Quick Transmigration: The Rise of a Favored Concubine

Chapter 318 Ruthless and Cruel Emperor × Runaway Palace Maid 14

"Haha..." The Imperial Concubine sneered, "Your Majesty, are you still going to interrogate my maid?"

"Consort, shut up!" The Empress had never seen anyone so stupid. Since the interrogation revealed no problems, they should just admit their mistakes properly. Instead, they're going crazy now, aren't they just forcing His Majesty to punish them?

"Your Majesty, you're so protective of Consort Zhen, do you know that she's lying to you? Her pregnancy is fake!"

The Imperial Concubine had been on edge these past few days, constantly worried that the Empress and Consort Zhen would harm her. She had just been quite frightened and had started to speak recklessly.

"Your Highness, half of the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital have examined Consort Zhen's pulse. She is now almost four months pregnant with the imperial heir. Your Highness must not speak nonsense any further."

Xiao Xuanzi knelt on the ground, fearfully trying to persuade the Imperial Concubine, cold sweat pouring down her face. The Emperor's gaze was already terrifying.

"Your Majesty, how exactly did Consort Zhen bewitch you that you are protecting her so much!"

"She's not pregnant at all; she's lying to you."

"Your Highness, that's enough!" The Empress hadn't expected the Consort to be so mad today; had she lost her mind?

The imperial concubine stiffened her neck and looked at the emperor with icy eyes.

"Does the Imperial Concubine know the consequences of saying these things?" The Emperor's gaze swept over the Imperial Concubine as if she were a dead person.

"Your Majesty, everything I've said is true. Consort Zhen did not..."

"Your Highness!" Chu Yue, supported by Yu Lan and Yu Mei, came out, her face pale and her steps unsteady: "What have I done to offend Your Highness that you would wrong me like this and harm my child?"

"My beloved concubine!" The emperor rushed over and embraced Chu Yue: "Why aren't you lying down properly?"

Chu Yue leaned against the emperor's chest, panting, still feeling some pain in her lower abdomen.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has wronged Her Majesty so much that Her Majesty is heartbroken and cannot bear to see the young prince suffer even the slightest injustice. That is why Her Majesty endured her discomfort to come out."

Yulan explained, her voice choked with emotion.

"Your Majesty... I didn't lie to you, the baby is real." Chu Yue explained hurriedly and flusteredly, pulling the emperor's hand to her belly: "Your Majesty, the baby is moving, you can feel it, can't you?"

"My beloved consort, don't worry, I know, don't be afraid," the emperor gently comforted Chu Yue, holding her and placing her on a chair: "Don't frighten our son, sit here properly."

Chu Yue tried her best to calm herself down, but she still wanted to cry: "Your Majesty, I never expected that the Consort would suspect that I was faking my pregnancy. How could I dare to do such a rebellious thing?"

"Your Majesty, I really wouldn't dare to do such a thing. I wouldn't dare to offend Your Majesty's reputation, and I certainly wouldn't joke about the prince."

"Consort Zhen, you're quite the actress. Let's see what you'll use to give birth to this child!"

His Majesty's leniency towards someone who had deceived him was a complete shock to the Imperial Concubine.

"Your Highness, why are you targeting me like this? What have I done to offend you? I have always been respectful and tolerant. My child is not even born yet, why are you hurting him like this!"

Chu Yue, supporting her belly, stared at the Imperial Concubine with a sorrowful expression and reddened eyes.

"You're just jealous. You can't stand having other concubines around His Majesty, and you're trying to frame me and the Empress by faking a pregnancy." The Consort's face was gloomy. "You've been monopolizing His Majesty because of His Majesty's favor. Consort Zhen, you're just a palace maid, you're not worthy to stand by His Majesty's side."

"Your Highness, you need evidence to support your claims. My precious son is in my womb, why are you making such despicable statements?" Chu Yue said coldly, "I have never acted recklessly because of His Majesty's favor."

