"Enough!" Zong Zhengjin frowned. "Let Shu Guifei handle this matter from now on. Regardless of punishment or life and death, I must find that person for me."

  "It is your subject's command"

  Zong Zhengjin got up and walked to her side "Follow me"

  Su Jing suppressed her inner joy and hastily performed a curtsy, saying "Concubine withdraws" leaving behind an incredulous gaze in the room.

  "Your Majesty," Su Jing hurriedly walked up to his side, slightly panting and pulling on his arm. "Your Majesty, slow down."

  Zong Zhengjin stood up and glanced at her short legs with great disdain. "You're getting more and more capable now."

  Even if he doesn't believe in ghosts and gods, but makes a poisonous oath, what should be done if it really comes true?

  Su Jing pouted "Isn't it not yet sent?"

  "You still want to send it? I'll stop you, and that's not right." Zong Zhengjin was slightly depressed, so his tone was quite unpleasant.

  Su Jingxi hugged his arm, half of her body leaning against his chest. "Your Majesty is always right in the eyes of concubines, and everything about Your Majesty is good in the hearts of concubines."

  "Hmph" Zong Zhengjin coldly snorted, having heard too many of her sweet words. Each time she had coaxed him into lightly lifting the lid, but this time he didn't want to let her have her way.

  He put down her hand and let her stand up straight, then took a step back. The two of them stood facing each other, their eyes locked in a stare. "Don't say such useless things."

  Su Jing wanted to step forward, but when she met his gaze, she stopped abruptly and pouted. Seeing him turn his head away, she secretly despised his arrogant face, yet continued to pretend to be pitiful: "Your Majesty, don't you care about your concubine anymore?"

  Zong Zhengyin couldn't bear to see her cry, even if sometimes it was fake. Every time she had that red-eyed look, he couldn't help but feel heartache. He didn't think deeply about the source of this feeling and instead attributed it to habit.

  "Speak nicely" even if you don't look but the tone has softened a bit

  "Okay." Su Jing replied with a tone of resignation and rubbed her eyes.

  Zong Zhengjin sighed and turned his head "There won't be a next time"

  Su Jing nodded and immediately stepped forward, tightly hugging his arm. "Yes, I guarantee there won't be a next time."

  Zong Zhengjin knew her attitude and realized she didn't really care, so he was about to pull her over for a good education when suddenly someone hugged his waist.

  "Your Majesty, you trust me so much, I am delighted and truly moved. I also know that Your Majesty is doing this for my own good, I understand it all, and I will remember it in my heart."

  Never forgot his kindness to her

  Attacking the heart is the best strategy. The most straightforward thing to say is that Su Jing didn't have time to consider whether she would be embarrassed, and as soon as she thought of it, it had already slipped out of her mouth. Maybe it was true feelings after all.

  Zong Zhengjin slightly stunned, her low voice came from his chest, with each word, he could almost feel his heartbeat speeding up, his heart slowly seeming to overflow. He patted her back a bit stiffly, "Hmm."

  Su Jing saw that he didn't speak and knew that her trick had worked as she wished, and it would no longer be mentioned.

  She really hadn't expected him to trust her so much, although she had thought he would believe her, but didn't think it would be to this extent, almost unconditional. Heaven knows how delighted and moved she was.

  Time flies and it's already the day of the ancestral worship ritual. Emperor Zhongzong accompanied Empress Wei to the Temple of Heaven for the ceremony, with all officials in attendance.

  This activity has nothing to do with the imperial concubines because they are not empresses and do not have the qualification to enjoy the courtiers' worship and the people's support.

  Guan Yu Temple

  "How long have these rumors been circulating?" Su Jing asked with a frown

  "It's been some days since I thought it should be around the time of the Third Prince's birth, but it seems that these days have been spreading more and more fiercely, even among the people there are rumors circulating." De Man also furrowed his brow, naturally aware of the severity of the matter.

  "Then what about the Empress and Consort Shu?"

  Linking a baby less than a month old to the great drought disaster, it's a heavenly calamity that brings bad luck and misfortune. It's unbelievable how cruel these people can be.

  "The Queen has almost stopped managing the affairs of the harem these days. It's said that the imperial physician goes to Kunning Palace every day, relying on medicine to sustain her life. Today, I followed the Emperor to the Temple of Heaven, which was also unavoidable. A few days ago, Consort Shu had a few slaves beaten to death as a warning, but rumors still spread secretly, causing people's hearts to be in a state of panic."

  Su Jing didn't think that the Empress's Strong Bowel Disease had become so severe, no wonder the previous case was handed over to Shu Gui Fei, and the Empress has hardly appeared in front of the concubines until now.

  It's just that she can't figure it out. Logically speaking, the queen's body has always been fine before, and it's rare to hear that Kun Ning Palace invited a doctor, but suddenly after the New Year, it seemed like her life was not long. But strangely, neither the emperor, the empress dowager, nor the queen herself seems to want to thoroughly investigate the cause.

