Mo Lingxi patted his shoulder, "Your Majesty, a few concubines in the harem are enough. Too many women will easily cause trouble."
Zi Cheng thought the same, "Once things are resolved, I'll deal with the concubines in the harem. I'm too lazy to handle these concubine matters every day."
"If Prince Mingrui's words are anything to go by, are you also planning to have more women?" Sheng Lengshuang asked coolly.
Mo Lingxi's scalp tingled, and he quickly declared, "Wife, by heaven and earth, I've never had such a thought. I was worried about His Majesty, that's why I said that."
Sheng Lengshuang glanced at Zi Cheng, who had shrunk to the side, and looked askance at Mo Lingxi, "Are His Majesty's harem affairs any of your business?"
Mo Lingxi motioned for Zi Cheng to explain for him.
Zi Cheng shook his head frantically. What a joke! That was an aunt even his uncle couldn't afford to offend. He, with his small frame, certainly couldn't. He wasn't going to help his uncle.
Mo Lingxi gritted his teeth. His Majesty was truly something, failing him at a crucial moment!
"Wife, I can swear, I really didn't... no, after I decided to be with you, I haven't had such thoughts."
He almost misspoke.
Sheng Lengshuang looked him up and down several times, her pretty face softening slightly, "Considering your sincere repentance, I will forgive you this time."
"If you dare to do anything you shouldn't, I'll let you experience having that thing but being a eunuch!"
Chemical castration, understand?
Mo Lingxi and Zi Cheng instinctively clenched their legs, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
Zi Cheng looked at his uncle with pity, once again deciding not to provoke his aunt. His aunt's move was truly ruthless.
Mo Lingxi swallowed hard and repeatedly assured Sheng Lengshuang that he would never do anything to betray her, "Wife, can we discuss this? Can you not threaten me with this in the future?"
Sheng Lengshuang glanced at him, "Hmm?"
Mo Lingxi shivered, "No, no, I didn't say anything just now. Wife, do as you please. As long as you're happy!"
Sheng Lengshuang let out a soft scoff, leaving behind a sentence, "Call me when Consort Xiang arrives," and returned to the palace to take care of Xiao Feng.
"Uncle!" Zi Cheng sidled up to Mo Lingxi, glancing at the palace, and whispered, "I suggest you keep more people around you, in case someone plots against you."
"If you upset Auntie, the consequences will be truly severe."
Mo Lingxi let out a breath, returning to normal in an instant, "My wife is not someone who acts recklessly."
Zi Cheng's expression contorted a few times. His aunt was indeed not someone who acted recklessly. Once she did, the consequences would be unimaginable.
...
Consort Xiang was dragged in by the imperial guards, dragged like a dog, completely devoid of her usual dignity and elegance.
She was thrown to the ground in a disheveled state. Without bothering to compose herself, she quickly knelt, "Your concubine greets His Majesty."
"May I know why His Majesty summoned your concubine?" kuAiδugg
Had her attempt to shoot Prince Mo been exposed?
Zi Cheng glared at her with fierce, murderous eyes, "Consort Xiang, how have I treated you?"
Consort Xiang trembled, her face turning pale inch by inch, "Your concubine does not understand His Majesty's words. His Majesty has been extremely good to your concubine; it is your concubine who has not performed well enough."
Zi Cheng ordered the imperial guards to drag the eunuch over and throw him before Consort Xiang, "Do you still say you don't understand my words now?"
Upon seeing the eunuch, Consort Xiang knew her actions had been exposed. Her body went limp, but she quickly calmed down.
"Your Majesty, your concubine does not recognize this eunuch. What offense has this eunuch committed?"
Seeing this, Zi Cheng ordered the imperial guards to arrest all the palace servants from Consort Xiang's palace and interrogate them severely, "I want to see how long Consort Xiang can remain stubborn!"
Hearing this, Consort Xiang's vision darkened. She knew very well that what she had done involved the head palace maids and some other servants. If His Majesty interrogated them severely, it would be impossible to conceal.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, your concubine followed you when you were Crown Prince. Please, Your Majesty, spare their lives." she pleaded pitifully.
Zi Cheng grabbed her face with one hand and said fiercely, "When you targeted Prince Mo, you should have known there would be such consequences. Daring to attempt murder on my brother, I will make you understand the consequences."
Consort Xiang trembled like a leaf in the wind, regretting her actions, "Your Majesty, it has nothing to do with your concubine. Your concubine could never have done such a thing."
She absolutely could not admit it, otherwise, she and her family would end up like Consort Ru.
"Why deny it?" Sheng Lengshuang crouched before Consort Xiang, gently brushing her beautiful face with her hand, "If you had honestly admitted it, I would have asked His Majesty to give you a quick end."
"Unfortunately, you insisted on denying it, so don't blame me for being ruthless."
Where her hand had touched, Consort Xiang felt as if it had been brutally shaved off by a knife, causing intense pain, "Miss Sheng, you are mistaken. This consort has truly not done such a thing."
"Calling yourself 'this consort' in front of me, are you trying to show how noble your status is?" Sheng Lengshuang saw through her intentions at a glance, "Do you believe I can make you a deposed concubine with just one sentence?"
Consort Xiang knew this was true. His Majesty had always doted on Sheng Lengshuang. Whatever this bitch said, His Majesty would surely comply. This was why she was so jealous and wary of her.
She had originally thought that by killing Prince Mo, His Majesty and Prince Mingrui would resent Sheng Lengshuang, and thus she could get rid of this woman.
Who knew Prince Mo was so lucky and managed to survive?
Truly worthy of having half of Sheng Lengshuang's bloodline!
Sheng Lengshuang suddenly squeezed her temples forcefully, her voice as cold as an ice blade, "I really dislike those eyes of yours. Those eyes clearly reveal your cruelty and scheming."
Suddenly, Consort Xiang let out a heart-wrenching scream. She clutched her bleeding eyes and fell to the ground, "My eyes, my eyes... Sheng Lengshuang, what did you do to my eyes, you bitch?"
Sheng Lengshuang took the handkerchief Mo Lingxi handed her, wiped her hands, and slowly stood up, "I just said, I really dislike those eyes of yours."
"Since Auntie dislikes her, then I will depose her," Zi Cheng said, "From this moment on, you are no longer Consort Xiang, but a deposed concubine."
Consort Xiang... the deposed concubine's mind went blank. The entire person slumped to the ground, no longer feeling the pain in her eyes, "Your Majesty, when you were Crown Prince, your concubine accompanied you..."
"Many people accompanied me, and I don't need a concubine who is malicious and harms the royal descendants," Zi Cheng interrupted her impatiently.
The deposed concubine let out a hollow laugh, crying as she laughed, "How much pain and humiliation have I endured over the years? I endured it all for Your Majesty."
"I thought I would be the Empress when Your Majesty ascended the throne, but Your Majesty only gave me the position of Consort, and only because of Sheng Lengshuang!"
"If she hadn't seduced Your Majesty, how could Your Majesty have treated me like this!"