Empress, you're really something! Consort Li was the one who led the charge last time, and Imperial Noblewoman Su is also someone from her own palace... Who would have thought that the Empress would come to settle the score with her so quickly? Is she still trying to tell herself that this palace is her domain, where a flick of her finger can send Consort Li and Imperial Noblewoman Su tumbling into the water, and if she's not polite enough, she'll be the one who ends up in the water?!

  Roufei left with her head hung low, but the tea party in Xiyueyao Pavilion continued to be lively as ever, without being affected by Rouran and the others. They were ridiculed for falling into the water while picking lotus flowers, a very embarrassing and humiliating thing, not something that would evoke sympathy from others. Zhao Shuyuan, who had never gotten along with Rouran, even joined in with the others to "praise" her, saying: "Rouran and Su Gui Ren were willing to sacrifice their own bodies to serve the Emperor, such a heart the Emperor will surely be very moved by... only wonder what reward the Emperor will give them?"

  Liu Jieyu, who was standing beside her, covered her mouth and smiled. Everyone knew that Consort Hui had gone to great lengths to make congee for the Emperor, but hadn't gained even a tiny bit of benefit from it.

  Xiang Fei, who was eating a piece of two-colored rice cake, smiled and said: "What a pity! The Emperor seems to be tired of the sweet dew porridge now. I saw that none of the porridges presented by the various palaces in the past few days have been touched..." She waved her hand again and said: "However, even if the Emperor doesn't reward them, I will reward them myself. Come, go and take a box of carved wooden figurines from my warehouse and distribute them to Concubine Rong and Noble Consort Su. Those were given by the Emperor during the Lantern Festival, and I think they're quite nice."

  Many of the consorts were drinking tea and almost spat it out. The wooden figurines that were distributed during the Lantern Festival... those seemed to be clowns, right? Even scolding someone wouldn't involve something like this, Empress Xiang really doesn't show any mercy.

  In this palace, the one who is best at bullying and being arrogant is still Xiang Fei. No matter who suffers from her bullying, no one dares to say anything. The Empress and Rong Fei also can't get any advantage from her. Due to the Chu sisters and Hui Guifei's recent commotion, the palace is in an uproar, but Xiang Fei's side is relatively calm. Her three-month pregnancy is already showing, and although her slender waist and abdomen are no longer visible, due to nourishment and care, her complexion has become even more rosy and beautiful, not losing any of its former beauty. The other consorts are all vying for the emperor's favor at night, but during the day, the emperor always accompanies Xiang Fei. Over the years, the other consorts have always been extremely envious of her. The rise and fall of the Chu sisters' power and Lin Huan's schemes are all centered around Xiang Fei, yet she is living the most comfortably...

  Lin Wan inadvertently glanced at Xiang Fei, feeling a bit stifled in her heart. This woman was probably the most difficult person for her to deal with...

  The tea party was lively for more than an hour before dispersing. The empress generously bestowed tea leaves and tea sets upon the crowd, and everyone left with a satisfied heart.

  Before the dusk of this day, the sedan chair had already arrived at the front and sent Lin Wan into the Jiuzhou Qingyan. On Taizong's side, he had just set up his evening meal and saw Lin Wan coming, stretching out his hand to her: "Today there is sturgeon from Beihai, a rare good thing. Come, accompany me in having it."

  Lin Yan walked up with small steps, bowed and thanked him, then sat down on the right side of the large red table with her hands clasped together. The palace staff quickly arranged a variety of colorful and exquisite dishes on the table, Lin Yan glanced at the large bowl of creamy soup in front of her, smiled and said to Tuoba Hong: "Although the palace has fine clothes and food, concubines have never tasted sturgeon before, with Your Majesty here, it's really a good fortune for the concubine."

  As she spoke, she ladled a small bowl of soup and placed it in front of Tuoba Hong.

  The not-so-urgent Tuoba Hong sat with Lin Yuan, chatting idly. "Not to mention you, I rarely get to eat this. The North Sea is 2,000 miles from the capital, and these fish are quite different from those in our eastern seas. Even if raised in seawater, they'd be belly up within an hour. The governor of the northern territories had long wanted to send some to the capital as tribute, but the flavor of dead fish isn't even comparable to river fish." Tuoba Hong smiled, his face subtly revealing the pride of owning vast and rich lands: "Fortunately, a fisherman from the folk happened to discover a method that keeps these fish fresh, so we can enjoy them today."

  Lin Wan felt like she had heard of this fish's story before, but still asked: "What method is that?"

  "It's said that if you put a few catfish in the sturgeon pile!" Tuoba Hong said with a smile: "Catfish are carnivorous, and when they drill into the sturgeon pile, they make the sturgeons flee constantly. In the end, some useless ones are eaten by the catfish, but the remaining ones are all transported alive to the capital. Although many have died, the value of the living part is ten or a hundred times that of the dead, and only the living can be transported into the imperial palace as food."

