The Empress's pregnancy was a matter of national importance.
Soon, Changle Palace was abuzz, and all the palace maids and Eunuchs of Changle Palace cheered with joy.
The Empress was not only the master of the Imperial Harem but also the master of their Changle Palace.
The Empress already had the First Prince.
Now, being pregnant again, wouldn't that mean Changle Palace would become even more prosperous in the future?
The news quickly spread throughout the entire Imperial Palace, and Luoyang.
General He Jin, upon hearing this, laughed uproariously, looking up at the sky.
He exclaimed that the He family's ancestral grave was emitting green smoke.
General He Jin, full of vigor, entered the palace to personally visit Empress He Lian.
However, in contrast to General He Jin's high spirits, the Powerful Families faction, led by the Yuan family, and the Eunuch faction, led by Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, could not sit still.
Liu Hong only had two princes, Liu Bian and Liu Xie.
Liu Xie had been ruined by his maternal grandfather.
Only Empress He Lian's son, Liu Bian, had hope of inheriting the throne.
But now, the Empress was pregnant again.
If she were to give birth to another son, how powerful would the Empress's maternal He family become?
With Empress He Lian pregnant again, all the various factions in Luoyang became restless.
In particular, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants gathered once more.
Under the cover of night, the entire Luoyang was already surging with undercurrents.
Luoyang, Zhang Rang's residence.
In the extremely luxurious main hall of the residence, Zhang Rang sat in the main seat, and eleven other pale-faced, beardless Eunuchs were gathered.
These were precisely the Ten Attendants who held immense power in the court: Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng, Sun Zhang, Bi Lan, Li Song, Duan Gui, Gao Wang, Zhang Gong, Han Kui, and Song Dian.
Zhang Rang, at the head of the table, his face clouded with gloom, was the first to break the silence, saying:
"Everyone, we still need to come up with an idea quickly, otherwise, our good days may not last much longer."
"We have completely offended the Empress before. That day, we suspected Zhang Shihao was a fake Eunuch, and even told His Majesty that the Empress was harboring a fake Eunuch in the palace, attempting to emulate Qin Shi Huang's mother, Zhao Ji, who had an affair with Lao Ai, plotting to usurp the country and the court."
"The Empress was furious at the time. Although it was proven that Zhang Shihao was not a fake Eunuch, His Majesty did not punish us for the Empress's sake because he needed us. The Empress is probably still holding a grudge. No matter what, we must find a way."
"Otherwise, when the Empress's son ascends the throne in the future, he will probably deal with us."
Zhang Rang's face was full of ill-omen, his voice echoing through the hall, and the Ten Attendants also frowned deeply.
"Alas, it's easier said than done. The Empress already has the First Prince, and now she's pregnant again. If she gives birth to another prince, she will be even more revered. Furthermore, Zhang Shihao has guards in the palace as his pawns, and General He Jin supports her outside the palace, coupled with His Majesty's affection for her. It's difficult..."
Zhao Zhong's sigh echoed, making everyone's bodies tremble and their brows furrow even tighter.
Unbeknownst to them, that little palace maid they once looked down upon had woven such a vast web.
"M-master, this servant does have an idea."
Just as Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants were frowning and racking their brains for a solution, and the hall was silent, a faint, weak voice spoke up.
Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants all looked over.
They saw that the speaker was Zuo Feng, dressed in Xiao Huangmen attire.
Seeing that it was Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng speaking, the Court Attendants raised their eyebrows, and a hint of displeasure appeared on their faces.
Last time, when they investigated Zhang Shihao as a fake Eunuch, Zuo Feng played a significant role in pushing the matter forward.
However, despite their displeasure with Zuo Feng, the Court Attendants did not speak immediately, but instead looked at Zhang Rang in the main seat.
Zuo Feng was Zhang Rang's subordinate, so it was naturally not their place to manage him.
"Speak!"
Zhang Rang, trusting his capable subordinate, waved his hand and said.
Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng's spirit was roused, and he quickly said:
"Master, esteemed Court Attendants, this servant believes that both the Empress's favor and General He Jin's appointment as General by His Majesty are centered on His Majesty."
"It can be said that whoever His Majesty wishes to be powerful, will be powerful. Therefore, no matter how powerful the Empress and General He Jin become, if they are to lose power, it is merely a word from His Majesty."
"This servant feels that if we wish to deal with the Empress and General He Jin, we must work on His Majesty!"
As Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng's voice fell, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants' eyes all lit up.
None of them were fools to have reached their positions; they instantly felt that Zuo Feng's words hit the nail on the head.
Zhang Rang, in the main seat, waved his hand at Zuo Feng and said:
"Continue, how do we work on His Majesty?"
Receiving Zhang Rang's affirmation, Zuo Feng's spirit surged, and he quickly brought forth his thoughts:
"Master, His Majesty favors the Empress because she is the most beautiful in the Imperial Harem. To make His Majesty disfavor the Empress is simple: we search the entire realm for beauties more stunning than the Empress."
