Chapter 141: Chapter 13: The Imperial Concubine Has a System (Part 13)

In fact, many things have already diverged from the plot of the story. In the story, the Imperial Concubine gave birth to a child after becoming Empress. But now, the Imperial Concubine is still just an Imperial Concubine, and her child has not become the Crown Prince, merely remaining as the Second Prince.

The Emperor has never agreed to reinstate an Empress, nor agreed to establish a Crown Prince, yet the Phoenix Seal has always been in the hands of the Imperial Concubine.

He continues to shower affection on the Imperial Concubine.

With just a few words from the Imperial Concubine, she can decide the life and death of others.

Grand Tutor Wen became increasingly brazen, but when he started selling official positions and imperial exam papers, the Emperor harshly punished him once.

However, even so, after the Imperial Concubine pleaded and made a fuss, the Emperor forgave Grand Tutor Wen, although he was still stripped of his position. Despite this, he received a large amount of rewards.

As a result, Grand Tutor Wen seemed to discern the Emperor’s boundaries, intentionally skirting the line when conducting affairs.

The Second Prince grew older, yet the Emperor never appointed him as Crown Prince.

Within the entire harem, the Imperial Concubine held the most significant position, and the Emperor always remained with her. Additionally, none of the other concubines had children, and the only concubine who bore a child had a Princess, which took place when the Empress was still around; the Eldest Princess did not affect the Second Prince’s position. Therefore, the parts in the story where the Imperial Concubine eliminated dissidents among the concubines did not occur.

Yet the system demanded completing the task of ensuring the Second Prince was made the Crown Prince, a task that remained unfulfilled.

During this period, the Imperial Concubine endured numerous punishments from the system, yet the task was still not completed.

The system’s torment left the Imperial Concubine somewhat distressed; perhaps believing herself to be the Emperor’s true love, over the years, she treated the Emperor with increasing casualness.

Whatever torments the system devised for her, she inflicted back on the Emperor.

Fortunately, the Emperor seemed to remain focused on state affairs, maintaining clarity regarding those matters, regardless of his relations with the Imperial Concubine.

On this day, the Imperial Concubine once again sought the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, I have accompanied you for so many years. When my elder sister married you, I was filled with envy and jealousy. The first time I saw Your Majesty, I deeply fell in love with you. But I knew, with an Empress for an elder sister, there was no way I could have any association with Your Majesty.”

With a touch of tears in her eyes, the Imperial Concubine spoke passionately, still striving for the matter of the Crown Prince.

“When my sister passed, everyone at home was crying. I, too, shed tears, but inexplicably there was a trace of happiness within me. I thought myself cold-blooded because I wanted to be with Your Majesty.”

“I racked my brains to persuade my mother, and finally, I was able to enter the palace, to be by Your Majesty’s side. Do you know how joyful I was back then?”

The Imperial Concubine covered her face, sobbing, “Your Majesty, my heart has always belonged to you, yet you have never belonged to me. Those days, seeing Your Majesty care for the Empress and spending time with other sisters, I felt as if knives were cutting into my flesh.”

“When Your Majesty finally set your eyes upon me, do you know how ecstatic I was?”

“I wanted to shout out loud; having the Second Prince made me very happy. The Second Prince is the product of our love; why do you treat him this way, Your Majesty?”

“Why, Your Majesty? You have only one son, the Second Prince. Why are you unwilling to make him the Crown Prince? Do you know what they say about me outside? They say I’m coveting the position of Empress, that I lack the fortune, that the Second Prince has ill fate; there are all kinds of rumors. It makes me unbearably sad, Your Majesty…”

Overcome with emotion, the Imperial Concubine wept uncontrollably.

After the system’s transformation, the Imperial Concubine deeply understood her strengths.

She knew that her tearful appearance, looking like a weeping beauty, could drive the man in front of her wild.

Sure enough, the Emperor pulled her into his embrace.

The Emperor, feeling a bit distressed, carefully wiped away the Imperial Concubine’s tears.

“Fool, I only have one son; in the future, who else would inherit my empire but him?”

“Regarding the matter of the Crown Prince, you know he was only a few years old when he passed. I keep thinking it was because he was declared Crown Prince too young, unable to bear the noble title’s weight. I wish for our child to remain healthy always, and for my realm to be gracefully handed to his care. A title is but a name; look at our son, in every way compared to the Crown Prince, isn’t he?”

“You have always understood my thoughts well; why insist so much on this matter? Please, don’t cry anymore, or I’ll be heartbroken. Let’s not bring up this matter again; Chen’er is still young, and when he grows older, I will have plans.”

“Moreover, you know about your father. Some of the things he’s done are excessive. I don’t wish you to be saddened, nor do I want the Crown Prince to be controlled by maternal relatives in the future.”

The Emperor didn’t wish to delve into the topic further, and the Imperial Concubine felt helpless.

If the system hadn’t been persistently urging it, she wouldn’t keep pressing on the matter.

Yet, inexplicably, the system demanded the position of Crown Prince, leaving her with no alternative.

She understood that the Crown Prince’s title would eventually go to Chen’er, but the system’s punishments repeatedly terrified her.

As the Emperor left, the Imperial Concubine couldn’t help but call out, only to be met with a smile. She knew that this task was truly impossible to complete.

“Mission incomplete for the host. When the left hand is touched, it will feel as if pierced by needles. This punishment will be retained for six months.”

The Imperial Concubine was terribly frightened.

Though it claimed to be needle-like pain, her body had been modified to be extremely sensitive, amplifying that needle pain manifold. It wasn’t her first time suffering such needle pain; it could make her writhe in agony.

Even if she didn’t use the hand often, she would occasionally bump into things, and just the thought of it made her wish to faint.

However, that very evening, the Emperor came to her palace once more.

The Emperor held her hand all along—it was her right hand, but the Imperial Concubine was very careful to hide her left hand.

Yet after dinner, when the Emperor suggested a walk to aid digestion, he happened to take her left hand.

The Imperial Concubine screamed in pain, tears and snot running down her face, looking utterly terrifying.

Calling for the Imperial Physician to examine her, nothing could be discerned.

The Imperial Concubine simply said her hand hurt.

Of course, the Imperial Physician couldn’t find anything, as it was a punishment given by the system.

The Emperor stayed to accompany the Imperial Concubine.

However, inevitably, sometimes her hand would accidentally be touched.

The suffering Imperial Concubine was drenched in sweat, her beauty blooming like flowers, her tender lips bitten through.

Perhaps fearing the Emperor, for the first time, the Imperial Concubine tried to send him away.

Though the Emperor felt somewhat displeased, seeing her pain, he said nothing and left.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep