Chapter 472: Harming The Royal Descendants
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“Why? Do you think you can replace me as the Empress by using such a method to get rid of me?”
Noble Consort Ji pulled a long face. She realized where the Empress’s doubts came from!
She was instantly in a bad mood—it was already annoying to gain weight, but the Empress kept mentioning it!
Besides, she had just eaten a little more. How was she fat enough to look like a pregnant woman?
Not to mention that the Emperor did not touch her at all, even… she would not show her pregnancy so quickly!!
“The Empress must have been worried when you heard that Prime Minister Yan was imprisoned. You actually spouted nonsense. I haven’t recovered from my cold and I’m still not feeling well. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
Although she was also puzzled as to why the “evidence” hidden in the manor had increased several times for no reason and many weapons that she did not have the means to get them in had appeared, she was happy that the Yan Family was unlucky.
In any case, she had clearly fallen out with the Empress, so she could not be bothered to patronize her anymore.
The Empress laughed. “Why? You’re not pretending anymore?”
“It must have been hard for you to pretend in front of me for so many years, right?”
“Rong Yan is a bastard. Do you think you can be the Empress just because you’re pregnant with another child?”
Noble Consort Ji, who was about to leave, suddenly stopped in her tracks. When she turned around, she was already filled with killing intent.
“What do you mean?”
She didn’t even use the honorific title of “Empress”?
However, the Empress was even happier. Of course, a person who could pretend so well lost her composure because she had something on her.
“Ji Yanran, do you really think no one knows what happened back then?”
Noble Consort Ji’s hand had already covered the pouch at her waist—it was the one Xiaoxiao had seen before.
Rong Yan’s background was a secret that she would bring to her grave even if she died. No one could tell anyone.
“I don’t know what the Empress is talking about. Could it be that you’re too sad and have gone crazy?”
The Empress actually pulled a chair over and sat down calmly.
“Rong Yan was born prematurely.”
Noble Consort Ji’s heart skipped a beat.
On the day Rong Yan was born, the Empress pretended to be kind and amiable. On the surface, she was here to see Noble Consort Ji after giving birth, but she was actually looking for the Emperor. However, by chance, she heard the conversation between the Emperor and the imperial physician.
The Emperor asked the imperial physician, “He’s indeed premature?”
The imperial physician knelt down. “I don’t dare to lie to you.”
The Emperor asked again, “She saved your entire family, so she believed that you would keep your mouth shut.”
The imperial physician said, “As the master of Heaven and Earth, I have to be loyal to Your Majesty.”
At that time, the Empress was secretly delighted, thinking that Noble Consort Ji was finished. Unexpectedly, the Emperor said, “There’s no need to let a third person know about this.”
“If anyone knows,” the Emperor’s tone that day terrified the Empress, he said, “Make him shut up forever.”
The Empress did not have the guts to test the Emperor’s bottom line because she could tell that the Emperor was serious.
Hence, this secret was buried in the bottom of her heart for a long time. It was so long that it was like a wound that had sores. It was so long that she did not dare to touch it yet could not forget it.
What was so good about Ji Yanran that the Emperor would do so much for her?
“Ji Yanran, once the news that Rong Yan is a remnant of the previous dynasty spreads, do you think either of you will survive?”
“Do you think you can save yourself by keeping a distance from that bastard all these years?”
“He’s your child. He’s your and Emperor Wen’s bastard!”
“I really didn’t expect that the refined, scholarly, and reasonable Emperor Wen, who values etiquette the most, would actually have an affair with you before marriage!”
“Does His Majesty think that he can protect you just because he pretends not to know?”
“If the officials find out, you and your bastard will definitely die no matter how unwilling His Majesty is!”
The Empress said proudly, “If I didn’t have your handle, why do you think I would be on good terms with you for so many years?”
Noble Consort Ji complained in her heart: Isn’t it because it’s easier to see the Emperor with me around?
Now wasn’t the time to talk so fast. There was tea in the courtyard, so Noble Consort Ji personally poured a cup of tea and brought it to the Empress.
“Your Majesty, how can you continue to keep my secret?”
Seeing her lower her head, the Empress raised her chin proudly.
She didn’t doubt Noble Consort Ji’s sincerity in admitting defeat and begging for mercy at all because Rong Yan’s background was too shocking. If word got out, Ji Yanran wouldn’t be able to live!
“It’s not impossible for me to swallow this secret.”
She said, “Go and admit in front of the civil and military officials that you were the one who tampered with everything in the manor.”
“The weapons, gold, silver, and jade seal were all hidden by you.”
“Anyway, that manor belongs to you. You have the best chance to do this.”
“Just say that you had already hidden something inside before you gave the manor to me. As for the weapons and jade seal, you secretly ordered someone to send them in recently. You’re using my trust to frame me and the Yan Family. I’ll help you get evidence and witnesses.”
“Then drink the abortion soup and I’ll spare your life.”
“No one else will know about Rong Yan’s background.”
It had been so long since anyone entered the garden. Clearly, the Empress had come prepared.
But at the same time, as long as the Empress could not leave, at least Ah Yan’s secret would not come out of her mouth.
Although she did not understand why the Emperor was pretending to be stupid, Ah Yan was safe for the time being as long as no one investigated.
At this point, she could only…
The pill that was originally hidden in her palm had disappeared. Noble Consort Ji’s hand was extremely steady as she served the tea, and her posture was also extremely humble.
Xiaoxiao, who had listened to the entire story in the space, sorted out her knowledge points—
Firstly, the Emperor knew that Rong Yan was not his son.
Secondly, the Empress knew that the Emperor knew that Rong Yan was not his son, and the Empress also knew that Rong Yan was Emperor Wen’s son.
Thirdly, the Empress thought that Noble Consort Ji was pregnant, but she was very sure that the child was not the Emperor’s.
This matter wasn’t complicated, but she had a few questions. First of all, why did the Emperor keep Rong Yan even though he knew that Rong Yan wasn’t his son? According to the usual routine, even if he loved Noble Consort Ji dearly, there were a hundred ways to make him die prematurely for the purity of the royal bloodline in the past decade or so.
Secondly, why was the Empress so sure that the child was not the Emperor’s child?
Another point, and most importantly, did the Emperor… know who Rong Yan’s Father was?
Just as Xiaoxiao was thinking, the Empress had already taken the cup of tea and brought it to her lips.
With a bang, the teacup shattered, and the Empress fell softly.
At this moment, the Crown Prince rushed in. “Mother!”
“Noble Consort Ji, how dare you! Do you know what you’re doing?”
Noble Consort Ji’s lips curled up. “Then does Her Majesty know what she’s done?”
The Crown Prince roared, “Imperial physician! Call the imperial physician!”
“Guards, report to His Majesty that Noble Consort Ji has harmed the Empress. She deserves to be punished!”
However, Noble Consort Ji said in a low voice, “I was wondering why His Majesty hasn’t had any children in recent years…”
“Your Highness, the crime of harming the royal descendants is not light.”
“I’m just cleaning up His Majesty’s harem. What’s wrong with that?”
“Don’t blame me. From today onwards, the position of the mistress of the harem belongs to me. If you know what’s good for you, why don’t you call me Mother now? This way, I’ll take care of you like before.”
The Crown Prince said angrily, “Ji Yanran, I thought you were smart enough to know how to judge the situation. That’s why you begged the Yan Family for protection early on.. I didn’t expect…”
