"Sister Su is here! Its been a long time since Ive seen my sister, and Im so anxious," said Xiang Yuxiu, sitting at the entrance, who was the first to see Su Jing come over.

  At the sound of the voice, everyones eyes uniformly turned towards Su Jingyu.

  "Thanks to sisters chanting, look, after more chanting, the younger sister appeared in front of her?" Su Jing said with a smile and greeted everyone present before speaking.

  Saying so with their mouth, but in their heart they are cursing, often muttering to themselves that she should be thinking about why she hasnt died yet.

  Xiang Eryu pinched her handkerchief and lightly pointed at her, "All the sisters and younger sisters say, isnt this Su sister getting more and more glib? This imperial concubine cant even argue with her."

  "Xiang sister smiled," no longer paying attention to the flattering words of others, Su Jing said lightly.

  An eunuch came over and announced, "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived."

  "The concubines pay their respects to Her Majesty the Empress," everyone knelt down.

  The queen sat on the upper seat and said, "All of you sisters, please get up."

  Su Jing swept a glance upwards, and saw that the Empress was wearing a deep purple palace attire with pomegranate-red peony patterns, and on her high hair bun were several golden hairpins, making her whole person radiant and resplendent.

  I really dont know if shes here to celebrate the birthday of Empress Shu or to cause trouble for others, everything she wears and uses is only available to those with the rank of empress.

  On the contrary, Shu Gui Fei was dressed as usual, wearing a colorful flying flower golden phoenix coronet and a simple low bun with only one branch of double lotus longevity fruit step shaking gold hairpin, and a jade orchid hair flower.

  Just from her attire, the queen already looked somewhat inferior.

  "Ladies, lets chat for a while. The Emperor is still attending to state affairs and will probably be here soon," the Empress said with a gentle stroke of her hand on the gold-inlaid jade guard on her sleeve, exuding an air of kindness.

  Shu Gui Fei also just thought that the Empress was unclear about her intentions, and upon hearing this, she nodded slightly, "This is natural, the Emperors affairs are urgent."

  "Why dont we watch a few plays first, and while were at it, lets consider it an early birthday celebration for your sister," the Empress said, suppressing the slight displeasure in her heart as she saw that Consort Shus expression was normal.

  The highest leader present made a statement, and naturally those below had no opinion, responding in unison with "good".

  "Lets have it from my sister today. My sister is the star of longevity, naturally the biggest," said the queen, not taking the play script handed over by the palace maid, but instead turning her head to say so.

  The Shu Gui Fei smiled and said, "Ill just make a toast to the longevity of the Mago, the rest is up to all of you sisters, lets have some fun."

  Su Jingxiang didnt even look at the script when it was passed to her and directly gave it to the next person.

  I dont know what taboos these high-ranking officials have, and if I accidentally offend something, it would be a trouble for myself.

  "Sister Su doesnt think much of these operas? Why doesnt she even glance at the playbill?" Ruan Xiaoyi sat in her upper seat, taking in the whole scene.

  Su Jing saw that everyones gaze was again focused on her, and she felt a bit helpless. If she answered, she feared it would only further offend Shu Gui Fei to death.

  She smiled somewhat awkwardly, "I just didnt understand those operas, so I didnt want to affect the refined tastes of all my sisters, thats why I didnt watch."

  "This is true, youre only afraid that all you know are some delicious foods, and every day youre thinking about things that cant be put on the table," said Zong Zhengjin as he walked in from outside.

  Everyone knelt down and paid their respects, "Get up, theres no need for too much courtesy today," he said with a wave of his hand.

  "How can the Emperor tease me again, I wont stand for it," Su Jinglian sighed inwardly that the Emperor had come at just the right time, but her mouth still said so.

  Zong Zhengjin smiled lightly and said, "Did I say something wrong?"

  "The Emperor is wise and just, so naturally he cant be wrong," Su Jing said reluctantly, rolling her eyes.

  Zong Zhengjin burst out laughing and saw her with a bitter face, some flattering him in a somewhat hypocritical manner, although it was clear that she was not willing to do so, he found it very pleasant to hear.

  The people next to them saw that they were like two ordinary people, without a few words, the emperor was amused, were they usually like this?

  The question is, when did Your Majesty become so good-tempered?

  The queen felt bitter in her heart, her husband who had been on her mind since he came in hadnt looked at her once, instead he was smiling with another woman, but when he saw Consort Shu, he strangely felt balanced again.

  "Your Majesty, shall we have a banquet?" The empress asked responsibly.

  Zong Zhengjin nodded upon hearing this, "Set up a banquet."

  Whats called celebrating Shu Guifeis birthday is just setting up a banquet, inviting a troupe to perform a few plays and making merry for a while.

  After all, she was just a concubine.

  "Give this fragrant beef strip to Imperial Consort Su," said Zong Zhengjin as he saw Su Shun placing a dish on the table.

  He remembered her seeming to have a special fondness for this spicy dish.

  Su Jing was savoring the pleasure of eating a dish of hand-torn chicken, when she heard this, she raised her head and glanced at the person in front of her, instantly delighted, revealing a big smile. "The concubine thanks Your Majesty for your kindness."

