This generation's reality teaches her that it's not just about survival of the fittest, but more importantly, how to make herself live a better life.

  She may have thought that freedom is important, but she wouldn't be foolish enough to think that freedom is more important than life. She may have thought of letting her child not repeat her own mistakes, but she wouldn't block this child from having a more suitable future for him.

  Especially if it's a boy, if he can't ascend to that throne in the future, then what awaits him may be imprisonment for life or even being put to death.

  Although it's cruel, it's a reality that people can't help but adapt to.

  Su Jing didn't have a glass heart, so she wouldn't get entangled in this matter. Actually, when she first found out, she had already guessed his meaning, but just didn't say it out loud. Now that she's speaking up, it's not to seek an answer either.

  "Will Your Majesty be coming tonight?"

  Zong Zhengjin raised an eyebrow and shifted his gaze to her, scanning her up and down before finally settling on a certain part.

  Su Jingxiu felt a bit embarrassed, slightly turned her body, blocking half of it, and said discontentedly, "Your Majesty"

  Zong Zhengjin smiled lightly and withdrew his gaze, seeing the little guy in his arms staring at him with wide eyes. He waved his hand in front of him and said, "Fei'er wants me to come."

  Su Jing pouted and didn't want to answer him, but actually she just wanted to ask casually. If he hadn't come, she would have gone to sleep with her son as usual.

  Before that, she had been in confinement for nearly forty days. Although he came to see her and talk to her every day, the two did not share a bed. At night, he either stayed in the main hall of the Palace of Gathered Elegance or returned directly to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

  However, he did not go to other palaces.

  Even though the queen is not around now, the empress dowager is also ill, and there is no one to advise him that rain and dew are equally shared, but those ministers with daughters in the harem will certainly oppose it, and will put pressure on him, including his exclusive favor towards her for nearly a year.

  Not to mention the harem, even in those big families, it is unbearable, let alone him being the emperor, and a weak offspring emperor at that.

  Su Jing's heart was not unmoved by this.

  All the more willing to make amends.

  But I will never want to push him away, didn't in the past, don't now, and won't in the future.

  "What's it to you whether I am or not?" Su Jing smiled lightly and raised an eyebrow, imitating him.

  Zong Zhengjin was amused by her appearance, "If so, you come to compensate me, if not, I will compensate you."

  Her mind is not hard to guess at all, especially in this regard.

  Although it's said that there is no true feeling in the palace and there won't be true love either, but for her, he would rather believe what he saw himself.

  Su Jing hastily walked over and grasped her son's other hand, the little guy seemed to sense it, and waved his hands vigorously, "What Your Majesty said, I didn't see any difference at all."

  "As long as you're at ease, it doesn't matter if you become a bit foolish," Zong Zhengjin immediately added, his expression quite serious.

  Su Jing gave him a cold stare, not wanting to reason with him at all.

  Zong Zhengjin didn't mind at all, "I still have something to attend to, I'll leave first and come back to see you tonight."

  Su Jing took over the child, just about to speak, and felt a wave of wetness on her knees. She touched down and found that it was indeed so. However, the child didn't seem to have any idea that anything was wrong and continued to play happily.

  Zong Zhengjin stood up and immediately sensed something was off, a rather unkind smile spreading across his face. "Haha, it seems Jun'er is extremely fond of her empress mother."

  Su Jing pouted, not wanting to see that gloating person again. "Your Majesty, is this intentional?"

  Why was it fine for so long when it was on him, but as soon as it's on me, it becomes like this, "careless".

  Zong Zhengjin didn't answer her, instead he walked over, stroked the little guy's face and said "Not bad". He then left a profound smile on her face before walking out.

  Leaving Su Jing's long-lasting resentment alone.

  After lunch, she took a nap with the little guy. When she woke up, she was worried that there would be nothing to do in the afternoon again. But then a message came and completely ruined her mood for playing around.

  "You said that Consort Shu gave birth prematurely," Su Jing repeated Dai Man's words, standing up and saying, "Qing Rou, you few take good care of the Fourth Prince, don't leave his side for a single step."

  "Yes, I understand," Qing Rou and Xiang replied in unison as they hastily paid their respects.

  "Your Majesty, can you hurry over?" Su Jing asked as she walked out, "Do you know what caused the premature birth?"

  "I don't know either."

  Just as they were about to enter the palace gate, Xiaofuzi came running in from outside, "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Ladyship."

  "It's nothing, just forget it." Su Jing furrowed her brow, with such urgency and haste, it definitely wouldn't be a small matter.

  "Your Ladyship, an imperial edict has been issued. Concubine Shu has given birth prematurely. The various consorts do not need to rush to the Ronghua Palace, but can go directly to the Changchun Palace."

  Su Jing furrowed her brow, as the premature birth of Shu Guifei should have prompted everyone to rush to Chonghua Palace to wait with bated breath. But why was it in Changchun Palace instead? Was there some sort of conspiracy at play?