"you……"

"The Imperial Concubine has spoken disrespectfully. She is hereby stripped of her title and demoted to the rank of Noble Lady, and confined to the Brocade Palace!" The Emperor gave the Imperial Concubine no further chance to speak: "Take her away!"

"Your Majesty, my father is a great general. Aren't you afraid of hurting his feelings by doing this?" the Imperial Concubine cried out in a panic.

It would have been better if she hadn't brought up General Chen; the moment she mentioned her father, the emperor's expression turned even colder: "Take him away. Without my order, he is not to come out, and no one is allowed to visit him!"

"Your Majesty..." The Imperial Concubine shook her head in a panic, "Your Majesty, please don't... I was wrong, I dare not do it again, Your Majesty, please forgive me."

"Take him away!"

With a gesture from Xiao Xuanzi, a palace maid led the Imperial Concubine away, with Fangcao and Fangfei staggering behind.

"It's alright, it's alright now, don't be afraid." The emperor hugged Chu Yue tightly, comforting her.

Chu Yue nestled in the emperor's arms, too afraid to stray even a fraction away.

"Your Majesty, it's good that Consort Zhen is alright. As for Consort Gui... Consort Chen must have been frightened to be like this."

The Empress secretly breathed a sigh of relief; this matter had nothing to do with her.

"The Empress has mismanaged the inner palace; she is hereby confined for three days and ordered to copy the palace rules ten times!"

If two or three people can't manage it, then there's a problem with their ability.

The Empress's face stiffened, and she forced a smile: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong, Your Majesty accepts punishment."

She was only confined for three days. Fortunately, her imperial seal was not taken away. She was still the empress and had the right to manage the harem.

"I will investigate today's events again. I will never allow such things to happen in my harem."

After the emperor finished speaking, he picked up Chu Yue and returned to Yaohua Palace.

The Empress then collapsed onto Yunxiang's body, her back feeling icy cold.

"Your Highness..." Yunxiang called out in fear. Today's events were too sudden; she never expected that the Imperial Concubine would suffer such a fate.

"Back to the palace... quickly." The Empress's body went limp, and she staggered to her feet. "Leave this place."

“Yes, Your Majesty…” Yunxiang and Yunlian helped her leave Qingya Terrace.

Inside the Brocade Palace, Consort Chen was still crying and wailing, completely unlike her usual composed self.

"Let me out...open the door." Consort Chen was disheveled and her voice was hoarse.

“Your Majesty…” Fangcao and Fangfei supported her, and the group of them wept together.

I never expected Her Majesty to be so unusual today; she's not usually like this.

"Let me out..." Consort Chen slumped to the ground, muttering to herself, her eyes glazed over.

"My lady..."

Yaohua Palace

Chu Yue had already finished her medicine, but her face was still pale and she was in poor spirits, lying listlessly on the bed.

"My beloved concubine, you have been wronged. If there is anything you want, tell me."

The emperor was heartbroken. The increasingly protruding belly of Consort Zhen was the best proof, as was the throbbing in her palm, all indicating that Consort Zhen was carrying a royal child.

"Your Majesty... Waaah..." Chu Yue felt wronged just thinking about it and weakly nestled into the emperor's arms.

"Don't cry, don't cry, be careful not to hurt yourself." The Emperor felt very guilty that Consort Zhen was so frightened, and he should stay by her side at all times.

"They're targeting me... They can't stand Your Majesty's favor towards me," Chu Yue complained, feeling wronged.

"I only care about you, I don't care about anyone else."

"I have never targeted anyone, yet they still won't let me go."

"I will avenge you."

"It would be good to vent your anger." Chu Yue looked at the emperor pitifully.

"Alright, whatever you say." The emperor coaxed her affectionately, "My beloved consort, don't be angry anymore. How about I take you to climb a hill and gaze at the moon?"

"Too high, it will frighten the prince."

"How about we go boating on the lake and admire the lotus flowers?"

"...This..." Chu Yue pondered for a moment, "When are we going?"

"Can we wait until you're feeling a bit better?"

"okay."

The Emperor finally breathed a sigh of relief when Consort Zhen agreed.