, as I walked out of the Cining Palace, I felt utterly exhausted.

　　Yes, after marrying Xuan Qi for so many years, I never had any good news.

　　I consulted numerous gynecologists and tried many secret remedies for giving birth, but none of them worked.

　　Fortunately, Xuan Qi's other consorts didn't have children either.

　　But he is the prince, the crown prince, the emperor.

　　How could it be his fault? The empress dowager only blamed me for not getting pregnant and for not pleasing Xuan Qi with my choice of concubines.

　　When I vomited out the bitter medicine once again, Xuan Qi, who had recently ascended the throne, snatched the medicine bowl and spilled the liquid all over the floor.

　　He frowned and said, "Don't drink anymore, A Xian.

　　Having offspring is a matter of fate.

　　If Heaven doesn't show mercy, then let it be." "If you really want it, wait until Xuan Lin and the others have children.

　　I will bring one to you.

　　Is that okay?" I held onto him, crying and wetting his clothes with my tears, but I never drank any more supplements to help with fertility.

　　I don't know what Xuan Qi and the empress dowager talked about, but she never visited me anymore.

　　Now, times have changed, and I have finally made up my mind to adopt Danxia's child, just as Xuan Qi said years ago.

　　In the evening, the people in the main palace waited for an hour but only received a message from the Yikun Palace, saying that the emperor was staying with the noble concubine tonight.

　　I nodded and had the palace attendants remove the cooling royal meal.

　　Jingdong was furious and said, "Your Majesty, I think she did it on purpose!" "His Majesty clearly promised to come to the main palace tonight, but in the time it takes to visit her palace, he was bewitched!" "She is heavy with child and unable to serve him, yet she still occupies His Majesty like this.

　　It's too much!" I furrowed my brows and said, "Enough, the noble concubine is pregnant, and His Majesty should spend more time with her." Jingdong clenched her fist tightly, glaring at me with resentment.

　　But it's different now, Jingdong.

　　Now, Danxia is the one who has captured the emperor's heart, and I am merely respected.

　　Besides, I don't care where the emperor's heart lies anymore.

　　My Xuan Qi, who filled my heart and eyes, has long been gone."

　　In the next few days, every time I close my eyes, I have chaotic dreams.

　　I sigh and think that maybe I should call a doctor.

　　These past few days, I've been burdened with heavy thoughts and it's not good for my health if it continues like this.

　　Soon enough, the doctor arrives to check my pulse.

　　Before the diagnosis is even finished, Rendong comes to report that something has happened at Yikun Palace again.

　　The women in the North Mongol tribe are indeed strong and energetic.

　　My delicate body in the Southern Palace is almost worn out by the Empress.

　　Rendong leans close and whispers that yesterday, the Empress spent a fortune to hear about the recent events from the palace servants.

　　She even secretly summoned a palace maid to ask about the incident at Mulan Weichang three years ago, offering a generous reward.

　　My temple starts throbbing, I knew it.

　　She didn't enter the palace just to have a child or vie for favor.

　　After three years, she still believes there was something suspicious about Prince Ning's death.

　　I can't let her dig any further.

　　In order to restrain the Empress, I once again visit Yikun Palace.

　　The grand hall is crowded with people, the scene even livelier than a marketplace.

　　When I announce my arrival, the surroundings suddenly fall silent, making way for me in the crowd.

　　The Empress Danxia leans against the beauty couch, munching on melon seeds, and gives me a bright smile.

　　She first calls me "sister-in-law" and then corrects herself, inviting me to listen to gossip together.

　　I see the provocation in her eyes.

　　She's doing it on purpose, calling me sister-in-law.

　　This title feels like a sharp blade, cutting into my heart every time.

　　She reminds me of the Emperor's immoral incestuous affair and the disgraceful decline of his dignity.

　　Anger wells up within me, but I manage to suppress it.

　　It's not all the Empress's fault, I can't direct my anger towards her.

　　So, I pinch my brow and dismiss the palace servants.

　　She throws away the melon seed shells in her hand, complaining that I'm being a buzzkill.

　　In a stern voice, I recount her repeated misbehavior since entering the palace and declare that I'll use the authority of the Empress to confine her again, and send away her accompanying maidservants.

　　But before I can finish, she interrupts, saying, "Entering the palace was also by the Emperor's decree.

　　I didn't come begging on my own.

　　Empress, don't think that there are no capable people in North Mongol.

　　Even if the Southern Palace doesn't keep anyone, I can go!" After speaking, she jumps off the couch and beckons to her maidservant, saying, "Let's go home!" I know Danxia has always been impulsive, but I didn't expect her to be so reckless.

　　She's carrying the Emperor's child, yet she's talking about leaving just like that.

　　The pain in my temple starts again, spreading to the back of my head, making it hard for me to control my emotions.

　　I sternly command her to stop.