I Transmigrated Back To Become The Empress

Chapter Twelve:A Jealous Cousin

Lady Su Wen, Lin Yue cousin, was the daughter of a distant branch of the Lin family. Unlike Lin Yue, who had clawed her way from obscurity, Su Wen had always been coddled by wealth and privilege. Her bitterness toward Lin Yue ran deep, fueled by envy of her cousin’s position in the imperial palace.

“How is it,” Su Wen sneered during a private meeting with Concubine Yao Liqing, “that a forgotten daughter of the Lin family now walks in the emperor’s favor? My father served this family faithfully, and yet she reaps the rewards.”

Concubine Yao, always eager to strike at Lin Yue, leaned forward with a cunning smile. “Lady Su, perhaps we can remedy that injustice. Together.”

Su Wen’s eyes glittered with malice. “Tell me what you have in mind.”

Days later, Lin Yue found herself feeling more fatigued than usual. Her body, which had been steadily recovering over the months, suddenly felt heavy and weak. She pushed the feeling aside, attributing it to stress and the constant vigilance required to survive the palace.

Unbeknownst to her, Su Wen and Concubine Yao had orchestrated a plan to poison her slowly. They used the palace’s network of maids to slip a weakened but consistent dose of a harmful herb into her meals, hoping to make her sick enough to fall out of favor with the emperor.

But Lin Yue resilience, honed through years of assassin training, proved stronger than they anticipated.

Emperor Zhao Ming had noticed Lin Yue pallor and growing exhaustion. Though his demeanor toward her remained cold and distant in public, he couldn’t deny that he was concerned. One evening, after seeing her falter during a formal event, he summoned the palace physician to her chambers.

The physician examined her thoroughly, his face thoughtful as he checked her pulse.

“Well?” Zhao Ming asked, his tone sharp with impatience.

The physician hesitated, glancing between Lin Yue and the emperor. “Your Majesty, Lady Lin is… with child.”

Lin Yue eyes widened. “I’m… what?”

“You are pregnant, Lady Lin ,” the physician repeated gently. “Perhaps two months along, if my calculations are correct.”

Zhao Ming’s expression darkened, not with anger but with a mixture of emotions that even Lin Yue couldn’t decipher. “You will say nothing of this to anyone,” he ordered the physician. “Not until I allow it.”

The physician bowed deeply. “As you command, Your Majesty.”

Though Lin Yue tried to adjust to the news, her life remained filled with danger. Concubine Yao and Su Wen continued their plots, unaware of the life growing inside her. The emperor, however, became more protective in subtle ways. He assigned trusted guards to her chambers, limited her public appearances, and personally ensured that her meals were prepared under strict supervision.

Despite his actions, Zhao Ming’s outward behavior remained as cold and unreadable as ever. Lin Yue couldn’t tell whether his concern stemmed from genuine care or a sense of duty.

As the months passed, rumors began to swirl about the emperor’s harem. Ministers, eager to gain favor, sent their daughters to the palace in hopes of securing a place for them as concubines.

“You are fortunate,” Xiu’er whispered one evening as she helped Lin Yue dress. “With so many new women entering the palace, the attention on you has lessened.”

Lin Yue nodded, her hand resting on her growing belly. Though her pregnancy had been kept a secret, she knew it wouldn’t remain hidden forever. Her rivals wouldn’t rest once they discovered she carried the emperor’s heir.