I swept the harem by pretending to be weak

"Since Concubine Shu has invited you and Rou'er is willing to go, why not just make the trip? I'll go and join in the fun." The emperor stood up and ordered his personal eunuch Lu Jin to prepare the carriage.

"How dare I trouble His Majesty with such a small matter?" Liu Zhirou acted as if she was quite interested, yet a little hesitant and apologetic.

"It's okay, it's okay. I don't have any important things to deal with right now anyway. I just want to accompany you. It doesn't matter where I accompany you." The emperor was very pleased with this. He laughed and looked very pleased.

In the past, he mostly preferred bright-looking and fierce beauties like Concubine Shu, but as he got older, his preferences changed to a certain extent, and he preferred those who were docile, gentle and considerate.

What's more, the woman in front of him was not only gentle and kind, but also pregnant with his child.

Such a contrast makes the old and ugly Concubine Shu look even more hateful.

But he would probably never have imagined that the pure beauty who seemed so gentle, kind, and pure in his eyes was actually thinking about something quite outrageous.

Liu Zhirou originally had no intention of continuing to harass Concubine Shu. Although Concubine Shu had made things difficult for her in the Imperial Garden at that time, she did not succeed after all. She had managed to confine her to house arrest for a year, which was considered a peace of mind for her.

But the other party was eager to offer an advantage, and if Liu Zhirou didn't seize the opportunity, wouldn't that be a waste of God's kindness?

Liu Zhirou sighed secretly in her heart. It had been nearly a month since she was diagnosed with pregnancy. If it was any further along, it would be very difficult to deceive people and the risk of being exposed would increase dramatically.

What she could change was her own pulse, but not her external appearance. The baby in her belly was fake and could never become real.

What's more, Liu Zhirou was really impatient with her current life.

Ever since she was found out she was pregnant, almost everyone in the palace treated her like a porcelain doll, fearing that something might happen to her. Even when she slept, there were people watching her. This made Liu Zhirou live in fear all day long, afraid that one day she would accidentally let slip something extremely outrageous.

If Concubine Shu is still planning to do something weird, let her get the matter settled.

Liu Zhirou secretly made up her mind.

Shufei did not disappoint her expectations.

"Your Majesty." Shufei obviously did not expect that the emperor would be on the list of visitors this time. It was not until the eunuch in front of the door went in to report that she hurriedly walked out and saluted.

"Get up." Although the emperor did not seem to be blaming him, he did not look happy either.

Shufei's heart suddenly began to beat fast.

In fact, she had already noticed that the emperor's attitude towards her had changed greatly, but she was unwilling to believe his cruel truth. She just deceived herself and thought that the emperor was in a bad mood just because of the recent setbacks in government affairs. She could not help but serve him more carefully.

Liu Zhirou didn't say anything else, nor did she intend to do anything inappropriate by relying on her current special status.

She walked into the palace quietly and caught a glimpse of Liu Zhijin standing beside her out of the corner of her eye.

Compared to the lively and lovely Liu Zhijin at home, she looked obviously much more haggard, with her hair in a bun, and she looked a little timid, no longer as vigorous as she once was.

Liu Zhirou couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

She also had an unshirkable responsibility for the other party's current state. If she had not changed her family background, the Liu family would not have been under such great pressure to the point of sending their daughter to Duke Deng's house as a concubine.

But she does not regret it. If she had the chance to do it again, she would still do it. A few unfamiliar family members of her previous life are completely incomparable to her own safety and future development.

What's more, if she was still foolish enough to insist on following this Concubine Shu, she would most likely be pushed out as a scapegoat. At that time, it would not be a matter of wealth and glory, but the lives of her entire family would be in danger.

Even though she defeated Concubine Gan this time and was not kicked out as a scapegoat, but looking at the way Concubine Shu behaved, she knew that her future would not be easy.

Why bother?

After they came in, there was another chaotic round of greetings. Lady Deng was originally very proud, but when she saw that the emperor had come in person, she immediately became respectful.

When Liu Zhijin saw Liu Zhirou, he couldn't help but get excited.

But she did not move, nor did she risk approaching to chat. It was obvious that Duke Deng's people had re-educated her, and her original sharpness and vigor were almost exhausted by the blow.

Liu Zhirou sat down, took a sip of tea, frowned, and acted as if she was uncomfortable.

There is safflower in this tea.

Liu Zhirou was really surprised now. She didn't believe that Concubine Shu would be bold enough to attack her under the emperor's nose.

If something happened to her in Concubine Shu's palace, everyone would immediately point the finger at Concubine Shu, which would not do Concubine Shu any good at all.

What Shufei did was even worse than what Qi Erha did. It was truly a case of poisoning under a real-name system.

So, was he framed? That didn't seem likely.

Shufei was born in the mansion of Duke Deng. Her aunt was originally the imperial concubine of the previous emperor. Her family had complicated relationships in the palace and would never be easily calculated by others.

So what are the possibilities? You know, safflower is not a poison. In fact, in many cases, it is a medicinal herb that is beneficial to the human body. It can be used to treat amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, lochia, heat stagnation and blood stasis, macules and other diseases caused by blood stasis. However, its blood-activating effect is strong, and if pregnant women take it, they will easily have miscarriage.

Liu Zhirou thought about it, but couldn't figure it out. However, there was no need for her to figure it out, because she was a victim anyway.

Not long after the two sides exchanged greetings, and before the Liu sisters could even say a few words in private, the teacup in Liu Zhirou's hand slipped silently.

The emperor turned his head to look at her and found that this beauty, whom he had recently fallen in love with, had a look of panic on her face.

"What...what happened? My stomach hurts..."

"Imperial Physician! Call the Imperial Physician!"

There was chaos and confusion afterwards. The Emperor personally ordered several imperial physicians to send Liu Zhirou to the main hall. Just as he was about to turn around and interrogate Concubine Shu and everyone in the palace, he saw the imperial physician with white hair and beard rushing out in a hurry.

"Oh no, Your Majesty! There's something wrong with the incense in Concubine Shu's palace!"

The emperor's expression suddenly changed.