Li Qingmu wore an innocent expression, "I didn’t, it wasn’t me..."

Heaven witness, he hadn’t even touched a finger of Princess Consort Jing, how could it even be possible? Did it fly in out of nowhere?

Long Yue eyed him sideways, "What about your guard?"

Li Qingmu had a forehead full of black lines, "It should... be him, right?"

That scoundrel, he was told to restrain himself, to avoid such incidents, and yet he really...

Inside, Li Qingmu had a whole parade of alpacas rushing through!

Ha ha!

Long Yue looked at him with disdain, speaking coldly, "You can’t even manage your own guard, how do you plan on governing this country?"

"I don’t want to either..."

Oh!

Long Yue felt that some of this man’s responses really could make someone die of anger!

Yet soon she was embraced into his arms.

"Hush, these are just minor issues, my lady, why let it trouble you?"

"Are you not at all mentally burdened by wearing a green hat yourself?"

Li Qingmu chuckled, holding the small woman in his arms even tighter, "Is my lady trying to make me feel burdened?"

"Hmph!"

Long Yue gave a coy snort, but her heart was warm.

With a man who only cared about her like this, what else could she be dissatisfied with?

...

Wei State Duke Mansion.

Wei Yan, Mrs. Gao, Old Madam Wei, along with Wei Yundai and others, gathered in the main hall for a discussion.

"Who would have thought, Wei Yunyan’s tactics are so formidable, she has the Emperor wrapped around her finger, not only gathering a multitude of favors but also being pregnant with a dragon heir—it truly is maddening and infuriating!"

Mrs. Gao clenched her fists tightly, looking as though she could eat Long Yue alive.

It was truly astonishing; when other families have a favored concubine, they’d treat her like an ancestor, but at the Wei Mansion, the atmosphere was as dreary as if someone had died.

Wei Yundai bit her red lip, thinking of that wench having the winds and rains in the harem, her feelings were indescribable.

Especially two days ago, when she casually ordered the death of a concubine.

Even as a concubine, there was a rank, making it not easy to dispose of her, yet she just handed down death so casually.

Arrogant, utterly arrogant!

"Hmph, she won’t be smug for long; isn’t that Princess Consort Jing also pregnant? Let’s see whose belly is more fortunate, giving birth to a dragon son first!"

Wei Yundai was convinced that Long Yue wouldn’t be able to have a son!

Mrs. Gao squinted her eyes, "Even if she gives birth to a dragon son, there’s still precedence. I reckon that Princess Consort Jing might be quicker. Of course, it’ll also depend on whether the child will succeed; once involved in the imperial power struggle, the future might not be bright!"

If Long Yue knew that they were discussing these topics, she would surely be utterly shocked.

She really just wanted to take Li Qingmu away, to return to Dazhou with him, unaware of what these people were thinking?

"Yun Yan has completely broken ties with our family." Old Madam Wei said, giving a cold glance at Mrs. Gao and Wei Yan, these two truly were fools, not knowing what they were doing!

Thinking of using trickery, but failing to strike decisively, this resulted in getting bitten back instead.

Now with Wei Yunyan enjoying the Emperor’s favor, even pregnant with a dragon heir, once giving birth to a dragon son, her status would be beyond question, completely elevated through her son. What about them? What are they left with?

When Wei Yunyan decides to exact revenge on them, it would be truly difficult for Wei State Duke Mansion to resist!

The Wei State Duke Mansion, after all, was already a fallen noble mansion, lacking substantial power. Long Yue was different, being an Imperial Concubine with a Prince at her side, future involvement in the Crown Prince struggle, possibly even becoming an Empress Dowager; being on her mind like this was truly uncomfortable.

"You two fools, why did you act so quickly initially? If we had waited, these things wouldn’t have happened! Or if you had been more ruthless, not letting her slip away, wouldn’t have turned into this mess now, truly... useless!"

Old Madam Wei was fuming with anger.

"Mother, son was wrong, it was my fault for not handling things well, but why doesn’t mother consider, even if we don’t touch her, will she be grateful towards us? Her mother’s death, and the sufferings she endured all these years, were all orchestrated by us!"

Wei Yan was quite helpless, the enmity on both sides originated long ago, almost irreconcilable; this was why he preferred not allowing Long Yue into the palace, even if to replace her with Wei Yundai.

To let someone harboring animosity towards them enter the Imperial Palace and become the Emperor’s woman, would truly be inviting demise.

"Now that things have come to this, think of a solution!"

They were already in a death-or-glory situation, and she became an Imperial Concubine. What should they do next? They need to think it through.

"Speaking of which, she’s been in the palace for quite some time, why hasn’t she acted against our family?"

Old Madam Wei felt something was amiss; they were all making preparations for retaliation, yet there had been no movement from the one in the palace.

The more Long Yue acted like this, the more unsettling it became.

"Perhaps, waiting for an opportunity?"

Mrs. Gao’s eyes shone cunningly.

"Opportunity, what opportunity is she waiting for? She’s currently favored; shouldn’t she make a move?"

Wei Yundai harbored deep hatred towards Long Yue, especially hating the thought of that wench nestled beside the Emperor daily made her grind her teeth with fury; wasn’t that position supposed to be hers?

How could it be given to that little wench from the countryside?

What virtue or ability does she have?

It really infuriates her terribly!

Mrs. Gao looked at her daughter and slightly shook her head in disappointment; why was Wei Yunyan so adept at scheming and manipulation, yet her daughter kept making such low-level mistakes?

"If my guess is right, she’s lying low now, just waiting to give birth to a dragon son before exacting revenge on us!"

"Right, exactly, it must be like that!"

Wei Yundai said furiously, her small fists clenched tightly.

"Therefore, we must think of strategies during these days; ideally, we should collaborate with others!"

Old Madam Wei said, no wonder she’s an elder with profound wisdom, immediately thinking of a solution.

Currently, only an alliance could counter Wei Yunyan!

"Mother, with whom should we ally? In this harem... Ah, I remember now, the Empress is backed by Duke Zhen’s Mansion, with considerable power. If we can connect with her, join forces, won’t that little wench be dead for sure?"

Wei Yundai gritted her teeth; she now dreamed of killing Long Yue!

"Duke Zhen’s Mansion is an option, but would they bother with us? Their power is great, rising in prominence, while we are merely setting suns..."

Mrs. Gao showed an expression of hesitation.

She also hoped that Duke Zhen could join forces with them. But, would they be interested?

Old Madam Wei leaned back slightly, a confident look on her face, "Rest assured, times have changed, now we have a common enemy. I believe the Empress would agree!"

Wei Yundai was taken aback, only then realizing, yes, their enemies now were indeed Wei Yunyan and Princess Consort Jing. Since someone was willing to ally and to stand up for the Empress, why wouldn’t the Empress agree?

"Dai’er, the Empress holds a high position, later, I’ll go to find the mistress of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, ask her to send you into the palace!"

Mrs. Gao said.