In Shen Meizhuang's memory, Zhen Huan was afraid of cats and thunder, but not so afraid of harming people. She scared Concubine Li and Noble Lady Fucha crazy without changing her expression, and seemed a little proud of herself afterwards.

Ye Bingshang asked this question to test Zhen Huan's attitude towards her.

Before Zhen Huan could speak, the maid behind her, Huanbi, spoke first: "It is Miss Meizhuang who cares about my young master. Last night, my young master was awakened by thunder in the middle of the night and did not sleep well all night."

"Huanbi, don't talk nonsense."

After Huanbi had revealed everything she needed to say, Zhen Huan spoke out to stop her. Her tone was not harsh, and after she finished speaking, she gave Ye Bingshang a gentle smile with a somewhat forced look on her face.

Ye Bingshang's heart skipped a beat. She knew that Zhen Huan's confidants were the two dowry girls Liuzhu and Huanbi, as well as Cui Jinxi, the head aunt of Sui Yuxuan. However, she didn't expect Huanbi to have such a personality.

Not only did she speak before Zhen Huan, she also loves to stir up trouble, and every reply she makes has a hidden meaning. No wonder she would do something like wearing floating brocade to show off. Why didn't she let her meet Concubine Hua?

Ye Bingshang said worriedly, "Huan'er, you have been afraid of thunder since you were a child. Now you are in the palace and it is different from home. If your mother knew about this, I wonder how distressed she would be."

"Sister Mei, I'm fine. It's the same even if Huanbi and the others are with me." Zhen Huan paused, and her smile was a little forced. In fact, although she was afraid of thunder, she was not that afraid. She was just used to having someone to accompany her.

But she couldn't tell Sister Mei that she didn't sleep well because she was afraid that Sister Mei was framed for a fake pregnancy, and that the Emperor's recent hot and cold behavior made her feel uneasy, so she was so worried and anxious in the face of thunder.

Last night... the emperor went to accompany Sister Mei, so how could she compete with Sister Mei?

Seeing that Zhen Huan's attitude towards her had not changed and that she still thought she was Shen Meizhuang, Ye Bingshang felt relieved and found a topic to test her, "I have been confined to the palace to recuperate. I haven't seen you for many days. I miss you very much."

I'm poisoned and seriously ill, why don't you come to see me?

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Zhen Huan's expression change, and she leaned over to whisper, "Lord Wen has told me, Sister Mei, you are really taking too much risk."

Ye Bingshang's superb acting skills were almost ruined. When did he tell you and what did he tell you, but Wen Shichu turned around and sold her out.

It’s no wonder that Zhen Huan has never come to visit her. Maybe Zhen Huan even blames her in her heart for being scheming and willing to hurt herself to win favor.

As expected, a licker is a licker. Even if he is affected by love, he still does not forget his original intention, just like Yinzhen. Also, the men in this place have three wives and four concubines, and loyalty in love is only a requirement for women.

They will like her because of their emotions, but they will not lose their reason or forget other people they like.

If she had not been imprisoned at the time and had not been able to find a reliable imperial physician, she would never have asked Wen Shichu for help.

Ye Bingshang was dissatisfied, but she remained calm and said in a low voice: "There are too many people here, it's not a place to talk. Let's go to your palace and discuss it."

The two knew that Ye Bingshang's illness was not that serious, so they went directly to Bitong Academy. In Zhen Huan's view, she was the only one living in Bitong Academy, unlike Xianyue Pavilion where Jingpin also lived.

Although Jingpin took care of them, the affection between them was not as good as that between them because they grew up together.

After dismissing everyone, Zhen Huan showed her worry, "Sister Mei, why do you have to take the risk of taking poison? As long as Liu Bin is caught, you will be cleared of all charges."

"Why should I?" Ye Bingshang no longer had that faint smile on her face. She sat on the couch with an indifferent look on her face. "You know I didn't know that Concubine Hua would poison my food. If I really just sit there and wait for death, I'm afraid they would kill me during the confinement period."

"Sister Mei."

Zhen Huan felt distressed and confused, but she still felt that Sister Mei would not go to such lengths. This kind of Sister Mei made her feel very utilitarian and unfamiliar, as if... as if she was deliberately trying to advance her position and win favor.

Ever since Sister Mei was poisoned, Yinzhen has cared more about her and would even mention her intentionally or unintentionally when they were together.

Ye Bingshang took the initiative to hold Zhen Huan's hand and asked her to look at her, showing her sincerity and frankness to the utmost, dispelling Zhen Huan's suspicion and the concerns that were well hidden in her eyes.

"Huan'er, in this palace, even if we don't harm others, they won't let us go. Concubine Hua is just the most conspicuous one. We can only think of ways to protect ourselves."