  Lin Wan nodded in praise after hearing the story, thinking that the method was indeed very clever and that the fisherman was truly talented. She knew what Tuoba Hong wanted to hear, so she thought for a moment before saying: "This story about the fish really opened my eyes. Just like how fish are, people are the same. The sturgeon with the catfish as its companion is fresh and lively, and the person who can win over their opponents and survive until the end is also talented. Those who grow up under the protection of their elders all their lives are just like the sturgeon without the catfish, ultimately worthless; those who were eaten by the catfish are also useless."

  Tuoba Hong nodded and said, "That's exactly what I mean. As I was eating sturgeon today, I couldn't help but think about these things." A self-satisfied smile spread across his face: "In the past, when I studied poetry, books, etiquette, and morality, all I knew was what 'righteousness' and 'benevolence' were. Now that I think about it, those things seem so outdated... If everyone in the world followed the right path, and there weren't any villains or fish-eating catfish around, then our people from Great Qin would also become useless. Only those who have emerged victorious after killing their opponents are truly capable individuals. Therefore, I now believe that bloody slaughter born out of survival or self-interest is not only beneficial but also indispensable..."

  Look at him like this, Lin Wan nodded beside him, but his heart was hairy. Nima's bloody massacre, you should have killed a lot of people when you first ascended to the throne? The former emperor had nine sons besides you, and they were all alive before your accession. In the first few years after your accession, four of them died, and their causes of death are probably problematic. The princes are fine, but several heavy ministers on the imperial court during the former emperor's time and the four major families in the capital city at that time have all died in the past few years, one dynasty has its own officials, taking Tuoba Hong to history for comparison is also considered a murderer, this is done quite ruthlessly.

  Haha, you used to think that killing these people was a bit against morality, but now you've finally found a reason. The story of the sturgeon is not so cruel after all, I think the story of "Nine Dogs and One Dhole" is more suitable for you... Never mind, never mind, it's none of my business anyway.

  However, Tuoba Hong's reasoning is also correct. If an imperial son has never had any opponents from birth to ascension, and everything goes smoothly, then the probability of him being taken advantage of by non-imperial ministers after becoming emperor will be higher... Unfortunately, the generation of Tuoba Hong's father used this reasoning to raise a capable ruler like Tuoba Hong, who was relatively good at governing the country for the common people. But when it came to his own generation...

  "Hmm, there are too many catfish in the harem, and their appetites are too big... The concubines and princes aren't vegetarians either. In the end, the friendly competition turned into mutual slaughter, and now only one crown prince is left alive. This emperor comrade next to me is really a bit pitiful, already in his forties, no fertility issues, yet worrying about not having a son every day!"

  Tuoba Hong finished his long speech and finally picked up the bowl to start eating. Since Lin Yu was by his side, the palace maids responsible for serving food all retreated tactfully, leaving Lin Yu alone to serve Tuoba Hong with dedication. She still followed the same rules as when she served the empress dowager, watching Tuoba Hong's eyes and stretching out her hand in the direction he glanced, without urging him to eat.

  Naturally, the sturgeon soup as the main dish was served in abundance.

  At this time, Lin Wan was serving the emperor's meal with caution, but there was a fundamental difference between this and serving the empress dowager in the Changle Palace. In front of the empress dowager, she was a concubine or a slave, but in front of the emperor, she also had the identity of an imperial concubine. She didn't have to be careful only to serve others and not dare to eat herself; when serving dishes to the emperor, her own bowl was also full of meat and fish, without losing anything for herself.

  But this resulted in Lin Wan picking up her chopsticks too quickly - one person taking two people's portions, how can it not be fast? And that sturgeon was really fresh and delicious, a big pot of Tuoba Hong definitely couldn't finish it, so he just kept sending bowl after bowl into his own mouth. Anyway, if this stuff is left over, it would be a waste of heaven's gift.

  Tuoba Hong looked at the chopsticks flying in front of him like snowflakes, and then glanced at Lin Yuan beside him, whose wrist strength was precise and eating posture was neat. He thought to himself that this woman looked weak but was actually a fierce character.

  After the two of them had eaten and drunk their fill, Lin Wan contentedly let out a satisfied belch, and smiled at Tuoba Hong saying: "The Emperor is really too good to his concubines, being able to enjoy such delicious imperial cuisine, it's truly a blessing earned from three lifetimes..."

  Looking at the nearly empty bowl of sturgeon soup in front of him, Taizong couldn't help but reach out and gently scratch the tip of Lin's nose: "Being able to eat is a blessing. I see that you've been getting plumper lately, your body must be even healthier now. When will you give me an imperial heir?"

  Lin Yan licked her lips and smiled: "The emperor doesn't say so, the concubines also know to work hard." But in her heart, she was secretly scolding, who the hell wants to have children for you now, and after giving birth, they would be taken away, isn't that just asking for suffering?

  "Yes, I and the Empress will work together." Emperor Taizong said such things without any shame. The palace staff who were clearing the table nearby heard his tone was off, so they all quickly sped up their work and retreated soon after. Only the Emperor and the Empress remained in the bedroom.

  Lin Yan glanced at Tuoba Hong twice and suddenly smiled: "Your Majesty has already favored the concubine for five days, right?"