Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C132

At this moment, Wushuang, having just stepped out of Fengqi Palace, also realized the Empress's intentions.

Initially, she thought the Empress was showing goodwill to her in order to unite with her, or to use her influence to deal with that Consort Hui. Now it seemed it wasn't that simple.

What reason could cause the Empress to be so genuinely concerned about her health?

The answer was self-evident: offspring.

In recent days, as Wushuang frequently entered and exited the palace, she had gained some understanding of the general situation within. The Empress had no children, seemingly due to some damage she suffered when she was still at the Prince's mansion.

Later, she also asked Bailu about it. The entire Marquis Changyang Manor knew about this, saying that the Empress had difficulty conceiving, and for this matter, Cao shi had burned incense and worshipped Buddha, searching everywhere for folk remedies.

If one assumed that the Empress could not give birth, her series of goodwill gestures, and even having the imperial physician take her pulse today, would not be difficult to understand.

The Empress wanted her to conceive a child.

But what did her conceiving a child have to do with the Empress? Could it be that the Empress was so confident that if she gave birth to a child, she would definitely give it to her to raise?

Just as Wushuang was thinking, the palanquin suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Lifting the curtain, she discovered a group of people blocking her path.

Linglong said in a low voice, "It's Consort Hui."

This was Wushuang's first time meeting Consort Hui.

She had long heard of this person's great name.

As early as when Ji Yang had not yet ascended the throne and was still Prince Wei, she had heard that this Secondary Consort Chang's family was prominent, and she fought fiercely with Mei Wuxia.

Previously, the Empress had shown goodwill to her and also hinted that the reason she was brought into the palace in the first place was thanks to this person's 'blessings.'

Wushuang had known about this matter for a long time. The Empress had only spoken in more detail, allowing her to understand Consort Hui's sinister intentions and her temperament. This was also why she had previously felt that the Empress was trying to win her over in order to join forces to deal with Consort Hui.

What Wushuang didn't expect was that Consort Hui would actually come looking for her?

She was openly seen as being on the Empress's side. What was Consort Hui doing coming to find her?

"This Majesty seeks a word with Madam. Surely, Madam wouldn't refuse, would she?"

Her path was already blocked; even if she were unwilling, could she refuse? Besides, Mei Wushuang also wished to know what the other party wanted from her.

"Where does Her Ladyship wish to speak?"

"Let us go to the Imperial Garden then, lest Madam suspect this Majesty of intending to harm you."

With great fanfare, the two groups moved to the Imperial Garden.

Some, witnessing this spectacle, immediately steered clear from afar. However, this news would likely spread throughout the entire harem swiftly. Consort Hui, seeing someone lurking and peeking in this direction, immediately scoffed, "Snakes and rats."

Even before the two had exchanged a word, Wushuang judged, based solely on Consort Hui's words, that while she was indeed overbearing, her schemes might not be as deep as the Empress had suggested.

She found a pavilion and went inside to sit down.

The two sat facing each other, each with a considerable number of people standing behind them.

Who could have imagined that what was once a timid, small-family woman would actually grow to such an extent? Her rank might not be as high as her own, but the people around her were plentiful, actually capable of contending with her on equal footing, without the slightest fear!

Thus, as Consort Hui saw it, there were no innocent white rabbits in this imperial palace; it was all just appearance, all just illusion.

"Actually, this Majesty sought you out for no other reason than to discuss the matter of bringing you into the palace back then."

Consort Hui's straightforwardness surprised Wushuang once again.

She glanced at the other's complexion.

Consort Hui was undoubtedly very beautiful, adorned in noble finery that was overwhelming. She could be considered the leading figure in the harem, second only to the Empress. However, her face appeared somewhat haggard, and her temperament was sharp, with a piercing edge to her brows and eyes.

Wushuang remained silent.

Consort Hui glanced at her, a half-smile playing on her lips. "This Majesty does not deny that bringing you into the palace back then was to deal with the Empress. However, you should thank this Majesty for your present state."

What an overbearing logic!

You harm someone, and they have to thank you?!

"If Her Ladyship only wishes to say these things, this concubine will take her leave."

Wushuang lowered her eyes slightly and stood up.

"Why is Madam in such a hurry to leave? Does Madam find what this Majesty said too direct, striking a chord in Madam's heart?" Consort Hui raised her eyebrows.

Mei Wushuang raised her eyes to look at her and said, "Since Consort Hui believes that committing evil is a matter of course, anything this concubine says would be futile, merely a waste of breath."

Those who commit evil usually have their own set of logic. When their logic is self-consistent, they naturally don't feel they've done anything wrong. It was just like Mei Wuxia felt that scheming to steal her marriage was actually for her own good, so she could continue to try and take advantage of her without a guilty conscience.

Just like Consort Hui's rhetoric.

Wushuang had always felt that her personality was weak and that she was not good at arguing with others, but that did not mean she had no thoughts of her own. In the past, she had been bullied because the general trend was irreversible; she had taken one wrong step, and every step after that was a loss. Now, she was no longer the same as before, and she could be considered to have some support, so naturally, she would not be foolish enough to let others bully her without putting up any resistance.

