"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

"According to what this humble subject knows, this memorial is based on the personal observations of the Wei River canal officer and contains no falsehoods!"

With that, Mei Wenshi knelt on the ground with a 'thump,' feigning a look of fear.

"Yesterday, after the tide receded in the Wei River, the boatmen responsible for clearing the riverbed unearthed a stone tablet weighing over a hundred pounds, inscribed with eight large characters: 'Xu will replace Jiang, the imperial reign will be eternal!'"

"After learning of such rebellious words, the Wei River canal officer dared not conceal them and immediately wrote a memorial, sending it to the Inner Cabinet. This old minister received the news last night and confirmed it from various sources..."

"Silence!"

Jiang Chen shouted sternly.

His cold gaze, full of warning, swept over the civil and military officials in the hall, as he said, word by word:

"The Xu family is full of loyal ministers and is the pillar of my reign. The appearance of this stone tablet is so suspicious; there must be someone deliberately setting up a trap to sow discord between me and Minister Xu.

"I will thoroughly investigate this matter. Before the truth is found, no one is allowed to leak the news. Violators will be dismissed and their homes confiscated!"

"Dismiss court!"

After defining the stone tablet as a conspiracy, Jiang Chen waved his sleeves and walked towards the inner palace, not giving the officials a chance to argue.

'Xu will replace Jiang, the imperial reign will be eternal'—the meaning of these eight characters is too terrifying!

If the Mei Wenshi faction seizes the opportunity to make an issue of this, then both Noble Consort Shu and Xu Changqing would likely lose their lives!

He must stop this!

In the imperial court.

Only after Jiang Chen's figure completely disappeared did the ministers awaken from their dreams and begin to discuss.

"Inscriptions on stone tablets have been recorded in history before. Perhaps this is a revelation from Heaven to our Great Wei!"

"If that's really the case, doesn't the phrase 'Xu will replace Jiang' mean that the Xu family wants to rebel and replace the imperial..."

"Hush, be careful what you say!"

Mei Wenshi listened to the discussions of his colleagues around him, exchanged a glance with Grand Censor Zhang Kang, and a hint of smugness flashed in their eyes.

Now that the arrangement is complete, the matter of the stone tablet has already spread along the Wei River.

Once the time is ripe, he can use the hands of the imperial clan to destroy the Xu family without bloodshed!

Recalling Jiang Chen's furious figure, Mei Wenshi curled his lips in disdain.

Inner palace, Xuan Shi Hall.

The setting sun cast its rays into the inner chamber.

Jiang Chen sat behind the imperial desk, his face shrouded in twilight.

His eyes were cold, and he scrutinized the memorial in his hand, a fierce look occasionally flashing across his face.

The usually noisy palace was now so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping.

The oppressive atmosphere caused the eunuchs to lower their heads, their breathing unconsciously slowing down.

Seeing this, Chief Eunuch Feng Jin's eyes flickered slightly. He beckoned a palace maid and whispered,

"Go and invite Noble Consort Shu. Hurry!"

Since the end of the court session, more than half a day has passed, and His Majesty has not taken a drop of water.

He has served before the Emperor for so many years, and this is the first time he has encountered such a situation, leaving him at a loss!

For now, he can only ask Noble Consort Shu to come forward and appease His Majesty.

Just as Feng Jin was pondering, the palace maid who had left returned, hurrying to say,

"Chief Eunuch Feng, Noble Consort Shu has been waiting outside the hall for a long time!"

Feng Jin was shocked and said anxiously, "Quickly invite her in, and be quiet, don't startle His Majesty!"

Soon, a beautiful figure stepped into the hall.

She held an octagonal food box, her figure slender, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, her tone containing a trace of heartache.

"Your Majesty, although court matters are busy, you must take care of your health. This concubine..."

*Bang!*

The food box was knocked away.

Jiang Chen retracted his arm, and just as he was about to scold the clueless palace maid, he turned his head and saw Noble Consort Shu's pale face.