"In this way, His Majesty will surely shift his attention and treat the Empress coldly. Furthermore, if these beauties entering the palace are found by Master and the esteemed Court Attendants for His Majesty, wouldn't these concubines entering the palace rely even more on Master and the esteemed Court Attendants?"
"Thus, Master and the esteemed Court Attendants will also receive more of His Majesty's favor. Even if the concubines give birth to dragon sons, they might not be unable to compete with the Empress with Master and the esteemed Court Attendants' support!"
"Esteemed Court Attendants, if each of you is responsible for one province, this servant does not believe that across the Thirteen Provinces of Great Han, with its vast territory, we cannot find a few concubines more beautiful than the Empress!"
The excited Zuo Feng's voice was noticeably a bit high-pitched, but it struck Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the others like a bolt from the blue.
It made Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants tremble.
To gather beauties more stunning than the Empress from across the entire Great Han and bring them into the Imperial Palace to compete for His Majesty's favor with the Empress!
Was this possible?
Just as Zuo Feng said, across the Thirteen Provinces of Great Han, with its vast territory and millions of women, while there might not be many women more beautiful than the Empress, there were definitely some.
Then, if women more beautiful than the Empress entered the palace, could they win Liu Hong's favor and shift his attention away from the Empress?
That was even more beyond doubt.
No one understood Liu Hong better than the Ten Attendants.
Beauty was absolutely a fatal temptation for Liu Hong.
"Good, Xiao Fengzi, this is a good idea."
"Everyone understands now, right? Tomorrow, I will suggest to His Majesty that we gather Meiren from across the Great Han to enrich the Imperial Harem."
"You all should also go out more from now on. It would be best for each of you to go to one province. If you can gather stunning beauties who receive His Majesty's favor, and even give birth to dragon sons, you will all benefit immensely!"
From the main seat, Zhang Rang directly made the decision, his previous gloom swept away, and he said with a smile.
"Haha, exactly, exactly. We, as servants, are here to make His Majesty happy. Tomorrow, I will go out for a stroll," Zhao Zhong also said with a smile.
The remaining Ten Attendants all smiled, and many of them were already thinking about places known for producing beauties.
Gathering stunning beauties and bringing them into the Imperial Palace, if they were to give birth to dragon sons, the benefits would be immense.
"Master, this servant has heard of a beauty of national allure, who is probably no worse than the Empress, but I don't know if it's true!"
Just as the tense atmosphere among the Ten Attendants was swept away, Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng, with a smile on his face, said to Zhang Rang at the head of the table.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants all trembled slightly and looked at the smiling Zuo Feng.
"Speak. If it's true, your position as Xiao Huangmen can also be moved up!"
Zhang Rang's gaze narrowed, and he took a deep breath, saying.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng was instantly excited, his face flushed, and he did not dare to delay, saying:
"Three months ago, this servant went to Wuwei Commandery in Western Liang to deliver an imperial decree. I once heard the Prefect of Wuwei Commandery mention a beauty of national allure named Zou, but she had an engagement with a Military Commander in the Western Liang Army."
"At the time, this servant guessed that the Prefect of Wuwei Commandery probably had a grudge with that Military Commander of the Western Liang Army and wanted this servant to support him. This servant did not pay attention, after all, Western Liang is far away, and the other party was the unruly Western Liang Army, so this servant did not interfere in this matter."
"However, thinking about it carefully now, perhaps what the Prefect said was true."
"After all, a mere Prefect of a commandery should not dare to talk nonsense to a Xiao Huangmen, or even use this servant, right?"
Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng slowly recounted the matter, and Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong's eyes narrowed, exchanging a glance, and said without hesitation:
"Go quickly to Western Liang and bring that Zou Meiren into the palace. By no means should she be allowed to marry any Military Commander!"
Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng's eyes immediately filled with excitement upon hearing this. He cupped his hands and loudly said:
"Understood!"
...
Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng led people to Western Liang overnight.
In Luoyang, on the second day of the Empress's pregnancy, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants jointly met with Liu Hong.
They stated that the Empress was pregnant and might not be able to serve His Majesty for a long time.
They suggested that His Majesty gather stunning beauties from across the entire Great Han to enter the palace and enrich the Imperial Harem.
Facing such a suggestion, Liu Hong naturally would not refuse.
Instead, under Zhang Shihao's gaze, Liu Hong happily agreed.
Clearly, the Ten Attendants acting together was a grand gesture.
The Ten Attendants only left Zhang Rang in Luoyang.
The other eleven Court Attendants all left Luoyang and went to various provinces of Great Han.
What was even more exaggerated and astonishing was that each of the eleven Court Attendants went to one province to personally select Meiren for Liu Hong.
The Empress, General He Jin, Yuan Feng, Yuan Kui, and other top power-holders in Luoyang all understood that this was Zhang Rang and the others' retaliation against the Empress's pregnancy.
The Imperial Palace lacked stunning beauties, so the eleven Court Attendants went to various commanderies and provinces to select Meiren for His Majesty!
Soon, this news left Luoyang and swept across the entire Thirteen Provinces of Great Han.
The butterfly's wings flapped again, and even Zhang Shihao was unsure in which direction the broken ship of Great Han was sailing.