Chapter 1274 - 31: The Emperor Turns Into a Dog

Imperial Concubine Shu strode quickly into her own bedchamber, searched the hidden compartment of her jewelry box, and took out a small paper packet, then summoned Liu Yin.

"Go, give this to Zi Juan, the maid beside Noble Lady Cao. Have her put a little into Noble Lady Cao’s food every day. Go quickly!" Imperial Concubine Shu ordered darkly, her face gloomy.

Liu Yin lowered her head, received it, and answered in assent.

"Don’t pretend to obey while secretly defying me—you know the consequences. If I decide I want you dead," Imperial Concubine Shu threatened, her expression grim.

"Yes." Liu Yin replied with her head lowered, "This servant will see to it at once."

When Liu Yin finished speaking, she made her curtsey and left.

Imperial Concubine Shu touched her own belly, and a wave of anxiety rose in her heart. What if this wasn’t a boy?

No!

This child would definitely be a boy.

She would never agree to her father and brother’s decision, to adopt some lowborn wretch from who knew where as her child, much less let some obscure bastard sit on the throne that ought to belong to her child. If this one wasn’t a boy, then she would bear another!

The packet of medicine Imperial Concubine Shu had just taken was given to her by her father, meant for the Emperor to use after she bore a dragon-son and he was established as Crown Prince. Now it would have to be used on Noble Lady Cao first.

After Liu Yin stepped out of Imperial Concubine Shu’s palace gate, she did not go to Noble Lady Cao’s quarters, but headed somewhere else. She found a young eunuch. Their relationship was publicly described as coming from the same hometown, and he had acknowledged her as his sworn elder sister. In fact, this person also belonged to Grand Secretary Cao.

"Sister, what brings you here?" The young eunuch greeted her with a smile.

"I came to see you. How have things been for you lately?" Liu Yin smiled as the young eunuch invited her in to sit and drink tea.

"Pretty good. With you here, they all treat me very well." The young eunuch smiled shyly.

"That’s good. If you lack anything, remember to come to me." Liu Yin said kindly.

The two chatted idly for a while, then Liu Yin rose to take her leave. As the young eunuch escorted her to the door, she spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear: "The Imperial Concubine harbors dissent; she is unwilling to follow the plan."

A flicker of surprise flashed through the young eunuch’s eyes, but his face still beamed as he said, "Sister, take care on your way. When you have time, come play; I’ll brew tea for you."

"All right, I’ll come another day." Liu Yin nodded with a smile and departed.

That very night, Grand Secretary Cao and General Cao received the information sent out by Liu Yin.

"What is Little Sister trying to do?" General Cao asked with a frown, unable to understand.

"Her wings have grown hard." Grand Secretary Cao said, his face full of anger. "If she wants to make decisions on her own, she’ll have to see whether she has that capability."

Hearing his father’s words, General Cao spoke uneasily, "Father, although Little Sister was sent into the palace by us, the way she’s managed to make the Emperor treat her like that, that’s also her own..."

"Those methods of hers—was it not I who found people to teach them to her? If I can shape an Imperial Concubine Shu, I can just as well have an Imperial Concubine Chen, an Imperial Concubine Liang. If she won’t obey, we’ll simply replace her." Grand Secretary Cao’s gaze was icy. "We absolutely cannot let her ruin our grand design."

"Father!" At these words, General Cao shot to his feet in shock. "Little Sister is still your daughter and my younger sister—can you really bear to..."

"What are you imagining? I only said we’d change the person, I never said we wanted your sister’s life. She’s my daughter—if she doesn’t listen, we’ll just give her a lesson. Later, let her be some Noble Lady or Lady of the Bedchamber or whatever." Grand Secretary Cao waved his hand as he spoke.

"Oh..." Hearing this, General Cao finally relaxed and sat back down.

The Emperor drifted beside the two of them, listening to their conversation, the corner of his mouth twitching all the while.