He was shocked.

Jiang Chen quickly got up and said remorsefully,

"Yun'er, don't be afraid!"

"I was just thinking about something and thought it was some unruly palace maid coming over, so I was irritable and knocked over the food box. I'm not angry with you."

Noble Consort Shu's delicate body was still trembling, but she forced a smile on her face, comforting him,

"Your Majesty, it's okay. Getting angry is bad for your health. This concubine knows you're upset, and it's a good thing to vent it!"

"It's just a pity about these dishes. I was hoping to let Your Majesty taste my cooking."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen tightened his grip on Noble Consort Shu's slender waist, his tone even more apologetic.

"These dishes... were all made by you personally, Yun'er?"

Noble Consort Shu nodded, her gaze towards Jiang Chen gentle as water, and nestled into his arms.

"Your Majesty, this concubine heard that you had a dispute with the ministers in court today and were so angry that you haven't eaten all day. I was worried, so I went to the kitchen and made some home-style dishes..."

Jiang Chen's heart was filled with emotion when he heard this.

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw a large patch of red, like a burn, on Noble Consort Shu's neck.

Jiang Chen frowned, pulled open her collar, and said solemnly,

"Yun'er, are you injured? Who did this? Was it Mei Ruoying?!"

As he spoke, a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

He didn't stay at Chengqian Palace yesterday; did that woman vent her anger on Yun'er?!

This Mei family is truly a family of troublemakers, the old one cunning and insidious, the young one vicious and black-hearted. Sooner or later, I will deal with their entire family...

"Your Majesty, no, this concubine got sunburned outside. Please don't misunderstand Noble Consort Mei!"

A gentle voice interrupted Jiang Chen's thoughts.

Noble Consort Shu grabbed Jiang Chen's arm, her almond eyes blinking lightly as she said,

"Your Majesty, these red marks are sunburns. They're not serious. This concubine can apply some ointment and they'll disappear. You don't need to worry."

"It's getting late now. Can this concubine have dinner with you?"

With a simple explanation, Noble Consort Shu changed the subject.

Worrying about court affairs is already exhausting enough. She doesn't want Jiang Chen to worry about her anymore.

"Sunburned?"

Without responding, Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, his tone increasingly cold.

"Is that how your servants are serving you? To allow a noble consort to be burned by the scorching sun?!"

The chilly questioning made Noble Consort Shu feel sweet in her heart.

His Majesty used to ignore me, but now he's even concerned about such a small injury... but I still shouldn't let him worry. Court matters are already tricky enough; I can't add to his troubles!

Thinking this, Noble Consort Shu raised her head and said softly, "Your Majesty, this concubine insisted on waiting outside Xuan Shi Hall. It has nothing to do with the eunuchs. They served diligently and were not negligent in any way."

Jiang Chen was stunned and realized.

"Yun'er, you, you waited for me outside all day?!"

Noble Consort Shu's pretty face turned red, and she didn't say anything, only nodded gently.

For her, the time spent waiting was also beautiful.

Even though His Majesty didn't summon her, she was content just to be in the same hall.

Jiang Chen lowered his eyes, looked at the beauty before him, a tenderness flowing in his eyes, and embraced her.

To have such a woman, what more could a husband ask for?

He, Jiang Chen, would give everything to protect the smile of the person before him.

After a long while, on the imperial consort's couch.

Noble Consort Shu lay half-reclined in his broad embrace.

Jiang Chen was focused, gently applying medicine to her.

Noble Consort Shu felt the coolness and tingling on her skin, and a blush rose on her pretty face, her pink lips occasionally letting out a soft moan like a kitten.

Jiang Chen's large hand paused, his eyes instantly deepening.

Feeling the heat pressing against her, a hint of hesitation flashed across Noble Consort Shu's beautiful eyes, and then she relaxed her body, letting her belt slide off...