Chapter 34: The Canary Captured by the Enemy Emperor 21

Over a hundred noble ladies and young women around them were visibly shocked.

She really dared to say that.

“Nanny Su, slap her!” The Empress Dowager’s face turned cold in an instant—if not for appearances, she might have done it herself.

Jun Yuanming, who had been walking toward them with a previously pleasant expression, suddenly went ice-cold.

“Qin Dong, slap her.” His chilling voice made everyone look in that direction.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

The eldest daughter of the Hanlin scholar, Liu Xueyun, felt her scalp go numb. That impossibly handsome man approaching, with a presence like a battlefield general, felt like he could tear her apart with a single glance. She had admired this Emperor for a long time.

SMACK! A harsh slap broke her thoughts, and she fell to the ground in disarray. Her mother was pulled aside. Eunuch Qin and Nanny Su had each delivered a powerful slap, leaving Liu Xueyun’s face swollen.

“Ah! That hurts!”

The Hanlin scholar’s wife knelt and begged for mercy. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Empress Dowager, please don’t be angry! My daughter is still young and foolish—I will discipline her at home!”

Lin Muqing rolled her eyes. “Sixteen years old is still young? No wonder she speaks without a filter!”

“I will properly discipline her. Please forgive us, Consort Lin.”

The scholar’s wife turned to look at Lin Muqing, but instead of regret, her eyes carried a veiled warning.

“Your Majesty, she glared at me,” Lin Muqing pouted, ever the expert at tattling.

“If the Hanlin scholar’s wife has a problem with my Qing’er, she can speak directly,” Jun Yuanming said calmly.

The woman hadn’t expected Lin Muqing to be so bold with her favor. She shook her head in a panic, “No, no! Absolutely not!”

Liu Xueyun’s face was completely swollen now. All the nobles in the capital were watching, exchanging glances—some admiring her audacity.

But Liu Xueyun, provoked by Lin Muqing, wouldn’t stop.
“His Majesty has only favored her for four months—how can she have a six-month belly? Don’t be fooled by her, Your Majesty!”

“Stop talking, you disgraceful child!” The scholar’s wife was stunned. Forgetting her usual fondness, she slapped her daughter again.

Jun Yuanming stepped forward, eyes dark with restrained anger. His presence alone made the surrounding noblewomen and consorts instinctively bow their heads, trembling.

Liu Xueyun tried to salvage the situation, lifting her still-pretty face. “Your Majesty, this girl…”

Jun Yuanming gave a signal. Eunuch Qin immediately understood and gagged her on the spot.

“Take her out. The Hanlin scholar possesses the capital’s broadest knowledge, yet raised such a daughter. Tell him to report to me tomorrow!”

His voice was cold and sharp as a blade. Anyone harboring scheming thoughts quickly buried them.

The Hanlin scholar’s wife and daughter were dragged out of the palace.

Even the Empress Dowager couldn’t suppress her fury. What the girl said was extremely serious—accusations like that could ruin a woman’s life and reputation forever.

“Don’t let me ever see you again!” the Empress Dowager declared.

With that, Liu Xueyun’s social status in the capital was effectively over.

Lin Muqing had silently watched the whole scene unfold. Now, she stepped beside Jun Yuanming. His rage vanished instantly—he didn’t let any of it show in front of her.

She whispered softly, “Don’t be mad anymore. The little ones heard the noise and started kicking.”

She blinked playfully, then looked down bashfully at her round belly.

Jun Yuanming chuckled, “Then they’re being naughty. Sit down before you get tired.”

He gently took her soft hand, not hiding his affection at all—leaving the other consorts with no choice but to fake their smiles.

As for the rumors about the timing of her pregnancy—Jun Yuanming didn’t explain anything. With three children, if the court found out, they’d flip. His entire plan was nearly in place, just one more step to trap them all.

The noblewomen finally caught on: this Consort Lin was deeply favored by the Emperor.

“Congratulations, Consort Lin, on your pregnancy.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Congratulations to the Empress Dowager on her grandchildren.”

“Consort Lin looks so healthy—your babies must be strong and lively.”

All the sweet talk made the Empress Dowager beam with delight again.

After they sat down, Lin Muqing was placed directly beside Jun Yuanming.

Consort Rou and Consort Wan clearly wanted to say something but dared not—sitting awkwardly in silence.

The dancers performed gracefully—each troupe with its own unique charm. Lin Muqing enjoyed the show immensely.

“You haven’t eaten yet tonight, have you? You haven’t even blinked while watching,” Jun Yuanming asked.

“I had a roast chicken before I came. Not hungry.”

Below them, a group of young, beautifully dressed girls still hoped to catch the Emperor’s eye. Yet he didn’t spare them a single glance—he was too busy chatting with the stunning woman beside him.

Eventually, it was time to go outside and admire the moon.

Jun Yuanming had to leave temporarily to handle military affairs.

The Empress Dowager stayed behind and kept Lin Muqing company.

“Are the babies active? What did the physician say? How many are you having? Any nausea or trouble eating?”

If not for that brainless girl earlier, the Empress Dowager would’ve asked much sooner.

Lin Muqing answered calmly.

“They’re quite lively. The physician said it’s triplets. No nausea.”

The Empress Dowager’s face instantly changed.

“Triplets?”

She became even more anxious.

From that moment on, the Empress Dowager treated her like a priceless treasure, constantly worried someone might bump into her.

Meanwhile, Consort Hui stood in the crowd, a one-year-old boy by her side—barely steady on his feet.

She squatted beside him. “Ming’er, when you see Her Majesty later, you must ask to be held, all right?”

“Want hug!” the boy nodded.

Consort Hui led him toward the Empress Dowager.

That area was filled with beautiful lanterns. The child had been staring at them for a long time.

As they neared, Consort Hui let Ming’er pull free from her hand.

“Slow down, don’t run so fast,” she said casually, following behind.

Just as the little boy approached the Empress Dowager

A group of men in black suddenly appeared, charging straight at Lin Muqing and the Empress Dowager.

“AHHH!”

“Assassins!!”

“Protect Her Majesty!!”