"This Majesty committing evil? What, you actually believed the Empress's words?" Consort Hui chuckled lightly, her laughter like silver bells, but the words she spoke were unpleasant.

"Why was your marriage stolen in the first place? Do you still not know in your heart? If she hadn't schemed against you, this fool, making you eagerly offer yourself to Zhao Jianzhi, how could she have married His Majesty with her lowly status?"

"You thought no one cared about your marriage with His Majesty? Little did you know, there were many people eyeing it. Why did Mei Wuxia only dare to coax you, this fool, into ruining the marriage yourself, and not dare to use force? Because she knew that if she used forceful means, she probably wouldn't be able to get past His Majesty and me, only by coaxing you, this fool, into doing something stupid yourself could it be considered impeccable."

"Even what this Majesty said to the Empress Dowager, to get the Empress Dowager to come forward, couldn't be done, yet she managed to accomplish it by using you, this fool." Consort Hui's face was full of mockery, it was unknown whether she was mocking herself or others, "Of course, this Majesty was also her help. Back then, the Zhao family was already colluding with Prince Jin, but this Majesty was completely unaware. Because of this relationship, what was the use of this Majesty putting in any more effort? His Majesty would not have married me."

"If it weren't for this Majesty forcing the marriage, His Majesty wouldn't have resorted to substituting someone else to transfer the marriage contract to her in order to avoid the Palace forcing the marriage. She can also be considered to have borrowed the strength of you and me to ascend to the position of Princess Consort Wei, and later to the position of Empress."

Speaking of this, Consort Hui smiled again and looked at Mei Wushuang: "This is also why I had the Zhao family bring you into the Palace. If you succeed, you naturally won't let Mei Wuxia off, and if you fail, it will be the Zhao family who loses face. The Zhao family thought this Majesty had lost her mind to come up with such a foolish move, little did they know that besides hating the Empress, this Majesty also hates them."

Yes, how could Consort Hui not hate the Zhao family.

If it weren't for their collusion with Prince Jin, there wouldn't have been Mei Wuxia; she should have already been in the position of Princess Consort Wei long ago, and naturally would be the Empress now.

"This move is of no loss to this Majesty, but rather kills two birds with one stone. It's just that this Majesty didn't expect you to be so useless, even mixing with that Mei Wuxia. It seems you haven't had enough of suffering losses and being deceived? That's right, if you weren't stupid, how could you have broken off the engagement and married someone else, to the point of letting yourself fall into such a situation."

Mei Wushuang admitted that what Consort Hui said made her aware of many things she didn't know before, but anyone would feel annoyed at being called a fool repeatedly.

She retorted, "Consort Hui is indeed clever, but she still didn't manage to snatch the position of Principal Consort, and would rather demean herself to become a Secondary Consort."

This matter caused an uproar in the capital at the time. Commandery Princess Minghui had the Empress Dowager behind her, and with her status, even if Prince Wei was a prince, he shouldn't have only given her the position of Secondary Consort, but that was exactly what happened.

"What do you know?!"

Consort Hui seemed to be stimulated, suddenly stood up, and glared fiercely at Wushuang, as if Mei Wushuang was her enemy.

Suddenly, she sneered again, "Mei Wuxia probably wonders why this Majesty is so persistent in opposing her. If she hadn't schemed against this Majesty back then, this Majesty wouldn't have rather lowered herself to marry into Prince Wei's mansion, just to oppose her. This Majesty had actually given up at the time… If this Majesty hadn't married into Prince Wei's mansion, how could my maternal grandmother have…"

As she spoke, her expression became dazed, and then she left without looking back.

***

This series of actions of hers truly left Wushuang a little bewildered.

The maternal grandmother in Consort Hui's words referred to the late Empress Dowager.

Could it be that her marriage into Prince Wei's mansion was a bad thing for the late Empress Dowager?

Wushuang couldn't figure it out no matter what, only feeling that this Consort Hui was very inexplicable, like a madwoman, biting anyone she saw.

Later, after she left the palace and returned to the mansion, she told Granny Gong about this matter, and Granny Gong's words made her suddenly understand.

"Madam should not explore whether Consort Hui is inexplicable or not. Her purpose is actually very simple, which is to make Madam and the Empress turn against each other, that is, to sow discord."

Consort Hui was too frank, even not hesitating to reveal her wickedness.

Her actions seemed mindless, even somewhat deranged, but wasn't it because of her frankness to the point of derangement that Wushuang didn't doubt her words at all?

It was good that she didn't doubt. If an ordinary person knew that their older sister had schemed against them in such a way, and that their previous misery all came from their older sister's schemes, what would that ordinary person do?

Naturally, they would fall out with their older sister!

In this way, Consort Hui's goal would be achieved.

"But I already knew these things."

Granny Gong said with a smile, "But Consort Hui doesn't know."

That's right, she knew that she was clear about the Empress's true colors, and that her interactions with her were just superficial, but Consort Hui didn't know.

She only saw that she had put in so much effort, but these two sisters had not yet broken up, which really did not match her original expectations.

