At noon.

In the Yangxin Palace, Sheng Xiyan was leaning on the couch reading a book when she suddenly heard a sound coming from outside the palace.

"Sister, you are in such a refined mood." Empress Duan, dressed in a bright red phoenix robe, walked in slowly, holding the hand of a palace maid, with a sarcastic smile on her lips.

";I heard that your elder brother resigned from his official position? What a pity! His bright future was ruined just like that.";

Sheng Xiyan didn't even look up and turned a page of the book: "The Queen is really well-informed."

Empress Duan sat down by herself, playing with the coral beads in her hand: "I am also worried about you. You are now pregnant with a prince, but your family has lost their support. How will you gain a foothold in the palace in the future?"

Sheng Xiyan finally raised her eyes, her eyes calm: "Compared to these empty names, I care more about whether my brother and sister-in-law can be happy."

Empress Duan sneered: "Happiness? How can a good-for-nothing who resigned from office and an abandoned woman be happy?"

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words." Sheng Xiyan's voice suddenly turned cold. "Isn't your brother also idle and useless at home? Living off our old father and sister?"

Empress Duan's face froze. She was about to retort when she heard the eunuchs outside the palace shouting, "The Emperor has arrived—"

Xuan Ling strode in and frowned slightly when he saw the Queen. "Why is the Queen here?"

Empress Duan quickly stood up and bowed, saying softly, "I've come to see my sister, the Imperial Concubine..."

Xuan Ling didn't look at her, but walked straight to Sheng Xiyan and gently held her hand: "Yanyan, are you feeling unwell?"

Sheng Xiyan shook her head and smiled faintly: "I am fine."

Queen Duan was left aside, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Xuan Ling then glanced at her and said calmly, "The affairs of the six palaces are complicated. Now that the Queen has been released from her confinement, you can assist with Concubine Shu and Concubine De."

This is clear decentralization!

Empress Duan suppressed her anger and said, "I obey your order."

After the queen left in anger, Xuan Ling took Sheng Xiyan into his arms and gently stroked her pregnant belly: "Don't pay attention to her harsh words. As long as I am here, no one can harm you and your child."

Sheng Xiyan leaned against his chest and took out a brocade bag from her sleeve: "I'm not afraid. I always carry the elixir given by the Southern Pole Immortal."

Xuan Ling's eyes softened and he kissed the top of her head: "I have prepared the best midwife and imperial physician. You just need to be at ease and wait for the birth."

Outside the window, the setting sun stretched the two figures very long.

Inside Jingren Palace, Empress Duan smashed the teacup fiercely, her eyes filled with murderous intent: "Noble Concubine Chen... I will never let you give birth safely!"

"My queen, we have to start with the midwife so that no one can know..." Ruyi said.

Queen Duan gave a strange smile.

Two days later,

In the Yangxin Palace, Sheng Xiyan was lost in thought as she stared at a game endgame.

The white jade chess piece twirled around in her fingertips, and suddenly fell onto the chessboard with a "pop".

"Your Majesty, Miss Su is here." Hua Xia said softly.

Sheng Xiyan stroked her pregnant belly, a sneer on her lips: "Tell her to wait and tell her that I'm changing clothes."

She walked slowly to the dressing table and took out a silver needle from the secret compartment.

The tip of the needle glowed faintly blue in the candlelight - this was the poison-detecting needle her father left her.

When she was taking Su Yunfu's pulse at the Cining Palace the day before yesterday, she discovered that although her pulse looked like a happy pulse, there was a hint of unnatural stagnation.

"Your Majesty, what if it's really a pregnancy?" Hua Xia handed over the ginseng tea worriedly, "As for the Queen Mother..."

"I know my limits." Sheng Xiyan took a sip of tea and suddenly frowned: "Who made this tea?"

Mingyue was startled: "It's the new maid from the kitchen..."

"It's fallen." Sheng Xiyan put the teacup down heavily. "Go check the background of that palace maid."

Su Yunfu's impatient voice came from outside the palace: "How long will your Majesty keep me waiting?"

Sheng Xiyan adjusted her hairpins in front of the bronze mirror, and suddenly saw Xuan Ling's figure in the mirror.

Xuan Ling had stood behind the screen at some point, and was mouthing to her, "Baby, I'm here."

Sheng Xiyan smiled and blew him a kiss.

Raising her voice: "Let her in."