Mayi had also heard about His Majesty and the General's wife strolling in the Imperial Garden, so she waited for her on the way out of the palace.

Upon seeing Mayi again, Qiu Yan realized that the Western Region beauty, who had once been full of curiosity about the Central Plains, had changed with the passage of time.

The sharpness that once shone in their eyes was gone.

All we can do is leave it to fate.

In feudal society, what difference did it make if one was a princess?

If a woman cannot control her own destiny, then she can only be controlled by others.

Seeing that Mayi's eyes were red, she thought that she must be homesick.

"Xiao Yan, ever since that palace banquet, I have been hoping to meet you."

Because the two met in the Western Regions, Mayi felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing Qiu Yan on both occasions.

She broke with tradition and gave Qiu Yan a big hug, a gesture reminiscent of the Western Regions.

"There's still a long time ahead, and we'll have plenty of opportunities to meet." Although Qiu Yan didn't like going to the palace, it wasn't a place one could just enter casually.

"Xiao Yan, I know why you came." After all, news of the Crown Prince's illness had already spread outside the palace.

Mayi then comforted him:

"Don't be sad, His Highness the Crown Prince will get better."

"Yes, nothing will happen." Qiu Yan had already relaxed after learning the inside story, but others didn't know.

"His Highness has encountered an accident. The entire palace is in a state of panic. I just saw the Empress going to His Highness the Crown Prince's palace."

"Your Majesty the Empress?" Qiu Yan sensed that this person had ill intentions.

Could it be that Xiao Ran deliberately left Nineteen as bait, preparing to cast a long line to catch a big fish?

I thought the matter was over, but the truth is far more complicated than I imagined.

After Qiu Yan and Ma Yi parted ways, Qiu Yan went to the East Palace again.

She also wanted to know if Xiao Ran had returned.

Go inside and take a look.

At this moment, Qin Hui was wearing a veil and standing at the door of her bedroom.

"Is it ready?" she asked the palace maid inside the hall.

"Your Majesty, it will be ready soon," the palace maid replied.

Suddenly hearing hurried footsteps behind her, Qin Hui turned around.

But he was met with Qiu Yan's calm face and was momentarily horrified.

Immediately afterward, the palace maid also hurriedly left the hall.

Qiu Yan quietly looked at Qin Hui, and gently stroked her body.

"Your Majesty the Empress."

She sensed a hint of panic in Qin Hui, almost imperceptibly.

But then Qin Hui said something...

Who are you?

"I am the General's wife, here to visit His Highness the Crown Prince." Qiu Yan wasn't bothered by being ignored.

After all, she had only seen Qin Hui once, at the palace banquet.

Besides, with so many people around, she didn't expect Qin Hui to remember her.

"Oh? So, she's the Crown Prince's foster mother." Qin Hui looked at Qiu Yan again, especially when she saw her pregnant belly. Her eyes were not as gentle as when she saw He Jinran. Instead, she had a haughty attitude.

She stood gracefully before Qiu Yan, her fingers delicately arched.

"I've heard that you are quite skilled in medicine, and that you once cured General Gu's eye ailment. Are you familiar with the Crown Prince's condition?"

"His Highness's illness has not yet been diagnosed," Qiu Yan replied.

"Alas, everyone knows that the chances of curing smallpox are extremely slim," Qin Hui said with regret. "If even the General's wife couldn't be cured, then there's probably no one in the world who can."

"Your Majesty, what I meant was that the diagnosis is still undetermined, but it is not incurable," Qiu Yan corrected.

Unbeknownst to them, Qin Hui's expression darkened somewhat because of her correction.

"So you're saying it was a misdiagnosis by the Imperial Medical Academy?"

Qiu Yan: "..." What is all this about? "I have never seen the imperial physicians, so I don't know what diagnosis they made for His Highness the Crown Prince."

"What the general's wife says is absolutely right. However, you still need to know the rules. Don't forget who you're talking to!" Qin Hui was furious. This general's wife was no pushover.

No wonder she was able to raise such an arrogant child as He Jinran.

But now things are different; he won't live much longer.

Hearing Qiu Yan speak in an orderly and clear manner, Qin Hui had no choice but to take her seriously.

Qiu Yan… “Your Majesty, please forgive me, but it is best not to spread the news that His Highness has contracted a serious illness. It would be bad if it caused panic among others.”

"So, he really is..." Qin Hui paused, a barely perceptible glint in her eyes.

The glint in her eyes was barely perceptible to others.

However, Qiu Yan saw everything without leaving a trace.

Qin Hui was impatient and hoping that something would happen to Xiao Ran.

Qiu Yan suppressed the chill in her heart.

"I'm not sure."

Qin Hui thought to herself, "After all this talk, I still can't be sure?"

A ruthless glint appeared in her eyes.

Immediately, a cold gaze fell upon Qiu Yan.

"Madam General, according to the rules, why do you not kneel before me?"

She had just overheard the palace servants gossiping that His Majesty was in love with the General's wife, and she was filled with jealousy.

Qin Hui's words carried an air of authority, which instilled a sense of fear in Feng Hua Liu Sha.

The two knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty, our Lady is pregnant and not feeling well," Feng Hua said, bowing.

Liu Sha nodded repeatedly, afraid that the Empress might punish their wives if she became displeased.

Qiu Yan felt the faint fetal movements in her belly and couldn't help but stroke her pregnant belly, feeling a little nostalgic for the freedom and equality of the present world.

Qin Hui received no reply from Qiu Yan, nor did she greet her with a bow or salutation, which displeased her greatly.

When ordinary daughters of officials met her, which one wouldn't be respectful and subservient?

Qiu Yan, however, not only did not try to please her, but also maintained a humble yet dignified attitude.

Her face darkened as she looked at the bed, then her smile returned.

"I know that General Gu serves the country diligently and conscientiously. His wife is, after all, a countrywoman, spoiled and arrogant, and doesn't know the proper etiquette, so I can't hold it against her. However, if you disrespect me today, where will my authority be in the future?! Which of the concubines and eunuchs will still respect me?!"

Qin Hui kept thinking about how to get rid of Gu Qian.

Firstly, to avenge her aunt; secondly, to pave the way for her son.

But at this moment, all she wanted to do was humiliate Qiu Yan.

Who can blame His Majesty for being interested in her?

The Empress uses her power to oppress people, and Qiu Yan... a higher-ranking official can crush a lower one!

Qin Hui's identity made her feel frustrated for the first time.

She finally understood Gu Qian's worries about her.

He said that it was precisely because he knew her so well that he was worried.

He said that if you can avoid going out, you should stay home and rest well during your pregnancy.

She said she would restrain herself.

Qiu Yan suppressed the humiliation she felt from the modern world, and had no choice...

But then a thud was heard, followed by Consort Hui's cry of pain.

"Ouch, my leg..."

Then, he was seen to bend his knees and fall to the ground, his face turning pale with pain.

Feng Hua and Liu Sha looked up for a moment.

Qiu Yan turned around, only to see Xiao Ran putting away her slingshot in the inner hall.