  "This flower is blooming for Shu Guifeis good fortune, lets ask for a good omen today," Zong Zhengjin said with a warm and gentle tone.

  Shu Gui Fei was a perceptive woman, and after many years in the palace, she had long seen through his intentions towards her, knowing what to do was most suitable, and also what she should do.

  She entered the palace for the Qiao family, and she lived because of the Qiao family.

  In the palace, she only wanted to target the Empress, who was infertile. She knew very well who was to blame for this.

  She smiled demurely and said, "Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty."

  Zong Zhengjin nodded and didnt say anything else.

  His Majesty was present, and everyone else naturally wanted to do everything possible to attract his attention. Unfortunately, the concubine had intentions but the lord had no feelings, and Zong Zhengjins gaze never stayed on anyone other than Shu Gui Fei and Su Gui Ren for more than three seconds.

  A strange and eerie banquet continued slowly, "Ill go see you again tonight, theres still official business at the Imperial Study, Ill take my leave first," Zong Zhengjin said to Shu Gui Fei as he turned around.

  After finishing speaking, he took another look at the queen, and the meaning was self-evident.

  The queen naturally understood his meaning and nodded, "I understand, Your Majestys government affairs are urgent, its good for the sisters to play together here."

  "Your humble concubine sends off Your Majesty."

  Tonight, His Majesty will naturally rest in Chonghua Palace.

  Drunken Cloud Villa

  "Master, you..."

  Su Jing stood by the window, looking at the bright moon outside, "Look, the moon is almost full."

  Yao walked over and said, "Master, the Emperor treats you differently. You should let it go."

  Su Jing let out a sigh, "I know, its just that some things are beyond ones control. Help me get ready for bed."

  No matter how different Zhong Zhengjin was to her, he didnt reach the point of guarding his body like jade for her, and she didnt have such extravagant hopes either.

  Shes just afraid shell never be satisfied.

  But will she?

  Chonghua Palace

  After the storm, the two lay on the bed together. Zong Zhengjins hand gently stroked her back, but he felt that it wasnt particularly good, so he changed to stroking her hair instead. "My dear, have you ever felt wronged?"

  The Empress Shus hand was placed on his chest, "Your Majesty, I have already received so many years of grace and favor, I am already content. It is also right for Your Majesty to dote on the young sister."

  Zong Zhengjin had always known what kind of attitude he had towards the woman in front of him, so many years, taking advantage of and doting on her, but also getting used to it.

  However, habits can be changed.

  "Very well, I shall grant your request, Empress, but do not try to test the limits of my patience."

  This can also be considered as a kind of compensation.

  "I thank Your Majesty, I will strictly observe my duties and also restrain the people of the Qiao family."

  The Empress Shu was indeed grateful, her wishes he had always known, after all these years, now finally fulfilled.

  The peach blossoms are luxuriant, their beauty is dazzling. At the age of 28, she entered the palace and became a queen. Her husband was handsome and considerate, the king was powerful and majestic. The thrill of youth was not absent either.

  But she was always very clever and soon understood why he treated her differently from others, ruthlessly suppressing her own thoughts.

  So she lived until now, and so did the Qiao family.

  Many times, she wondered if she hadnt married him, whether she would have met a husband who truly loved and cherished her, one who held her in the palm of his hand and placed her at the tip of his heart.

  Carry one with a kind heart, white hair will not part ways.

  There is no if, there was no if, and there will never be an if.

  "Alright," having gotten the answer he wanted, Zong Zhengjin lay down and closed his eyes.

  "Hmm," Shu Gui Fei responded.

  She wanted to ask why this person was Su Jing, or what made him Su Jing. For so many years, she had thought that Emperor Bo was thin and didnt understand love.

  It would be like this for a lifetime, but the person destined for him finally appeared.

  However, it seems that neither of the two parties has seen through it, or rather, they havent seen as clearly as this bystander.

  Its love, its hate, its pampering, its love, entwining and entangling, and thats how it is.

  At the third watch, Su Jing woke up dazedly and asked, "Listen to Yao, what happened outside?"

  Yao hurried in, "Master, Du Chang has called for the imperial physician, and its causing quite a commotion."

  "Is Du Chang often here?" Su Jing thought that this was the only person in the palace who was currently pregnant.

  "Can the Emperor and Empress have a past?"

  "I dont know for now, its just too noisy, I guess all the palaces already know."

  "Wait for me to get up."

  Since all the palaces already knew about it, even if the Empress wouldnt go there in person, as a small imperial concubine, Chuxiu Palace was near Guangjiu Palace, she couldnt pretend to know nothing.

  Dressed properly, Su Jing didnt rush to Guan Yu Gong and instead went out of the inner chamber, "Go call in Xiao Fu Zi."

  "Your humble servant greets you, young master," Little Fu Zi had been waiting outside and immediately came in upon hearing this.

  Su Jing took a sip of tea, feeling a bit bitter. "Get up, come here, I have some things to entrust you with."

  "Speaking of which, Su Jing looked at him lightly again," Lift your head and tell me, can I trust you?"