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Chapter 509 The Intrigue and Deception in the Harem

After a long silence, Consort Shu finally spoke with difficulty: "It is...it is Consort Liu."

Su Wan was taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing across her face: "Consort Liu? Not Consort Zhen?"

Consort Shu shook her head: "Consort Zhen, humph, she did come once, to mock me, but that was a long time ago."

"Recently, only Consort Liu has come to see me."

Chu Ruohan frowned: "What is she doing here to see you?"

"She said she came to check on my health," Consort Shu's voice trailed off. "She also brought me some tonics, saying it was to help me take good care of myself during my pregnancy."

Su Wan and Chu Ruohan exchanged a glance, both seeing wariness in each other's eyes.

Chu Ruohan pressed further, "What else did she say?"

Consort Shu hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Consort Liu said that if I can insist that the child is the Emperor's, she will find a way to help me."

"help you with what?"

"Please plead with the Emperor on my behalf and ask him to acknowledge the child." Consort Shu gripped the corner of the quilt tightly. "She said that now that the Emperor has newly appointed an Empress, it is a time when harmony in the harem is needed, and he will not easily execute a pregnant concubine like me."

Su Wan's heart sank; this Consort Liu's scheming was truly profound.

Chu Ruohan continued, "Did she ask you who the child's real father is?"

Consort Shu nodded: "I asked, but I didn't tell the truth. I only said that the child was indeed the Emperor's, but the Emperor didn't remember."

"Where is Wang Hu now?" Chu Ruohan asked.

"He has been transferred." A hint of pain flashed in Consort Shu's eyes.

Su Wan finally understood: "So Consort Liu knew all along that the child wasn't the Emperor's?"

Consort Shu lowered her head: "It should be so. She is very clever; as long as she calculates the time carefully, she can guess the truth."

Chu Ruohan stood up and paced back and forth in the hall: "That's right. Since she knows the truth, yet still insists that the child is the Emperor's, it means she has other motives."

"What's your purpose?" Su Wan asked.

“She wants to use you and this child to achieve some goal.” Chu Ruohan stopped in her tracks. “The fire in the Cold Palace, the slander in the court, the instigation in the harem—these things seem unrelated, but they all point to the same goal.”

Su Wan was startled: "Pointing at me?"

Chu Ruohan nodded: "She wants to use these things to gradually weaken your position in the Emperor's heart, while establishing her own prestige."

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu's face grew even paler: "Then haven't I been used as a pawn by her?"

“Not only that,” Chu Ruohan’s voice turned serious, “once she achieves her goal, you will become a pawn to be discarded.”

"At that time, no matter whose child it is, you will not escape death."

Su Wan took a deep breath: "The women in the palace are very good at hiding their true colors. I was too naive."

Chu Ruohan walked to Su Wan's side: "The most important thing now is to find evidence to prove that Consort Liu is manipulating all of this behind the scenes."

"But how do we find evidence?" Su Wan asked, somewhat bewildered.

"Let's start with Wang Hu," Chu Ruohan pondered. "Where was he transferred to?"

Consort Shu shook her head: "I don't know, I only heard that they left the capital."

Chu Ruohan frowned: "This is troublesome. However, if they were able to arrange for him to leave, they must have left a trace."

Su Wan stood up: "Sister, let's go back and discuss a plan."

Chu Ruohan nodded, then said to Consort Shu, "Remember, from now on, no matter who comes to see you, no matter what they say, you must do as we said today. Understand?"

Consort Shu nodded quickly: "I understand, thank you Your Majesty the Empress and Madam."

Su Wan and Chu Ruohan left Consort Shu's residence without saying a word the whole way.

It wasn't until they returned to Chaofeng Palace that Su Wan spoke: "Sister, what do you think Consort Liu's ultimate goal is?"

Chu Ruohan pondered for a moment: "If I'm not mistaken, what she wants is the position of Empress."

Su Wan frowned, "She's only a concubine, there's an imperial consort above her... this..."

"The rumors that her father was unworthy of his position as the Imperial Astronomical Bureau probably originated from them."

"Her maternal family were founding heroes. Don't underestimate her just because she's only a concubine. As long as she gets pregnant, she'll be a royal consort, regardless of whether she gives birth to a boy or a girl..."

Chu Ruohan analyzed, "Now that you, a commoner, have suddenly become the empress, it's normal for her to feel resentful."

"But how can the position of Empress be changed so easily?"

Chu Ruohan shook her head: "She won't deal with you directly, but will try to make the Emperor disappointed in you and the court officials dissatisfied with you."

"When the time is right, I'll find an excuse to get rid of you."

Su Wan became increasingly alarmed as she listened: "What should we do now?"

"Observe the situation and deal with it as it comes." Chu Ruohan held Su Wan's hand. "But there is one thing you must remember: no matter what happens, you must not let the Emperor suspect you."

Su Wan nodded: "I understand."

Just then, a eunuch's voice came from outside: "Your Majesty the Empress, His Majesty has arrived!"