The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

In the Louyue Kaiyun Pavilion.

After a night's rest, the queen still felt a slight headache.

She did not agree with this trip to the Old Summer Palace. The Empress Dowager was bedridden, and as the Emperor and Empress, they should have served her medicine by her bedside and prayed for her filial piety. However, the Emperor insisted on coming to the Old Summer Palace on the grounds that "Concubine Xi was pregnant and could not stand the heat." He also said that "The Empress Dowager valued her offspring and would not want the princes and princesses to suffer in the Forbidden City because of her." She had no choice but to agree.

In reality, she didn't have to come along. But she knew that the people in this palace were prone to speculation. If she didn't come, there would be a lot of groundless speculation. Those gossipers would whisper that she had lost the emperor's favor, no longer enjoyed his favor, and was no longer qualified to accompany him to the Old Summer Palace to serve him. In this way, her dignity and position in the palace would be shaken.

Now I can only endure the emperor's coldness while worrying about the empress dowager's illness.

Seeing this, Jianqiu hurried forward to help her massage her temples.

"Your Majesty, I know you are worried about the Queen Mother's health, but you also have to take care of yourself!"

The Queen closed her eyes slightly and waved her hand gently: "Send an order to the Imperial Hospital, asking them to carefully attend to the patient and not make any mistakes. Also, they must report the Queen Mother's condition every day, without any mistakes."

"Yes!" Jianqiu responded, "The Queen Mother has your Majesty's care and will surely recover soon. Your Majesty, please don't worry too much."

As the master and servant were talking, Huichun entered the palace and reported, "Your Majesty, Noble Qi is outside requesting an audience."

"Let her in."

A moment later, Concubine Qi entered the palace and saluted: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to the Empress!"

"Get up, are you okay?"

Concubine Qi said anxiously, "Empress, the two most favored concubines in the harem right now are Concubine Xi and Concubine Wen. You must think of a solution quickly!"

Hearing her words, the Queen's face instantly showed a hint of anger, and she rebuked in an unhappy tone, "I have to figure out everything. Have you forgotten all my daily advice? It takes a thousand days to raise an army, but only a moment to deploy it. What's the use of you?"

Seeing the Queen's anger, Concubine Qi hurriedly knelt down in fear and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I am truly terrified. The last time I went to Yongshou Palace to pay my respects, I could tell from Concubine Xi's words that she would never let me go. Her position in the harem is becoming increasingly stable, and she is pregnant with the heir. I am truly afraid..."

The Queen raised her eyes slightly, looked at Concubine Qi who was kneeling on the ground, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright. Now you and her have completely broken off relations. Although she is favored, she cannot act without scruples in this harem. She won't do anything to you for a while."

"But are we going to just watch her give birth to a dragon heir and solidify her position?"

A gleam of light flashed in the Queen's eyes, and she narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone revealing some deep meaning, "She returned to the palace after having a child at Ganlu Temple. Now she has announced to the public that she is over three months pregnant, but from my point of view, her belly does not look like it is only three months pregnant!"

When Concubine Qi heard this, her anxious eyes lit up instantly, as if she had grasped some kind of evidence. She eagerly stepped forward and lowered her voice, "Your Majesty, are you saying that there's something wrong with Concubine Xi's pregnancy?"

The Queen frowned, feigning anger. "Hmph, I didn't say anything. I was simply concerned about Concubine Xi, as Queen. Please don't make wild guesses. If they get out, it will ruin Concubine Xi's reputation and bring disgrace upon the harem."

Concubine Qi nodded in understanding, but a hint of subtle pride unconsciously curled up at the corner of her mouth, "I understand, and I will definitely not say anything nonsense."

The Empress raised her eyes slightly, sizing up Concubine Qi, and spoke earnestly, "The most important thing for you now is to gain the Emperor's favor. As long as you retain His Majesty's favor, your words will carry weight in the harem, and your actions will be more successful. Don't stare at Concubine Xi all day long, losing your sense of propriety and only annoying the Emperor. You are so beautiful and intelligent. As long as you put your heart into it, who is afraid that you won't be able to win the Emperor's heart?"

When Concubine Qi heard this, a hint of shyness immediately spread across her face, and she said coquettishly, "Your Majesty is right. I have taken note of this. From now on, I will serve the Emperor wholeheartedly and share your worries."

The Queen gently waved her hand, a trace of fatigue in her eyes. "I am tired. Please kneel down and pay your respects. Remember what I said today and be more careful in your actions."

Concubine Qi bowed deeply and respectfully, "Yes, I'll take my leave." After that, she slowly retreated. Her back seemed to reveal her uncontrollable excitement, and she couldn't wait to "share" the so-called "secret" behind Concubine Xi's pregnancy.

After she left, Jianqiu said, "Your Majesty, rumors alone won't be enough to shake Concubine Xi's position!"

The Queen closed her eyes slightly, leaned back in her chair, and rested her hands lightly on the armrests. She took a moment to calm down before speaking, "I know. But the harem is so busy right now, and I'm really too busy to deal with each of them in detail. Letting these rumors spread will help them to calm down. At least it can temporarily suppress Concubine Xi's limelight."

She paused, then continued, "Besides, the Emperor is inherently suspicious. Although he currently dotes on Concubine Xi and won't easily believe those rumors, once the seed of suspicion is planted, perhaps one day when the right opportunity arises, it will take root and sprout, gradually growing. By then, no matter how much Concubine Xi argues, the Emperor will eventually harbor a grudge, and she's afraid that her future won't be so smooth."

"Yes, your majesty is wise."