The Daily Life of a Concubine

Chapter 32 - Planning for Offspring

"I heard there's a student revolt in Jiangnan. Could it have been influenced by Minister Tan?" Zhang Momo whispered softly in the Empress's ear.

The Empress sighed, "Whether it was or not, I don't know. But I do know that after this incident, no one from the Tan family will come out unscathed. If it weren't for Master Tan's sake, do you think His Majesty would have tolerated the Tan family for so long?"

Heh, back when the Emperor was still a prince, Master Tan had been his tutor.

Later, when he was appointed Crown Prince, a new tutor was assigned. However, the Emperor's bond with Master Tan as teacher and student had never been severed.

Otherwise, the Emperor wouldn't have elevated the Tan family so highly.

As for this incident involving the students' boycott of the imperial examinations, who knows if the Tan family had a hand in it? Heh, the Noble Consort? She's nothing to be feared.

"Has there been a message from home?" Hearing Momo's words, the Empress knew that her family might have sent a message into the palace.

"Yes."

Soon, a letter was placed in the Empress's hands.

After reading it, the Empress sighed and then burned the letter.

"When the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the cunning hare is dead, the hunting dog is cooked." As she burned the letter, the Empress uttered this startling phrase.

"Your Majesty." Zhang Momo, who was standing beside her, was so shocked that she choked. "Has something happened to the lord and lady?" Not only was she shocked, but she was also fearful.

If something happened to the general's household, her entire family wouldn't be spared. After all, she was a servant born and raised in the general's household.

The Empress gave a bitter smile. "Momo, don't worry. As long as my father and brother relinquish their military power, the Cheng family will have a chance at survival." She just felt that the Emperor was too heartless.

Putting everything else aside, her father and brother had guarded the borders for Da Yue for many years. Even if they hadn't earned great merit, they had worked hard. But the Emperor?

Now he wanted to consolidate all power in his own hands and discard those who had outlived their usefulness. No wonder, ever since she lost the First Prince, no matter how much she tried to regulate her health, there had been no sign of pregnancy.

At first, she thought it was the handiwork of the Zhang family and the Empress Dowager. But now it seemed that the Emperor had probably been involved as well, hadn't he?

How could he shamelessly talk about having a legitimate heir with her?

The Empress's tears began to fall, quickly soaking the front of her robe. Indeed, the most heartless people are those in the imperial family.

It is often said that the inner palace should not interfere in political matters, but the inner palace and the court have never truly been separate. The Emperor's recent actions were far too obvious, involving not only the head of the civil officials but also the military generals.

And in the inner palace, the daughters of two prominent officials held high positions.

Indeed, a single move could affect the entire situation.

"Make your move. It's time to act, and we should secure what we need. Otherwise, people might think that this Empress's position is unstable." After being a couple for so many years, she believed she had never wronged him. But for him to scheme against her womb, was something she couldn't tolerate.