Quick Transmigration: The Rise of a Favored Concubine

Chapter 196 Heartless and Cold-Hearted Emperor × Little Palace Maid 7

Chu Yue was granted a title and should have gone to pay her respects, but the Empress was confined to her quarters, and Consort Shu took over the management of the harem.

Ever since her last unpleasant encounter with the Emperor, the Empress Dowager had been so angry that she stayed in Anyang Palace and refused to leave. Just when she had finally calmed down a bit, she heard the news that the Empress had been confined to her quarters, and she fainted from anger. After waking up, she fell ill.

Consort Shu managed the harem and visited the Empress Dowager every day, but the Empress Dowager's attitude was not good, and she was really exhausted.

Chu Yue, supported by Xiao Tao and Fang Cao, arrived at Li Ran Palace, where Consort Li and Consort Yun had already arrived.

The emperor didn't have many concubines, just these few. Since the empress wasn't there, they had all gone to the palace of Consort Shu.

Consort Shu was still inside getting ready. Consort Li and Consort Chu Yue, who were of equal rank, nodded to each other and then bowed to Consort Yun in unison.

"Please sit down, little sister. You are in a very precious state now, so please skip these things."

Consort Yun smiled as she looked at Chu Yue's still flat stomach.

Chu Yue gently placed her hand on her abdomen: "Thank you, Your Majesty..."

The group was not familiar with each other, and Chu Yue was a concubine who had suddenly appeared, so the hall was rather quiet.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Consort Shu finally came out.

She accepted the seal of honor, her eyes and brows beaming with joy. Consort Shu, seated in the main seat, smiled and said, "In the past, I would go to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress with my sisters. Today, it is difficult for me to receive the greetings from my sisters."

"Your Highness, this concubine greets you..." Chu Yue and the other two bowed respectfully.

Consort Shu's smile deepened: "Get up, get up, everyone, please sit down."

"Ruyan, add a soft cushion to Consort Jin's stool, and change the tea to plum juice." After giving the instructions, Ruyan looked at Chu Yue and said, "Consort Jin, I don't know much about this either, so I hope you won't take offense."

"Your Majesty is too kind, I dare not accept such praise..." Chu Yue said as she stood up.

"Look at you, hurry up and sit down. I originally wanted to excuse all the sisters from paying their respects, but since I am in charge of the harem, I can't say much about these formalities."

Consort Shu was very understanding in her words. As soon as she came out, she carefully looked Chu Yue over. No wonder the Empress was so angry. Consort Chu's appearance was worrying, not to mention that she was pregnant and was His Majesty's first child.

A palace maid who, through the emperor's favor and pregnancy, suddenly rose to such a position, would inevitably arouse suspicion.

"Your Majesty is wise..." the three said in unison.

Consort Shu added, "Sister Chu has just been promoted, and I have prepared a congratulatory gift for her."

After speaking, Ruyan handed the items to the maids behind them.

"These are just some small gifts, please don't find them offensive, sister."

"This concubine dares not accept such praise, Your Majesty..." Chu Yue saw that it was a pair of jade ruyi scepters.

"Alright, I still have to go to the Empress Dowager's place. Everyone, please disperse." Consort Shu waved her hand wearily and looked at Chu Yue: "Sister, you are pregnant, so I can't say anything, but the Empress Dowager's place... I should go there in principle."

Chu Yue said respectfully, "I would be grateful if Your Majesty would take me there..."

Consort Shu nodded: "Let's go."

Anyang Palace

The Empress Dowager looked sickly, and the lines on her face made her look even more haggard. Granny Fang was serving her medicine.

"Cough cough..." The Empress Dowager clutched her chest, coughing incessantly.

Granny Fang immediately put down the medicine bowl: "Empress Dowager... how are you?"

The Empress Dowager leaned weakly against the cushions, looking unwell, and said listlessly, "Drink it later..."

"Consort Shu and Consort Chu have come to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager..." a palace servant announced from outside.

