“Bǎo Juān?” Ān Língróng’s face was full of disbelief.

Zhēn Huán nodded. “I suspect that the person who pushed you and Yú Mèi Mèi today was her.”

“Huán’er, how do you know it was Bǎo Juān? Did you see something?”

Zhēn Huán explained to them about the exchange of glances between Bǎo Juān and Jiǎn Qiū that she had witnessed in Taohuā Wù (Peach Blossom Valley).

Shěn Méizuāng, shocked, covered her mouth with her handkerchief.

“Could it be that today’s incident was all orchestrated by the Empress herself?”

Zhēn Huán looked at Shěn Méizuāng with unwavering certainty.

“Does that mean Huá Fēi was wronged…”

The more Shěn Méizuāng spoke, the more terrified she became.

She had once thought the Empress was so magnanimous, merciful, and kind!

Now, she realized that the Empress was even more vicious than Huá Fēi!

If everything was indeed part of the Empress’s plan, then wouldn’t that mean everyone in the harem would be living in constant fear?

Ān Língróng, who had been clutching her handkerchief tightly, did not say anything.

“Since Yú Mèi Mèi was able to save Língróng immediately, she must have seen who the person pushing was.”

“But because the situation was so urgent, she didn’t have time to speak before she was pushed down by the culprit.”

“Huán’er, are you saying that the original target was Língróng, but because Yú Mèi Mèi saw who pushed her, the culprit, in order to prevent Yú Mèi Mèi from exposing her, had to take extreme measures and push Yú Mèi Mèi again?”

“Yes.”

“And Bǎo Juān was the first to notice Yú Mèi Mèi falling. In such chaos, only the perpetrator would immediately know who had fallen…”

Ān Língróng, who had been silent up until now, spoke coldly, voicing her own thoughts.

Zhēn Huán was very familiar with this expression from Ān Língróng.

In her past life, when she and Ān Língróng had officially turned against each other, the first time she saw this expression again was from Ān Língróng.

What was Ān Língróng planning to do?

Zhēn Huán couldn’t help but feel a little concerned.

“Since everyone wants to harm us, there’s no use in being afraid. We have no choice but to fight back…” Ān Língróng’s eyes darkened with determination as she gripped Zhēn Huán’s hand, speaking fervently.

“Older sister, we have no choice but to fight back. Otherwise, we will always be the ones who get bullied.”

Shěn Méizuāng looked at Ān Língróng. “Língróng, you’re quite the one with ideas.”

“However, right now, the three of us are still weak. How could we possibly be a match for the Empress?”

“Ān Língróng understands that, but because of me, Yú Mèi Mèi has become like this, and Ān Língróng can’t accept it!”

Ān Língróng spoke, and then collapsed onto Zhēn Huán’s shoulder, crying.

Zhēn Huán gently patted her back, comforting her:

“Língróng, you’re pregnant now. Don’t get so emotional. The road ahead is still long, and we need to plan carefully.”

“Yes, Língróng, with a child, we have hope.”

“Even if the Empress is cruel, there will be a day when she can’t control everything. We three just need to protect ourselves and have a few more dragon heirs, and we’ll have everything we need.”

Shěn Méizuāng spoke with truth.

Before, when the Empress was in the shadows, they couldn’t defend themselves.

But now that they understood the Empress’s true nature, it was much easier to protect themselves.

As long as the three sisters had more children, many problems could be solved.

No matter how clever the Empress was, if she committed too many wicked deeds, she would eventually leave behind evidence.

They were still young. They could afford to wait!

“Older sister is right. I will do everything I can to protect this child.”

Ān Língróng stroked her belly, speaking with unshakable resolve.

“I plan to go back and find a way to deal with Bǎo Juān.”

“Absolutely not.”

Zhēn Huán immediately stopped her from carrying out this plan:

“If you deal with Bǎo Juān now, it will raise the Empress’s suspicions. Then our situation will only become more difficult.”

“Although we know she has ill intentions, we can’t just let her stay close to Língróng like this.”

Making Bǎo Juān seek her own demise was easy.

Since the imperial doctor said that Yú Yīng’er could potentially wake up, Bǎo Juān would surely be frightened.

In a while, they could casually mention to Bǎo Juān that Yú Yīng’er was improving, and Bǎo Juān would likely act again.

All they needed to do was set a trap and wait for her to fall into it.

When the time came, they could make the situation bigger, and any charge would be enough to destroy Bǎo Juān.

Ān Língróng listened to Zhēn Huán’s advice.

When she returned, she specifically instructed Kāng Lùhǎi to pay close attention to Bǎo Juān’s every move.

She would not use anything that Bǎo Juān had touched.

Huá Fēi returned to the palace feeling incredibly upset.

She instructed Sòng Zhī to carefully add Huān Yí incense to the censer, as if only this would make her feel a little better inside.

Sòng Zhī watched her with a heart full of pain.

She knew her lady was still upset by the Emperor’s words.

Sòng Zhī felt that the only thing she could do for Huá Fēi was to listen to her, to do whatever she asked.

As long as it could make Huá Fēi feel better, she was willing to do anything.

In the palace, only Sòng Zhī treated Huá Fēi this way; others were eager for her to fall.

Jíxiáng received the news and immediately reported it to Duān Fēi.

“Your Ladyship, Huá Fēi has been stripped of her authority to assist in managing the six palaces and has been confined to Qīng Liáng Tái (Cool Terrace) for a month. Now, you can finally relax for a while.”

Jíxiáng spoke cheerfully.

Duān Fēi coughed a few times, then looked at Jíxiáng and said:

“Huá Fēi’s actions were always so arrogant and high-handed. She must have offended many people in the harem. I wonder how many people are watching her now. Cough cough.”

“She thought that as long as she had the Emperor’s favor, she could do whatever she wanted, disregarding everyone else. But in the harem, every one of us is clever. Cough cough.”

Every time Duān Fēi spoke two sentences, she would cough a few times. Jíxiáng quickly placed a cup of tea in front of Duān Fēi.

“Your Ladyship, please drink some tea.”

After Duān Fēi had a few sips, she continued:

“Everyone pushes a fallen wall, and that’s exactly what happened to her today. Cough cough.”

“But as long as Yán Gēngyáo is still around, the Emperor won’t truly harm her.”

“Your Ladyship, what should we do? We can’t keep suffering under Huá Fēi’s oppression, can we?”

“Every time I see you being tormented by Huá Fēi, it pains me so much. But I’m powerless, I can’t do anything for you because I’m just a lowly servant.”

“Just having this thought already makes me happy, cough cough.”

Duān Fēi was lying on the bed, looking terribly unwell.

“Jíxiáng, you have always been by my side, and everything you say and do represents me.”

“You must remember, never show your emotions on your face.”

“Only then will others be unable to read your thoughts. Cough cough And only then will we be safe.”

“I understand, Your Ladyship. Please don’t say any more. Look at how badly you’re coughing.”

Jíxiáng looked at Duān Fēi with deep concern. Duān Fēi smiled faintly at her:

“This illness of mine… sometimes better, sometimes worse. I don’t even know when it will end!”