If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

Over the years, Emperor Fu was afraid that his beloved would be frightened by Empress Ruan again, so he specially exempted Concubine Liu from paying respects to Empress Ruan at Kunning Palace on the first and fifteenth day of every month.

Therefore, except at palace banquets, Queen Ruan and Concubine Liu had almost no chance to meet.

Concubine Liu had He Zhiyuan's warning, and she was very self-aware and did not dare to act arrogantly in front of Queen Ruan.

She had realized over the years that Empress Ruan simply didn't bother to compete with her for the emperor's favor.

The reason why she promoted Concubine Gu was not to show off in front of Queen Ruan, but because the Emperor had actually visited Concubine Ning a while ago.

Concubine Ning was the eldest princess of the Yong Dynasty. Her status was far higher than hers, and she was younger than her. She could not let the emperor's heart fall on Concubine Ning.

"Empress, Concubine Gu in my palace was ignorant and offended you. I brought her here specially to apologize." Concubine Liu said timidly.

Lady Gu knelt on the ground and kowtowed vigorously, "Queen, please spare me, Queen, please spare me."

In a short while, Lady Gu's forehead was covered in blood.

If he keeps knocking his head, even if he doesn’t die, his face will definitely be disfigured.

"Get up." Queen Ruan calmly stopped Concubine Gu from kowtowing and glanced sharply at Concubine Liu.

"Since you have already beaten her with a stick, why do you want her to come before me and apologize? Are you afraid that she won't die in front of me?"

Concubine Liu's face turned pale, "Your Majesty, I didn't do that. I didn't do that."

Queen Ruan sneered and reached out to pinch Concubine Liu's chin. "Concubine Liu has contributed greatly to my reputation as a cruel and vicious woman over the years. I won't bother with you. You are really eager to die again, again and again."

The moment Queen Ruan pinched Concubine Liu, Shen Suian's pupils trembled slightly.

These eyes...

She remembered why Concubine Liu looked familiar to her.

Concubine Liu was so frightened by Queen Ruan that her legs went weak. She felt that today's queen was too scary. How could she start a fight over a disagreement?

The queen was not like this before.

Even if a palace concubine came to provoke her, she would turn a blind eye and even not bother to pay attention.

"Get lost." Queen Ruan let go of his hand out of disgust.

Ever since Prince Chen came back, Empress Ruan felt that Concubine Liu was beginning to make moves again.

The Emperor has not yet rewarded Chao Ge'er. Isn't it because Concubine Liu whispered in his ear?

Concubine Liu and Lady Gu quickly retreated.

"Before Prince Chen came back, Fu Yuxuan was in the limelight. Ministers in the court often asked the emperor to appoint another crown prince. They all believed that the prince..." Queen Ruan paused.

Now the Prince of Chen is so popular that Fu Yuxuan no longer has any glory.

Concubine Liu and He Zhiyuan were of course anxious.

Shen Sui'an asked in a low voice, "Mother, does Concubine Liu have any sisters?"

"I've never heard of her. Concubine Liu is a distant relative of He Zhiyuan. After her parents passed away, she came to the royal capital to seek refuge with the He family and grew up in the He family since she was a child." Queen Ruan said.

"Mother, I met He Jingyao's biological mother at Prince Kang's Mansion last time. She had her face covered, and although I could only see her eyes, I think she should look very similar to Concubine Liu." Shen Sui'an said.

Because he didn't see the whole picture, Shen Suian still couldn't be sure.

Queen Ruan frowned slightly, "I have never seen He Zhiyuan's widowed sister-in-law."

Given He Zhiyuan's status and the fact that he has never married, all household affairs should be managed by his widowed sister-in-law. But the strange thing is that after all these years, no one in the royal capital has ever seen the true face of Madam He.

"Don't you find it strange, mother? Madam He is not disgraced. He Jingyao also held an official position before, but his mother never seems to come out to meet guests." Shen Sui'an whispered.

Queen Ruan nodded, "I used to think she was a widow and was avoiding this, but now that I think about it, it's really strange."

Shen Sui'an said, "I will find a way to see her again."

"How are you going to meet her? He Zhiyuan has guarded the He Mansion like an iron barrel." Queen Ruan asked.

"She begged me to release He Jingyao last time. If I had any news about He Jingyao, she would definitely come out to see me." Shen Sui'an said.

Madam He is He Jingyao's mother, she will definitely find a way to come out and find me.

Queen Ruan was not reassured, "No, He Zhiyuan is a cunning and vicious person. If he lets Madam He get close to you, it will be dangerous."

"No, don't worry, mother." Shen Sui'an whispered, "I am not the prince's dodder."

"Okay." Queen Ruan's eyes flashed with a smile, and she saw the tall and majestic figure in front of her, "Your prince is here to pick you up."

……

Emperor Fu went to the Cining Palace with a rage, but Empress Dowager Mu was taking a nap and he couldn't wake her up.

He came to the Summer Palace and saw Concubine Liu trembling with fear, while Concubine Gu, whom he liked recently, was pale and the injury on her forehead looked horrifying.

"What's going on?" he was furious.

Who dares to hurt his woman?

Concubine Liu quickly forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, why are you here at this time?"

Emperor Fu said angrily, "If I hadn't come at this time, would you not have told me who bullied you?"

"Who in the palace dares to bully me?" Concubine Liu said in a low voice.

"Is it the Queen?" Emperor Fu's face darkened and his tone sounded a little uncertain.

Based on his understanding of Queen Ruan, he felt that if Queen Ruan really took action, it would not be just this.

Concubine Liu raised her eyes and glanced at Lady Gu.

Lady Gu knelt down tenderly and cried, "Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I didn't know that crabapple flowers can't be picked. I just wanted to pick a few crabapple flowers to give to the Imperial Concubine, but I didn't expect to anger the Queen."

Emperor Fu's face darkened. "You have been in the palace for a long time. Who told you to go to the Begonia Garden? Don't you know that is the Queen's place?"

"Even the Imperial Concubine didn't bother her, so don't you deserve it for bothering the Queen?"

"..." Concubine Liu's eyes dimmed, she lowered her eyes and said timidly, "Your Majesty, I have already taught Lady Gu a lesson, please don't be angry."

Emperor Fu waved his hand in disgust, "Go down."

Concubine Gu did not dare to be an eyesore in front of the emperor, so she quickly stood up and left.

"Your Majesty, let me massage your shoulders for you." Concubine Liu said softly.

Emperor Fu grabbed her hand and patted it gently. "No need. I have something else to do. You were frightened today. Have a good rest. I will come to see you tomorrow."

There was a flash of surprise in Concubine Liu's eyes. She was already frightened, but the Emperor was actually going to leave?

Looking at Emperor Fu's back, Concubine Liu called her confidant in a low voice.

"Is the Emperor going back to the Yangxin Palace?"

The maid lowered her eyes and said, "I will go and find out right away."

Emperor Fu's whereabouts were no secret, because he did not return to the Yangxin Palace, but went to Concubine Ning's Zhongcui Palace.

Concubine Liu took a deep breath and said, "The Emperor said before that he would not touch Princess Yong Chao, why did he suddenly favor her recently?"

"I heard that Concubine Ning met the Emperor when she was picking plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden," said the palace maid.