Meng Wenyao noticed a few of the concubines' eyes light up—clearly, some of them were quite talented at singing and performing.
The Emperor had originally intended to leave with Meng Wenyao, but seeing she was content to stay, he decided to linger a little longer.
"Who among you can sing?" he asked.
A concubine stepped forward and gave a graceful curtsy. "This humble one is Talent An. I would be honored to perform for His Majesty and the Consort."
Her voice was like a golden oriole—melodic, delicate, and full of grace. When the song ended, it seemed to echo in the air long after the last note faded.
This harem truly had no shortage of beauty and talent. What a waste, Meng Wenyao mused, that the Emperor showed no interest in any of them.
Feigning delight, Meng Wenyao smiled and invited them to keep performing, giving them ample opportunity to showcase their skills. Every so often, she leaned in close to whisper in the Emperor's ear.
"She sings so sweetly... That dance was enchanting... That waist—so flexible—I almost feel tempted myself."
The Emperor remained completely unmoved, as serene as a meditating monk.
Looking at the stunning women before her, Meng Wenyao felt both a twinge of pity for them and a looming dread for herself. Tonight's not going to be easy to escape...
"It's getting late. Let's head back," the Emperor said, taking her hand.
As they began to leave, the concubines, desperate from their fruitless efforts, made one last attempt to capture his attention. Some batted their eyes flirtatiously. One tossed a delicate handkerchief. Another boldly leaned forward, trying to fall into his arms.
The Emperor sidestepped with Meng Wenyao, letting the eager beauty fall flat on the ground behind them.
Looking back at the crowd of dejected concubines now trailing behind, Meng Wenyao said playfully, "Your Majesty is so heartless... don't you feel the least bit sorry for them?"
The Emperor paused, turned to her, and gently lifted her chin. "You're really that eager to give me to someone else?"
Well... yes, Meng Wenyao thought, but clearly now's not the time to say that out loud.
She knew men—especially emperors—enjoyed seeing their women jealous, wanting them all to themselves. A woman who tried to give him away? That bruised the ego.
Quickly adjusting her strategy, Meng Wenyao batted her eyes, slid her arms around his neck, and cooed, "Of course not. I only want Your Majesty by my side. I just… I feel so unworthy of all your kindness. How can someone like me deserve your exclusive affection?"
That did the trick.
The Emperor's frown softened. He lowered his head and nibbled her earlobe. His voice was low and warm. "My little Yaoyao is the best. You alone deserve all my favor. Don't be afraid—I'll give it all to you. Just make sure you can handle it."
Meng Wenyao trembled slightly and leaned into his chest, her heart sinking. Tonight, I'm going to be dead tired...
"Your Majesty... could I have one night to rest?" she asked hopefully.
"No," the Emperor replied without hesitation. "You've recovered enough. Tonight, I'll just shower you with a little extra affection."
He picked her up and strode toward the Hanxiang Palace.
The other concubines slowly dispersed, disappointment clinging to them like a fog.
Back in Jiaofang Hall, the Imperial Consort had seen enough to understand the situation clearly.
So many women had performed and vied for the Emperor's attention, yet he hadn't even spared them a glance. His eyes were fixed solely on Concubine Chen.
Something was off. During the years when she alone held the Emperor's favor, he'd always maintained a sense of distance and fairness in public. But now, he seemed to have no intention of hiding his bias. His public displays of affection for Concubine Chen were… unsettling.
Is she a sorceress? the Consort wondered. Does she cast spells with her eyes?
She recalled her earlier visit to Hanxiang Palace that morning—she'd seen the Emperor and Concubine Chen lying together... completely unclothed.
That was not normal.
Everyone knew the Emperor was… not fully functional. During "sleeping arrangements," it was always lights out, no talking, no touching. The concubines were simply slipped into bed after being dosed with mild aphrodisiacs. In the morning, they'd remember nothing clearly—just the heat in their bodies and some suggestive dreams. Whether or not the Emperor had actually done anything was always ambiguous.
But with Chen? He'd actually stripped down and slept beside her?
The more she thought about it, the more alarmed she became. This woman is dangerous. She has to be eliminated before she becomes a real threat.
But how?
The Consort knew better than most that she didn't wield power unchecked. Outsiders praised her for controlling both the inner palace and the imperial court, but she understood the truth—her influence came from knowing exactly what the Emperor wanted before he said it.
Back when she was a palace maid, she'd proven her loyalty over and over. When she learned about the Emperor's condition, she'd been the first to suggest ways to protect his secret. That's how she climbed to the top.
Whenever a concubine got too ambitious, she took care of it—solving problems before they reached the Emperor's ears. Everyone else saw her as ruthless. But in truth, she was just keeping the Emperor's world in order.
The same applied to court politics. Any official who opposed the Emperor mysteriously found themselves stripped of rank—or worse. She simply did what the Emperor could not.
But this Concubine Chen… she couldn't quite read her. Was it about the Meng family's military influence? Or something else?
She needed to test the waters.
She summoned a young eunuch and whispered a few instructions. The eunuch quickly left the palace and hurried to the Prince of An's manor.
Soon, the eunuch stood before the prince and relayed the message: "Her Grace suspects that the incident involving Young Master Wei began in the Meng family's residence. She asks that you investigate thoroughly—perhaps the Mengs are behind it."
The Prince of An listened, then personally escorted the eunuch out. Back inside, he gathered his advisors.
"What is the Imperial Consort implying?" he asked, brow furrowed. "That a delicate young lady like Meng's second daughter dragged Wei Quan to the city walls in the middle of the night? Absurd."
He couldn't believe someone that fragile—and frankly, that beautiful—was capable of such scheming. Especially when she bore such a strong resemblance to Concubine Chen.
But one of his advisors raised a rumor. "I've heard Wei Quan used underhanded tactics to trap the Meng girl. If she bore a grudge, who knows what she might be capable of?"
That gave the Prince pause. So that's why the Meng girl ended up as a concubine to the Wei family… but if she gets labeled a murderer and executed, it would be such a waste.
He paced for a moment, then asked, "She's the daughter of a frontline general. Her father is defending the borders while his family is left vulnerable in the capital. Surely, we can't just go along with this. What are our options?"
The advisors all mulled over the problem—some loyal to General Meng, others disgusted by the Consort's schemes.
Then, one strategist spoke up. "Why not let the Consort deal with it herself?"
"Oh?" the Prince raised a brow. "Explain."
"We can't offend the Consort, and we certainly don't want to alienate General Meng. But if we send the second daughter into the palace, let her seek help from Concubine Chen, then the two women can fight it out amongst themselves."
The room fell quiet, considering the idea.
"If Chen saves her," the strategist continued, "we'll owe her a favor. If she fails, the blame falls solely on the Consort. Either way, the Prince keeps his hands clean."
It was, the Prince thought, a brilliant move.