The king came to the Zen Palace for breakfast for the first time, causing the few kitchen staff to hurriedly prepare a few extra dishes under mounting pressure.The meal was quiet.George didn't speak, and Jane remained silent as well. It was pointless to expect her to serve food to the king. Occasionally, she would even compete with him for the same dish.Lily tried signaling her mistress multiple times, hoping Jane would break the ice with some conversation to lighten the mood, but Jane ignored her completely.Suddenly, Jane spoke.Lily, expecting something meaningful, instead heard, "Another plate of pasta."As a martial artist, Jane had a bigger appetite than most women. When she was in the military camp among men, this was hardly noticeable, but within the palace, her eating habits were somewhat unusual.When she requested a third plate of pasta, George finally looked up at her.When he dined with concubines, most of them barely ate anything and often focused on serving hi
Lily had just posed her question when sudden realization struck."Your Majesty, Prince Richard once said that the king favors women who can ride horses. Are you organizing the polo match to help the other ladies gain his favor?"Jane replied with a calm indifference, "The king favored Lady Rosalie because she rode well. Not just anyone will do.""Your Majesty, I am a fool—then what is your reason?""Willing participants will take the bait," Jane said, her gaze serene and unfathomable, though a trace of scheming flickered in her eyes.Lily pondered for a moment. The only thing she could conclude was that her mistress was targeting Lady Helena. But what the connection could be, she couldn't figure out.-At Cloud Palace, upon learning that the king had dined in the queen's quarters that morning, Helena was both anxious and furious."That wretched woman! I don't know what trick she pulled to force the king to punish me, and now she dares to seduce him!"Clara, seeing her mistress
At Zen Palace, Jane had resumed the customary morning and evening gatherings, but many concubines still claimed to be sick to avoid attending.Feigning sickness was a pretense; their true loyalty was with Helena.In the inner chamber, Lily was styling Jane's hair while voicing her indignation."Your Majesty, it's one thing for others to skip, but even Julie has sent word claiming illness. Has she forgotten it was you who secured a reward for her?"Before, she even had someone convey her willingness to copy the palace rules twenty times as a gesture of support for you. I thought she was sincere about siding with you! But now it's clear she's just another opportunist!"Jane was calmly reviewing the accounts of the inner palace and didn't even look up."Seeking advantage and avoiding harm—it's human nature."In the front hall, Jane sat in the main seat while a few concubines sat on either side.As one, the concubines stood and greeted the queen."Greetings, Your Majesty.""Sit,"
In Cloud Palace, Helena frowned when she heard about the matter."The queen must be mad! How dare she force me to play polo? Does she think that just because she has the gold emblem, she can do as she pleases and even command me?"If the king had not warned her just last night to stay out of trouble for the time being, she would have already made the queen suffer.-The polo match had stirred discontent, not just with Helena.After the morning assembly, several concubines gathered together, voicing their complaints."What's the point of playing polo? The queen has such strange ideas to come up with something like this.""Even if she makes it sound grand, I'm not interested. Times have changed. Nidora is strong and secure now; we no longer need women defending the city.""The queen is just throwing her weight around because she's new to power. I doubt this polo match will even happen."Meanwhile, Wilhelmina went to Serene Palace to complain."Aunt Dina, you wouldn't believe ho
Jane performed a curtsy in the royal study."Greetings, Your Majesty."George sat behind the desk, his gaze sharp and imposing."I'm busy with state affairs. Be quick."He had already heard about the poor turnout for the training at the riding grounds—only two concubines had shown up. He assumed Jane had come to ask him to issue a decree to compel the others.However, Jane's tone was calm as she spoke."Lady Helena's medicine for her migraines is almost used up. I've brought another bottle."George's brows furrowed. Was she here merely to deliver medicine?A trace of sternness entered his eyes."You previously said there was only one bottle left."His words carried an accusatory edge, as if he was ready to charge her with deceiving the king.Jane remained composed as she explained."I wrote to my father, asking him to keep an eye out for the traveling physician. By coincidence, the physician recently returned to the capital."George doubted her story but had no way to disp
The concubines gathered outside to receive the decree, each filled with a sense of foreboding.The royal servant announced, "The queen has ordered the physicians to examine all the concubines."Those who are ill will be treated. Those feigning illness to avoid training at the riding grounds will copy the palace rules fifty times and receive five strokes as punishment!'"The concubines' faces turned pale with shock and dismay. None had expected the queen to be so harsh.One by one, the physicians conducted their examinations. The results were predictable. Each concubine was punished, enduring the strokes and being assigned the writing task.Wilhelmina, however, escaped unscathed, having informed the queen dowager ahead of time and gained her protection.Some concubines, disgruntled, voiced their frustrations."What about Helena? I heard she didn't go to the riding grounds today either! Does the queen dare punish her?"The royal servant replied respectfully, "By now, the decree h
