The emperor rejoices when the beauty becomes pregnant.

Zhiwei's words were fast and urgent, like shattered ice shards, carrying a chilling coldness and pain.

She originally disliked showing excitement. There were too many shady officials in the harem, and she was powerless to do anything. She was afraid that even the slightest expression or movement would be magnified and lead her into some inexplicable conflict.

She was really tired. For this little bit of wealth that she couldn't even leave the palace, Zhiwei had seen too many people become unrecognizable. Especially during the time after Cheng Yuzhi passed away, she didn't even dare to look in the mirror, afraid that she would find that her own face was also a stranger.

Today, the pent-up anxiety and grievances, along with a sudden surge of inexplicable anger, erupted. And with Jiang Qin standing before her again, Zhiwei finally revealed her hideous face—no, she finally revealed her true colors.

"Jiang Qin, what did I do wrong? Is it right to just stand by and watch that treacherous villain Wang Miaoxiao sit in a high position and frame loyal officials?"

Zhiwei was so angry she was breathless, and Jiang Qin was also stunned by her sudden action. He frowned, then finally bent down, silently picked up the shoe she had kicked away, dusted it off, and handed it back to her.

"The ground is cold," he said gently. "Take care of yourself."

After saying that, Jiang Qin didn't linger. He turned and strode away, quickly disappearing into the thick night.

Zhiwei remained standing in the same spot, her bare feet treading on the cold ground. When the biting chill penetrated her heart, she slowly bent down, haphazardly put on her shoes, and walked back step by step, each step feeling like walking on broken ice.

——

I want to rest early today.

Back in the side hall, Zhiwei waved away Shao Yang, who came to greet her upon hearing the commotion.

The palace doors closed, isolating the outside world. The room was dark and silent, with no lights on. Zhiwei leaned against the cold door and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.

Is it over? It's already ending before it even started?

Jiang Qin found out. What about Zhu Liji? Did he find out too? How would someone as suspicious as him view her?

All that hard-won forbearance is going to be lost in this way?

She had thought that with the help of Li Tai and Wan Qi, she might be able to shake Wang Miaoxiao's mountain, even if it was just to make him lose a piece of flesh, it would at least ease her hatred. But in the end, all her secret planning and all her forbearance and waiting were probably just a ridiculous monkey show in the eyes of those people.

what to do.

Despair, like an icy tide, crept up inch by inch, engulfing Zhiwei's mouth and nose, suffocating her.

Zhiwei suddenly stood up, staggered to the table, and waved her arm wildly—

Clang—

Teapots and cups were swept to the ground, the sound of shattering particularly jarring in the silent hall. Porcelain shards scattered, and warm tea soaked the carpet, leaving an unsightly stain.

Zhiwei looked at the mess on the ground, her chest heaving violently, and her eyes uncontrollably welled up with a burning red.

She only wanted to create an opening, but why was she met with an impenetrable wall of defense? Was she too naive to place her hopes for revenge on others, which led to her tragic end?

She deserved it. No, she didn't believe it. Should she accept her fate? No, she didn't want to!

Just as tears were about to overflow, a very soft tapping sound suddenly rang out, interrupting Zhiwei's thoughts.

"Who!" Zhiwei suddenly looked up, her eyes red as she stared at the tightly closed window inside the room.

The sound rang out twice more, with a certain rhythm.

It's not an illusion.

Zhiwei took a deep breath, suppressing the sob in her throat, and quickly walked to the window, forcefully pushing it open—

A cold night wind rushed in instantly, making her hair fly wildly.

Outside the window, in the shadow of the eaves, a black figure, almost blending into the night, crouched quietly like a lurking cheetah. The eyes behind the mask gazed intently at her through the darkness.

"What brings you here?" Upon seeing the shadow before her, Zhiwei's already pounding heart beat even faster. Was there still hope? At the risk of being discovered by the emperor, what message was the shadow here to deliver?

Zhiwei stood frozen in place, repeating the question once more.

The gaze behind the mask fell on Zhiwei's red eyes, a hint of pity flashing across his face. Zhu Mingyu shook his head very lightly: "I came here on the orders of the master to sever ties with the young lady."

“Draw a clear line?” Zhiwei’s heart felt like it was being clenched by an icy hand. “What does Li Tai mean by this? Is he treating me like a pawn?”

Shadow shook his head: "The lord is fully aware of Lord Jiang's memorial. Lord Jiang still has some decency; he was the one who managed to spread the word about your dismissal. Lord Li isn't abandoning you, but protecting you. The situation is complicated right now, and the lord doesn't want to implicate any more innocent people."

After speaking, Shadow turned to leave, but Zhiwei grabbed Shadow's sleeve.

"I don't want to get involved anymore, but I'm already in it!" Zhiwei's strength was astonishing. She tilted her head back. "Is Wang Miaoxiao's matter just going to end like this? Li Tai said he didn't want to involve others, could it be that he has some other plans?"

Yes, for something this important, we should always have a backup plan.

Zhiwei blinked: "What exactly is your master planning?"

"Do you know that our Emperor is exceptionally ruthless? Jiang Tan has already reported this matter to the emperor. At best, he will be dismissed from his post; at worst, he will be beheaded. Your officials may not care, but what about the Li family behind him? Li Mingjing has just returned. How can he possibly hear about this turn of events?"

