After Zhao Yuancheng left, Lingyun took a thin blanket and covered Fu Qianyu with it, saying excitedly, "I was really scared when I saw how unwell your Majesty was a while ago. I didn't expect that you were pregnant."

Fu Qianyu said weakly, "Lingyun, give orders that no one is allowed to reveal the news that I'm pregnant."

Peirong was puzzled and asked, "The Queen's pregnancy is a happy event, why are you hiding it?"

"The Queen just lost her child, and I'm less than three months pregnant. I really don't dare take this risk."

"But even if we keep it a secret, what will the Imperial Hospital do?"

Fu Qianyu smiled knowingly, "I've already told the emperor. As long as we in the palace don't tell anyone, the Imperial Hospital won't tell anyone either. I'll just have to trouble you during this period."

The two smiled at each other, and Lingyun said solemnly, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Peirong and I will take good care of your food, clothing, housing and transportation. Our Huayang Palace will never allow any dirty things to sneak in."

As the two had agreed, the news of Fu Qianyu's pregnancy was not made public.

But there are eyes everywhere in the harem.

Since the imperial physician entered Huayang Palace, someone would inevitably go to inquire about it, but Zhao Yuancheng had instructed in advance that the Imperial Hospital would strictly follow the emperor's order and keep its mouth shut.

No matter who asks, just answer one sentence.

Concubine Yi just caught a cold and needed to rest.

Persuaded by Fu Qianyu, Zhao Yuancheng went to Fengqi Palace that night. The emperor and the empress talked for a long time, but no one knew what they talked about.

All I know is that the next day when the emperor went to court, the empress, who had been depressed for a long time, rarely showed a smile on her face while helping Zhao Yuancheng get dressed.

While Jinmei was helping with her dressing, she heard the Queen ask her, "How's the investigation going on with the matter I ordered?"

"Someone from the palace has replied, but the Majesty has been unwell recently, so I didn't dare to report it."

The queen smoothed her hair in front of the mirror and said, "You can tell me anything."

"Master has ordered a thorough investigation of our eldest prince's wet nurse. Tao Niang died of illness not long after leaving the palace. But strangely, Master has carefully checked the village where Tao Niang lived, and even the counties large and small surrounding the capital. No one has ever been infected with smallpox. Instead, in the five counties outside the capital, there was a family surnamed Zhou. Their grandson died of smallpox before the Mid-Autumn Festival. A neighbor saw it with his own eyes. He said that a young man in bright clothes came to the Zhou family and gave them five hundred taels of silver. Not long after, the Zhou family moved away overnight. As for where they went, no one knows."

As soon as she finished speaking, the jade hairpin that the queen was holding in her hand was broken.

"Empress!"

Jinmei screamed in fright, and when she pried the queen's hand open, she found that the sharp end had already cut the queen's white and tender palm.

"Come, quickly call the imperial physician."

"No need." The Queen seemed to feel no pain, her expression cold and without a trace of warmth. "Have you asked the laundry department?"

Jinmei took the handkerchief and carefully wrapped it in the Queen's hand, saying in a deep voice, "I've already asked. During the time when the Crown Prince was in trouble, only people from Huayang Palace and Qiulan Palace went to the laundry bureau. I just don't know which palace was responsible for harming our Crown Prince!"

The Queen closed her eyes tightly, tears welling up in her eyes. When she opened them again, her dark pupils were filled with overwhelming hatred. "No matter who it is, I will not let them go easily!"

That day, Zhao Yuancheng went to Ci'an Palace to pay his respects to the empress dowager.

As they were talking, the Queen Mother mentioned finding a foster mother for the eldest princess. "Your Majesty, I am already old. When it came to the Imperial Concubine incident, it was understandable that I kept Tang'er, but Yan'er is your eldest daughter after all, so it's time to find a foster mother for her."

"My son came here to discuss this matter with the Queen Mother. Currently, the highest-ranking officials in the palace are the Imperial Consort, Imperial Concubine Yi, Imperial Concubine Liu, and Concubine Xi."

"Liu Zhaoyi just gave birth to a prince, so I'm afraid she won't be able to take care of him. Yi Zhaoyi is unwell and can't help either. As for Xipin, with her personality, let's forget about her."

The Queen Mother hummed, "So, the only one left is the Imperial Concubine?"

Zhao Yuancheng took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Although the imperial concubine is somewhat spoiled, she is not a bad person by nature. She has served my son wholeheartedly for many years. Moreover, her health is failing, so my son will have something to rely on after he passes away."

The Queen Mother nodded. "The Imperial Concubine comes from a noble family. Jiahe can have her care and they can both rely on each other."

As the mother and son were talking, a young palace maid came in and announced, "Your Majesty, the Emperor, the Empress is here."

The Queen Mother hummed, "Please let the Queen in."

When the queen came in, she was wearing an apricot-colored robe embroidered with a phoenix and a peony-colored phoenix robe. The pearls hanging from the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin sparkled with her steps, which made her look very good.

"I pay my respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

The Queen Mother smiled and gestured for the Queen to stand up, "You are not feeling well, please sit up."

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

"Why are you free to come here today?"

The Queen smiled and replied, "I have been ill for the past few days. Thanks to the Queen Mother for taking care of Jiahe, I have recovered now and I am thinking of taking Jiahe back to take care of him."

Jia He, who was supposed to be playing in the side hall, came out happily after hearing the Queen's voice. Then she threw herself into the Queen's arms and called out delicately, "Mother."

Seeing the two of them being so affectionate, the Queen Mother couldn't help but sigh, "Jia He has been with me for so many days, but I've never seen her be so affectionate to me."

The Queen held Jia He's soft hair and said softly, "As the Queen, the children of the concubines are my children. I dare not be careless."

It was rare for the Queen to smile again, and Zhao Yuancheng didn't want to disappoint her, so he said, "Just now, I was discussing with my mother about finding another foster mother for Jiahe, but seeing how much you care about this child, why not let the Queen raise him."

Upon hearing this, the Queen stood up and knelt down to salute, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager, I will definitely take good care of Jiahe."

The eldest princess's destination was settled, so Zhao Yuancheng sat for a while and then left Ci'an Palace.

Thinking that Fu Qianyu was pregnant, he wanted to go see her, but when he arrived at the gate of Huayang Palace, he met Wan Jieyu.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. May your Highness be blessed with good health and happiness."

Zhao Yuancheng raised his hand slightly to indicate that he didn't need to be polite. "Why are you here?"

Wan Jieyu chuckled and said, "I heard that Sister Yi was not feeling well, so I made some cakes myself and came to visit her."

"You're thoughtful."

"Since the emperor is here, I won't go in." Concubine Wan was tactful. She signaled the maid to hand the food box to Xiao Dezi, then turned and left.

After Zhao Yuancheng entered, Songluo couldn't help but ask Wan Jieyu, "My Lord, I don't understand. The Emperor is very kind to you, so why do you need to curry favor with Concubine Yi? Although she holds a high position, her family background is really low. Why should we condescend to her?"

Wan Jieyu adjusted the crabapple hairpin with pearls on her temples and said with a smile, "A woman of humble origins can remain in such high favor. Isn't this surprising? You won't lose out by following her."

"You think so clearly, but why didn't you go in with the emperor just now?"

"That would be too deliberate and counterproductive."