Looking at Ye Bingshang's gentle yet strong eyes, Zhen Huan felt relieved and her tone softened, "I understand. I just feel sorry for you."

Zhen Huan secretly despised herself in her heart. She really shouldn't have thought of Sister Mei like that just now. Sister Mei took poison just like she decided to pretend to be a ghost to scare Concubine Li into telling the truth. It was all for self-protection.

"It's just that, Sister Mei, I still want to ask, what exactly happened to your sister's pregnancy that day?"

She naturally believed Sister Mei, but the incident happened suddenly, and there were many suspicious details. How could it be Jiang Cheng who committed the crime? For such things, you always have to ask a question to feel at ease.

Ye Bingshang quickly revealed her sadness at having her character questioned by her friends. She said in a hurried and angry tone, "When I was under house arrest, everyone said that I was faking pregnancy to win favor. Don't you believe me, too?"

"With the favor I received at that time, why would I need to fake pregnancy to win favor? They had set up this trap long ago, taking advantage of my eagerness to have a child, just waiting for me to fall into their trap." Ye Bingshang sneered, "It's all my fault. I blame myself for not being careful."

"Until Fuling brought out the blood-stained clothes, I didn't even know that I wasn't pregnant at all."

Ye Bingshang was so emotional that she was crying like rain. Zhen Huan also recalled the scene of that day. She was shocked and frightened. She hugged Ye Bingshang with tears in her eyes and comforted her softly.

"Fortunately, the emperor still trusts you, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous."

"Your Majesty?" Ye Bingshang let out a faint sneer. "Your Majesty is so heartless. They framed me and poisoned my food, but the Emperor just pulled out a royal doctor to take the blame. As for Concubine Hua, he didn't do anything."

"Your Majesty's grace is but this."

Zhen Huan was shocked and confused after hearing this, "Sister, have you become cold towards the Emperor from now on?"

Ye Bingshang's tone at this moment seemed to have been tempered by the years, neither arrogant nor impatient, but unusually indifferent, "The emperor is the emperor, after all, there is a difference between the monarch and the ministers, and I, as a concubine, just need to do my duty well."

"These words may sound a bit harsh to you now, but I really feel this way. I entered the palace for the sake of my family, my parents and brothers. I asked for too much and even wanted to be treated as an equal to him, to believe in me, to pity me, and to have a lifelong support."

Many of these words were what Shen Meizhuang said when she became disheartened in her previous life. Now Ye Bingshang said them specifically for Zhen Huan to hear, firstly to play the role of Shen Meizhuang well, and secondly to mislead Zhen Huan that she had no intention of vying for favor.

In order to prevent Zhen Huan, who now regards Yinzhen as her lover, from getting jealous and distancing herself from her like she did from An Lingrong in her previous life, she had to lurk by Zhen Huan's side. Otherwise, how could she bring down this powerful rival of hers?

How could Zhen Huan, who is so smart, not understand Ye Bingshang's words? She herself was asking for too much, thinking that she was different in the emperor's heart and was someone who could call the emperor her husband.

But then when she thought about how the Emperor ignored her and refused to see her when Mei Jie was under house arrest, and also had a pleasant chat with Concubine Hua, Cao Qinmo and others every day, it was obvious that he was suspicious and took his anger out on her, and she couldn't help feeling chilled.

The emperor is her bedside man, and he is also the bedside man of others. How is she different from others?

She was able to regain the emperor's favor with the help of Aunt Fangruo in the imperial court, so that the emperor would think of her when he saw Yuanshan Dai. At that time, Sister Mei had been released from the ban, and the emperor's anger should have almost subsided.

Zhen Huan wiped away the tears for herself and Ye Bingshang, "Let's not talk about this anymore. My sister has been staying in the palace all this time. I thought the emperor would visit her often, so I didn't bother her. Now we sisters should have a good talk."

"Liu Zhu, go get a basin of water."

After the two calmed down and chatted for a while, An Lingrong came uninvited. Ye Bingshang thought to herself that it would be another tough battle.

An Lingrong was wearing the floating brocade that Ye Bingshang had given her. As soon as she arrived, she bowed and congratulated Ye Bingshang with a smile on her face and a sincere tone, as if there was no barrier between them.

He is indeed someone who can discover the secret affair between Shen Meizhuang and Wen Shichu with just a few words.

"Your concubine greets the Concubine Lan. May the Concubine Lan be well and your sister congratulates the Concubine Lan."

Zhen Huan's face suddenly froze. It was unclear whether she had just realized that Ye Bingshang's position was higher than hers, or whether she had thought of Concubine Hua's theory of flowers and plants when she paid her respects.

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