The Female Psychology PHD Got Time Travelled To The Royal Harem

Chapter 54

Her arrogant and coquettish little demeanor drew a laugh from the Xuanwu Emperor, who couldn't resist teasing her: "When others praise your beauty, you don't know how to be humble, do you? Have you no shame?"

Jiang Xinyue shook her head playfully, "Your Majesty, excessive humility only makes people dislike you. It's like if I were to praise you as a diligent and benevolent Emperor, wouldn't you agree that I have good taste?"

After all, how could the Emperor say he wasn't?

Indirectly flattered, the Emperor's dragon countenance beamed with delight as he embraced her from behind. "During the Vernal Equinox in the second month of spring, I shall lead the officials to the countryside for spring plowing. Would my beloved consort like to join me?"

Jiang Xinyue had heard of the ancient tradition of Emperors personally "guiding the plow" during spring plowing ceremonies, but had only seen it in television dramas. She was quite curious to witness the spectacle herself.

Her eyes widened with eagerness, having already cast aside any displeasure over the Emperor's previous suspicions. "Could this servant really go? Truly?"

The Xuanwu Emperor was charmed by her timely emotional response. "If I say you can go, then you can go."

On the day of spring plowing, the Empress would also attend, so bringing along a couple of consorts wouldn't be an issue.

In the Cining Palace—

Although the Dowager Empress didn't manage the affairs of the harem, she knew full well which consort the Emperor favored and which he bestowed gifts upon.

A pungent medicinal scent wafted through the air, revealing Consort Rong's haggard and pallid complexion.

The palace maids in the Cining Palace were more solemn than elsewhere, their footsteps so light they were almost inaudible, their breathing shallow. None of them smiled or spoke to one another.

The elegantly adorned Dowager Empress sat by the bedside, while not far away, a woman with a delicate and refined beauty knelt on the floor.

"Your Highness..."

Consort Rong's hair was disheveled. "My sister has been kneeling for two hours now in this bitter cold. If she develops any ailment from this, you will feel pained too."

The woman kneeling on the floor, her face turning bluish, was none other than Consort Shu who had already been elevated to that rank.

The Dowager Empress let out a cold snort. "Consort Shu is so high and mighty that even when the Emperor humbled himself to seek her forgiveness, she refused to pardon him, driving the sovereign out of the Jingren Palace. Now Consort Zhen has reaped the great benefit. Now that I pity Consort Rong's miscarriage and wish to help her find the true culprit so that she may regain the Emperor's favor, Consort Shu is unwilling to help. It seems she is hoping for us members of the Wu family to die sooner!"

Consort Shu's heart was filled with grief, the deep sorrow in her eyes refusing to dissipate. "Why must you torment me so, aunt? The Emperor's past affection for me was just an act, staged for you and my father. Ever since the fall of the Wu family, the Emperor has long grown weary of me. Now that the lives of over two hundred Wu clansmen separate the Emperor and me, how can I possibly vie for his favor as you suggest?"

"So you wish to wait for death in this harem?"

The Dowager Empress was well aware of the Emperor's wariness towards her. Years ago, the Emperor's initial choice for Empress was supposed to be Consort Shu, but he had secretly selected the daughter of the Yu family instead, infuriating her.