When it comes to offspring, the Empress would never forget Hua Fei. With a smile, she looked at Hua Fei and said:

“Hua Fei, you’ve been serving His Majesty for so many years. Now that you have Wen Yi, you should also be thinking about helping His Majesty continue the family line, don’t you think?”

Hua Fei let out a disdainful snort and laughed:

“I’m a few years younger than you, Empress. If you’re not in a hurry, why should I be?”

The Empress’s expression immediately darkened at her words. Hua Fei, noticing this, quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled:

“I’m just saying it as it is. The Empress won’t be angry with me, will you?”

The Empress quickly regained her smile:

“Hua Fei speaks the truth. How could I be angry with you?”

Qi Fei, sensing the awkward atmosphere, hastily stepped forward to speak on the Empress’s behalf:

“The Empress is the model of motherhood for the entire imperial harem. All the children in the palace are her children. Of course, the Empress doesn’t need to worry, but you, Hua Fei, are a little different…”

Hua Fei raised an eyebrow with a sly smile:

“Are you saying that includes the Third Prince too?”

Hua Fei’s words made her laugh, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.

The Third Prince was Qi Fei’s pride and joy. Hearing Hua Fei’s comment, Qi Fei visibly flinched:

“Th… The Third Prince is naturally the Empress’s child. In the future, we will definitely treat the Empress as we would our own mother.”

Hua Fei laughed even more:

“Qi Fei knows to treat her like a ‘real’ mother, huh.”

“Not being your own is still not the same. Why make up so many excuses to cover for it?”

Hua Fei was feeling quite pleased with herself when the Empress stopped her:

“Alright, enough of this. I’ve asked you all here today to discuss something important.”

As soon as the word “discuss” was mentioned, Zhen Huan immediately felt it was related to An Lingrong’s pregnancy.

Xin Changzai, smiling, turned to the Empress:

“Empress, you’re too polite. If there’s something to be done, just tell us directly. Why all this talk about discussion?”

“The palace doesn’t have many children, but now that An Changzai is pregnant, it’s definitely a cause for celebration. I want to host a banquet to bring everyone together and make it a lively occasion.”

When Hua Fei heard how eager the Empress was to celebrate, she couldn’t hide her displeasure:

“The child hasn’t even been born yet, and the Empress is already acting like this. Isn’t it a little too much for An Changzai?”

The Empress smiled:

“If my sister were pregnant, I would do the same.”

Hua Fei rolled her eyes:

“I still have to take care of Wen Yi. I’m afraid I won’t have time to attend the Empress’s banquet.”

“Hua Fei, the Empress hasn’t even said when it will be yet. Why reject it in advance? Isn’t that a little disrespectful to the Empress?”

Whenever Qi Fei was scolded by Hua Fei, the Empress always came to her defense.

To show her sincerity, Qi Fei would speak for the Empress whenever the Empress couldn’t.

“Wen Yi is still young and can’t be separated from me. What? Qi Fei, do you have a problem with me raising Wen Yi?”

Qi Fei, after being put on the spot by Hua Fei, became nervous again:

“I… The Emperor and Empress have no objections, so how could I have any?”

Qi Fei avoided Hua Fei’s gaze:

“I was just speaking the truth. Why should Hua Fei get angry?”

Hua Fei smiled:

“Do I look angry?”

“I think Qi Fei is upset because she tried to flatter the Empress and failed!”

After saying this, Hua Fei covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed loudly.

The Empress couldn’t stand seeing Hua Fei so smug. She quickly gave Hua Fei a glare when no one was looking:

“Alright, if you don’t want to go, then don’t. If the Emperor asks later, I’ll just say you were busy taking care of Wen Yi, and he won’t say anything further.”

“The Empress can just choose a date. What if Wen Yi doesn’t cry that day?”

“Three days from now, in the pavilion behind Taohuawu. After the meal, my sisters can sit in the pavilion, enjoy the scenery, and chat.”

Qi Fei once again flattered the Empress:

“Empress, you are so considerate. I will definitely arrive early.”

All the concubines promised they would attend.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll have someone prepare for it.”

“Duàn Fei sent someone yesterday to report that her health is poor again. I’ve allowed her to rest in the palace until she recovers.”

“Duàn Fei’s health has never been good,” Qi Fei said to Xin Changzai.

Xin Changzai replied: “In this hot weather, it must be hard on her.”

Hua Fei couldn’t stand anyone mentioning Duàn Fei in front of her:

“Xin Changzai, if you feel sorry for Duàn Fei, why don’t you take her place and be sick for her?”

“I… I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“Why do you all argue about everything?”

The Empress spoke again and looked at Hua Fei:

“Hua Fei, have you decided whether to come or not? If you don’t say anything, should I prepare for you or not?”

Hua Fei glanced at An Lingrong and Zhen Huan, looking down on them:

“Since the Empress has extended such a kind invitation, how could I refuse?”

Hearing that Hua Fei would attend, the Empress’s smile immediately grew wider:

“Then it’s settled. It’s getting late, so you all should rest early.”

She didn’t forget to remind An Lingrong:

“An Changzai, please take good care of your health!”

The more the Empress showed concern for An Lingrong, the more Zhen Huan felt a sense of danger.

This time, so many things had changed.

Though she didn’t know what would happen next, she couldn’t shake the ominous premonition that lingered in her heart.

So, she invited Shen Meizhuang, An Lingrong, and Yu Ying’er to her Bitong Academy.

As they were chatting and laughing, Shen Meizhuang noticed that Zhen Huan seemed troubled.

“Huan’er, why do you look so worried today?”

“Yeah, Wan Sister, I’ve never seen you like this before. Are you mad at Lingrong?”

Zhen Huan snapped out of her thoughts and grabbed An Lingrong’s hand, saying:

“Lingrong, what are you talking about? You’re pregnant, and I’m so happy for you. How could I be mad at you?”

“Do you think something’s wrong with what happened today?” Yu Ying’er asked, seeing through Zhen Huan’s thoughts.

Zhen Huan was surprised by Yu Ying’er’s sharp observation. She nodded:

“I have a feeling something bad is going to happen at the Empress’s banquet, but… I don’t know exactly what.”

“Huan’er, are you saying someone might harm the child in Lingrong’s womb?”

An Lingrong was already nervous, and since her pregnancy, she hadn’t slept well. Hearing Zhen Huan’s words, she became even more unsettled.

She grabbed Zhen Huan’s hand tightly: “Sister… what should we do?”