(Sorry, all three chapters posted today are in Volume 21. My apologies. It was an operational error.)

After leaving Qixiang Palace, Lady Fucha, still slightly drunk, rode back in a palanquin.

From afar, Empress Fucha saw that the entire Yikun Palace was brightly lit, as if it were daytime. She stopped her carriage and stared at it in a daze...

The accompanying maid, unaware of what Empress Fucha was thinking, said presumptuously, "Your Highness, the young prince of Yikun Palace has died young. The Imperial Concubine has been forbidding the Ministry of Rites from making arrangements for the funeral. I heard that the whole palace knows about it..."

Lady Fucha glanced at the maid and asked, "Why did the young prince die so young?"

The maidservant covered her mouth and whispered, "I heard he was scared to death by the ghost of the wet nurse who was beaten to death by the Imperial Concubine... but the imperial physician said the young prince had a high fever that wouldn't go down, and died of convulsions... who knows..."

Fucha was secretly delighted, thinking that she was finally no longer involved in the death of Nian's youngest son, Hongfu, and that no one would suspect her even if they dug three feet into the ground.

"Finally, I can escape my fate in this life..." Empress Fucha muttered to herself. The maid was taken aback and looked at Empress Fucha: "What did you say, Mistress?"

Empress Fucha waved her hand, and the palanquin continued forward. She laughed and said, "I am the poor Consort Gui's little prince... born into the wrong family and raised by the wrong mother..."

The maidservant followed the palanquin, saying, "Your Highness, you don't know, but everyone in the palace is saying that the Imperial Concubine has lost two sons. If she doesn't quickly have another child, her position will be in jeopardy... That's why the Emperor has been keeping her company day and night these past few days..."

Upon hearing this, Empress Fucha sobered up somewhat and sat up straight, asking, "Has His Majesty been in Yikun Palace the whole time?"

The maid nodded and said, "Yes, if His Majesty leaves, the Imperial Concubine refuses to take her medicine. His Majesty is worried about the Imperial Concubine's health, so he has to stay by her side at all times..."

Empress Fucha's heart sank. She had finally managed to leave Lady Nian destitute, and she couldn't let her have any chance to rise again. If the Emperor softened his heart and allowed her to have another child, then all her previous efforts would have been in vain.

Empress Fucha realized she was only a concubine, and although the Empress had promised to help her, nothing had happened. Empress Fucha couldn't wait any longer; she wanted to take control of her own destiny and no longer be at the mercy of others. She needed to seize power…

In this deep palace, the only way out is to regain the emperor's favor.

Empress Fucha knew that the Fourth Prince had always had a bad impression of her, and that he wouldn't easily believe anything she said. To regain the Emperor's trust, she first needed to perform meritorious service to attract his attention.

Right now, Lady Wuya is the best target. So many things have happened in the palace, and every single one of them is connected to her. If I can find the culprit who harmed Lanqin and Hongfu at this time, the Fourth Prince will definitely look at me with new respect, and I might even have a chance to be reinstated.

The following day, when Lady Fucha learned that the Fourth Prince had not gone to Yikun Palace after court but went directly to Yangxin Hall, she immediately went there alone.

Empress Fucha was not granted an audience with the Fourth Prince, and the Hall of Mental Cultivation refused her entry. Fearing she would miss her chance, she could only kneel outside and plead. Su Peisheng came out and, seeing this, advised, "Your Highness, please return. The Emperor has been in a bad mood lately, and you must have heard of it. I advise you not to anger the Emperor at this time, lest you suffer the consequences..."

Lady Fucha shook her head and stubbornly said, "Eunuch Su, I really do need to see the Emperor. Please help me inform him..."

Su Peisheng, feeling helpless, was about to turn around and go inside when Lady Fucha urgently hinted from behind, "It's related to Consort Xi and the young prince..."