
“What an illusory thing.”
“Who would covet it?”
Shuiyue sighed softly.
“Your Majesty, since the Emperor has finally taken a step toward you, perhaps if you softened your attitude a little, life wouldn’t be so difficult.”
The Empress looked at her.
“Do you know what our Emperor hates most?”
Shuiyue shook her head in confusion.
“Being coerced.”
“The only reason he’s yielding to me now is because the civil officials are forcing him to.”
“As a princess sent here in a political marriage, I’ve been neglected by him for so long. How could those stubborn old ministers remain silent?”
“But do you think he is the sort of man who truly bows to others?”
“He isn’t.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“Perhaps… my freedom is finally approaching.”
“Perhaps I’ll finally be able to fly beyond these towering crimson palace walls.”
She gazed toward the sky beyond the palace walls—
The sky where she had once been free.
Joy flickered openly across her face.
Shuiyue remained bewildered.
She couldn’t understand the Empress’s reasoning.
“But, Your Majesty… His Majesty has entrusted Consort De’s pregnancy to your care. Surely he wouldn’t…”
The Empress merely glanced at Shuiyue and smiled without saying another word.