The next day.

Guan Zhiyue is extremely happy now that she has harvested the crops in the field, especially since she doesn't have to worry about anything anymore.

Guan Zhiyue spent the morning leisurely and carefree in the Cold Palace, but in the afternoon, a huge piece of gossip shocked the entire harem.

"What? Fu Xiuyi is pregnant?" Guan Zhiyue was so shocked that she fell off the rattan chair and scrambled to her feet.

She looked at Xiao Dezi, who had come to report to her, with an incredulous expression.

Are you sure you didn't hear me wrong?

"Oh, Your Majesty, even if you gave me ten lives, I wouldn't dare to say such a thing! It's true, absolutely true."

"Now that the Emperor has gone, you should hurry up and get ready to go too, lest you miss something important, or we'll be doomed." Xiao Dezi anxiously went to help Guan Zhiyue, who was sitting on the ground.

Guan Zhiyue sighed deeply, "Sigh, what a mess this is. These are all people who think they have too much time on their hands."

"Li Qiji is such a troublemaker. I have to solve everything for him. It's driving me crazy!" Guan Zhiyue complained as she walked.

Bilian, Shiliu, and Xiaodezi exchanged glances, said nothing, and continued walking toward Chonghua Palace with their heads down.

The left side hall of Chonghua Palace was Fu Xiuyi's residence.

Guan Zhiyue, recalling that she had watched this woman's live broadcasts twice, why is she now being exposed as pregnant? Isn't this a slap in the face?

That was a complete slap in the face! It was a resounding slap in Li Qiji's face!

Li Qiji has never touched any of the women in the harem, and now one of the concubines is pregnant. Where does this leave Li Qiji's face?

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!" Xiao Dezi's voice rang out outside Chonghua Palace, and Guan Zhiyue stormed into the room.

All that could be seen was Li Qiji's icy face, sitting silently in the courtyard of Chonghua Palace, with a woman in a white undergarment kneeling on the ground.

At this moment, she was kneeling in front of Li Qiji with her hair disheveled and tears streaming down her face.

Xiu Yuanduan ● Yun Zhao was also standing expressionlessly to the side. This woman was a beauty sent by the small country of Bianluan.

Her name is Duan Duan ● Yun Zhao. She is an exceptionally beautiful dancer and the oldest in the harem at nineteen. She is also exceptionally alluring in appearance. She doesn't like to be in groups and prefers dancing and playing the zither.

"Yun Zhao greets Her Majesty the Empress."

"Alright, no need for formalities!" Guan Zhiyue lightly patted her hand and looked at Yun Zhao.

"Yun Zhao, you may leave now! I have something to discuss with the Emperor." Guan Zhiyue dismissed Yun Zhao.

This woman was so beautiful. This was the third time Guan Zhiyue had seen her, but to be precise, it was the first time she had seen her so closely.

If she were a man, she would have fallen for Duan Yunzhao's beauty, but unfortunately Li Qiji is blind and cannot see it.

Yun Zhao left without looking back. She had no interest in these things at all; she was just an object that a rich and powerful family could discard at will.

After Duan Yunzhao left, Guan Zhiyue walked over to Li Qiji and sat down next to him. Looking at Fu Xiuyi kneeling on the ground, she said, "Fu Lingqiao, I thought you were a reasonable person. I have seen what you have done more than once, but I never thought of exposing you."

"I've heard quite a bit about you. The man you've been hanging out with must be your childhood sweetheart."

Fu Lingqiao looked at Guan Zhiyue with disbelief. How could Guan Zhiyue know about their secret activities, especially since the Empress had been confined to the Cold Palace for so long?

"Don't look at me with such a surprised expression. Not only do I know, but even the Emperor knows."

Fu Lingqiao looked up at the man who had forced her into marriage into the palace and separated her from her childhood sweetheart, her face filled with hatred.

"Since the Emperor and Empress already know, I have no reason to deny it."

"We will obey His Majesty's decision!" Fu Lingqiao looked at Guan Zhiyue and Li Qiji.

Guan Zhiyue took a deep breath and calmed down before saying, "You were forced to enter the palace because of your father, and it has nothing to do with the Emperor. He never did anything to you while he was in the palace."

When Li Qiji heard Guan Zhiyue say this, he looked up at her and suddenly felt as if Guan Zhiyue was a god descended from heaven to save him from his predicament.

"Yue'er, I..."

"Shut up, don't speak, listen to me!" Guan Zhiyue stopped Li Qiji from saying what he was about to say.

She then looked at Fu Lingqiao and said, "You have violated the palace rules and corrupted the atmosphere of the harem. As the person in charge of the harem, I cannot ignore this matter. However, before that, I would like to ask you if you have any regrets?"

"No!"

"Alright, since you insist on not revealing that wild man's name, then I'll tell you a story. We'll also take this opportunity to test whether your dear childhood sweetheart will still show you any mercy after knowing your current situation."

"They say that couples are like birds in the same forest, but they fly away when disaster strikes. I'll help you judge whether these birds will fly away separately, and whether it's worth it for you to do this!"

Fu Lingqiao nodded and said, "Alright, then we'll listen to what the Empress says."

"Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?" Fu Lingqiao asked Guan Zhiyue.

Guan Zhiyue thought for a moment and said, "I will spread this information privately. You just need to tell me what that man does."

Fu Lingqiao trusted Zhang Gong very much. She believed that Zhang Gong would do anything for her, so she didn't hide anything and said, "Imperial Guard."

Upon hearing this, Li Qiji clenched his fists so tightly they cracked. These guards actually dared to cuckold him; it was an utter disgrace!

Guan Zhiyue glanced at Li Qiji without saying a word, then turned to Fu Lingqiao and said, "Go inside. I have something to discuss with the Emperor."

Fu Lingqiao thought Guan Zhiyue would execute her today. When the Emperor came earlier, he was furious. She never expected that the Empress would actually test her childhood sweetheart.

"Your Majesty, if there is anything you need to say to me, there is no one else to say it now."

Guan Zhiyue said, "Your Majesty, please spare them! If that man is someone you can entrust your life to, then let them go. If not, then let Your Majesty decide what to do with him."

Where is Xiuyi?

"Let her go!" Guan Zhiyue's tone was flat, without the slightest fluctuation.

"Release her? On what grounds?"

"Because she doesn't like you, she doesn't have you in her heart."

Li Qiji understood and said with a smile, "Does the Empress think the same way?"

Guan Zhiyue didn't answer. Instead, she stood up and walked towards the door. She didn't know why, but suddenly she didn't dare to speak. She could have chosen to say "yes," but the words stuck in her throat.

Li Qiji watched Guan Zhiyue leave without saying a word, somewhat puzzled. What exactly was her attitude?