And why was the Empress willing to withstand the dissatisfaction of the many concubines in the harem to 'protect' her younger sister who had stolen her husband?

It was nothing more than because there were benefits.

What benefits?

The answer was becoming clear: an heir.

So, Consort Hui saw the situation was unfavorable and wanted to instigate a falling out between her and the Empress, not wanting to benefit the Empress?

The Empress had no children, and Consort Hui also had no children, but Consort Hui had the First Prince, naturally suppressing the Empress. But if the Empress were to adopt a prince as well, Consort Hui's advantage would be gone.

"Too complicated," Wushuang said with a slight sigh.

"Actually, it would be beneficial for Madam to understand these matters sooner rather than later," Granny Gong said.

Later?

In truth, Wushuang could see that Ji Yang intentionally wanted her to understand the matters of the inner palace. Granny Gong and Linglong had been of great help in this, including helping her answer questions and informing her of the identities and factions of those people.

Why did he want her to understand?

Perhaps it was to teach her to protect herself, or perhaps he hadn't given up on the idea of her entering the palace?

And today, two matters, after much winding and turning, both pointed to the same goal. While making Wushuang's mood complex, she couldn't help but take the matter to heart.

She and he had been intimate many times. If one day she truly became pregnant, what should she do?

Should she enter the palace at that time, or should she not? If she didn't enter the palace, the child would have no status, unless she was willing to, as the Empress wished, send the child to her to raise.

But this matter was absolutely impossible for Wushuang.

If she entered the palace—

Wushuang suddenly understood why he wanted her to understand the matters of the inner palace. Perhaps he was preparing for this day?

In the evening, Ji Yang came.

After a period of intimacy, she lay on his chest and told him what had happened at the Empress's place during the day, and also expressed her worries.

"Your Highness, what do you say we should do if one day I am with child?"

"If you are with child, then give birth. Why ask what to do? Don't you want to bear children for this Emperor?"

How did it turn into her not wanting to bear children for him again?

Seeing she didn't speak, he continued, "Are you still unable to let go of that husband of yours?"

Again, it's about Zhao Jianzhi!

Wushuang quickly said, "Your Majesty, where has your mind wandered? I am not unable to let go of him, nor do I not want to, not want to..."

"Not want what?" He suddenly rolled over, pinning her beneath him, questioning her face to face.

She weakly said, "I do not not want to bear Your Majesty a child."

"Then that settles it."

But that wasn't what she wanted to say at all; he had wandered off to somewhere a thousand li away.

What she clearly wanted to ask was...

In truth, if these words were spoken within the palace, Wushuang would absolutely not dare to ask them, but it was different in her own mansion; she always felt that she was bolder in her own mansion.

"You see how the Empress had someone take my pulse and is so attentive to me; she definitely wants me to bear a child for her to adopt. Your Majesty, if I really do become pregnant one day and give birth, you wouldn't give the child to the Empress for adoption, would you?"

Ji Yang simply didn't know what was in her head.

"Why would this Emperor give our child to her for adoption?"

The words 'our child' not only dispelled Wushuang's concerns but also made her feel inexplicably sweet inside. She couldn't help but embrace his neck and said, "Your Majesty, you are so good to me."

Ji Yang was very pleased with her gentle words and soft voice. He held her in his arms and patted her soft bottom, "Since we're talking about having children, when will you bear one for this Emperor? When the time comes, this Emperor will make him the Crown Prince."

Wushuang was startled. How did it veer to the Crown Prince again?

"Doesn't Your Majesty already have the First Prince? Even if this concubine bears a child, he wouldn't be the eldest son. How could he become the Crown Prince?"

"He..." Ji Yang's expression suddenly became complicated. He paused and then said, "If this Emperor says he can be the Crown Prince, he definitely can be. Don't you believe it?"

Fine, Wushuang didn't believe it. If he were Emperor Qianwu, then so be it, but he wasn't. Would Emperor Qianwu let the child she bore become the Crown Prince? Wushuang felt that something was a little strange.

Before she could think it through, he continued, "Since you want to bear a child for this Emperor, when will you move into the palace?"

Uh?

"Wushuang, surely you must know that the imperial bloodline emphasizes legitimacy. It would be one thing if it were an ordinary prince, but if it's the Crown Prince, he cannot have even the slightest blemish. This also means his birth mother must be a proper concubine, and absolutely must be born within the palace. Furthermore, from the moment you are with child, the Imperial Hospital must keep complete records of your pulse, and when the child is born, both the Imperial Hospital and the Court of the Imperial Clan must record it, to prevent anyone from criticizing his origins in the future."

Wushuang stood there, stunned.

She had actually forgotten that she was still the Zhao family's wife.

Although she and he both knew that she had given her purity to him, outsiders did not know. If she were to become pregnant at this time, whether the child's bloodline was of the Zhao family or the imperial family would be impossible to explain, even if she had eight mouths all over her body.

"You must quickly divorce that Zhao Jianzhi. At that time, I will bring you into the palace and first bestow upon you the title of Imperial Noble Consort. The Empress has committed no fault, so it is not good to depose her. We can wait for now. I will find an excuse to depose her later and let you become the Empress."