Huanzhu's threats instilled fear in Cheng Bigu, and she quickly said, "Okay, okay, I'll let you go right now."

Seeing that Cheng Bi had softened, Huan Zhu was very pleased. Just when she thought she could escape, a series of hurried footsteps sounded, stopping Cheng Bi's actions.

"Consort De, have you seen Her Majesty the Empress?"

The speaker was Green Sleeves, who had now reverted to her palace maid attire.

"The Empress?" Cheng Bi frowned. "I have never seen her."

“But I saw her walk in this direction with my own eyes,” Green Sleeves said anxiously.

"Could it be?" Cheng Bi stared at the woman lying on the ground, her eyes filled with shock.

Green Sleeves followed her gaze and exclaimed, "The Empress wore this very dress tonight!"

"What?"

Before Cheng Bi could speak, Lü Xiu quickly turned Ming Yue, who had been lying on the ground for a long time, over and cried out, "It's Her Majesty the Empress!"

"What's going on?" Cheng Bi frowned and looked at Huan Zhu.

But Huanzhu still held her head high, ignoring Cheng Bi.

At this moment, Green Sleeves shouted loudly again, "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you? Don't frighten me!" After saying this, she stretched out her hand that had been under Mingyue's body, "Blood, it's blood!"

The blood was not from Mingyue's body, but rather from Lüxiu's hand, which was smeared with chicken blood when she came over.

But at night, no one would notice what she was holding in her hand.

Because Green Sleeve was so into her role and swayed so violently, Mingyue, who had been pretending to be unconscious, suddenly felt dizzy and her face turned pale.

She thought to herself: This silly Green Sleeve, even if I wasn't scared unconscious by the Illusion Pearl, you would have shaken me unconscious.

But she couldn't say it aloud, and could only let Green Sleeves sway as she suppressed the churning in her stomach.

Fortunately, Cheng Bi noticed and quickly stopped Lü Xiu from shaking her, saying, "Someone, quickly send the Empress back to the palace and summon the imperial physician."

"twitter!"

Just as the young eunuch was about to obey, Cheng Bi added, "You must call Physician Zhang. Physician Zhang has always taken care of Her Majesty's pregnancy. With him there, Her Majesty might still have some hope."

"This servant understands!" he said, bowing and retreating.

After this wave of destruction, only a eunuch, Cheng Bi, and Huan Zhu remained in the abandoned courtyard.

Seeing that things were going further and further off course from the plan, Huanzhu became anxious. Seeing that there was only one eunuch present, she could no longer control her emotions and cursed, "You cowardly and incompetent fool, Consort De, what are you dawdling about? Untie me now!"

She believed that Cheng Bi was a useless person and that her insults would surely make Cheng Bi release her.

But how could that be? Cheng Bi remembered everything she did. Although it was difficult for Wanwan, without Huanzhu stirring things up, Cheng Bi wouldn't have suffered so much injustice.

If it were any other concubine, they would have slapped Huanzhu across the face long ago, but Chengbi wouldn't do that. She could only smile faintly and say, "I may be stupid, but I'm not stupid enough to do something that would cost me my head."

"What do you mean?" Huanzhu frowned, looking like a demon from hell.

"I thought you were just playing a prank to scare some palace maids, but I never expected you to be so bold as to frighten the Empress. Now that the Empress has lost her virginity, she is probably in grave danger. If I release you, will the Emperor release me?" Cheng Bi's gaze sharpened, as if she could see right through Huan Zhu.

Huanzhu was startled and didn't know how to respond.

Just then, Cheng Bi suddenly reached out and grabbed her hair, pulling her out. As she pulled, she said coldly, "You're just a lowly palace maid, yet you dare to plot against the Empress! You've really got a death wish!"

"Ouch! It hurts..."

The scalp stung from being pulled, and Huanzhu screamed.

Cheng Bi snorted coldly, then forcefully threw her to the ground. Her action was solely to avenge Mingyue.

"How dare you push me!"

Huanzhu had never suffered such humiliation. She struggled to get up while glaring at Chengbi with resentment.

"I am a concubine, and you are a servant. I can punish you, but what is pushing you?" Cheng Bi said coldly, then ordered the eunuch beside her, "Take her to the Empress's palace. I will go to see the Emperor."

"You vile woman, all of this was ordered by Consort Hui. If you have the guts, go and arrest her..."

Cheng Bi looked at Huan Zhu with the eyes of someone looking at a madwoman, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, ignoring her, and still let the eunuch drag her away.

…

Kunning Palace

"It hurts, my stomach hurts so much!" Mingyue clutched her stomach, rolling around on the bed covered in sweat.

Such realistic acting was so convincing that even Green Sleeve would have believed it to be real if she hadn't known beforehand.

At this moment, Zhang Wenshan also came over. He took her pulse and saw that Mingyue was faking it, but he still pretended not to know and acted with her.

Since Mingyue had caught him red-handed, he had no choice but to cooperate and dared not resist.

The reason Mingyue arranged for Zhang Wenshan to come was partly to make Princess Jianning believe that something had happened to her.

"How is the Empress's health?"

Before they arrived, their voices preceded their arrival. After they finished speaking, Xuan Ye and Cheng Bi arrived one after the other.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has suffered a miscarriage due to the fright, and this is likely to be a serious matter," Zhang Wenshan hurriedly knelt down and said.

"Why were you startled out of nowhere?" Xuan Ye frowned, his face was very serious, and his eyes were filled with anger as he looked at Zhang Wenshan.

Zhang Wenshan's heart skipped a beat. He knew that Xuan Ye was angry, but he was helpless and could only lower his head and wait for Xuan Ye's reprimand.

"It's Huanzhu from Consort Hui's palace. She deliberately dressed up as a ghost to scare the Empress."

At this moment, Green Sleeves' words successfully diverted Xuan Ye's attention.

"What did you say! A lowly palace maid dares to be so audacious!" Xuan Ye slammed his hand on the armrest, his face terrifyingly gloomy.

"Your Majesty, I have captured her. Should I let her come forward for questioning?" Cheng Bi asked cautiously.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Mingyue, and the two exchanged a smile.

"Ask! How can we not ask!" Xuan Ye's expression darkened. "Bring her up!"

Cheng Bi nodded and ordered the guards to bring Huan Zhu over.

Upon learning that Xuan Ye was also present, Huan Zhu's eyes were filled with fear and unease. However, after seeing Ming Yue's 'miserable state,' a hint of smugness appeared in her eyes. But she kept her head down, and no one could see her expression.

"Tell me, why did you do this?" Xuan Ye demanded sternly.

Huanzhu initially wanted to say that Chengbi was deliberately slandering her, but then she thought that there were several eunuchs present who had witnessed the incident, so this plan would not work. Therefore, she said, "This servant... was also acting under orders."

"To whom?" Xuan Ye asked coldly.

"Consort Hui!"

Upon hearing this, Mingyue maintained a pained expression on her face, but in her heart, she did not believe a word Huanzhu said.

After all, Huanzhu was recruited too easily, and from the moment she was captured, she kept mentioning Consort Hui, which seemed a bit like protesting too much.