From a Frail Imperial Concubine to an Empress Dowager Ruling Behind the Curtain

"As long as you're happy."

Xiao Chengyu put his arm around Bai Yuan's waist. "I wanted to reward your father today, but he repeatedly declined, so I had to give up. However, I thought about it this afternoon and decided to ask you if there's anything you'd like?"

Bai Yuan tilted her head and pondered for a moment, her face full of struggle. "Your Majesty, I dare not ask for anything more. I am already a Noble Consort without bearing any imperial heir. I do nothing all day long, yet His Majesty keeps bestowing all sorts of treasures upon me. Now, whenever I go to the Empress's quarters, the other concubines look at me with eyes like needles. If His Majesty were to bestow any more gifts, ha, I'm afraid my body would be pierced through."

"You can ask for others, and you will be rewarded in the end."

"No one else has anything to ask for, I have nothing to lack, and neither do my father and mother. If Your Majesty insists on bestowing a reward, then let's wait until I remember something else."

Xiao Chengyu nodded in satisfaction. If Bai Yuan had refused outright, he would have wondered what Bai Yaoting had told him.

Her current behavior is still that of the same imperial concubine she used to be.

He picked up Bai Yuan and stood up, startling the woman who quickly grabbed his neck. "Your Majesty, please be careful, lest you drop me."

"You're not worried about me, but you're worried about yourself first?"

"Your Majesty has the imperial constitution, so naturally you won't be easily injured. It's me, however, whose health isn't so good. If something were to happen to me, wouldn't Your Majesty be heartbroken?"

"Of course I feel sorry for you..."

When Bai Yuan woke up the next day, Wan Yue whispered as she helped her wash up, "Master sent someone to tell you that you can do whatever you want, and the entire Bai family will help you plan. His Majesty can't touch the General's Mansion for now, and it won't be easy for him to do so in the future."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuan smiled and reached out to stroke the hairpin on one side. "I really like this hairpin today."

Although the original owner was favored, she did not think that she could persuade the General's Mansion with just a few words.

But given the current situation, Bai Yaoting has no choice but to gamble with her for the sake of the entire Bai family.

"This hair ornament truly suits you, Master. By the way, Master, I saw Shen Xun'er leave when I came in."

"Did they say what they were going to do?"

"No one asked, and she didn't tell me or Xiaoqi beforehand."

Bai Yuan's eyes lit up. "Hey, there should be a good show coming soon."

Sure enough, just as she finished eating, Xiao Qi ran in, "Master, something terrible has happened! The Fourth Prince has fallen into the water!"

"Oh, and then?" Bai Yuan continued drinking her porridge casually.

"Fortunately, Shen Xun'er happened to be passing by and saved him. Now the Empress and His Majesty have gone to Yuxiu Palace. It seems that the Fourth Prince was deliberately pushed down."

Bai Yuan then put down her bowl, picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and said, "Let's go, let's go and see what's going on."

As Bai Yuan left the Jade Hibiscus Palace, her voice was filled with melancholy. "It seems that my foot-massaging maid will never be coming back."

Upon entering Yuxiu Palace, Bai Yuan saw several imperial physicians coming and going, while Consort Shu knelt at the entrance, her eyes brimming with tears, saying, "Your Majesty, it really wasn't me who did it."

Xiao Chengyu's eyes blazed with fury. He pointed at Consort Shu and roared, "If it wasn't you, then who was it? Several people saw your maid Qiuye go by, and then the Fourth Prince fell into the water. You're telling me that it wasn't your order that a maid dared to lay a hand on my prince?"

At this moment, Qiu Ye was already on the verge of death. She struggled to crawl forward and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this servant only saw the Fourth Prince by the pond, as if he was talking to someone. Our Lady was worried that something had happened to him, so she sent this servant to check on him."

Consort Shu nodded quickly, "Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly. I just left the Empress's residence and saw the Fourth Prince walking towards the pond with someone. I was worried something might have happened, so I sent Qiuye to check."

The moment the Fourth Prince fell into the water, Consort Shu knew she had been tricked.

She gritted her teeth, raised her head, and said, "Your Majesty, if I truly wanted to harm the Fourth Prince, how could I do it in front of so many people?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengyu withdrew his hand. At that time, Shen Xun'er, Consort Li, and her maid were also nearby.

He almost lost two princes in a row; he was indeed a bit flustered and confused just now.

Just then, the imperial physician came out and said, "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has woken up."

Xiao Chengyu turned and strode into the inner room. "It's good that you're awake. Are there any other problems?"

"There's nothing else wrong, just a bit of a fright. Drink some calming soup and rest for a few days and you'll be fine."

The fourth prince, who was cowering in the corner of the bed, pounced on Xiao Chengyu as soon as he saw him.

Seemingly realizing his actions were inappropriate, he stopped and knelt on the bed, saying, "Father, your son...your son..."

Xiao Chengyu stepped forward and sat down on the edge of the couch. "Don't get up. Although the imperial physician said you're fine, you still fell into the water and need to rest properly."

The fourth prince then sat down again. "Your subject feels guilty for causing Father Emperor worry."

Seeing that he seemed to be in good spirits, Xiao Chengyu asked, "How did you suddenly fall into the water?"

The fourth prince raised his head, looked at Xiao Chengyu, and then at everyone in the room. "Father, I fell down by accident."

"careless?"

Xiao Chengyu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Your father is here. No matter who pushed you, your father will stand up for you. You can speak with confidence."

"It really was my fault for falling down by accident," the Fourth Prince said in a very soft voice.

Xiao Chengyu snorted coldly, "Did Qiu Ye push you down?"

The fourth prince glanced at Xiao Chengyu, then immediately lowered his head, his voice barely audible, "No, Father, Sister Qiuye only... only asked me a few words of concern."

Looking at his appearance, Xiao Chengyu gritted his teeth, got up, and walked outside again.

After scanning the crowd, he looked at Shen Xun'er and said, "You said that you saved the Fourth Prince. Explain the situation to me clearly."

Although Shen Xun'er had changed her clothes, her hair was still wet. She pitifully raised her head, revealing her original face.

She said timidly, "At first, I saw Sister Qiuye leading the Fourth Prince towards the river. Then I heard a noise by the pond and was worried that someone had fallen into the water, so I went to check. I did see Sister Qiuye, but I didn't see who pushed the Fourth Prince."

The Empress's expression was also unpleasant. She stepped forward and asked, "Didn't Qiu Ye say that the Fourth Prince was talking to someone there? Did you see what that person looked like?"

Shen Xun'er widened her eyes and shook her head vigorously. "No, I only saw Sister Qiuye, I didn't see anyone else."

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu turned sharply to Shen Xun'er and said, "You're lying. The Fourth Prince went to the river by himself. Qiu Ye didn't bring him there at all."

Shen Xun'er seemed to be startled and shrank back.

Consort Shu glared at her fiercely, then looked up at Bai Yuan sitting to the side, "Why did Your Highness frame me?"

The Fourth Prince had just visited the Imperial Concubine not long ago, and now she has been framed. The Imperial Concubine is indeed the most suspicious.

The others also looked at Bai Yuan. The Empress was overjoyed and immediately questioned, "Noble Consort, Consort Shu said that people in your palace framed her. Do you have anything to say?"