"We are at a critical juncture, what is Li Tai thinking?" Now that the question has been asked, Zhiwei only regrets that she is not a mind reader and cannot plot with Li Tai.

Zhiwei thought that no matter how slim the chances of survival were, she had to live, and Li Tai had to live too.

Only by staying alive can one have a chance to turn things around.

Zhiwei's eyes were filled with hope as she repeatedly asked Shadow Li Tai what his backup plan was, but all she received was silence.

Shadow repeatedly told Zhiwei to sever ties with Li Tai, and to grit his teeth and say nothing if anyone asked.

“Jiang Qin did not report your matter to His Majesty.” Shadow’s voice was extremely low, but every word was clear. “He knows you are just a pawn, and you just want to live.”

"Therefore, young lady, you need not worry about your safety any longer. If you insist on getting involved, you will only be pushing yourself into a dead end."

The shadow's visit seemed solely intended to reassure Zhiwei, but this was far from what she desired.

What she wanted was a spark, a tiny flame that could ignite a thousand armies in the darkness, but right now, Li Tai was no longer the one who could ignite that spark.

Zhiwei turned away, nodded, and clenched her fist: "Go back and tell your master to submit a memorial to the emperor ordering him to be sent to a post outside the capital. While he can still walk, he should leave the capital immediately and not come back for at least three to five years."

Zhiwei took a breath, her eyes filled with a resolute determination: "As for Wang Miaoxiao... I'll take care of the rest."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Mingyu's expression changed slightly. He suddenly gripped Zhiwei's wrist tightly: "What are you going to do? You're just a palace maid, powerless and without influence. What can you possibly shoulder? What are you supposed to shoulder?"

Zhiwei felt a sharp pain from his grip and felt annoyed. She stubbornly raised her head and said, "This is none of your business, you servant!"

She had nothing to say to a messenger. Zhiwei felt a chill in her heart. If Jiang Qin could find out, how could Zhu Liji be completely unaware?

Jiang Tan's failure to report to the emperor does not mean she is safe, nor does it mean that Zhu Liji has let her go. The fact that he has not taken action against her yet is simply because the time is not right, or perhaps he has other considerations.

Interfering in state affairs and having illicit relations with officials are both capital offenses. Given Zhu Liji's attitude towards him, how could Zhu Liji let him off easily?

She couldn't just sit and wait for the knife to fall. She had to take the initiative and become that dangling knife herself.

Zhiwei stopped looking at the shadow and slammed the window shut, completely shutting out the masked face and the suddenly constricted pupils.

The night was as dark as ink. A dim light shone from the bedroom. Zhiwei squatted in front of the charcoal brazier and threw all the physical evidence of her dealings with Li Tai, along with a scroll containing a list of herbs, into the fire.

The paper curled up, burned, and turned to ashes that floated in the air.

Zhiwei stared at the raging flames, lost in thought. When it was time for her shift, she splashed cold water on her face, carefully applied makeup in front of the blurry bronze mirror, concealing the dark circles under her eyes, until her face looked no different from usual, before finally stopping.

——

After receiving the stewed soup from the imperial kitchen, she carried the food box towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation. There were only a few palace servants sweeping the palace road, but the Hall of Mental Cultivation was more lively than usual.

As soon as she arrived at the palace gate, she heard Consort Liu's coquettish laughter coming from inside. Zhiwei paused for a moment, then asked a eunuch to announce her arrival before entering.

As soon as they entered the door, they saw Consort Liu sitting on a soft couch, with Zhu Liji half-squatting and half-leaning against the cushion, his hand gently resting on Consort Liu's lower abdomen, his movements surprisingly gentle.

Zhiwei raised her eyes and then lowered them again, walking closer step by step, as if she hadn't seen anything, and gently placed the soup bowl on the corner of the table where it was usually placed.

The jade spoon struck the rim of the bowl, producing a soft, crisp sound.

Zhu Liji finally raised his head, shifting his gaze from Liu Meiren to Zhiwei.

The gentleness in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an unfathomable scrutiny. Zhu Liji remained silent for a long time, only turning his body to look at her coldly.

An invisible, heavy pressure descended, and Zhiwei felt a burning sensation on the back of her hand. The bowl and spoon trembled slightly, spilling a few drops of soup.

Ignoring the pain, Zhiwei held her breath and tried her best to maintain a calm demeanor.

Zhu Liji stared at her lowered eyelashes, about to speak.

“Your Majesty,” Consort Liu suddenly spoke up, smiling as she reached out and personally helped the kneeling Zhiwei to her feet, “Miss Yan has arrived just in time.”

Consort Liu turned to Zhu Liji, stroked her lower abdomen, and then tugged at his sleeve in a coquettish manner: "Your Majesty, you do not know, but yesterday in the storeroom, it was Miss Yan who saved me from falling, thus protecting the imperial child from disaster."

It turned out that Consort Liu was pregnant.

Consort Liu smiled at Zhiwei and stroked Zhiwei's hand with her palm: "Your Majesty, I find Miss Yan to be very reliable and I like her very much. Now that I am pregnant, may Your Majesty grant me permission to have Miss Yan come and talk to me more often these days, and also help me adjust my diet?"

Zhiwei was surprised that Liu Meiren would make such a request.

Zhu Liji narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on Zhiwei's slightly surprised face for a moment, before lightly tapping his fingertips on the table.

"Granted." His tone was unreadable. "But don't delay your duties at the Hall of Mental Cultivation."