Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1371: For the Empress, I Will Do Anything (177 million reward points)

Concubine Dun held the warm little body in her arms, and the softest string in her heart was plucked.

She lowered her head, her cheek against the soft crown of the Third Prince's head, and spoke in a firm voice, as if to comfort the child, but also as if to swear an oath to herself.

"Ah Jing, don't be afraid... Mother is here. Mother will definitely strive for success and will never let His Majesty only see the son of Yongshou Palace!"

When she said this, Concubine Dun narrowed her eyes slightly, with a cold light flashing in them.

After the third prince was coaxed into submission, Concubine Dun asked the wet nurse to take him downstairs to rest.

The inner hall returned to silence, with only broken porcelain scattered on the ground, a reminder of the violent storm just now.

Princess Dun sat back in her chair and picked up the hot tea that Odako had offered her again.

She took a sip slowly, and the warm tea slid down her throat, slightly calming her turbulent blood and gradually calming her mind that was burning with anger.

Xiao Tianzi saw that Concubine Dun's expression had calmed down a bit, no longer as frightening as before, so he dared to approach again and spoke cautiously, "Your Majesty, I hope you've calmed down."

"This servant has always felt that there is something strange about what happened today..."

Concubine Dun put down the teacup and raised her eyes. The anger in her eyes had subsided. "I know what you want to say."

"But now that I think about what I said in anger, it might not be entirely wrong."

"That woman, the Imperial Noble Consort, has climbed from a mere promise to her current position. How powerful are her methods and scheming?"

"She has finally reached this position, so naturally she has to keep everyone under her in check. How could she be happy to see others enjoying themselves, taking away her favor, and threatening her position?"

"Every single one of the grudges between me and her is not fabricated out of thin air!"

At this point, Concubine Dun suddenly changed the subject, a sneer curling up at the corner of her lips: "But... I wanted to go to the Imperial Garden to relax, and I happened to hear these two ignorant people gossiping about each other, and every word they said hits me where it hurts the most..."

"Do you really think I'm such a brainless idiot that I can't even see through such a crude scheme of using a knife to kill someone else?"

Concubine Dun gritted her teeth and said, "I hate the Imperial Concubine so much that I wish I could tear her hypocritical appearance apart!"

"But someone wants to use me as a sword, letting me charge into battle while she sits back and reaps the benefits? That all depends on whether I agree or not!"

"Otaniko!"

Xiao Tianzi was in high spirits and quickly responded, "The servant is here!"

"Go and check it out for me!"

Concubine Dun's eyes gleamed coldly: "Find out which palace sent those two chattering servants out today, and who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes!"

"Want to hide behind and watch the show? I'm going to pull her out!"

Seeing that Concubine Dun had regained her shrewd appearance, Xiao Tianzi felt relieved and said, "Yes! I understand. I will do it right away!"

He bowed and accepted the order, then quickly stepped out to make arrangements.

Concubine Dun sat alone, the anger in her heart had not completely disappeared.

There was indeed no peace in the harem.

It's easy to dodge an open spear, but hard to guard against an arrow from the dark. She wanted to see who else, besides the Imperial Noble Consort, was secretly watching the Yikun Palace!

……

Under the quiet eaves of the rear hall of Changchun Palace, Ruo Ji stopped Xiao Caizi who was about to leave in a hurry.

She frowned and lowered her voice, saying, "Xiao Caizi, you've been too impetuous lately."

"Only by doing our duty and fulfilling our responsibilities can we, the servants, live long."

"Those who spread rumors and sow discord behind the scenes will eventually backfire on themselves."

Little Caizi paused, a trace of disapproval flashed across his face, and he twitched the corners of his mouth and said stubbornly, "Sister Ruoji, what you said is not right."

"If it weren't for the kindness of the Imperial Concubine, my life would have been buried in a mass grave long ago. Helping the Imperial Concubine solve her problems is my most important task!"

"But you, Sister Ruoji, are an elder brought up from the mansion by the Empress. The Empress trusts you the most. Why don't you try to do more for the Empress and clear away obstacles? Why do you come to stop me?"

Ruoji looked at Little Caizi's stubborn expression and sighed inwardly, his tone becoming more serious. "It is precisely because I care about the safety and honor of the Empress that I must act with caution."

"To serve the Empress well, one must be loyal and diligent, not resort to these despicable and sinister tricks."

"It's not easy for the Queen to get to where she is today. We should be more cautious."

Little Caizi stiffened his neck and retorted in a stern tone, "People with different ideals cannot work together!"

Seeing him like this, Ruo Ji had no choice but to explain his words more clearly, hoping to wake him up: "Little Caizi, wake up! Do you really think that everyone in the palace is stupid?"

"Empress Dun usually seems to be all fuss and jealousy, vying for favor. But think about it, if she were truly clueless, how could she have survived in that man-eating palace? How could she have successfully raised the Third Prince and even climbed all the way to the position of Concubine?"

"Your simple tactics, deliberately arranging people to gossip about her wherever she passed, do you really think she can't see that someone is deliberately instigating her?"

"If Concubine Dun follows the clues and finds you, do you think you are helping Concubine Gui? You are only bringing disaster upon her and bringing disaster upon yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Little Caizi, far from being afraid, revealed a confident sneer, his eyes flashing with a fierceness that was not in line with his age: "Sister Ruoji, you really underestimate me."

"Since you dare to do it, I have naturally made all the necessary preparations."

"Those two eunuchs are just insignificant little characters. Even if Concubine Dun finds out about them, it will definitely not be linked to me, let alone Changchun Palace. I have a perfect scapegoat to take their place!"

Ruoji looked at the determination in Xiao Caizi's eyes, frowning even more tightly, a chill rising in his heart: "You...you are acting this way, aren't you afraid of violating the harmony of nature and damaging your good deeds?"

"Tianhe? Yinde?"

Little Caizi sneered as if he had heard a huge joke, but his laughter was filled with desolation and self-mockery: "Sister Ruoji, I am a eunuch who has no children and no grandchildren. I am like a rat in the gutter. What is the point of doing good deeds?"

"My worthless life was saved by the Empress. My only hope in life is to repay the Empress for saving my life. For the Empress, I am willing to do anything and dare to do anything!"

After saying this, Xiao Caizi no longer looked at Ruoji, who was looking at him with a gaze full of disapproval and worry. He turned around and walked away quickly, his back soon disappearing around the corner of the palace wall.

Ruoji stood there alone, looking in the direction where Xiao Caizi disappeared, feeling heavy in his heart.

There is no doubt that Xiao Caizi is loyal to the Empress, but this loyalty, which is accompanied by paranoia and ruthlessness, is like a double-edged sword.

If used well, it might hurt the enemy.

But if you are not careful, you might hurt yourself first, or even... bring disaster to the Empress.

……

Yongshou Palace.

The afternoon sun shines softly through the fine curtains.

Shen Zhinian was wearing a goose yellow casual suit, which made him look more lazy and elegant.