Helena glanced at the entrance but did not see the king.The chamberlain standing before her was drenched in cold sweat."Lady Helena, Mr. Logan said the king was exhausted during the day, retired early, and explicitly ordered that no one disturb him."Clara was shocked."You fool! Did you not make it clear to him that Lady Helena was about to be punished with the rod?!" she demanded.Helena was the king's favorite concubine, surely she wouldn't be included in the 'no one' list.Helena's face grew cold, and her gaze directed at the chamberlain was laced with a murderous glint.Useless! At such a critical moment, he couldn't even summon the king.The royal servants assigned to carry out the punishment looked at one another nervously. Finally, one stepped forward and said, "Lady Helena, forgive us!"They moved to apprehend her, but Clara shouted, "How dare you! Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"-Thirty minutes later, Helena laid weakly on the bed inside the inner
Helena carried herself with an elegant air, her demeanor completely different from the weak and delicate display she had put on before the king. Her gaze towards the queen held a clear challenge."My deepest apologies for arriving late. It's all because the king was so worried about me, giving me many reminders before letting me come," she said sweetly.Jane's icy gaze remained steady and unperturbed."Inform the king that he need not worry—I will take good care of Lady Helena," Jane replied, emphasizing the word 'care.'Helena, unbothered, covered her mouth and gave a sweet chuckle."Your Majesty, have you forgotten? The king mentioned just this morning that you should rule with grace and virtue, not resort to constant punishment."With that, Helena confidently walked past Jane and settled herself under a shaded pavilion, surrounded by attendants waiting on her.The other concubines observed Helena's actions and, emboldened by her, began to imitate her behavior.The queen had
Jane never told George that Darren had died for her. The Thiberium poisoning had been meant for her. Darren had taken it in her place.She also never told George that Darren had already given her the Miracle Needles manual. At the time, she had been too busy waging war and had only learned half of it. So when he was poisoned, even though she hastily studied the rest, she still couldn't save him in time.Because of this, she could never forgive herself.That night, many struggled to sleep.George and the royal guards practiced combat through the night. The guards were miserable.Rachel lay awake until dawn, unable to calm her excitement about leaving the palace with the king the next day.The next morning, by the break of dawn, Rachel was already dressed and had prepared the offerings.The guards assigned to escort her had the carriage ready. When a concubine left the palace, she had to use the side gate.Rachel, however, didn't get into the carriage right away. Instead, she ask
In the evening, at Tyrian Palace, George was about to settle down for the night when he noticed that Jane was still reading.He walked over. "Is that book really so fascinating?"Jane didn't even look up."I've sent people to investigate the purchase records of floral brocade in recent years. While waiting, I thought I'd search for clues about that nine-tailed serpent motif."George snatched the book from her hands, forcing her to raise her head and look at him. "It could just be an ordinary design.""Perhaps." Jane reached for the book, but he spoke again."There's a military physician in the Northern Battalion with the last name Durand. Was he the one who taught you Miracle Needles?"Jane's gaze subtly shifted.Growing impatient, George pressed further. "I want the truth. Was it him?"Jane's expression was cold and detached. "Yes."A storm brewed within George.The Durand family never passed down the Miracle Needles technique to outsiders—only their own bloodline. That mea
There were screams from within the palace."You scoundrel! Who's sick? Who are you calling delirious? I'm perfectly fine! Ahh! What are you doing!"Since Mary was struggling so violently, Dina had no choice but to order her to be restrained. A moment later, Mary was tied to the bed, thrashing wildly as she shouted toward the door where Dina stood."Mother! Save me!"Dina couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. "Mary, I'm only helping you."Mary was utterly baffled. She had just been quietly embroidering a fragrant pouch, yet her mother suddenly thought she was ill."The queen. Get the queen!" Mary barked at Irene.Wilhelmina, who stood right beside Dina, felt a chill run down her spine.Why call for the queen? Could Mary really have lost her mind?–At Zen Palace, Jane was flipping through ancient texts, searching for any records of the nine-tailed serpent motif.Suddenly, Maya rushed into the inner chamber. She seemed out of breath."Your Majesty! Something terrible ha
"I only heard that Commander Morris was quite close to a military physician, and there were even rumors of an intimate relationship." At this point, Richard hesitated before adding, "But I believe those were baseless rumors. It was most likely just camaraderie between comrades."George's expression turned unusually serious."What is the physician's name, and where is he now?""I only recall that his surname was Durand."'Durand?'George immediately thought of the Miracle Needles. That physician was likely a descendant of the Durand family.Richard had no idea why the king was asking about this, so he returned to the main topic."Your Majesty, since Jocelyn is not the true Commander Morris, why have you not made this public?"George's gaze turned dark."I have my own plans."Right now, all he could think about was that military physician with the surname Durand.–Outside the royal study, Karlsen saw Richard step out and greeted him respectfully.Karlsen's face was expressi
At Grace Palace, Rachel sat in front of the mirror. Her gaze was slightly empty. Aurelia couldn't bear to see her like this."Your Highness, it's getting late."The king not coming didn't mean she should refuse to sleep.Rachel murmured softly, "Yes, it's late."Was the queen accompanying the king at this hour?She used to console herself with the thought that perhaps the queen, like her, was nothing more than a facade to deceive others and had never truly shared the king's bed.But if that were true, why would the king summon her to Tyrian Palace? Even Rosalie had rarely set foot there in the past. This proved that the king truly favored the queen.Then what was she?She had exhausted every means at her disposal, yet she couldn't make the king spare her even a glance.Tonight was destined to be a sleepless one.-The next day, during the court session, ministers were still debating over Jocelyn's death."Your Majesty, Commander Morris held great prestige among the people.
