Big Fat Orange, utterly dejected, got into the sedan chair and swayed as it headed towards Yikun Palace.

After taking a few deep breaths, he couldn't help but lift the curtain and take a closer look at Su Peisheng. Before Su Peisheng could ask him if he had any instructions, he quickly lowered the curtain again.

Su Peisheng was his most trusted confidant. Although he was a eunuch, he did not treat Su Peisheng as an ordinary servant.

The bond we've built over so many years can't be faked. It's definitely more important than that of Consort Jing and others.

But what Consort Su said was truly rude.

If Su Peisheng were to dress as a woman, he could be completely infatuated with her...

Just imagining the scene in his mind, Big Fat Orange shuddered; it was absolutely terrifying!

No matter how flexible he is, he still has his bottom line!

No, why should he be so flexible about this?

Big Fatty Orange suddenly felt that after spending so much time with Sun Miaoqing, something was wrong with him.

Thinking about it this way, all the other concubines except Sun Miaoqing suddenly became adorable.

Upon arriving at Yikun Palace, Da Pang Ju couldn't smell the fragrance of Huan Yi Xiang, and immediately frowned.

What's going on with Consort Hua? The Joyful Incense, which has been burning day and night for years, isn't lit this time.

Could it be that she discovered something was wrong? Big Fat Orange's mind was in turmoil, his narrowed eyes hiding scrutiny and coldness.

"Where is the Joyful Incense I bestowed upon you? Why wasn't it lit today?"

Consort Hua said nonchalantly, "I was sick a while ago, and the fragrance of Huan Yi Incense couldn't mask the smell of the medicine. Instead, it seemed strange, so I haven't used it."

"Now that I'm feeling better, I've started burning incense again. I just used up the last bit last night. The rest from the Imperial Household Department hasn't arrived yet, but I've already gone to get the Ganoderma lucidum. It shouldn't be long before it comes back."

The chubby orange then put aside its suspicions and instructed, "I love this flavor the most. No one else is allowed to use it except you."

“Every time I come close and smell the fragrance of your perfume, I feel comfortable.”

Consort Hua felt a surge of hatred, but she pressed herself even closer to the chubby orange, saying shyly, "Your Majesty, I only like the scent of Huan Yi Xiang, especially when I'm alone with you."

While the two were talking, Zhou Ninghai ordered someone to bring up a table full of dishes.

Consort Hua left the large orange's chest, and with a delicate gesture, ladled a bowl of lotus root soup for the large orange.

"Winter is the perfect time to drink lotus root soup. This is a top-quality starchy lotus root sent from Honghu, Hubei. Your Majesty, please try it and see if it still tastes the same as before."

Big Orange took the bowl and tasted it carefully. "Hmm, not bad. This year's lotus root seems to be sweeter than in previous years."

"Just like you."

Consort Hua lowered her head, her laughter like the tinkling of silver bells.

The collar, made of fiery red fox fur, made the exposed neck appear even whiter and more delicate, inspiring endless imagination.

"Your Majesty is just trying to flatter me, but I like it~"

"If Your Majesty can continue to coax me until I am old and gray, I will like it even more."

*

Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong escorted Sun Miaoqing back to Chuxiu Palace, and the two stayed there to have a meal together.

The three people had three different thoughts, but only Sun Miaoqing ate with relish, focused on outsmarting the pigeon in front of her.

In the end, it was Shen Meizhuang who couldn't hold back any longer.

"Little sister Sun, have a couple of bites of vegetables. I've noticed you've been at the table for so long and haven't touched a single bite, you've only been eating the pigeon."

"No matter how good the pigeon is, you can't just eat this."

Sun Miaoqing glanced at the only plate of green vegetables on the table. Although she knew that there were no greenhouses now, even the emperor didn't have much choice when it came to vegetables during the freezing winter.

But she really didn't want to eat cabbage!

She had been eating at the cafeteria for over a decade and had long since come to loathe it.

Sun Miaoqing glanced at it with disdain and said, "I'm not a rabbit, I don't eat this. Dried vegetables are better."

Shen Meizhuang was embarrassed, but she was not angry. She just felt that Sun Miaoqing was still a child.

Like her younger sister, she only reluctantly eats a couple of bites after being coaxed and chased around.

"You'll be a mother in a few months, and you're still so picky. If all mothers are like this, the children will follow suit."

An Lingrong nodded in agreement, "Sister Mei is right, this dish of stir-fried cabbage with vinegar tastes alright to me."

"Sister Sun, just try a bite. If you don't like it, we won't try to persuade you anymore. We'll just have someone tell the imperial kitchen to prepare some good dishes for you tonight."

"Sister Sun is now the most important person in the palace. We can't let anyone else down, but we can't let you and the baby in your belly down."

Sun Miaoqing shook her head, resolutely refusing to touch the food. No matter how delicious it was, it was still just cabbage, a source of her childhood trauma!

"I'd rather eat a radish than this!"

Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong were helpless; they were truly unaware of their good fortune!

Their living standards dropped significantly after winter set in.

Shen Meizhuang fared somewhat better, as she was deeply favored by Da Ju. Occasionally, she would receive a share of the gifts sent from the Xiaotangshan Hot Spring Palace, though they didn't look as appealing as those from Sun Miaoqing's place.

An Lingrong was in a terrible situation. Originally from the south, this was her first time spending the winter in the north. Thanks to her relationship with Sun Miaoqing and Shen Meizhuang, she received all the allowances she was entitled to, but she received nothing else.

After finishing the pigeon, Sun Miaoqing slowly sipped a bowl of soup. Things that used to require money to bribe for were now being served in various ways without her having to ask. No wonder everyone wanted to be favored.

Shen Meizhuang said, "Sister Sun has just become pregnant. Although Qiangwei and Linglan are good, they don't have any experience in this area."

"Why not ask the Emperor to bestow a nanny to take care of me? That would put my mind at ease."

Sun Miaoqing said, "No need, no need. When we were at home, my sister-in-law had someone teach Qiangwei and Linglan. They can do everything, so there's no need for a nanny."

[Absolutely not! My fake pregnancy can only last two months at most. If this old nanny comes and finds out, I'll be shooting myself in the foot. If Fatty Orange gets angry, she'll definitely be in a worse situation than Sister Mei who was framed for faking pregnancy to win favor!]

Shen Meizhuang opened her mouth wide involuntarily, looking completely bewildered.

What did she just hear? Maybe she was hallucinating!

However, he couldn't resist taking a look at Sun Miaoqing's flat stomach.

She thought to herself that she had already been through so much, and it was just a false pregnancy, so what was there to make a fuss about?

If this had happened to someone else, they could have just called it a blunder.

Without the emperor's approval or the power of Empress Lü, trying to replace the crown prince with a cat is simply a pipe dream.

But when it happened to Sun Miaoqing, Shen Meizhuang didn't feel there was anything to worry about. Extraordinary people do extraordinary things, and naturally they also have extraordinary reliance on them.

Besides, wasn't it said that it could only be kept secret until April?

Sister Sun must have already planned her next move. But after all this trouble, what is she after?

And what's this all about her being framed for faking a pregnancy?