“Your Majesty, it seems An Changzai might truly be expecting!”

The Empress’s face beamed with joy as she looked at the Emperor, appearing genuinely delighted.

Zhen Huan couldn’t help but wonder if all that smiling was making her face sore—it made her feel tired just watching her.

The Empress quickly instructed Jianqiu, “Jianqiu, hurry to the Imperial Medical Bureau and summon Chief Physician Zhang to come and check.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jianqiu responded. After paying her respects, she hurried out at once.

The Empress then had Juqing assist An Lingrong in sitting down.

“Her Majesty the Empress is truly virtuous!” Qi Fei remarked with a smile, looking toward the Empress.

“This is merely my duty. No matter who among you bears the Emperor’s child, I would do the same.”

It was true! No matter which consort was carrying, the Empress would always make sure to be involved—usually to plot the removal of the child.

Without exception, from start to finish.

Not long after, Jianqiu returned with Physician Zhang in tow.

“Your humble servant greets Your Majesty, the Emperor and Empress…”

Before Physician Zhang could finish his greeting, the Emperor interrupted:

“Enough with the formalities! Quickly, examine An Changzai and tell us if she is indeed expecting.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Physician Zhang said as he walked over to An Lingrong and began taking her pulse.

In just a short while, he smiled and knelt before the Emperor and Empress.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Emperor and Empress, An Xiaozhu is indeed pregnant, and has been so for over a month.”

Hearing this, An Lingrong was so overjoyed she was nearly moved to tears.

The Emperor, brimming with excitement, shook the green-beaded sachet in his hand. “Is it true?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, it is indeed a pregnancy pulse.”

“Wonderful, Rong’er! This pleases me greatly,” the Emperor said, taking An Lingrong’s hand in his.

“An-meimei…” Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang both looked at An Lingrong with smiles of genuine happiness.

“Your Majesty, I… I’m a little afraid…”

“What are you afraid of?”

“I’m just… afraid…” An Lingrong cast a cautious glance at the Emperor and didn’t continue speaking. Instead, she said more delicately:

“Your Majesty, to be sure, I think it would be better to have a few more physicians confirm this.”

After enduring the ordeal where Liu Ben framed her and the incidents involving Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan, An Lingrong still felt lingering fear.

“Chief Physician Zhang, it’s not that I don’t trust you,” she added with a wary smile, “but after that last harrowing experience, I think… it’s better to be more cautious.”

Physician Zhang, who had lived through the previous scandal, understood An Lingrong’s anxiety.

“Of course, Your Majesty. This would put both Your Majesty and myself at ease.”

The Emperor, finding An Lingrong’s suggestion reasonable, ordered Su Peisheng to summon additional physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau.

After several physicians had checked her pulse and confirmed the pregnancy, An Lingrong finally felt at ease.

In this life, An Lingrong’s fortune seemed truly exceptional!

Considering how frequently the Emperor favored Zhen Huan and her experience from her past life in serving him, it would have been logical for Zhen Huan to be the first to bring good news.

But fate had its mysterious ways that defied understanding.

After listening to the physicians’ confirmation, the Empress asked, “Where are An Changzai’s personal maids?”

Juqing and Baojuan stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the Empress.

The Empress gave them strict instructions:

“You two serve An Changzai closely. Now that she is expecting, her body will need more care. You must be meticulous in tending to her needs and report her daily meals and activities to me.”

Her words conveyed care and concern for An Lingrong, underscoring her seemingly virtuous and benevolent role as the head of the inner palace.

Even the Emperor praised the Empress for her thoughtful consideration.

The Empress then raised the question of finding a suitable physician to regularly tend to An Lingrong.

An Lingrong responded, “I think Physician Wen would be ideal. He has always looked after Sister Guan’s health, and I trust him.”

“Then Physician Wen it shall be,” the Empress concluded.

With all matters arranged, the Empress returned to Taohuawu, looking exhausted.

Jianqiu massaged the Empress’s shoulders. “Your Majesty has worked hard all day. Perhaps it’s best to rest early tonight.”

The Empress leaned back on her bed, eyes closed and a look of satisfaction on her face. “Smiling so much today has left my face sore.”

Jianqiu, who knew the Empress’s thoughts well, said, “In times like these, even if Your Majesty doesn’t want to smile, you must. It’s truly difficult for Your Majesty.”

The Empress sighed. “As Empress, I can never show signs of weariness. The moment they sense I’m not up to it, those eyeing the throne will tear me apart.”

“Your Majesty speaks the truth. Just look at Hua Fei today, gloating over gaining custody of the princess. Her arrogance is intolerable.”

Jianqiu paused her massage. “But one thing I don’t understand: why didn’t Your Majesty intervene?”

“What good would it do for me to oppose her? Didn’t you see that even Duan Fei and Jing Pin were too afraid to speak?”

“Duan Fei and Jing Pin are scared of Hua Fei’s power. But if this continues, won’t Hua Fei have more reasons to cling to the Emperor?”

“Exactly,” the Empress said, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Your Majesty means…”

“As long as Hua Fei begins using Wen Yi to vie for favor, she will inevitably start making other moves. All we need to do is wait.”

“Your Majesty is truly wise. But with An Changzai now expecting…”

“That matter can’t be rushed…” The Empress suddenly opened her eyes, a sharp glint in them. “But lately, so many things are piling up that it’s giving me a headache!”

“Your servant has observed that Baojuan, who serves An Changzai, could be useful…”

The Empress said nothing but signaled for Jianqiu to continue.

“Your servant has noticed that wherever An Changzai goes, she always takes Juqing. Juqing originally served in Guan Guiren’s palace…”

“They’re close as sisters. Of course, An Changzai holds someone from Guan Guiren in high regard.”

“Exactly. That’s why Baojuan might feel some resentment. And where there is resentment, disloyalty can arise…”

A cold, calculating light flashed in the Empress’s eyes. “Handle this quietly. Make sure no trace is left that could stain the reputation of Jingren Palace.”

Jianqiu, having been the Empress’s confidante for many years, understood her unspoken commands.

The Empress, whose thoughts ran so deep, could only speak candidly with Jianqiu.

In front of others, she always wore a mask.

As the Empress lay alone in bed that night, her thoughts turned to her late son, Honghui.

She imagined how, if Honghui were still alive, he would have grown taller, more handsome, and smarter than the Third Prince.

In her heart, the Third Prince couldn’t hold a candle to her Honghui.

But Heaven had cruelly snatched him away from her…

She harbored a deep hatred.

She wanted every woman to experience her pain because only then could she find balance within her heart.

Meanwhile, in Qingliang Hall, Hua Fei was still elated over gaining custody of Wen Yi.

But news of An Lingrong’s pregnancy pierced her like a dagger, leaving her reeling with envy and disbelief.