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Meiyuan Garden—

“Court physician, how is Concubine Qian’s condition?” Yan Ziyu and the others had all gathered in the Meiyuan Garden. At this moment, she was asking the court physician who had just finished his diagnosis.

The court physician, a man in his fifties, smiled and said, “Congratulations to the princess consort! Concubine Qian’s pulse shows good news—she is with child!”

Ah—

Some rejoiced while others worried. The other concubines stared enviously and jealously at Concubine Qian’s belly, wishing it were their own womb carrying the child. Each cast complicated glances at Concubine Qian lying on the bed.

Pregnant—

Heh, how amusing! How amusing!

Yan Ziyu’s lips curled faintly. She thought, how could a small cup lid knock someone out so badly? She had clearly moved before but pretended to be unconscious. It turned out she wanted others to spread the news of her pregnancy! No wonder—

“Zi Yi, quickly send someone to inform the prince of this good news. Then dispatch others to the storage to fetch some nourishing herbs for Concubine Qian. Also, pass the word: from today onward, Concubine Qian’s monthly allowance will be tripled. She is now with child and must be treated with utmost care. You all must serve her well!”

Zi Yi hesitated and looked at the princess consort, then timidly said, “Princess Consort, the keys to the rear courtyard are in Consort Yu’s hands, so…”

Her words plunged everyone in the room into an awkward silence instantly. Mistress Su and the other concubines looked on with gloating expressions, clearly enjoying the drama. Their eagerness to watch Concubine Qian’s predicament stemmed from nothing but female jealousy.

Yan Ziyu noticed that Concubine Qian, who was supposed to be asleep, had her chest rising and falling heavily, her hands clenched tightly as if struggling to endure something. Raising her delicate brows and flashing a fiery glare, she shouted, “Silence! The prince’s heir is few. Now that Concubine Qian is with child, she must be cared for meticulously. Could Consort Yu be so cruel as to harm the prince’s offspring? If that were so, I, as the princess consort, would demand an explanation at the Golden Throne itself.” Her words were righteous and commanding, full of undeniable authority.

“I shall go at once!” Zi Yi hurriedly left.

“Oh? What’s going on here? Sister, you came to pay respects, yet why is there blood? This won’t do. If the prince finds out, he won’t be pleased!” Consort Yu’s voice came from outside the side hall before she even stepped inside.

Consort Yu’s words were like a drop of water in the desert, nourishing and relieving the three concubines standing aside. They looked at Consort Yu with hopeful eyes, silently seeking her help.

“Consort Yu, don’t mistake me for your elder sister. How could I be? Perhaps age has caused your mind to deteriorate? That’s not impossible.” Yan Ziyu disdainfully rolled her eyes at such petty kinship claims.

---

A flash of resentment crossed Consort Yu’s eyes, but she quickly masked it with a gentle, elegant expression. Suddenly, her face changed, and she shouted angrily, “Who’s inside?”

Yan Ziyu frowned slightly, glancing sideways. When did Ali come over? Always so noisy. Just as she was about to speak, a weak voice sounded—

“Cough cough… What’s happening? So noisy… Rong’er… Rong’er…”

“Concubine, you’ve woken up. Be careful not to move too much; your body is weak, and you’re with child now. You must take great care.” Rong’er, Concubine Qian’s maid, hurried over to support her mistress, deliberately boasting about her lady’s pregnancy.

“Consort Yu, as I just said, Concubine Qian is with child and must be cared for carefully. Her monthly allowance is tripled, and nourishing herbs and new clothes must be sent over. The rear courtyard’s keys are in your hands; handling these matters should be no problem, right?” Yan Ziyu smiled faintly, setting a trap for Consort Yu. Whether she accepted or refused, she would offend someone. Either way, she would get her hands dirty.

Consort Yu, holding the keys to the Xiao Prince’s manor, understood Yan Ziyu’s intentions perfectly. Though inwardly seething with hatred, she smiled sweetly, her expression full of excitement and joy. “Really? This is wonderful news. I must tell the prince; he’ll be overjoyed.”

Damn it, Yuan Qian was truly skilled. She had conceived the prince’s child, and with that, her status would rise, even surpassing Consort Yu’s by virtue of motherhood. The thought filled her with hatred for the child in her womb.

Yan Ziyu caught every lightning-fast glance exchanged between Concubine Qian and Consort Yu, her lips curling slightly as she devised her own plans.

The rear courtyard of the Xiao Prince’s manor was like a boiling pot. Usually, Yan Ziyu, the princess consort who held the official rank yet was unfavored, was the flame beneath it. Now, the owner of that flame had changed. The child in Concubine Qian’s womb instantly became the center of attention, making it easier for Yan Ziyu to carry out her schemes.

Indeed—

When Long Xiaoyan learned of Concubine Qian’s pregnancy, he was very pleased. He immediately ordered a grand banquet in the front hall, inviting all concubines and maids to dine there. Concubine Qian sat beside him, her face radiant with happiness and charm. The white cloth bandaging her forehead wound was strikingly noticeable.

During the meal, a concubine who rarely appeared suddenly asked, “Concubine Qian, what happened to your forehead? Now that you’re carrying twins, how could you be so careless? What if you hurt the baby?”

“Well…” Concubine Qian looked troubled, stammering and unable to give a proper explanation, her eyes flickering nervously.

“What’s the matter?” Long Xiaoyan set down his wine cup, frowned, and asked coldly.

Though cold and indifferent, Long Xiaoyan was not heartless. He cared about his own offspring, as long as they were not born of that woman. Moreover, this child was his true eldest son.

“Prince, it’s nothing. I was careless myself…” Concubine Qian avoided meeting his gaze, which only deepened his suspicion that there was more to it than she admitted.

Scanning the room, Long Xiaoyan noticed someone missing. Frowning, he asked displeased, “Where is the princess consort?”

Consort Yu’s heart leapt with joy. She exchanged a glance with Cui’er behind her, who quietly slipped away. She smiled lightly and said, “I don’t know. Perhaps the princess consort was delayed by something important. Recently, the staff at the imperial gardens have decreased abruptly, so it’s understandable that the princess consort might be busy.”

Though seemingly defending Yan Ziyu, her words subtly hinted that Yan Ziyu had brought this upon herself by punishing too many servants, leaving insufficient help and causing her to miss the prince’s banquet. This, in turn, sullied Yan Ziyu’s image in the prince’s eyes once again.

“Hmph!”

Long Xiaoyan cast a cold glance at Consort Yu’s captivating beauty and snorted dismissively.

The banquet continued!

Throughout the feast, many flatterers showered Concubine Qian with praise, half sincere, half false. Long Xiaoyan enjoyed the attention and service from the women. Suddenly—

“Prince… Prince… bad news! The princess consort… the princess consort—” A guard hurried in, out of breath and flushed.

Long Xiaoyan frowned and asked coldly, “What about the princess consort?”

“The princess consort—she… you should see for yourself, my lord. I dare not say more!”

No sooner had the words fallen than an angry figure surged past him, heading toward the imperial gardens!

The many women left at the banquet shifted their gaze toward Consort Yu and Concubine Qian. Consort Yu smiled charmingly, a meaningful glint in her eyes as she said softly, “Let’s all go see for ourselves. It’s such a joyous day; we wouldn’t want any mishaps.”

After she spoke, a flash of resentment gleamed in her eyes.

Yan Ziyu, let’s see how you handle this now!