Emperor Hui nodded and said that Gu Shaoyu had dealt with some corrupt officials in Zizhou, which had drawn criticism from the court. The people, unaware of the reason, misunderstood Gu Shaoyu and took their anger out on Xie Zhaozhao.

Consort Xi said, "Then I will send someone to deliver an invitation to the Grand Secretary's wife, asking her to come to the palace to appease her?"

"Alright," Emperor Hui said. "Give her the red pine tribute that Japan sent last time."

Consort Xi smiled and said, "Just wearing a bracelet made from those red pine tribute items can ward off all diseases. So many of the ladies in the harem want one but can't get one. If they knew that His Majesty had given one to Zhaozhao, they would probably be green with envy."

"What's there to be envious of? Jingchen carried eight hundred pounds of heavy burden for me. What's a little reward compared to that?"

Emperor Hui spoke with her for a while, then changed the subject and said, "I heard that your niece, the Crown Prince's concubine, is about to give birth. Don't favor one over the other; go and see how she is doing."

Consort Xi smiled and replied, "Yes."

The next day, Liuli came to Qingpu Garden to deliver a message, saying that Consort Xi missed Xie Zhaozhao and wanted her to come to the palace to see her. Yuanyuan immediately smiled and said to Xie Zhaozhao, "Miss, it must be Her Majesty who misses you."

Xie Zhaozhao asked someone to take Liuli to the tea room to rest for a while while she took a bath and changed her clothes.

Watching the people leave, she led Yuanyuan and Lu Feiyan into the inner room.

"Feiyan, I am two months pregnant and do not want to make it public for the time being. Do you have any way to cover it up?"

Lu Feiyan said, "There is a way, but medicine is three parts poison, so it's best not to use it, as it may harm the fetus."

"With the Grand Secretary not here, I do not wish to reveal my pregnancy."

“Then let the person conducting the examination cause problems,” Lu Feiyan said. “Whichever imperial physician comes to examine me, I will poison him and make him lose his sense of touch.”

Xie Zhaozhao: ...Will it work?

"It'll work! It'll only take about 15 minutes at most. He'll be back to normal quickly after the pulse is taken."

"Then you will accompany me to the palace today. Be careful. There is no kinship in the royal family. Consort Xi is my aunt, but she is first and foremost a Noble Consort."

"I understand, Madam, please rest assured!"