Granny Fang hesitated and said, "Empress Dowager..."

"Let them in."

"Yes."

Consort Shu walked ahead and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Chu Yue followed suit and said, "This concubine greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be well."

The Empress Dowager looked at Chu Yue behind Consort Shu with her somewhat cloudy eyes and said in a deep voice, "Get up."

"Your Majesty, why didn't you wait for me to come and serve you your medicine? Are you perhaps upset that I haven't served you well enough?" Consort Shu smiled and picked up the medicine bowl, sitting down by the bedside.

Consort Shu was sweet-talking and knew how to speak well; one wouldn't hit a smiling face. Although the Empress Dowager's expression was not good, she still gently scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Your Majesty, shall I feed you the medicine?" Consort Shu gently blew on the medicine.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Chu Yue: "Let Consort Jin come. Now that she is the Emperor's concubine, it is only right that she serves me."

Chu Yue stepped forward a few steps, "Yes, Empress Dowager..."

"Your Majesty, Jin is pregnant and may not be able to handle the exertion. Please allow me to serve. Does Your Majesty truly find my service inadequate?"

Consort Shu could easily see through the Empress Dowager's intentions, but since she was the one who brought the people over today, His Majesty would not let her off if anything happened.

"If you can't even handle such a small matter, how can you serve the Emperor?" The Empress Dowager clearly had no intention of letting Chu Yue off the hook.

Chu Yue took the medicine bowl and asked Ling Lingyi to put the Nightmare Pill in it. She knew that the Empress Dowager only had her youngest son in her heart and not the Emperor, her eldest son. She even disregarded the Emperor's wishes and made him appoint her daughter from the Chen family as Empress.

The events of that night were also the idea of ​​the Empress Dowager and the Empress. The Emperor was drugged, but Chu Yue suffered greatly, causing the old lady to suffer as well.

Consort Shu had no choice but to step aside, a hint of worry on her face.

"Empress Dowager..." Chu Yue had just scooped up a spoonful of food and was feeding it to the Empress Dowager when a loud announcement rang out from outside: "His Majesty has arrived..."

The Empress Dowager's face darkened, and she looked outside with displeasure.

The emperor strode in and saw Chu Yue serving him by the bedside with a bowl of medicine. His face was even darker than usual.

"Your Majesty, I, your concubine, pay my respects..." Consort Shu felt a pang of regret; she should have taken the medicine bowl from him earlier.

The emperor pulled Chu Yue aside, shielding her slightly, and said coldly, "Consort Jin is pregnant. This kind of thing can be left to the palace servants. If she catches a disease, it will be bad for the child in her womb."

Chu Yue's heart skipped a beat. She didn't dare to look up. She had been holding the medicine bowl for too long, and her arms were sore and her stomach was uncomfortable.

Hearing the emperor's cold tone and his repeated claims about the children, she felt even more frightened and lowered her head, hiding behind the emperor.

Consort Shu was shocked. This was the first time since she entered the palace that she had heard His Majesty speak so much, especially to protect a concubine.

What exactly are Consort Jin's abilities?

Is His Majesty's protection of her solely because of the prospect of having offspring?

In short, different people will have different understandings of the same thing.

The Empress Dowager's chest heaved with anger, and she couldn't help but cough twice. She said in a cold voice, "I only asked her to serve me medicine, and the Emperor came over to protect me like this. Do you even have any respect for me as your mother?"

The mother and son met, but there was no warmth to speak of; every word was full of hostility. Consort Shu did not dare to offer any advice, only regretting that she should not have mentioned that Consort Chu should come along to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.

The emperor stood before the bed, his tall figure casting a shadow. He questioned, "Is Anyang Palace lacking servants? Send a pregnant concubine to serve you."

"If there is a shortage, I will immediately order someone to come and serve the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager stood frozen in place, staring at the Emperor in disbelief, as if she didn't understand him at all, her eyes filled with doubt.

Why did emperors change so much?

Is it only because of Consort Jin Zhao behind him?