I insist

Chapter 244: How Could He Have Cheated on Someone?

Song Miqiu devised a plan. She stood there and muttered to herself. There was no one around her, but Song Miqiu took a gamble, betting that Tai Huailin's spies were watching her.

"You said the Empress Dowager might be pregnant?" The palace maid nodded, bowing her head repeatedly. "It was Physician Song who said it himself. She felt that the Empress Dowager's behavior resembled the symptoms of pregnancy. As soon as I heard this, I immediately informed Your Highness the Crown Prince."

After hearing these words, the Crown Prince glanced at the palace maid, indicating that he understood. He waved for the maid to leave and then set off for the Empress's palace.

He summoned the Empress, bowed slightly to her, and whispered all the information he had just received to her.

"The Empress Dowager may be pregnant."

"Pregnant?!" the Empress exclaimed in surprise. She quickly retorted, "Isn't the Empress Dowager incapable of having children? If she were, she should have given birth all these years ago!"

The Crown Prince looked somewhat helpless. He truthfully replied, "The Emperor and Empress Dowager came looking for Song Miqiu just a few days ago. I suppose Mother has forgotten about it."

"Now the Empress Dowager's health must have been cured by Song Miqiu, and my informant told me that Song Miqiu said the Empress Dowager might be pregnant, which means she has recovered."

Upon hearing this, a hint of disgust flashed in the Empress's eyes; she felt nauseous at the previous relationship between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

"No, if she is really pregnant, we absolutely cannot let the Emperor acknowledge the child!" the Empress said with a stern face. If the Emperor were to acknowledge the child in the Empress Dowager's womb, the situation would definitely be very unfavorable for them!

"That's what I think too. We must deal with this matter as soon as possible." The Crown Prince paused here, as he suddenly thought of something.

"But I also think that the child in the Empress Dowager's womb may not be the Emperor's."

The Empress paused, instinctively looking at the Crown Prince, "You say..."

"The Empress Dowager just happened to get pregnant at this critical juncture. Mother, you should think about it. Father has been quite busy these past few days. If the Empress Dowager is pregnant, where will the child come from?"

The Empress listened to the Crown Prince's words and sat there excitedly. She also thought that what the Crown Prince said was very good.

"Mother, why don't we have our spies investigate this matter thoroughly?" The Crown Prince said in a low voice, trying to calm the Empress down, seeing that she was very agitated.

He told the Empress all his thoughts: "If the late Emperor knew about this beforehand, he could definitely sow discord between them. Then the Emperor would surely find a way to abort the child in the Empress Dowager's womb."

The Empress nodded, finding the idea feasible. After all, no man would tolerate being cuckolded, especially the Emperor, the supreme ruler.

The Crown Prince and the Empress shared the same opinion. The Crown Prince took the lead in having his spies collect evidence, and then took this evidence to Elder Zong. The two of them rushed to the Emperor's study and told the Emperor everything they knew.

"Your Majesty, although the late Emperor is dead, the Empress Dowager's actions are clearly an insult to him!" Old Master Zeng said angrily, each word a criticism of the Empress Dowager. "The late Emperor has been dead for so many years, and now the Empress Dowager is suddenly pregnant. Isn't this adultery?!"

The Emperor wanted to say a few words for the Empress Dowager, but when the evidence was in his hands, the words he wanted to say suddenly stuck in his throat.

He was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

The Crown Prince glanced at Elder Zeng, then stepped forward and bowed to the Emperor. "Yes, Father, I have also discovered that the Empress Dowager has a man by her side! Although the late Emperor is now dead, if this matter gets out, it will certainly be extremely damaging to the reputation of our royal family!"

The two echoed each other's words, while the Emperor, seething with rage, sternly rebuked them, "Enough!"

The Emperor slammed his inkstone against the desk, coldly staring at the two of them. He said sternly, "If the Empress Dowager truly had an affair and felt guilty towards the late Emperor, I will naturally deal with it. But what you have shown me does not prove that the Empress Dowager had an affair!"

The evidence presented by the Crown Prince was rather weak and did not completely prove that the Empress Dowager was having an affair, but it was enough to enrage the Emperor. He sat in his chair, looked at the two people in front of him, and cursed them one after another, feeling quite satisfied!

The Crown Prince was slightly displeased. He fiddled with his ring and bowed to the Emperor. "If Your Majesty does not believe me, then Your Majesty can have the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate thoroughly and you will know whether I am wrong or not!"

"Alright, I'll have the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate!"

Song Miqiu learned of this news while on her way to Cining Palace.

She rolled her eyes, knowing this was a golden opportunity. After taking Consort Ru's pulse, she glanced at the Empress Dowager.

Song Miqiu's hesitant demeanor successfully attracted the Empress Dowager's attention. She instructed Granny Hua to bring Song Miqiu before her and slowly inquired, "Why were you staring at me like that? Or have you discovered some illness I have?"

“No, that’s not it.” Song Miqiu stood there hesitantly.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager shouted impatiently, "What is it? What kind of behavior is this, being so long-winded?"

“That’s right, the Empress Dowager told you to speak, so just say it. Why are you stammering?” Granny Hua stood to the side and nudged Song Miqiu’s arm with her elbow, urging her to speak quickly.

Song Miqiu gritted her teeth and whispered the news she had heard to the Empress Dowager.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's expression changed instantly.

She glanced at Granny Hua beside her, whose eyes also revealed worry. "Is that true? Did you really hear them say that?"

"Absolutely true!"

The Empress Dowager was now completely flustered. She was about to say something to Granny Hua when she caught sight of Song Miqiu still standing there.

The Empress Dowager hurriedly ordered Granny Hua to send Song Miqiu out, saying, "It's getting late, and the Empress Dowager is tired. Physician Song should leave as soon as possible."

A slight smile appeared on Song Miqiu's lips. She nodded gently and turned to leave.

She knew the real show was about to begin.

Song Miqiu walked out of Cining Palace, looked up at the sky, and exhaled a heavy breath, feeling very relaxed. Her first goal was to completely sow discord between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

The next day.

When the Empress Dowager heard the news of the Emperor's arrival, she thought of what Song Miqiu had said. A hint of panic flashed in her eyes, but then she thought that she had already sent the person away, and it wouldn't be so easy to find him.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager felt a little relieved and sat there waiting for the Emperor to come in.

To the Empress Dowager's surprise, the Emperor was accompanied by the Empress! Her expression changed instantly.

The Empress Dowager's gaze fell on the Emperor. She rose and walked slowly to his side, complaining, "Your Majesty, where did you hear this rumor? How could I possibly be having an affair?"