After returning, the Emperor led Yuan Ruan and the others through a special direct passage.

The four-horse imperial carriage passed smoothly through the outer and inner city, finally arriving at the palace.

A drowsy Yuan Ruan was carried out of the carriage by the Emperor.

Still snuggled in his arms with her head down, she suddenly heard sharp gasps around her.

Curious, Yuan Ruan poked her head out to see.

What a sight!

Before her stood a row of beauties, each adorned in luxurious silks of varying colors. Some wore pure white long robes, while others draped themselves in fiery red fur-lined capes. Smiling radiantly, each was uniquely stunning, like a garden of vibrant flowers blooming against the wintry backdrop.

[So beautiful, really so beautiful. Is this the joy of being Emperor?!]

[I’m so envious!]

The Emperor’s expression turned slightly strange, but his sharp gaze scanned the consorts ahead of him.

This was the perfect opportunity to see who might also hear Yuan Ruan’s thoughts—caught off guard, they might reveal themselves.

Sure enough, he spotted two consorts, Consort Rong and Virtuous Consort De, with subtle confusion on their faces.

**(The term 嫔 (pín) and 妃 (fēi) are titles used in imperial China to refer to women in the emperor’s harem, and the correct translation depends on context and nuance:

Consort is often used in English to refer to higher-ranking women in the imperial harem, like 德妃 (Virtuous Consort De).

Concubine is more commonly used for lower-ranking women, such as 嫔 (pín), which is a subordinate rank. However, Consort is also sometimes used for uniformity in translation, especially when referring to the harem as a whole.)**

[I want to try this kind of happiness too.]

The Emperor looked again, noticing the subtle expressions of the Empress.

So, it wasn’t just two. The Empress could hear the thoughts too.

While the Emperor analyzed carefully, he was unaware of how much the three women were panicking.

To be fair, hearing such treasonous thoughts—mocking the Emperor right in front of him—was enough to make anyone lose composure.

The Emperor was usually calm, but when angered, his wrath could mean execution or worse. The thought of being implicated terrified them.

However, the Empress quickly composed herself, sensing something unusual. This voice didn’t seem audible to everyone. Suspicious but silent, she closed her eyes and assumed a Buddha-like serenity.

Consort De quietly regained her composure as well, absentmindedly turning her prayer beads while praying internally.

Consort Rong, however, reacted differently.

Her mind raced with wild guesses. Suppressing laughter, she realized the soft voice didn’t belong to any of the consorts present. Fixating on the imperial carriage, she boldly speculated: Could it be that the Emperor brought back some otherworldly seductress?

Unable to resist, Consort Rong asked directly, “Your Majesty, did you bring back a younger sister this time?”

The Emperor shot her an expressionless glance.

Consort Rong flinched.

The surrounding consorts trembled, screaming internally: Consort Rong, could you not court death? If you anger him, we’ll all pay the price!

The Empress and Consort De exchanged glances, considering whether Consort Rong might also hear the mysterious voice.

Consort De dismissed her silently: So petty! The world has countless women—there’s no need for such jealousy without even seeing the newcomer.

The Empress chuckled softly: Who would’ve thought the seemingly cunning Consort Rong could act so naively.

At that moment, Yuan Ruan’s thoughts rang out enthusiastically:

[What younger sister? Where’s the new sister? Another beauty? I don’t see her. System, do you see her?]

System: [No, and don’t look! ‘Sister’ and ‘younger sister’ are just terms of endearment among the consorts.]

Consort Rong froze.

She finally grasped the situation—her wild guess had gone terribly wrong.

She dared not meet the Emperor’s gaze. Her eyes drifted downward until they met a pair of wide, expectant, curious eyes staring back at her.

Consort Rong: …

So, it wasn’t a seductress—it was a baby.

Meanwhile, the Emperor frowned.

He wasn’t going to let the little one fill her head with such wild ideas.

