CHAPTER 550: CHAPTER 549: I DON’T BELIEVE IT, YOU’RE LYING TO ME

Undeniably, the words of Concubine Mei had triggered thoughts in Thirteen that he should not have entertained.

But as someone with no certainty of tomorrow, he was still reluctant to believe in Concubine Mei’s words, especially those shrouded in uncertainty.

"Once you are truly pregnant, I will help you kill Su Bai," Thirteen paused.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Mei reached to remove the cloth blindfolding her eyes, but Thirteen stopped her, "Don’t remove it."

Concubine Mei’s lips slightly pursed, and she ultimately chose to comply.

Her purpose had finally been achieved.

Thirteen reached out to touch her flat abdomen, gazing at it intently.

Would his own offspring really appear here?

Would heaven really grant someone like him an heir?

"I will give birth," Concubine Mei repeated.

"Why me?" Thirteen always felt it was unrealistic.

Concubine Mei fell silent for a long while, then placed her hand on the back of his hand, "I need a child, and you happened to appear at just the right time. It’s mutually beneficial, isn’t it?"

Mutually beneficial... That was indeed the truth.

Thirteen’s eyes deepened with contemplation, as if he had made some sort of decision.

Concubine Mei slightly curved the corners of her lips, her arm hooking around his neck.

"From now on, you’re tied to me," she declared.

Thirteen pushed her hand away, his tone intensifying, "That will only be the case once you’re confirmed pregnant."

He wasn’t a fool.

With that thought, he laid her down, "Try harder to make sure you conceive."

The curtain was let down, beginning to sway violently.

...

In another part of the palace.

Chen Jieyu, terrified, sat on the bed gnawing on her fingers.

The Emperor had stormed out of her chambers late at night and had not returned since.

She did not know whether she had completed the task assigned by General Su.

If the Emperor discovered what General Su had done, and if he severely punished her, would she still help her find her brother?

Chen Jieyu did not know.

At that moment, her heart was in turmoil.

She even regretted agreeing to Su Bai; perhaps if she had simply gone to Concubine Mei to apologize, her brother might have returned by now.

As she thought this, a palace maid suddenly rushed in, "Concubine..."

"What is it?" Chen Jieyu asked immediately.

"His Majesty has sent someone to say he will not come tonight," the palace maid said somewhat awkwardly, her gaze filled with sympathy towards Chen Jieyu.

Chen Jieyu’s heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that she had incurred the Emperor’s displeasure?

"Has His Majesty gone to another palace?"

The palace maid shook her head, "Not that we’ve heard."

"That’s good, I understand. You may leave," so it was not her fault, he must genuinely be preoccupied with urgent matters.

Chen Jieyu breathed a sigh of relief.

There was no need to wait further.

After a night of fear and torment, and severe body aches, she finally fell into a deep sleep before dawn.

...

A fierce storm swept over the Chu Kingdom before dawn.

Su Bai was awakened by raindrops drifting through the window.

She opened her eyes, directly facing the bamboo grove swaying in the strong wind outside.

The bamboo leaves, washed clean by the rain, were some raindrops drifted through the window and landed on her bed.

Su Bai slowly sat up.

Her mind was a complete blank.

What was happening to her?

"Miss!" A soft voice called from outside, followed by a slender palace maid dressed woman rushing in anxiously.

Su Bai frowned at the unfamiliar face.

"Miss, you’re finally awake. If you hadn’t woken up, I wouldn’t have been able to live either." She threw herself at Su Bai’s feet, crying pear blossoms with rain.

But strangely, Su Bai felt no emotion in response to her tears.

"What happened to me?" Su Bai asked.

The maid wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, concealing her cunning, "Miss, have you forgotten? You discovered a spy from Dawei in the suburbs, tried to capture him, got injured during the fight, and have been unconscious until now. If it weren’t for the Emperor sending someone to find you, I truly wouldn’t know what to do."

With a few words, she made things clear.

Su Bai touched her head, some images flashed past her mind.

The night... Swords glinting white, and blood...

Indeed, such an event had happened.

"Who are you?"

The maid as if hearing an unthinkable question, cried even more torrentially, "I am your personal maid, Sang Jiu. Since the Su Family was destroyed, it has always been just you and me. The Emperor, in his mercy, allowed me to stay by your side. We have been living in the Imperial Palace for three years now."

Su Bai still found the maid claiming to be Sang Jiu unfamiliar.

Perhaps it was indeed because she had injured her mind, she tried getting up from the bed.

Feeling the solid ground beneath her feet, at that moment, strength seemed to return to her body.

"I will send someone to inform the Emperor right away. His Majesty spent the night by your side, he should be very pleased to know you’re awake," Sang Jiu hurried out.

Su Bai did not stop her.

Following her out, the rain streaked wildly through the corridor outside, Sang Jiu looked like a pitiful butterfly battered by the rain, still determinedly making her way to the other end of the corridor.

Su Bai observed the interior decorations, a familiar feeling faintly coming through.

Yet there was a hint of strangeness everywhere.

Before long,

a figure in bright yellow walked through the heavy rain.

His face was handsome, his green eyes particularly enchanting, filled with concern as he looked at her.

"My Great General Su, you are finally awake," Chu Qi approached, his tone not devoid of joy.

This time, he had placed a maid, Sang Jiu, by Yan Wanqing’s side.

One reason was to keep an eye on her for himself.

The other was that during her time in Dawei, she always had a maid by her side. In a foreign land, he hoped she would have someone to talk to.

Seeing Su Bai standing there, her clear eyes full of confusion.

He couldn’t be sure, and took a step forward, "Su Bai, how do you feel?"

Unexpectedly, Su Bai took a large step back.

Chu Qi: "..." His smile instantly froze on his handsome face.

"What’s the matter?"

Su Bai frowned at him, "Are you the Emperor?"

"Genuine and real."

"Am I your concubine?"

Chu Qi’s tone slowed, "Not just yet."

"Then why am I in your palace?" Su Bai puzzled, "According to you, I’m not a concubine but a general. I should be living outside the palace, with my own mansion. Why would I still be living in the palace? Are you deceiving me?!"

"The Majesty as I am, why would I deceive you? I didn’t grant you a mansion because I was worried you’d feel lonely living outside the palace alone,"

Chu Qi explained.

Su Bai was highly vigilant, shaking her head, "I don’t believe it. You’re lying to me." Suddenly her head ached, her ears rang, and she clutched her ears as her face turned white.

Chu Qi quickly stepped forward to support her, "Does it hurt? Quickly, take the medicine."

He took a medicinal jar from his bosom, poured out a medicinal pill that Song Huaxu had prepared earlier, and Sang Jiu immediately brought up some warm water.

Su Bai was given a pill, swallowed it with the water, and her body flopped down limply.