"Why does my Empress look displeased? Who has upset you?"
Emperor Shang Jinxuan, played by Su Ziyu, strode into the Phoenix Palace and, laughing, embraced Empress Jian Ruoxi.
She wore a magnificent gown embroidered with silver phoenixes and golden peonies, exuding elegance and nobility. A golden hairpin made of phoenixes held a gemstone in its beak, with tassels dangling gently, making her appear extremely noble.
Her beautiful eyes darted around, and she nestled listlessly in the emperor's arms.
"It's just that staying indoors is a bit boring, Your Majesty need not worry about it."
Upon hearing this, the emperor took the empress's hand and walked out of the palace.
"The weather is so nice, I'll take you for a walk."
The Empress took a half step back, her expression changing slightly.
"Your Majesty, this is against the rules."
The emperor stopped, his face softening.
"It's alright, my word is law. Today I'm just a husband who wants to take a walk with his beloved wife."
He insisted on taking her hand and walking with her in the garden.
He plucked the most beautiful peony and placed it in the empress's arms.
"Such beautiful flowers cannot compare to your beauty."
Deeply affectionate, tenderly loving.
"Cut! Okay, good, take a break, we'll shoot the next scene in a bit."
Lu Jin nodded in satisfaction. Jian Ruoxi had only taken two steps when she was pressed to rest. She looked at Lu Jin with some helplessness.
Ignoring the resentful look in his eyes, Lu Jin had another cart of drinks brought up.
"I ordered hot milk for everyone, and they drank it to warm themselves up."
Su Ziyu sighed, covering his head. As long as Jian Ruoxi wasn't stupid, she would always be able to see through Lu Jin's obvious behavior.
"Director, I need to talk to you."
Sure enough, Jian Ruoxi, having received the hot milk, walked up to Lu Jin with an unhappy expression, unable to contain herself any longer.
Arriving at the film crew's spare dressing room, Jian Ruoxi could no longer contain herself and spoke up:
"Lu Jin, what exactly are you trying to do? People are saying I'm acting like a diva and demanding special treatment from the director."
Lu Jin looked up in surprise. Such rumors had actually spread? Had he made it too obvious?
"I'm just afraid of you, afraid of you... Jian Ruoxi! Are you pregnant or not? It's my older brother's, right?"
After hesitating for a long time, Lu Jin finally asked.
"No, I'm not pregnant. So please don't give me special treatment all the time, it puts pressure on me. Please treat me the same as everyone else on set."
Jian Ruoxi refused outright, not giving Lu Jin a chance to ask any more questions, and turned to walk away.
Lu Jin rolled his eyes. He expects me to treat everyone the same. Do you see any actor who treats the director this way?
She then instructed the crew to continue as usual and not to make the situation too obvious so as to arouse suspicion.
In the empty locker room, a half-closed door was pushed open.
Han Mingyi came out from inside.
Jian Ruoxi is pregnant? From the Lu family?
Han Mingyi clenched her fists and looked outside unwillingly. Su Ziyu was asking Jian Ruoxi questions with concern.
Why does everyone have to revolve around you, Jian Ruoxi? The Lu family is so rich, who wouldn't want to be the young mistress of the Lu family?
She quietly left the dressing room and tidied her hair, which was a little messy from hiding.
"Mingyi, what are you doing here? Hurry up, you're going to be on camera next time."
The assistant rushed over and saw her calling out anxiously.
Han Mingyi smiled wickedly and took small, quick steps over.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."
Han Mingyi, who plays the Imperial Concubine, arrogantly gave the Empress a perfunctory bow.
The Empress waved her hand gently to stop the maid who was about to step forward and reprimand her, not caring much.
"My sister has arrived, and all the sisters are here. Today is for praying for blessings, so we shouldn't be late. Let's get up quickly."
The other concubines all rose and responded, following behind the Empress and the Noble Consort played by Han Mingyi.
"Your Majesty the Empress is truly blessed. The scene of you and the Emperor strolling together in the Imperial Garden has become a legendary tale. The Emperor accompanies the Empress day and night; those who don't know the situation might think that Your Majesty possesses some kind of bewitching magic."
The imperial concubine touched her forehead with her hand, her face full of mockery and her eyes filled with jealousy.
"How dare you! How dare you question the Empress?"
The old woman looked angrily at the Imperial Concubine, grabbed her wrist, and glared at her.
"Ouch, that hurts so much! You lowly servant, how dare you lay a hand on me! Let go of your dog claws!"
In the struggle between the imperial concubine and the nanny, the concubine accidentally stumbled and fell forward, instantly knocking the empress to the ground.
The imperial concubine got up but tripped over her skirt, pulling the empress down into the pond in the imperial garden.
Su Ziyu and Lu Shen were shocked and immediately stood up and ran towards Jian Ruoxi.
At this moment, Jian Ruoxi protected her stomach and struggled in her hands in terror.
Su Ziyu jumped into the water and carried Jian Ruoxi out, and Lu Jin draped a blanket over her.
"Quick, go inside the RV and change your clothes. I brought some spare clothes."
Seeing Jian Ruoxi shivering from the cold, Lu Shen turned around and glared at Han Mingyi.
"Han Mingyi! Who told you to add scenes on your own? Didn't I tell you to apologize impatiently and beg for forgiveness before going to the Emperor to complain? Who told you to push and shove like that? It's so cold in this weather, and the water is so cold, do you know that?"
Han Mingyi, wrapped in thick clothes, was also shivering from the cold.
"It's clearly your choice of extras that's no good. She grabbed my wrist and made it swollen. Look! The shoes we're wearing are already hard to balance in, so when I was in pain, I naturally lost my footing. Besides, I fell into the water too. Why is Jian Ruoxi so delicate? I haven't even gone to the RV to change clothes yet."
Han Mingyi's hands were noticeably red and swollen, and the extras she called out were also surprised.
I didn't use any force, so why is her hand so swollen and red?
Seeing Lu Jin's serious injuries, some of the doubt in her eyes disappeared.
"Who hired these extras? Replace them immediately! You guys hurry up and call the doctor to treat Han Mingyi's wrist. Have them change their clothes and prepare two bowls of brown sugar ginger tea."
Jian Ruoxi's face turned pale; she was worried that something might be wrong with the child.
When Han Mingyi lunged at her, her first instinct was to protect her stomach. There were many protruding stones on the gravel road, and because Jian Ruoxi was protecting her stomach with all her might, she ended up with small cuts on her legs and arms.
She grimaced in pain when the doctor applied the medicine.
It was because of this incident that Jian Ruoxi finally faced her own thoughts.
It turns out she was afraid of losing the child.
Su Ziyu was still a little worried and, fearing that he would be exposed, he called his private doctor.
After a thorough examination, the child was found to be safe and sound.
Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
"What do you think? I feel like Han Mingyi was being a bit deliberate today. Does she know you're pregnant?"
Su Ziyu looked at Jian Ruoxi, whose face was pale, with a serious expression.
"Probably not. Even Lu Jin isn't sure, so how could she know?"
Jian Ruoxi shook her head hesitantly, her eyes also filled with doubt.
Why did Han Mingyi suddenly want to revise the script today?
Moreover, she was right next to the actor during the performance, so the extras didn't really put in any effort.
But the red and swollen wrist was not fake.
"You should still be wary of her; she's not exactly a kind person."
Su Ziyu had no evidence, but he still told Jian Ruoxi to be extra careful while filming.
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