Quick Transmigration Cannon Fodder's Record of Counterattacks

Chapter 3607: The Most Favoured Woman in the Inner Palace (26)

Ning Shu did not have any particular feelings toward Fu Min. The women in this inner palace had no control over their own lives. Whether they lacked the emperor’s favor or possessed it, they were all unable to act independently.

As for the plot where Fu Min asked Ao Tianze to send these imperial concubines back to their families, it was likely because she felt the cold palace was not a place for humans to live. Those there either died or went mad. In comparison, sending them back to their families was a decent option.

Furthermore, they would have the protection of their relatives within their families.

However, Fu Min did not realize that the emperor’s women never returned home, let alone remarried. Who would dare to take an emperor’s woman unless they were tired of living?

Even if they were women the emperor discarded.

What if these women returned home, could not endure the loneliness, and cuckolded the emperor?

Therefore, Ao Tianze had all the women in the inner palace killed. Some drank poisoned wine, some hanged themselves, and some had their throats slit.

Regardless, none of them were allowed to live.

From her several interactions with Fu Min, Ning Shu felt that Fu Min was a woman who understood her circumstances. At the very least, her superficial manners were passable. She also did not act presumptuously because of the emperor’s favor, nor did she disrespect the empress.

Getting carried away after gaining power was to be expected, but Fu Min could still remain steady. Her temperament was quite good.

Fortunately, with Ao Tianze protecting her, Fu Min was likely the cleanest woman in this inner palace.

Some things truly could not be envied.

As for the child in her belly, it was entirely due to the condition of Ao Tianze’s body.

“Your Highness, have the assassins in the palace been caught?” Consort Xuan recalled that assassins had previously entered Jiaofang Palace and asked Ning Shu.

“They have not been found.”

This matter would definitely be left unsettled.

Ning Shu did not take this matter to heart. Those who could move freely in and out of the palace were definitely Ao Tianze’s shadow guards.

Once Ao Tianze was dealt with, could these shadow guards be used for her own purposes?

Ning Shu also thought of another matter. The two babies, who were nearly half a year old, still did not have formal names. They only had nicknames. It would not do for them to be without formal names to be entered into the clan genealogy. She had to quickly get the two children registered. Otherwise, even if they inherited the throne later, they would not be considered acknowledged by the clan without names.

The imperial family was also a large clan.

However, she still had to seek out Ao Tianze for this matter and have him name the two children. Even if he did not name both, he absolutely had to give the boy a name.

The fact that the two children still lacked names showed just how much Ao Tianze disliked them.

“Have you thought of what names to give the two children?” Ning Shu asked Consort Xuan.

Consort Xuan froze for a moment before remembering that the two children did not even have proper formal names. If they weren’t recorded in the genealogy, they would be considered illegitimate children. Consort Xuan’s expression changed. “Your Highness, the two children are now growing up by your side. You must plan and scheme for them.”

Ning Shu nodded. “I naturally know this. I will find a way to have the emperor bestow a name upon the boy. As for the girl’s name, you should think of one. You are the child’s mother and endured hardship to give birth to her. Choose a nice-sounding name with a good meaning.”

Consort Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. “This concubine bows and thanks Her Highness the Empress for her grace.”

Consort Xuan thought for a moment and named the girl Xiaolei. ‘Xiao’ for small bamboo, representing humility, politeness, and a strong, determined will to strive upward; ‘Lei’ for flower bud, symbolizing blooming and hope.

Ao Xiaolei!

Ning Shu looked at the characters on the white paper. “When the time comes and the emperor bestows a name upon the boy, they will be recorded in the imperial clan’s genealogy together.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Consort Xuan curtsied. Thankfully, she had the empress. If she were on her own, she truly would not know what to do. If the children could not be recorded in the imperial clan’s genealogy, they could not prove their identities. Without an identity, they would be no different from servants in this inner palace.

The children she gave birth to would be like wild children. How could Consort Xuan endure this?

The next day, Ning Shu ran to Fu Min’s palace again to visit Ao Tianze. Seeing Ning Shu come alone this time without bringing a large, chaotic crowd of people, Ao Tianze felt slightly less angry.

However, just seeing Ning Shu’s face still made Ao Tianze very angry.

Ning Shu looked at Ao Tianze, whose eyes were somewhat bloodshot. She curtsied and asked, “Your Majesty, is your health improving?”

Ao Tianze replied, “…Did you not just check yesterday?”

“Only by asking constantly can my heart not be panicked,” Ning Shu said, like she was someone bearing the burden of her duties without complaint.

“This concubine greets Her Highness the Empress.” Fu Min curtsied. Ning Shu reached out to help Fu Min up, her fingers brushing against Fu Min’s pulse. She had a blood deficiency and weak qi. She had not recuperated well.

Ning Shu said gently, “I see that Lady Min’s complexion is somewhat pale. I have some donkey-hide gelatin, which is excellent for a woman’s body. I will have someone deliver some later.”

A slight smile appeared on Fu Min’s face. “This concubine thanks Her Highness the Empress.”

When Fu Min smiled like this, her eyes held a fine luster that seemed to contain genuine sincerity. Seeing it made one feel comfortable at heart.

Seeing that Ning Shu had actually started chatting with Fu Min, leaving him sidelined, Ao Tianze asked coldly, “Why did the empress come here?”

“I came to check on Your Majesty’s health. Your Majesty’s glabella is red, what happened?” Ning Shu looked at Ao Tianze and asked. There were red marks on his glabella and the bridge of his nose, likely caused by pinching the bridge of his nose.

“There is nothing wrong with me.” Ao Tianze would certainly not admit that his head had ached all night, that he pinched the bridge of his nose whenever it hurt, and that he had taken several medicinal pills throughout the night.

The headache was unbearable.

Ning Shu let out an ‘oh,’ curtsied, and said, “Your Majesty, I came because of one matter. The two children are already half a year old now, yet they still do not have proper names. Therefore, I request that Your Majesty bestow names upon the children.”

These two children did not have a bathing ceremony on their third day, nor did they have a full-month banquet. Up until now, they still did not have names. There was nothing that could be done about this, considering they were not of the Ao family’s bloodline.

Hearing this, Ao Tianze’s eyebrows stood on end. He pulled at the corners of his mouth and let out a cold laugh. “We will discuss the matter of names later.”

Wanting to be recorded in the imperial clan’s genealogy? Keep dreaming. Once recorded in the genealogy, they would enjoy imperial treatment. They were not his seed, yet they would consume his resources.

For the realm to think he was their father was one thing, but Ao Tianze would absolutely not be such a sucker.

Ao Tianze’s refusal was within Ning Shu’s expectations. She knelt down and said to Ao Tianze, “It has truly not been easy for the two children. I request that Your Majesty bestow names upon them.”

“I have said it already, we will discuss this matter later. The empress may withdraw.”

Ao Tianze’s complexion grew increasingly ugly. His entire body radiated coldness and a violent aura.

Ning Shu had no choice but to retreat first. After Ning Shu left, Fu Min said to Ao Tianze, “Those two children are also Your Majesty’s offspring. It is time for them to be recorded in the imperial clan’s genealogy.”

“Only the children you give birth to are my offspring. I do not acknowledge those two children.” Ao Tianze’s expression carried hostility. A dull ache in his mind made him unable to resist pinching his glabella desperately.

Fu Min reached out to rub Ao Tianze’s head for him. “It is this concubine’s incompetence. This concubine failed to protect my own child, but they are, after all, Your Majesty’s bloodline.”

Fu Min could not articulate the feeling in her heart.