  If it is said that the empress suddenly contracted a serious illness, she would not believe it no matter what. The emperor, empress and empress dowager had been asking about her well-being every five days, so they should have discovered some symptoms early on. Moreover, the medical skills of the imperial physicians were not bad.

  It seems that everything started from the night when Zong Zhengjin suddenly came to Yunyun's place drunk. He might have felt guilty or wanted to make up for something, but anyway, after that, she could clearly feel that there was something more between them.

  And from then on, the queen also stopped creating opportunities for her and assisting her everywhere, including the kindness of New Year's Eve. If it is said that she was kind, it would be somewhat excessive.

  If it's according to this statement, then that night Zong Zhengjin's behavior was all because of the Empress. The Empress knew she wouldn't live for long, so why did she help her consolidate her imperial favor? Logically speaking, since he had taken an aphrodisiac, Zong Zhengjin should not have tolerated the Empress; even if it meant giving her a death sentence, it would not be excessive.

  What made the emperor swallow his anger was not because he truly loved the empress, but for other reasons. What made him tolerate what ordinary people could not was for the sake of his kingdom, which involved the previous dynasty.

  Su Jing shook her head, she always felt that things were not so simple. Even if the incident that night was indeed caused by the Empress, why did the Empress want to do such a thing? For ten years without an heir, it wasn't right for her to suddenly take such drastic measures. And that day was when they went to Cining Palace to pay their respects, the Dowager Empress had unusually kept the two Empresses behind to chat for over an hour.

  So what role did the Empress Dowager play in this matter?

  The Empress Dowager, the Emperor and the Empress seem to have many secrets unknown to outsiders among them.

  "What measures has His Majesty taken?"

  Dai Man shook his head, "I haven't heard any news. The Emperor has been busy with the severe drought in Luocheng and the sacrificial rites for the ancestors. Even the Empress knows that the Emperor hasn't set foot in the harem lately. There are rumors that the Emperor doesn't value the Third Prince at all, and even thinks he's an unlucky person."

  Su Jingxu did not agree, no matter how much he valued the third prince, at least for now, this was his only heir. He could not let others tarnish and slander his own bloodline after such a big thing happened. For an emperor, this was absolutely unbearable.

  After Su Shun's report, the emperor still maintained an indifferent attitude. It can only be said that the emperor had other plans. Perhaps being aloof was also a good protective shield. Without the emperor's attention, the third prince would at least live a simpler life, without so many resentful eyes staring at him.

  "Order the slaves in Guanjiu Palace not to discuss this matter privately, those who disobey will be sent directly to the Ministry of Punishment. Guanjiu Palace cannot tolerate such slaves."

  "It is understood, I will pass on the order." De Man bowed and walked out.

  "Master, have some bird's nest soup." Yao walked in carrying a tray

  Su Jing accepted and said "What's your take on this matter?"

  "The slave and servant thought that the person behind must have a plot, and what they plotted was not simple, it seemed not to be" heard Yao approaching and whispering, but before she finished speaking, Su Jing had already understood her meaning.

  "It seems that it's not something those women in the harem can do" Su Jing continued, "If there is to be a rumor circulating among the people, it must be an outsider and not one of the palace-bound consorts."

  "Lü City suffered a severe drought, and the people were unable to plant crops, delaying agricultural work. Just at this time, the third prince was born prematurely, giving them an excellent opportunity. The people were already easily swayed and unstable, and the imperial court was in turmoil, so Prince Yong'an..."

  "The master said that Yong'an Wang wants" Yao did a hand gesture pointing upwards

  "Otherwise, why hasn't he returned to his own fief?" Su Jing asked. Although the harem was not allowed to interfere in politics, she was still able to know that the King of Yong'an had not only returned to the capital ahead of schedule last year but also had not returned to his fief for a long time after the new year. If it was just to fulfill his filial duty, it seemed a bit far-fetched.

  Xiang Yao was visibly startled "Why would the Emperor still indulge him"

  "It must be around this time." Su Jing had a feeling that some things would come to an end during this period. "Let's all be careful not to leave any gaps for others to take advantage of."

  "It was this slave's fault." Yao nodded "Regarding the matter of that palace maid a few days ago, it was this slave's uselessness. Please punish me, Master."

  That night they did not realize it, and the next day there was no time for them to react. It wasn't until early in the morning that the palace gates were opened, and outside, people had already begun to gather in twos and threes, their suspicious gazes all pointing towards Guan Yu Palace.

  Su Jing stopped her from kneeling down, shook her head and said: "This is not your fault. Others want to pour dirty water on us. How can we stop it? All we can do is splash the water back."

  "The master already knows who it is." Yu heard and hastily asked

  "I don't know," Su Jing chuckled and said, "If we don't know, then let's just splash some in front of each person's door. That way, the person will definitely be among them."

  Palace Concubine (Yi Shu)

  Gong Shu