Zhen Huan secretly shot a glare at Kang Luhai, this despicable dog slave, truly too foolish to be saved.

The first favor, the initial one in the harem, was the most dangerous thing—it was the most feared thing in the palace. Didn’t Shen Meizhuang become the best example of this in the last life?

After Zhen Huan feigned illness to avoid the emperor’s favor, Shen Meizhuang was the first of the new concubines to be called to the emperor’s bed. From that day onward, she became Hua Fei’s target—

Getting water splashed on her during the morning greeting, falling into the Qi Li Pond, pretending to be pregnant to vie for favor… All of these things happened because she had been too eye-catching when she first entered the palace.

Zhen Huan understood all too well that Hua Fei’s greatest hatred was anyone competing with her for the emperor’s favor.

Whoever fought with her, she wanted to destroy them!

Although future conflicts with Hua Fei were inevitable, for now, it was best not to seek trouble.

If she could stay peaceful for a while, she would, and if she couldn’t, she’d deal with it when the time came.

Zhen Huan thought to herself and then had Liu Zhu go to Xianfu Palace to bring Shen Meizhuang.

“Sister, have you heard the news that you might be summoned to the emperor’s bed?”

Zhen Huan was the first to speak.

The reason she asked was to see how Shen Meizhuang felt about this matter after everything that had happened.

Shen Meizhuang nodded and said, “Huan’er, let me tell you something from the heart. When I first entered the palace, I had great hopes.”

“To be honest, I hoped to serve the emperor as soon as possible, and I also wanted to win his favor.”

“Not only could this bring glory to my family, but it could also secure a good future for myself.”

“But now, I don’t think the same anymore…”

Zhen Huan asked, “Sister Meizhuang, what do you mean by that?”

“Xia Dongchun, though arrogant, wasn’t that bad, yet Hua Fei ordered someone to cripple her. This shows that one cannot stand out too much.”

“Now, things are turbulent, and we’re all like ants on a hot pan. If we are too much in the spotlight right now, I’m afraid… I’m afraid I’ll be the next Xia Dongchun.”

Listening to Shen Meizhuang’s words, Zhen Huan felt greatly relieved. Sister Meizhuang truly understood things quickly.

“So, what does Sister Meizhuang want to do?”

Shen Meizhuang looked outside, her face filled with caution as she said, “For the next few days, I don’t want to be summoned to the emperor’s bed.”

“Although the emperor may not necessarily call on us, we must still be fully prepared.”

Zhen Huan wanted to see if Shen Meizhuang’s thoughts were the same as hers, so she asked, “But how can we influence the emperor’s choices?”

Shen Meizhuang glanced at Zhen Huan and softly said, “Pretend to be ill.”

After saying that, the two exchanged looks and smiled.

“Then how long will you pretend to be ill, Sister?”

“I just want to avoid serving the emperor for the next few days. If it goes on too long, I’m afraid the emperor will forget about me…”

“Besides, we can’t avoid the emperor forever, right? Huan’er, what do you think?”

Shen Meizhuang’s face showed a shy expression.

Zhen Huan playfully patted Shen Meizhuang’s hand and said, “Sister is right, but since you will only be ill for a few days, I’ll pretend to be ill for a longer time. That way, I won’t compete with Sister for the emperor’s favor.”

Shen Meizhuang looked at Zhen Huan and said, “Even without you, there will be others. If it’s someone else, then I’d rather it be you.”

Zhen Huan understood Shen Meizhuang’s feelings and smiled as she said, “Sister, I was just teasing you.”

“However, Sister, remember this: until we have grown our wings, we must avoid Hua Fei’s sharp edges.”

Shen Meizhuang nodded.

“Then… what about Ling Rong?”

Shen Meizhuang hesitated before asking.

“Ling Rong was frightened badly by Hua Fei today. She’s always been cautious, so I’m sure there won’t be any issues there for now. I’m afraid that if I say too much, it will only frighten her more.”

Zhen Huan thought about how Ling Rong’s current courage wouldn’t be enough to pretend to be ill without being caught.

In the last life, when Zhen Huan was ill, the Empress had sent Jian Qiu to her palace to test her, and Zhen Huan had to work very hard to avoid the Empress’s watchful eye.

Based on the way the emperor treated Ling Rong in the previous life, he didn’t have much impression of her at first. If the Empress hadn’t mentioned her, the emperor might have even forgotten about her entirely.

So it would be better not to tell Ling Rong anything for now.

After returning from Zhen Huan, Shen Meizhuang sent a message to the Empress saying that she had a severe headache and might not be able to serve the emperor tomorrow.

The Empress sent Jian Qiu to her palace to visit and told Jian Qiu to pass on her message for her to rest well.

Zhen Huan also sent someone to invite Wen Shichu.

After explaining the situation to Wen Shichu, he first advised her that, from the perspective of her future, it was better to serve the emperor sooner rather than later.

But seeing Zhen Huan’s firm attitude, he said he would prepare a good prescription for her to rest.

After returning from Zhen Huan, Wen Shichu went to the Empress’s palace to report back.

He said that Zhen Huan was suffering from a cold wind and had heart palpitations, which had triggered her illness. She needed to rest in isolation.

“Heart palpitations and fright?”

Wen Shichu nodded and explained that she was overly frightened, and also mentioned that Zhen Huan was currently burning with fever and murmuring nonsensically.

After hearing this, the Empress decided to have Chun Chang’an move out of the Suoyu Pavilion to avoid the illness and instructed Wen Shichu to take good care of Zhen Huan’s condition.

With Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan both claiming to be ill, the Empress had her doubts, but this gave her an opportunity to stir things up in front of the emperor.

Zhen Huan had calculated this carefully, which was why she dared to do it.

That night, the emperor summoned Fu Cha Gui Ren to his bed.

And for the next few days, the emperor continuously called for her.

No wonder!

Take the previous life as an example: In one month, the emperor visited the harem seven times, Hua Fei three times, and Shen Meizhuang and Fu Cha Gui Ren each twice.

This shows that Fu Cha Gui Ren was also highly favored in the previous life.

If she hadn’t gotten pregnant and gained some favor, her end wouldn’t have been so tragic.

Zhen Huan’s evaluation of Fu Cha Gui Ren: the most gossipy and timid coward!

Zhen Huan heard that when all the concubines went to the Empress to greet her, the Empress intentionally praised Fu Cha Gui Ren in front of Hua Fei, saying she should serve the emperor well and bear a son to extend the imperial line.

Seeing Hua Fei’s face darken, Fu Cha Gui Ren shamelessly said:

“Thank you, Empress, for your guidance. I will serve the emperor well and quickly bear a son for His Majesty to continue the imperial line.”

Even though Zhen Huan wasn’t present, she could imagine Hua Fei’s face turning white with rage.

As expected, the next day news spread that Fu Cha Gui Ren had been summoned to Yi Kun Palace by Hua Fei and had to grind ink for an hour.

Fu Cha Gui Ren’s fingers were even scratched—

But what could be done? The emperor often said that the Manchu and Han were one family. Hua Fei would surely say that she was just teaching Fu Cha Gui Ren to serve the emperor better in the future.

Zhen Huan was lying in bed that day when Kang Luhai came to report that Jian Qiu had arrived.

Although Zhen Huan knew the visitor had no good intentions, she had no choice but to put on a façade.

“How kind of you, Aunt, to come here. How can I possibly deserve such attention?”