Fenghua Palace.

In order to comfort Concubine Xian, who was exhausted because of Chu Han's capture, the emperor came to Fenghua Palace for a rare meal.

Concubine Xian was by his side, looking much more haggard. The emperor consoled her, saying, "I have already sent troops to the northern border. I believe we will be able to defeat the enemy and rescue Han'er this time. My beloved concubine, please relax. If you have nothing to do, go out and relax more."

Concubine Xian wiped her tears and sobbed, "Perhaps it's because I'm not likable. I haven't had any sisters I can get along with in the palace for so many years, unlike Princess Ye."

A gleam of light flashed across Concubine Xian's lowered brows: "Princess Ye not only has a deep relationship with Concubine Huang, but I also think she is very close to Concubine Hui. I was wrong before. The two of them have a good relationship. On the contrary, I don't even have anyone to talk to. I feel really lonely..."

The emperor's expression changed for a moment, but he did not ask any questions. Instead, he calmly accompanied Concubine Xian for dinner.

Concubine Xian was secretly resentful, thinking that her plan had failed, so she hastily used some medicine and sent the emperor away.

However, the emperor was not as calm as he seemed when he returned. On the contrary, he was a little shocked. Without his knowledge, Lu Yanluo had actually had a relationship with Concubine Hui. When did this happen?

"Go, invite Concubine Hui here. I have something to say to her."

Qin Xuelin was confused and was taken to the side hall of the Taiji Palace. The emperor called her over calmly, just like usual.

Qin Xuelin thought she was overthinking, so she relaxed, walked behind the emperor, and spontaneously raised her hand to press the emperor's temples.

She thought the emperor had a headache and wanted her to come over for a massage.

Unexpectedly, the emperor raised his hand to stop her, then pulled her in front of him and stared at her motionlessly.

Qin Xuelin felt uneasy at the inquiry in the emperor's eyes, and couldn't help asking, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with my face?"

After a long while, the emperor suddenly smiled and patted Qin Xuelin soothingly: "What are you afraid of? I just want to take a good look at you."

Qin Xuelin also smiled, but she knew in her heart that something must have happened today and the emperor was testing her.

Sure enough, before he had said a few words, the emperor mentioned Lu Yanluo as if unintentionally.

"The Night King is seriously ill. I have to worry about the war in the northern border and have no time to take care of other things. I heard that you have a good relationship with the Night King's Concubine. You should work harder and help me take care of the Night King's Mansion."

Qin Xuelin's heart was in turmoil. She had a good relationship with Princess Ye? So this was the emperor's purpose today. He was suspicious that she had a relationship with the Night Palace.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid you have given this task to the wrong person." Qin Xuelin chuckled, her face full of disdain and disgust.

"Although I have spoken to Princess Ye for a few words, I am really afraid that if I send someone to deliver some things, Princess Ye will throw them out together with the things, which will be a slap in my face. So I will not agree to this matter. Your Majesty, please find someone else!"

"Oh? So my beloved concubine has an old grudge with Princess Ye?"

"More than that, the princess almost killed me." Qin Xuelin took off her clothes, revealing the scar on her shoulder, and said with resentment: "This is the gift that Princess Ye gave to me when we met. I dare not forget it!"

The emperor sighed awkwardly, "Well, in that case, I won't make it difficult for you. I'll let the Royal Concubine take care of the Night Palace. I'm a little tired, so you can go back and rest."

Qin Xuelin bowed obediently and retreated. The moment she stepped out of the palace door, a cold wind blew, and her inner clothes, which were soaked with cold sweat, stuck tightly to her back, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

She was shaking uncontrollably and could only hold tightly onto the hand of the maidservant beside her as she walked towards the bedroom step by step.

During dinner, the emperor came to Fenghua Palace again for the first time.

The virtuous concubine was overjoyed and stood up to greet the emperor, feeling secretly proud that the emperor still cared about her.

The emperor had no intention of coming to dine, and after sitting down he hardly moved his chopsticks, talking nonchalantly to Concubine Xian.

As he was talking, he mentioned Lu Yanluo and Qin Xuelin again.

"I remember you mentioned during lunch that Concubine Hui and Princess Ye have a good relationship? But I heard that there seems to be a rift between the two of them, and Princess Ye even hurt Concubine Hui with her own hands."

Concubine Xian's heart moved, and she thought to herself: His Majesty is indeed suspicious of Concubine Hui after all.

"Your Majesty, you don't know that the relationship between Concubine Hui and Princess Ye is not simple. Although they seem to be incompatible, my maids have seen Princess Ye enter and leave Concubine Hui's bedroom more than once. As for why the two of them pretend to be at odds on the surface, I don't know."

The emperor was silent for a while before he said, "Really? Why is that?"

Concubine Xian did not answer, and there was no need for her to answer. She just picked up food for the emperor and was secretly proud of herself.

The emperor was worried, so he just ate a few bites and left.

Although this incident did not cause any waves in the palace, Qin Xuelin still keenly sensed that something was wrong.

Since that day, the emperor never summoned her again. It was too abnormal. Qin Xuelin raised her hand and slowly placed it on her abdomen, feeling the little life gradually taking shape inside.

She must not let anyone know that she was pregnant. If she had been able to protect herself before because of the emperor's favor, she would be a sitting duck now that she had lost the emperor's favor.

She wants to protect her children.

Half a month passed unknowingly, and the army sent to the northern border arrived at the front line, and soon the battle report was sent back to the capital.

Without exception, all the battle reports reported defeat, and cities in the northern border were captured one after another.

The emperor became so angry during the morning court session that he vomited blood and fainted on the spot. The next day he was bedridden and unable to get up.

The court lost its leader and immediately fell into chaos. Many ministers jointly wrote a letter to the emperor, begging him to issue an order to send King Ye to the battlefield in armor to resist foreign enemies.

Although everyone knew that the Night King had a stroke, everyone thought that he simply didn't want to go to war and was just pretending to be sick.

So many ministers began to incite the emperor to put pressure on the Night King and force him to submit.

Although the emperor was bedridden, his mind was clear. The minister's words exactly suited his wishes, so he personally issued an edict and summoned King Ye to the palace for an audience.

But before the eunuch who delivered the decree could even leave the palace, the servants from Prince Ye's Mansion rushed into the palace in a mighty force. The servants came to the Imperial Hospital in a panic, holding the order from Prince Ye's wife, to ask for the imperial physician.

King Ye was seriously ill. He was breathing out more than breathing in. Seeing that he was about to die, Lu Yanluo personally sent someone to the palace to invite the imperial physician, and then reported Chu Xuan's condition to the emperor.

As a result, the emperor's plan failed again, and he had no choice but to recall the eunuch who was responsible for delivering the imperial edict.