As a result, Yu Jingchen made the man stand outside all night. He was only wearing a very thin inner garment, and it was snowing outside, with thick ice forming. But Yu Jingchen was unmoved in the slightest. By the next morning, the man was frozen stiff and lifeless.

"Yes," Xinglai answered and then withdrew.

That evening, Yu Jingchen did not go to Nan Zhiyun's place, but instead went to the Imperial Concubine's palace.

"Your Highness, let me help you change your clothes. His Majesty will be here soon," said the servant attending to the Imperial Concubine.

"No need. His Majesty won't be interested anyway, so why bother?" The Imperial Concubine sat in front of the dressing mirror with a blank expression.

"Your Majesty, in this palace, one must be favored. While there's still time, you should have a child first," the servants pleaded earnestly.

"A child? How can there be a child? Is this something I can decide alone?" The Imperial Concubine remained expressionless.

“Your Majesty needs to take the initiative. Every time His Majesty comes, Your Majesty always seems indifferent. How could His Majesty possibly have any feelings for you? Your Majesty, you are still young. You should think more about yourself.” They were worried.

"Enough, there's nothing to fight over. With so many people in the harem, all this fighting and squabbling will only lead to suffering for yourself in the end." The Imperial Concubine looked at herself in the mirror, placed her other hand on her abdomen, and said nothing more.

"Your Majesty..." The servants around her were filled with worry.

"Even if you have it, you can't keep it..." the Imperial Concubine said lightly.

She was an elder in the Eastern Palace and had been pregnant before, but she passed away around the seventh month. The imperial physician said that the fetus was underdeveloped and it was a miscarriage.

“Your Highness, we can’t keep thinking about the past; we have to look forward.” The servants below naturally knew how difficult things were for the Imperial Concubine.

"Alright, let's not talk about these things for now." The Imperial Concubine stood up from her seat.

When Yu Jingchen arrived, the Imperial Concubine gracefully came out of the house to greet him.

"Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects," the Imperial Concubine said, bowing respectfully.

"Get up," Yu Jingchen said coldly, walking past without even glancing at her. The Imperial Concubine was helped to her feet, her expression remaining unchanged.

After entering the house, Yu Jingchen had already changed his clothes with the help of his servants.

"Rest," Yu Jingchen said coldly. Well, it was another silent night, and the two remained at peace.

The second day

Yu Jingchen had to attend the morning court session, and the Imperial Concubine got up with him and began to help him put on his court robes.

After Yu Jingchen left, the Consort watched him slowly disappear from her sight. Suddenly, she felt unsteady and dizzy.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" The servants below quickly helped her up.

"It's nothing, I probably just haven't rested well," the Imperial Concubine replied, noting that she had been experiencing this frequently lately.

"How about I have the imperial physician come and take a look?"

"No need, it's nothing serious." The imperial concubine waved her hand casually and then prepared to go inside.

But just as she turned around, she suddenly felt dizzy, her vision went black, and she collapsed. She only heard people around her shouting in panic, "Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine!"

"Quickly summon the imperial physician!" The people below were also in a panic.