After Zhuang Xin left, Luo Jing's younger brother Luo Xing was promoted, and the entire Crown Prince's residence returned to peace, where people began to live ordinary lives.

Ten more days passed.

The emperor was going to hold a banquet to celebrate the upcoming commencement of the Tianyuan Grand Canal project, and he sent an imperial edict ordering Yun Zhuo and Ye Qingxue to attend the banquet together at the palace.

When the day arrived, Ye Qingxue and Yun Zhuo dressed up and entered the palace on time. After entering the palace, there was still some time before the banquet. The emperor summoned Yun Zhuo to the imperial study to discuss the Grand Canal project in detail.

Ye Qingxue then prepared to visit the Empress Dowager.

Unexpectedly, they encountered Ning Rong on the way.

Ning Rong wore an orange dress adorned with agate, jade, and pearls, looking incredibly elegant.

She was the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family, and the late Empress was her aunt. She had always been noble and was worthy of this magnificent attire.

The only thing that made Ye Qingxue uncomfortable was that Ning Rong seemed to be waiting for her here on purpose.

Yun Zhuo had told Ning Rong about the Emperor's previous appointment of Yun Zhuo as Crown Prince and his intention to betroth Ning Rong to Yun Zhuo as a concubine.

So, Ning Rong was actually waiting three months to enter the Crown Prince's residence as a concubine, right?

Ning Rong's purpose in waiting here now is...

As she approached, Ning Rong deliberately stepped forward, adopting a condescending and arrogant demeanor, as if she wanted to thoroughly overpower Ye Qingxue.

However, although she was shorter than Ye Qingxue and appeared arrogant and domineering, she was no match for Ye Qingxue in terms of presence.

She realized it herself and became somewhat embarrassed and angry: "Ye Qingxue, you really kept me waiting!"

Ye Qingxue glanced at her: "When you saw the Crown Princess, Miss Ning not only didn't bow, but also called me by my name. Is it because you think your head is in the way?"

"You!" Ning Rong said, "What kind of airs are you putting on for me as the Crown Princess? This position of Crown Princess should have been mine! If it weren't for my cousin, the Crown Prince, getting into trouble, do you think you could have interfered and taken my position as Crown Princess?"

Ye Qingxue looked at her calmly.

"Why are you looking at me like that!" Ning Rong stepped forward: "So what if you are the Crown Princess now? Your father, Marquis Zhongyong, is dead, your Marquis Zhongyong's reputation is ruined, and your younger brother behind you is incapable of anything!"

"My father, however, is the current prime minister and has the emperor's trust! As long as I marry into the Crown Prince's household and give birth to a grandson for my cousin, the position of the Crown Prince's principal wife will surely be mine!"

Ning Rong seemed to genuinely believe this, and her face radiated confidence as she spoke these words.

"Do you know? Tonight's banquet is not only for the opening of the Grand Canal, but also because the Emperor intends to send me to the Crown Prince's residence as a concubine. Tonight!"

Ye Qingxue's face turned pale, and she fainted.

Qiu Shen immediately caught her, shouting anxiously, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Ning Rong was stunned. She never expected that Ye Qingxue, who could fight, kill, and curse, would be so fragile that she actually fainted.

She quickly stepped back: "You all saw it, I didn't do anything to the Crown Princess at all, she fainted on her own!"

Qiu Shen glanced at her with a chilling look, and then, along with another palace maid, helped Ye Qingxue into Shou Kang Palace.

Ning Rong was afraid that the Empress Dowager would blame her for Ye Qingxue's fainting, so she didn't dare to go in.

When the Empress Dowager learned that Ye Qingxue had fainted, she immediately sent someone to fetch the imperial physician.

When the imperial physician arrived, Ye Qingxue had just woken up, looking completely bewildered and unaware of what had happened.

She struggled to get up and pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager stopped her and asked, "What happened? Why did the Crown Princess suddenly faint?"

Qiu Shen frowned and said, "The Crown Princess was coming to visit the Empress Dowager, but unexpectedly, Miss Ning from the Prime Minister's family deliberately blocked her way and told the Crown Princess that she would enter the Crown Prince's residence as a concubine sooner or later, and that she would be promoted to the position of Crown Princess after she gave birth to the little prince!"

"She also said that since the Marquis of Zhongyong died early, the Crown Princess's family had no one to support her anymore. She said that once she became the Crown Princess, she would definitely not let the Crown Princess have an easy time... The Crown Princess fainted after hearing this."

The Empress Dowager was furious: "Outrageous! How dare a daughter of the Prime Minister's family mock the early death of the Marquis of Zhongyong, and even dare to spout nonsense in front of the Crown Princess! She even dares to try to oust the Crown Princess and become the legitimate wife. Where does she get the guts? I'm not dead yet!"

Although she was angry, the Empress Dowager still asked the imperial physician, "How is the Crown Princess?"

The imperial physician said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Princess, the Crown Princess is pregnant. Congratulations, Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Princess! The Crown Princess has been pregnant for over a month."