  "Since it's the emperor's will, let's go to Changchun Palace first," whatever happened, we'll know once we get there. "Zhen Shao Yi Niang Niang has arrived," the eunuch's sharp voice rang out, Su Jing stepped into the palace gate of Changchun Palace with a gentle pace, this was actually her first time entering Changchun Palace.

  Like the temperament of Xianfei, Changchun Palace is not as luxurious and ostentatious as Shufei's Yanxi Palace, but rather decorated in a plain and low-key manner. However, the subtle details reveal a sense of luxury that cannot be underestimated.

  "Concubine, servant, and maid, pay respects to Zhen Zhao Yi Niang Niang," those who arrived earlier were mostly people from the Eastern Six Palaces, there were only a few whose ranks were higher than Su Jing's, so they all stood up and paid their respects.

  Willingness in one's heart and actually doing it are two different things.

  "Get up," Su Jing swept a circle, but did not find Xian Fei here. By reason, this was her Changchun Palace, and with Xian Fei's temperament, she should be the one to greet everyone here.

  "Zhen jie arrived so early, I wonder if Zhen jie knows what happened," Ning Xiu Ying asked with a smile, also one of the newly appointed Ning Fen Yi.

  Su Jing hooked up the corner of her mouth, "If Ning sister is curious, she can go ask that person who knows the truth, this palace doesn't know."

  Su Jing's words were not polite, and regardless of whether the listener was intentional or unintentional, in this harem, one sentence should be understood in several layers, and which layer people can see is clear to each person's own heart.

  Ning Xuan's face stiffened, originally except for Su Jingcong this special case, as well as An Shuyi that lucky dog person, among these batch of palace maidens, she was the highest in rank, but hearing her words, it made her own recent promotion joy completely disappear.

  Just smiled and didn't continue the conversation.

  Su Jingxi didn't mind and quietly sat in her own seat waiting, before long, the sound of Su Shunian's voice came from outside, "The Emperor has arrived."

  "Your Majesty, I, your concubine, pay my respects," Su Jing'er followed the crowd in making a bow, her movements standard and proper. In fact, this was the most complete bow she had made in nearly a year.

  Fortunately, someone tolerated it.

  "Get up," though a cold few words, like those used in ordinary encounters with outsiders, but Su Jingyun still heard from these short words that his mood was not good.

  Various thoughts turned around, got up, "Thank your Majesty."

  "Bring him before me," Zong Zhengjin said in a deep voice, sitting at the head.

  Everyone was shocked, and at this juncture, someone must have committed a crime again, which might involve Consort Shu. Although the Emperor had not been overly favoring Consort Shu lately, he had at least allowed her to bear children, and his rewards to her had never been lacking.

  Compared with them, I am already favored.

  Before long, the virtuous imperial consort was brought in by two eunuchs. If not for her face being exposed, Su Jing would not have been able to recognize her at a glance. She was wearing ordinary clothes, elegant yet understated, with no adornments on her head.

  The expressions on everyone's faces were different, and what they thought in their hearts was naturally also different.

  "Your Majesty," Xian Fei said, standing up and curtsying.

  Zong Zhengjin's gaze was on her, but he didn't call out or make a sound.

  After a brief moment of silence, Xian Fei let out a soft laugh and stood up on her own accord. "Now that things have come to this, does Your Majesty still have any questions for me?"

  Zong Zhengjin's face was expressionless, "Do you have anything else to say?"

  The virtuous imperial consort swept a glance around the seated consorts, finally fixing her gaze on Su Jingzhen. It wasn't an ordinary, dull look, but rather a sinister and ruthless one, as if it had risen from the eighteenth level of hell, making people involuntarily break out in cold sweat on their backs.

  Su Jing had some disgust but wasn't afraid, calmly staring back at her, knowing she would be the first to look away.

  "I have nothing to say, only that Fuer is innocent. I beg Your Majesty not to implicate my child," said Xianfei calmly without tears or fuss.

  Everyone present was confused, except for those two people, including Su Jingyun.

  Even if they didn't know the specifics, they could still guess some of it. However, no one dared to speak out and gloat about her misfortune, nor was there anyone who would risk their life to plead for Empress Xian's sake, even though she had been the most well-liked person in the palace on ordinary days.

  What irony, what sorrow.

  This is the harem.

  "I will find another empress for her," Zong Zhengjin did not make things difficult for her, like an empress, at the moment of death, still leaving his last conscience to his children.

  For this reason, regardless of what kind of reason, Zong Zhengjin is still willing to give preferential treatment, after all, that is also his child.

  The child won't be bullied, but adults might not be so lucky.

  Xianfei let out a bitter laugh, the emperor's words were hinting that after her death, Fuer would be sent to another concubine's residence and no longer stay in her Changchun Palace. From then on, according to the historical records and the imperial family tree, she would no longer be Fuer's mother empress.

  Years later, what awaited her was a wisp of smoke ash, completely disappearing, no record, no trace, as if she never existed.

  Palace Concubine (Yi) / 33 / 33265

  Gong Shu