"Fortunately, Consort An rescued her in time. If Wuya had agreed to harm her offspring, that would have been truly dangerous."

Consort Jia glanced meaningfully at Wuya Chenglin, who was lying on the bed with a pale and innocent face, while her eyes lingered on Tong Jiarongyue on top of her.

"Your Highness, do you agree?" Consort Jia smiled brightly, then turned to Wuya Chenglin on the bed and said, "Wuya should really thank Consort An. Consort An's arm is covered in blood; just looking at it is excruciatingly painful."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yacheng moved her lips, but in the end, she didn't say anything, as if she hadn't recovered from the accident.

Tong Jiarong frowned. "Consort Jia, watch your words."

"Make sure Uya agrees to rest and recover properly; we should leave now."

This is really bad; Wu Yachenglin's premature announcement of her pregnancy has put her in a difficult position.

Sighing inwardly that Consort An was not entirely useless, Tong Jia Rongyue turned and left the room.

Seeing that Tong Jia Rongyue had left, Consort Jia felt there was no point in staying. She snorted and glanced contemptuously at Wu Ya Cheng Lin, who looked bewildered. "What a pity," she thought, "why did a mere concubine have to be pregnant of all the women in the harem?"

The two left one after the other, leaving only Wuya Chenglin in the room in an instant.

Without any outside interference, Wuya Chenglin could no longer hold on and collapsed onto the bed.

Tears streamed down her face as Wu Ya Cheng Lin regretted going out today, otherwise, this situation would not have occurred.

Jinglan had already been sent back to the Imperial Household Department by Consort An because of her inadequate protection. Now, all the maids around her are Consort An's people, making it difficult for her to even send messages to her family.

She could only hope that Tong Jia Rongyue would be able to help her get out of An Pin's hands, otherwise the child in her belly would probably have to be raised by An Pin.

Tong Jia Rongyue couldn't hear Wu Ya Cheng Lin's expectations for the time being. Right now, Tong Jia Rongyue was in the main hall communicating with Bao Xing, the maidservant beside Consort An, about Wu Ya Cheng Lin's arrangements.

Originally, Tong Jia Rongyue planned to send Consort An to the summer palace first, and then find an opportunity to reveal that Wu Ya Chenglin was pregnant. She would then use her power in the palace to take the opportunity to bring Wu Ya Chenglin to Jingren Palace to take care of her.

At that time, Consort An would be powerless to reverse the situation in the palace, and Uya Chenglin's child would be raised under her care, thus the two reached a cooperation agreement.

As a result, not only was Wu Ya Cheng Lin's pregnancy exposed prematurely, but Consort An was also unable to go to the summer palace because she injured herself while saving someone.

Logically and emotionally, it would be inappropriate for Wu Ya Cheng Lin to ask An Pin to take care of her at this time, otherwise the child in Wu Ya Cheng Lin's belly would be given to An Pin for nothing.

Feeling increasingly frustrated, Tong Jiarongyue lazily and perfunctorily said a few words before hurrying back to the palace to figure out how to turn the tables.

Meanwhile, Consort An, lying in the inner chamber of the main hall, was also prepared for Tong Jia Rongyue's counterattack. She was already so badly injured; if she couldn't win custody of the imperial heir in Wuya Chenglin's womb, it would be a huge loss.

This fierce struggle, sparked by the imperial heir in Wuya Chenglin's womb, cost both Wuya Chenglin and the other two dearly.

"However, this has nothing to do with me. We are about to leave the palace, so we should enjoy our time at the temporary palace."

As for the ins and outs in the palace, it all comes down to who wins between Tong Jia Rongyue and Consort An.

Xiu Ning smiled and looked at the rising sun in the distance. She felt that although the light was scorching, it wasn't so bad from another perspective.

Everything has two sides; only by stepping outside of it can Xiuning see things clearly.

At the end of May, Emperor Kangxi led his entourage away from the palace to escape the summer heat.

The departure of Xiuning and the others greatly reduced the use of ice in the summer.

Only a few concubines remained in the palace, each obediently staying in their rooms and not going out.

In contrast, Tong Jiarongyue frequently visited Yonghe Palace during this period.

Once again, under the guise of visiting, Tong Jia Rongyue left Yonghe Palace, resting her forehead on one hand, and asked Qianli about the imperial physician's diagnosis while sitting in the sedan chair.

"The imperial physician said that the weather is too hot, and Consort An and Consort Wuya are not able to use ice to cool down and relieve the heat due to their own conditions."

"What should we do then?" Tong Jiarongyue shifted her position to support herself, looking languid.

"The imperial physician still recommends that Consort An go to the temporary palace to recuperate, as the conditions there are better than in the palace, and the wounds will heal more easily."

After Qianli finished speaking, Tong Jiarongyue raised an eyebrow, thinking that this was indeed good news.

"Have the imperial physician inform Consort An of the diagnosis. In all matters, one should prioritize one's own health," Tong Jia Rongyue said casually, blowing on her nails as she turned her head.

Qianli bowed her head and replied, "Yes." Not long after she turned away, Consort An, who was recuperating in Yonghe Palace, received bad news from the imperial physician.

Bang--

The soup bowl in her hand shattered with a crack. Consort An's face was cold, which also terrified Bao Xing, who was serving her.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Imperial physicians always exaggerate. Your wound is not deep at all, and it is not as serious as they say."

Baoxing racked her brains trying to comfort him, but her pale words seemed utterly powerless against the backdrop of his glaring wounds.

Consort An raised her arm, and the skin wrapped in white cloth was no longer as smooth and fair as before.

Consort An, who hadn't regretted her actions before, is now so irritable that all she wants to do is curse.

It hurts so much, not just the physical pain, but also the mental anguish of knowing I'll be completely out of favor.

The Emperor will not favor those with flaws. She was so confident of saving Wuya Chenglin before, and now she is just as resentful and angry because of saving Wuya Chenglin.

Different circumstances lead to different mindsets.

Her injuries were slow to heal, and the imperial physician's words were becoming increasingly serious. Even with thorough preparation, Consort An could not withstand the overwhelming pressure.

"Facts speak louder than words. Even if I believe it, my arm is still injured. Baoxing, this time, Yonghe Palace has no way out."

The only option is to snatch Wuya Chenglin's child; otherwise, no matter what other methods they use, they will suffer a loss.

...

As Tong Jia Rongyue expected, Consort An still chose to leave the palace.

“See? People always put themselves first,” Tong Jia Rongyue beckoned to Qianli. “Go and tell the servants of the Imperial Household Department to prepare a carriage as soon as possible so that Consort An can be sent to the Imperial Palace. We can also bring Lady Wuya to Jingren Palace to rest and recuperate.”

For the sake of the child in Wuya Chenglin's womb, Tong Jia Rongyue didn't mind using her privileges a few more times, even though doing so might displease Emperor Kangxi.

Qianli nodded in agreement and immediately turned around to arrange for people to handle the matter.

At the same time, Wuya Chenglin in a side hall of Yonghe Palace also learned that Consort An was about to leave the palace.

Unlike Tong Jia Rongyue's optimism, Wu Ya Chenglin, touching her already swollen belly, felt that An Pin's easy abandonment was not in line with her personality.

"Could there be a trap involved?"

Wu Yachenglin couldn't help but think things through. She knew she couldn't save the child in her womb, but she understood who would benefit her the most in raising the child.