Among them, especially Lord Feng Tang, Lord Wu Yuanjing, and other devoted admirers of Yue Fuguang, wore nothing but cold expressions toward those three.

The court officials had just finished discussing matters related to coal and steel mining, as well as subsequent research, with Emperor Mingxi.

Minister of Rites Zhang Zhongping immediately stepped forward and addressed the throne, "Your Majesty, regarding the dangers of consanguineous marriages, should we conduct further verification? I also request Lord Sun, the head of the Imperial Hospital, to—"

Before he could finish, Concubine Xian Zhou gracefully entered the hall, carrying a food box in hand.

Emperor Mingxi frowned at once, casting a displeased glance at his chief eunuch, Qian Gui.

Qian Gui’s heart skipped a beat, and he dropped to his knees. He had devoured every scandal from this morning’s court session, and the matter concerning Concubine Xian Zhou was crystal clear to him.

Though the Emperor had not immediately punished her, it was only to preserve his own dignity and the imperial family’s prestige—he intended to deal with her gradually.

Ah, and most importantly, he couldn’t arouse the suspicions of Yue Fuguang and the young immortal lord.

But in the eyes of everyone present, Concubine Xian Zhou and the Ninth Prince were as good as dead.

However, Qian Gui had been so preoccupied with leading the arrest of those named by Yue Fuguang that he’d forgotten to remind the Emperor of the absurd decree he’d issued two months prior: Concubine Xian Zhou could enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation without prior announcement.

Now, as the person involved, Emperor Mingxi naturally recalled that foolish decree he’d made in a moment of lustful impulse.

He waved his hand, signaling Qian Gui to rise. With Yue Fuguang’s presence, he was determined to become a wise ruler for the ages—he couldn’t recklessly execute his close aides over personal grievances.

In the brief moment of distraction, Concubine Xian Zhou had already stepped into the hall. Seeing the high-ranking officials present, she felt a flicker of unease.

Though she was a favored concubine, she and her son needed these men’s support if they were to secure the throne. Naturally, she feared any misstep might sway their allegiance away from her son.

But recalling the news she’d just heard, she gritted her teeth. She had to survive this ordeal first.

Before she even reached the imperial desk, tears welled up in her eyes. The officials took one look at the scene and decided they’d had enough court scandals for one day.

They had already heard too many imperial family secrets during the morning session. If they stayed for a live performance, they couldn’t guarantee the Emperor’s magnanimity would extend to sparing them from his wrath.

Once the hall had emptied, leaving only Emperor Mingxi, Concubine Xian Zhou, and the eunuch Qian Gui, her tears began to fall like broken strings of pearls.

The Emperor watched her delicate, tear-streaked face—still beautiful even in sorrow—and felt an inexplicable wave of disgust, remembering Yue Fuguang’s revelations.

Zhuo Fei had already been secretly arrested. The extent of his relationship with Concubine Xian Zhou was still under interrogation by the Shadow Guards.

Given their methods, the full truth would soon land on his desk.

As for the last man who’d shared her bed—he would personally pry that name from her lips.

"Your Majesty," Concubine Xian Zhou began, her voice trembling with hurt and fragility, "this morning, I heard that my father and brother during court..."

She dabbed at her tears with a silk handkerchief before continuing, "How could I not be a daughter of the Zhou family? I look so much like my mother! Though Father and Brother have never been close to me since childhood, how could I possibly..."

She left her words half-spoken, her demeanor that of a wronged woman.

To an uninformed observer, she might indeed inspire pity. Hadn’t he himself been fooled by this act before?

"Father and Brother never liked me. Such a significant matter, and they didn’t even warn me in advance! They’ve never treated me as family..."

Emperor Mingxi scoffed internally. Warn her? They had learned the truth even later than she had.

Thinking of the Zhou father and son—first terrified out of their wits, then demoted but still weeping with relief—he said coldly, "Didn’t you already know at the age of eight that you were the daughter of your aunt, Little Madam Zhuo?

Your birth mother was Lady Zhou’s younger sister. Isn’t it perfectly normal for you to resemble Lady Zhou?"

Faced with the Emperor’s rapid-fire questions, Concubine Xian Zhou’s hand froze mid-motion, her face betraying a flash of guilt.

Hidden in her sleeves, her fingers clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms. The sharp pain steadied her nerves.

With an expression of confusion and grievance, she cried, "Your Majesty, who would spread such vicious rumors about me? Because you favor me and the Ninth Prince, these people... these people would slander me so cruelly! Your Majesty, you must uncover the truth and grant me justice!"

When her birth mother had revealed the secret, it had been just the two of them—no maids, no witnesses. Who else could have known?

In her panic, she had completely forgotten about Yue Fuguang, the living deity who had exposed everything in court.

Then it struck her—the Zhou father and son had been charged with deceiving the throne. If she were proven to have known her true parentage at eight yet still participated in the imperial selection, wouldn’t that mean she, too, was guilty of the same crime?

The Emperor had only punished the Zhou men. Over an hour had passed since court adjourned, yet no edict had arrived at her palace. That meant His Majesty still trusted her!

She couldn’t panic. She couldn’t falter now!

Concubine Xian Zhou extended her flawlessly manicured fingers, tugging lightly at Emperor Mingxi’s sleeve like a coquettish maiden. "Your Majesty," she murmured sweetly, "do you truly believe the words of outsiders over your own Zhou Zhou?"

The Emperor subtly withdrew his sleeve, even brushing at nonexistent dust. His voice was icy. "Your birth mother confessed it herself, Concubine Xian. Will you still deny it?"

Her birth mother had spoken? Why would she betray her? Hadn’t she given them enough?

A thousand thoughts raced through Concubine Xian Zhou’s mind, but all that emerged was a stammered, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I... I was just a child then. My aunt’s words... I took them as a joke."

Her forced smile was uglier than her tears, the Emperor noted.

"I truly... truly never imagined it could be real! How could it possibly be true?"

She continued to plead, desperate to rekindle the Emperor’s past affection.

But she didn’t know—Emperor Mingxi had been fantasizing about her death since learning of her infidelity.

The only reason he hadn’t acted was the lack of a suitable pretext. With Yue Fuguang visiting the palace daily, he couldn’t afford to raise suspicions.

And now, here she was—delivering herself to the executioner’s blade. How could he let such a heaven-sent opportunity slip?

"Qian Gui," he commanded, "announce Our decree: Concubine Xian Zhou, having behaved improperly before the throne, is demoted to the rank of concubine, stripped of her title. Concubine Zhou is confined to her quarters for three months and shall copy the Admonitions for Women a thousand times."

He ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‍deliberately didn’t demote her to the lowest rank at once. No, he would reduce her status step by step over the coming days—that was true torment.

Concubine Xian Zhou—no, now merely Concubine Zhou—was terrified by the Emperor’s sudden decree.

She couldn’t comprehend why His Majesty would treat her so harshly just because she wasn’t a true Zhou daughter.

Then she remembered—she still had the Ninth Prince!