Chapter 26
Lin Lanzhi felt an inexplicable flutter of panic under the Empress's gaze, but then she remembered—she was carrying the Emperor's child. Surely the Empress wouldn’t dare lay a hand on her.
"Empress Sister, I know you’re usually busy, but no matter how occupied you are, you shouldn’t let the Emperor be disturbed by a child—especially one as unruly as the Third Prince," Lin Lanzhi said smugly.
She gently stroked her belly and added in a lecturing tone, "My dear, you mustn’t grow up to be like your Third Imperial Brother, bothering His Majesty like that. Understand?"
"Ah, Your Majesty, you should hurry inside. The Emperor must be growing impatient," urged the young eunuch, who had been standing idly but now wore an anxious expression.
"Eunuch Wu, please inform His Majesty that it’s not that I refuse to enter—it’s just that Lin Lanzhi insists on lecturing me here. Given that she carries the Imperial heir, I dare not neglect her," the Empress said, standing firmly at the entrance of the study, seemingly deaf to the thunderous wails coming from inside.
Eunuch Wu paled at her words.
He glanced nervously into the study, then shot Lin Lanzhi a disdainful look. How dare this lowly concubine act so self-important, even daring to lecture the Empress?
Not daring to delay further, Eunuch Wu hurried inside.
"Does Lin Lanzhi have anything else to say to me?" the Empress asked mildly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Seeing the Empress appear so willing to listen, Lin Lanzhi swelled with pride.
So what if she was the Empress? She still had to obey her.
When Zhu Jingchen heard Eunuch Wu’s report, his face darkened.
Did this insignificant concubine truly believe carrying his child gave her the right to act so insolently?
"Tell her to get in here—now!" Zhu Jingchen snapped.
"Your Majesty, shall I summon the Empress as well?" Eunuch Wu asked cautiously.
"Invite the Empress in too," Zhu Jingchen said with a sigh, glancing at the two wailing children.
Eunuch Wu understood immediately—the one ordered to "get in here" was Lin Lanzhi.
A cold smirk crossed his face. Someone was about to face consequences.
"Eunuch Wu, did His Majesty summon me?" Lin Lanzhi asked eagerly as he stepped out.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor requests your presence," Eunuch Wu said first, bowing respectfully to the Empress.
"Thank you, Eunuch Wu," the Empress replied with a nod before leisurely making her way into the study.
"And what about me?" Lin Lanzhi was stunned. After waiting all this time, would the Emperor really ignore her?
"Lin Lanzhi, His Majesty orders you to get in here," Eunuch Wu declared coldly, standing tall.
"You’re lying!" Lin Lanzhi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"If you doubt me, why not ask His Majesty yourself?" Eunuch Wu scoffed inwardly. How foolish could she be? This was the Imperial study—did she think he’d risk his neck to lie?
"Hmph! Just you wait!" Lin Lanzhi stormed into the study, screeching before she even entered, "Your Majesty!"
Zhu Jingchen shuddered at the sound.
What kind of creature was Lin Lanzhi?
The Empress said nothing, merely casting a quiet glance in Lin Lanzhi’s direction.
Was this the kind of behavior the Emperor favored?
She could never bring herself to imitate it.
At this thought, the Empress glanced at the Emperor again, wondering if this man was even worth keeping.
"Where did this monster come from? Throw her out!" Zhu Jingchen snapped at the eunuch beside him, his face twisted in disgust.
"Your Majesty, this humble servant greets you!" Lin Lanzhi hurried to the imperial desk and curtsied.
But the coquettish tone in her voice was impossible to ignore.
"Has Lin Lanzhi forgotten how to speak properly?" Zhu Jingchen said impatiently.
Zhu Hanyu and Xu Qingshi, seeing the Emperor's sudden change in mood, burst into even louder wails.
"Empress Sister, look at the Third Prince—crying like this. As his mother, shouldn’t you comfort him?" Lin Lanzhi said, eyeing the sobbing prince with disdain.
"Lin Lanzhi seems quite experienced," the Empress replied with a faint smirk before turning to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, do you know why these two children are crying like this?"
Zhu Jingchen glared at Lin Lanzhi, irritated. Was she implying he didn’t know how to raise children?
"Lin Lanzhi, you must have too much free time. Are you trying to teach me how to parent?" Zhu Jingchen demanded.
"Your Majesty, that’s not what I meant! I was referring to the Empress!" Lin Lanzhi protested, her face a picture of grievance. How could the Emperor misunderstand her?
"Little Third, stop crying. Tell her—who made you cry?" Zhu Jingchen barked at Zhu Hanyu.
The Third Prince, who had already begun to calm down upon seeing the Empress, burst into fresh sobs at the nickname "Little Third."
The Empress, who had been puzzled earlier, now rolled her eyes and shot the Emperor a disapproving look.
So this was why the children were crying.
The Emperor knew full well that Zhu Hanyu hated being called "Little Third." Yet he did it on purpose.
No wonder their son always cried around him.
The father simply enjoyed making his children cry.
Catching the Empress’s sharp gaze, Zhu Jingchen felt a twinge of guilt—but quickly feigned ignorance.
"Empress, why don’t you comfort them?" he said with a teasing grin.
"Your Majesty, you made them cry—you handle it," the Empress replied coolly.
After all, she hadn’t produced these children alone. If the father delighted in their tears, shouldn’t the mother oblige?
"Empress Sister, how can you say that? The Emperor is busy with state affairs—he has no time to soothe children! You’re the Third Prince’s mother—shouldn’t you take responsibility?" Lin Lanzhi pointed an accusing finger at the Empress, indignant.
"Lin Lanzhi, you overstep," the Empress sneered.
She wasn’t worried. Though her relationship with the Emperor wasn’t particularly warm, he would never let a mere concubine humiliate her.
She was the Empress. If he wouldn’t even grant her this basic dignity, how could she manage the imperial harem?
"Guards, take this insolent woman to the Imperial Clan Court," Zhu Jingchen ordered. A fool like her didn’t even deserve the cold palace—she’d only taint it.
"Your Majesty, she’s carrying your child," the Empress said, though not out of sympathy for Lin Lanzhi. The unborn child was innocent.
"Hmph. Take her away first!" Zhu Jingchen waved a hand dismissively. He had plenty of heirs—one less wouldn’t matter.
"Empress, I've driven away that nuisance. What do you think..." After the others had left, Zhu Jingchen looked at the Empress with an ingratiating expression as he spoke.