Jane proposed making the truth public to prevent the people from continuing to misunderstand. However, George's gaze was extremely cold."There's no need."Now, it was her turn to be confused. Between two difficult choices, one should choose the lesser evil. As a king, did he not understand this?George was very serious."If we expose that Jocelyn is an impostor, the Morris family won't escape punishment. Neither will the tens of thousands of Northern Battalion soldiers."Even if those soldiers were unaware of the truth, people could always find an excuse to accuse them. If that happened and someone with ulterior motives took advantage of the situation, the entire Northern Battalion would be thrown into chaos.By keeping this secret, he could still protect the Morris family and those soldiers.If the truth was revealed, he would have to handle the matter impartially. Otherwise, his authority would be compromised.Jane said nothing.In her heart, she naturally leaned toward her
George saw a light in her eyes that he had never seen before.The surroundings were silent. It was as if, as long as she looked at him like this, he could agree to anything.But he was not so easily swayed.After only a brief moment of distraction, he quickly regained his usual cold and imposing demeanor and spoke in a steady tone."In the second year of my reign, the allied forces of four nations attacked Nidora. I led the army into battle. After the war ended, I returned to the capital, passing through a misty forest on the way. There was an ambush in that forest."While fighting off the assassins, one masked individual released a creature that resembled a salamander. I was bitten by it and poisoned. Only later did I learn that it was Thiberium poisoning."Jane was well aware that Thiberium poisoning involved raising salamanders and feeding them a specially prepared poison daily. Over time, the creatures would absorb the toxins and become what was known as Thiberium, naturally
Mary was feeling guilty. Jocelyn had managed to escape from prison thanks to the Falcon Command Token she had secretly delivered to her. She had known the truth would come to light sooner or later, but she hadn't expected it to be this soon.Even more surprising was that after questioning her for a while, George suddenly stopped. Instead, he changed the subject and solemnly warned her."Mary, I can choose not to punish you for this matter, but from now on, stay away from Zen Palace."Mary's fists clenched involuntarily. She met George's gaze, refusing to back down, and smiled."Your Majesty, you've been on the throne for seven years now, yet you still have no heirs. That's quite unusual, isn't it? I heard from Grandmother that you've decided not to favor the harem unless the queen bears an heir?"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but over the years, you've shown favor to Lady Rosalie and Lady Helena, and even spent nights with Rachel. Yet none of them have conceived. So why do
Mary stared blankly at the person before her.The queen was actually Commander Morris who had saved her all those years ago.Good heavens! What had she been doing all this time?She had actually believed Jocelyn and gone against the queen at every turn. She had even exposed the queen's marriage substitution.For the sake of Jocelyn, an impostor, she had nearly caused the death of her true savior.At this moment, Mary was filled with regret and remorse.Jane lowered her gaze to the bracelet on her wrist and sensed something was off.Their eyes met suddenly. Mary's gaze was emotional, her voice trembling. "You–"She had countless things to say, but she didn't know where to start."Commander, I personally measured your wrist for this bracelet. Now, do you still wish to deny it?" Mary gazed at her intently.Jane's brows furrowed slightly. "Princess–"Mary interrupted her. "I was a fool. I conspired with Jocelyn and went against you at every turn. It's only natural that you bla