To clarify, the Emperor let Wu Yue descend from the carriage first.

“This girl was rescued by me outside the palace,” he said. “Upon investigation, it was discovered that she is the biological daughter of one of my consorts who was lost long ago.”

The consorts: !!!

They couldn’t believe their ears. A daughter lost outside the palace?

Some consorts who had lost children years ago instinctively touched their abdomens. Others looked at Wu Yue with eyes full of hope.

Consort Rong’s eyes even reddened.

A palace maid by her side whispered, “Your Highness, don’t be sad. There will be fate yet.”

The Empress stepped forward and softly asked, “Your Majesty, has it been confirmed which consort is her mother? If her birth mother is no longer with us, should she be registered under another consort’s name?”

Several consorts’ eyes lit up.

At that moment, an elderly palace maid beside Consort Rong muttered softly, “Your Highness, you’re still young and can have more children. Even if you must adopt, it’s better to adopt an infant. They bond better.”

The Emperor was about to say the investigation was still ongoing when Yuan Ruan’s thoughts interjected:

[That old maid is so rude, actually dismissing Little Yue Yue!]

The three consorts froze: Little Yue Yue?

Wu Yue felt a warmth in her heart. She wanted to assure the little child she didn’t mind, but remembering the Emperor’s earlier warnings, she held her tongue.

System: [Wait! Oh my god, Consort Rong is actually Little Yue Yue’s biological mother!]

Consort Rong gasped audibly.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow.

The Empress and Consort De glanced at Consort Rong, puzzled. She didn’t seem to resemble Wu Yue at all.

Wu Yue, however, remained calm.

Yuan Ruan: [System, elaborate!]*

System: [This old palace maid has always wanted to give her niece to the emperor as his Consort. But she knew that her niece’s appearance and family were weak, so he wanted to wait until her niece gave birth to a son for the emperor, and then let consort Rong raise her. Because of this, she refused to let consort Rong give birth to her own children. After consort Rong gave birth to little Yueyue, she secretly brought a dead baby over to replace her. To ensure no children were born, she secretly administered birth control medicine to Consort Rong.]

Consort Rong’s hand tightened on her handkerchief.

Yuan Ruan was dumbfounded.

This is the dumbest, vilest scheme she’ve ever heard. For the sake of her grandnephew, who isn’t even born yet, she actually made the consort childless. If Consort Rong falls out of favor because she has no children, the treatment of the entire Chaoyang Palace will suffer.

As Rong Pin seethed, the Emperor coldly announced, “Wu Yue is Consort Rong’s daughter. It was that treacherous maid by her side who swapped her at birth.”

The crowd was in an uproar.

The old maid panicked, kneeling and crying, “Your Majesty, I’ve been framed! I wouldn’t dare!”

Yuan Ruan: [Brother! Get justice for Little Yue Yue!]

The Emperor remained motionless.

But Consort Rong darted forward, slapping the maid twice before turning to Wu Yue with tearful eyes.

[Such moving mother-daughter affection! Finally reunited.]

Wu Yue stiffened for a moment before patting Consort Rong’s shoulder lightly, signaling her to move aside.

Consort Rong thought Wu Yue was rejecting her. She was about to defend herself when Wu Yue swiftly drew a guard’s blade and stabbed it into the maid’s leg.

“She almost escaped,” Wu Yue said coldly.

The maid wailed in agony. The consorts shrieked in fright, their faces pale. Even Consort Rong froze.

Wu Yue’s expression turned colder.

[So cool! Little Yue Yue is amazing!]

Her frosty demeanor softened briefly.

Consort Rong, recovering, thought, She’s not scary. She must’ve suffered outside. My daughter is amazing!

Stepping forward, she declared proudly, “That’s my daughter. I’m so proud of her.”

The Emperor, pleased with Wu Yue’s actions, added, “In addition to her there is another princess.”

The consorts: !!!

What?!

Another princess?

How many lost pearls does Daxia have?!