"What a coincidence, the Emperor just summoned her to dine with him at the Hall of Mental Cultivation," Zhen Ge said with a smile.

"That's just bad luck," Hailanzhu said, unperturbed. "I'll come to find her again tonight."

"I'm afraid that won't work either," Brother Zhen replied again.

"Why?" Hailanzhu asked, puzzled.

Zhen Ge replied, "His Majesty decrees that the Empress must accompany you tonight."

Hailanzhu wasn't one to cling on shamelessly. Hearing this, she roughly understood what it meant, so she led Qingluan back.

"Your Highness, please take care." Zhen Ge curtsied and respectfully saw Hailanzhu off. Once she was out of sight, he immediately revealed a cold expression.

Zhe Zhe, who was inside the palace, naturally knew everything that was happening outside. Her lack of intervention indicated that she genuinely didn't want to see Hailanzhu.

Upon seeing Zhen Ge enter, Zhe Zhe asked expressionlessly, "I had no idea when His Majesty summoned me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

Zhen Ge immediately knelt down and explained, "Every time Hailanzhu comes, you would cry sadly afterwards, and I really couldn't bear to see you suffer like this."

"Get up!" Zhe Zhe knew that Zhen Ge was doing it for her own good, so she didn't blame her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhen Ge said gratefully as she slowly rose to her feet.

"It's really strange. That medicine was able to help me and Yu'er each give birth to three children, so why didn't it work on her?" It turned out that Zhe Zhe was angry because Hailanzhu's womb was not cooperating, which was why she didn't want to see her.

“Maybe she’s not even qualified to be a mother,” Zhen Ge said. She wished that Hailanzhu would be unable to have children, making it a regret in her life.

"Nonsense!" Zhe Zhe shouted sternly.

Zhe Zhe is a very contradictory person. She is afraid that Hailanzhu has a child, but she is also afraid that Hailanzhu does not have a child.

He feared that if she had a child, Huang Taiji would favor her even more and neglect himself; he also feared that if she didn't have a child, Borjigit's power would fall into other hands.

"This servant was wrong, I shouldn't have spoken so recklessly." Zhen Ge was afraid of Zhe Zhe, and seeing her displeasure, she immediately lowered her head.

"Alright!" Zhe Zhe waved her hand. "If she comes tomorrow, you won't need to push her around."

For Borjigit's sake, she still wanted to give Hailanzhu another chance.

“Yes,” Brother Zhen agreed.

Perhaps it was because the weather was too hot, and Zhe Zhe was frugal, so she didn't even bother to replace the ice in the hall, which made the whole hall unbearably hot.

Zhen Ge was sweating profusely, so she didn't dare to say anything. She could only lower her head and wipe away the sweat, but accidentally pressed on the swollen bump on her face. Due to the sudden pain, she couldn't help but snort.

Upon hearing this cry, Zhe Zhe finally noticed the swelling on her face and pointed at it, asking, "What happened?"

Zhen Ge gently touched her face and explained, "I accidentally got stung while picking flowers."

Zhe Zhe believed her without a doubt, "Go downstairs, apply the medicine and then come back to serve me."

“Yes…” Zhen bowed and retreated, but Zhe Zhe did not notice the evasive look in her eyes.

...

After Hailanzhu returned to Guanju Palace, the two, mistress and servant, couldn't wait to get closer to the ice block.

"It feels so good, just like air conditioning," Hailanzhu said, enjoying herself.

"What is an air conditioner?" Qingluan asked, scratching the back of her head, confused.

"Uh..." Hailanzhu realized she had let something slip and quickly changed the subject, "Did you see the swollen bump on Brother Zhen's face? Doesn't it look like a bee sting?"

Qingluan didn't pursue the matter of the air conditioner, replying, "It's similar yet not quite."

"Why do you think that?" Hailanzhu asked curiously.

She lived a very isolated life (school to home, company to home). Aside from what she learned in books, her knowledge of nature was pitifully limited. So whenever she saw a bump, she would immediately assume it was a bee sting, unaware that there are many different kinds of bees.

“A bee sting will cause swelling, but not this big,” Qingluan said after thinking carefully.

"Then what do you think could have stung you?" Hailanzhu asked again.

"If I'm not mistaken, it was a bee that was collecting nectar from a poisonous flower that stung me."

Qingluan knew this because she had lived in the mountains for some time, and when she grew up, she was sold and sent to the palace.

Originally, she was just a second-class palace maid in Guanju Palace. It was only after Huige died, and because everyone felt that Hailanzhu was unpredictable and no one dared to serve her, that it was her turn to take over.

"Poisonous flowers? Bees?" Hailanzhu bit her lip, then, as if remembering something, she gripped Qingluan's hand and asked, "What would happen if we ate honey produced by these bees?"

Qingluan replied using her knowledge: "It depends on how much they eat. If it's only for a few days, then it's fine. But if they eat for a year or two, then they will die. Even Hua Tuo and Bian Que couldn't save them."

Upon hearing this, Hailanzhu couldn't help but give a wry smile, "I really didn't expect that."

She had always thought that Zhang Liang was most likely one of Namuzhong's people, but she never expected that he was from Qingning Palace.

"Your Majesty, do you think..." Qingluan realized and wanted to be with Hailanzhu.

But the white mouse was not yet dead, so Hailanzhu dared not draw any conclusions too early.

So she said, "This matter must not be told to anyone. It is not too late to inform the Emperor when we have sufficient evidence."

"Yes, this servant understands," Qingluan replied respectfully.

Suddenly, a deep male voice rang out, "What are you two whispering about, master and servant?"

Looking up, Hailanzhu saw Huang Taiji, whom she hadn't seen for many days.

Seeing this, Qingluan muttered in confusion, "Isn't the Emperor and the Empress in the Hall of Mental Cultivation? How come..."

Fearing that Qingluan might continue speaking foolishly, Hailanzhu quickly stopped her, "What are you daydreaming about? The Emperor is here, go and pour him a cup of tea."

How could she not know that Zhe Zhe didn't want to see her? Saying she was with the Emperor was just a way to save face for her, but Qing Luan, that little girl, didn't understand.

“Yes…” Qingluan lowered her eyes and quickly left.

Hailanzhu walked to Huang Taiji's side and said with a smile, "What brings Your Majesty here today?"

With no one else around, Huang Taiji made no attempt to hide his desires, saying, "I missed Lan'er, so I came here. I wonder if Lan'er misses me."

Hailanzhu was tired of hearing the same things. Sure enough, even a high-ranking emperor would become tongue-tied in front of the woman he loved.

How could Hailanzhu possibly miss her? But she still said, contradicting herself, "Of course I miss her, how could I not?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji embraced Hailanzhu tightly and recounted his helplessness over the past few days.

His helplessness stemmed from the fact that he had no choice but to favor or accompany a particular woman.

Hailanzhu remained as magnanimous as ever, urging Huang Taiji to prioritize the greater good. However, the more she did this, the more Huang Taiji felt sorry for her.

"Lan'er, let me keep you company tonight!" Huang Taiji pleaded.

Yes, it was a pleading tone; he was afraid that giving orders would displease Hailanzhu.

But that evening, Hailanzhu still had to go to the Cold Palace to deliver medicine to Yanzha Qingcheng. Seeing Huang Taiji's attitude, she didn't know how to refuse and couldn't help but feel anxious.