The princess regretted it.

Concubine Chun was deeply moved, tears welling in her eyes. Initially, she had indeed harbored a desire to exploit Princess Jin'an. After all, in this complex harem, everyone was scheming for their own survival and future. She understood that Princess Jin'an's initiative to approach her must have her own agenda, perhaps to consolidate her position or to increase her leverage in the harem's power struggle.

However, after spending time together, especially during this precarious pregnancy, Princess Jin'an's dedication to her well-being and the numerous protective measures she arranged, prompted Concubine Chun to reevaluate their relationship. Even if Princess Jin'an had her own agenda, so what? In this cold and ruthless harem, such care and support were truly precious. She was willing to accept this purposeful kindness, as it was perhaps the greatest guarantee for her and her child's safety during this pregnancy.

With tears in her eyes, she smiled and nodded, saying, "Princess, you are right. I am truly lucky to have you take such good care of me. I will always remember this kindness in my heart. Thank you for your care and help." As she spoke, she was about to stand up and salute to express her sincere gratitude.

He said in a light tone, "I'm telling you, don't worry about all this complicated etiquette. You're pregnant now, so don't let these formalities ruin your health. I'd be guilty of that."

The two chatted about trivial matters in the palace. Jin An tried to pick out some interesting things to say, making Concubine Chun laugh from time to time. As the two chatted casually, the atmosphere in the room became more relaxed and harmonious.

In the days that followed, Jin'an became busier. She first visited the Duke of Huguo's residence to see the Grand Princess, and was able to get Leng Ning to be sent to Concubine Chun as a maid. She would occasionally leave the palace to visit her maternal grandparents, and every now and then, she would visit Concubine Chun. Concubine Chun now had Nanny Su, Xing'er, and Yue'er, sent by her father. Concubine Chun's courtyard became more popular, and Concubine Chun's figure became noticeably plumper. With the help of Imperial Physician Fang, the fetus was becoming increasingly stable, and the morning sickness had lessened considerably.

Changsun Hongze had been in a good mood recently, and the ministers at court had sensed it, secretly speculating: "As expected, men still can't live without Jieyuhua. The emperor has just begun to favor the harem again. Now he's in a much better mood than before, and he's not as depressed during court." Indeed, the news that the emperor now occasionally summons concubines to his bedchamber had spread throughout the court and the country. Upon hearing this, Zhang Chengde and his son frowned. After some discussion, they sent another message to Concubine Zhang, urging her to secure her position in the harem.

In the Imperial Garden, it's now approaching early winter, and the once vibrant landscape seems to have been repainted by nature's painter. Most of the once vibrant flowers have faded, but a few hardy ones remain in full bloom, like early winter spirits, their final bursts of splendor amidst the chill. Their petals, vibrant and vibrant, their colors as rich as the sunset glow, stand out against the somewhat bleak landscape. A few tiny bees toil diligently within the stamens, as if trying to capture these last moments of sweetness. The grass surrounding the flowers remains lush, like a guardian guarding them. Its fresh green complements the vibrant beauty of the flowers, creating a vibrant canvas.

Princess Jiaoyu was currently at the lakeside of the Imperial Gardens, accompanied by Cuiguo. There was an exquisite pavilion by the lake. Jiaoyu sat leaning against one of the pillars, fish food in hand, nonchalantly feeding the colorful koi in the lake. The koi, as if aware of the delicious treat, flocked to the lake. Their red, gold, and white bodies shone brightly as they swam joyfully in the water, vying for the food Jiaoyu had scattered, creating small splashes of water from time to time.

Cuiguo stood aside respectfully. Jiaoyu was absent-minded, and the content of the reply letter from her maternal grandfather, which her mother had told her today, kept appearing in her mind. Her maternal grandfather actually rejected her proposal and sternly told her mother not to ask about her cousin Zhenyuan's affairs. She frowned slightly, her heart full of doubts. Jin'an is a legitimate princess. If she becomes the daughter-in-law of the Zhang family, the benefits are self-evident. This will not only sever the connection between Changsun Wuwang and Jin'an, but the Zhang family will also receive more attention from the emperor in the palace in the future. Moreover, it is not necessary for her cousin to really like Jin'an, but just marry her into the family. This is a very beneficial thing for the Zhang family.

She really couldn't understand why her cousin Zhenyuan hadn't been home for so many years, but her uncle and aunt never seemed worried. Could it be that her cousin was using the name of traveling to secretly do something that neither she nor her mother knew about? A trace of worry flashed in Jiaoyu's eyes. She knew that her maternal grandparents were always cautious, but it made her feel that her maternal grandparents seemed to be hiding many things that she couldn't see clearly, as if there was a layer of fog shrouding them. She couldn't express her doubts about her maternal grandparents and uncles in front of her mother. She just wanted to take a walk in the Imperial Garden to sort out her thoughts.

Jiaoyu sighed deeply, a sigh filled with annoyance and confusion, as if she were releasing all the pent-up frustration in her heart. She grabbed another handful of fish food and, with a casual wave of her arm, scattered it into the lake like a celestial flower. Suddenly, the surface of the lake was filled with splashes, and the koi scrambled even more frantically, stirring up the water into shimmering waves.

Cuiguo stood quietly by the side. The winter wind had already frozen her feet, and the chill spread from her soles to her entire body. She couldn't help but shiver slightly, but she still held it in, only tentatively asking softly, "Princess, it's cold outside. Why don't you go back first? Be careful not to catch a cold."

Jiaoyu also felt that she had been sitting for too long, and her feet were a little numb, as if countless small insects were biting her. She slowly raised her hand. Cuiguo saw this and hurried forward, holding Princess Jiaoyu's hand tightly with both hands. Jiaoyu slowly stood up with Cuiguo's help. She bent slightly and stamped her feet gently, trying to relieve the numbness in her feet.

"Hey! Who are those two people over there? That one seems to be Han Shuang who is by Princess Jin'an's side." Jiaoyu suddenly heard Cuiguo's low murmur. She quickly looked up and followed Cuiguo's gaze. She saw two people walking slowly on a more secluded path in the Imperial Garden. One of them was dressed as a palace maid, with a light figure and steady steps. Judging from her appearance, she should be the Han Shuang that Cuiguo mentioned. The other person was tightly wrapped in a bright yellow cloak, covering her from head to toe. From a distance, it was impossible to tell who she was.