The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

"The Empress is still ill. The imperial physicians visit her every two days and are treating her with all their heart."

Cao Bin's answer was very cautious.

But he did not take the initiative to talk about why he went to Fengyi Palace. This is the caution of people in the imperial court.

Fei Wan stopped beating around the bush and asked directly with a smile, "So, did Eunuch Cao go to tell the Empress about the great victory? People are in high spirits when they are happy. Maybe the Empress will be so happy after hearing about the great victory in Ningcheng that her illness will be cured."

Cao Bin was forced to answer directly, "Well... the Empress was naturally delighted to learn of the great victory in Ningcheng. However, a relative of hers died in Ningcheng, and in her anxiety, she fell down the stairs and fainted, alarming His Majesty. His Majesty then sent me to visit him and, by the way, to inform Her Majesty in advance of the news that the court would provide generous compensation for the martyrs, so that she could rest assured."

"Is that so?"

Fei Wan was surprised and puzzled that the Empress Zheng family had produced a martyr, but she also expressed serious concern: "I wonder which relative of the Empress this is, how old he is, and who his family is like? I heard that the Zheng family's children were all scholars, but I didn't expect they would also produce a general."

Cao Bin replied, "He is a cousin of the Empress Dowager, who seems to be in his forties. His parents are old and he has no family in the capital. His brothers and sisters each have their own families, so he is alone.

Because he couldn't concentrate on studying when he was young, he was very naughty and always got scolded, so he ran away from home and went to the northwest, where he took up residence in the army. He wasn't a general, but a captain of the seventh rank, with two or three hundred soldiers under his command. I heard that half of them were killed in the last battle.

"How did he sacrifice himself?"

"The enemy abandoned the city and fled. He followed the main force in pursuit, but died in the chaos of battle. His body was buried with his comrades on the hill outside Ning City."

Fei Wan sighed, "It's pitiful. I just hope he didn't suffer too much pain when he died."

She thought back to the last days of her previous life, when swords and guns were used to fight every day. Many people around her would laugh and joke together today, but would never be seen again tomorrow.

The fine line between life and death.

Those who have not experienced it may never understand the cruelty of war.

Being killed by the enemy with one blow was considered lucky. Fei Wan had seen many people lying on the battlefield with serious injuries, unable to move, and would not die immediately, leaving only weak wailing.

Fei Wan sighed and turned to instruct the maid, "Go back and prepare a gift and send it to Fengyi Palace. Please ask Her Majesty to pass the gift money on to the relatives of the martyr. This is the only thing I can do for them."

The fragrance should be like this.

Cao Bin flattered: "Your Majesty is kind-hearted. I believe that if the heroic spirit in heaven knows, he will be grateful to you."

"He sacrificed his life for his country, and we should be grateful to him. Has the Empress woken up from her coma? Since she fell unconscious after hearing the news, I guess she had a good relationship with that cousin when she was at home."

Fei Wan felt sorry for the martyr, but she remained wary and suspicious of the queen.

Cao Bin smiled apologetically, "I think so. The Empress has woken up, and the imperial physicians are waiting on her. They say it's a case of anxiety and anger. She just needs to be carefully nursed back to health. Please rest assured, Noble Concubine."

As soon as Fei Wan heard it, she knew that the Queen was probably taking the opportunity to get the Emperor's attention.

She nodded and said, "Thank you for telling me, eunuch. I will go visit the Empress when she feels better someday. If I go now, it will delay her recovery."

"Your Highness has been very thoughtful." Cao Bin paused, bowed, and said, "I have to return to the Imperial Court to report, so I won't keep you any longer. You've been exhausted for half a day, so please go back and rest early."

Fei Wan knew that Cao Bin didn't want to get involved in the fight between concubines, so she let him go.

As for the matter of the emperor asking him to reward the people who came to visit their relatives, Fei Wan was happy to let it go and wait for the emperor to give him instructions.

So I sent Zhishu back first.

When Zhishu returned to her room, she was just entering when Concubine Shun, the main concubine of the same palace, came over first. She took Zhishu in hand, asked her about her health, and asked if she was hurt or tired from running out.

"As soon as I heard about it, I immediately sent people after you, but we couldn't catch up. I was relieved to know you went to Chenqian Palace. His Majesty will always look after you. Don't run away like that next time. You're pregnant, so you have to be very careful in the first few months!"

She also congratulated Fei Wan: "This is a great joyous event. After a visit to her parents, she will be a noble concubine when she returns. You are so lucky. Now you and the virtuous concubine are helping to manage the harem together. I, your sister, am shameless and ask you to take good care of her."

Very attentive.

Fei Wan and Zhi Shu were polite to her and chatted for a while before she left.

Zhishu was a little impatient.

"Ever since His Majesty rebuked her for not taking good care of me, she has been coming to my room all day long, whether for any reason or not. She is so overly considerate and annoying."

If Zhishu didn't want to observe whether she was suspicious, he would not have dealt with her.

Fei Wan advised her: "Just be patient for a few more days, and wait until things get clearer."

"I understand." Zhishu took an orange from the crystal plate and peeled it casually. She broke off half and passed it to Feiwan on a handkerchief before eating the remaining half herself. She said in a mocking tone, "The Queen has learned to be weak like her sister. She even pretends to be unconscious and uses the death of a relative to make a fuss to gain sympathy from His Majesty. It's really disgusting. If her relative is still alive, I'm afraid he would vomit!"

Fei Wan had already sent someone to investigate the Queen's relative's background and their relationship. Before the results came out, she had a rough idea: the Queen was probably using this opportunity to stage a show.

Then he said, "What the Queen is trying to gain is not only His Majesty's sympathy, but also His Majesty's attention to Fengyi Palace. Her fourth sister is still in the palace to take care of the sick, and she hasn't had a chance these days."

Zhishu snorted softly, "He's been hanging around the Imperial Garden all day, picking flowers for the Queen today, collecting dew to make tea for her tomorrow, trying every possible way to run into His Majesty."

She herself had used some tricks in the imperial garden to become a concubine. Now, seeing someone else using the same tricks, but with less sophisticated methods, she couldn't help but feel disgusted.

"Sister, Concubine Shun once met Miss Zheng Si and came back saying that she was truly a beauty, generous and lively, with a good temper. She praised her highly." Zhishu reminded Feiwan, "She is the Queen's sister, and her status is higher than ours. His Majesty has been doting on us maids for quite some time. If she wants to try something new and experience the benefits of being a daughter of an official..."

"Sister, you know I'm not talking about identity."

Fei Wan smiled and naturally understood.

Born in an official family, surrounded by scholars, and having never suffered, this girl has a different temperament from the others.

Each of them had their merits, but Zhishu was right: men were fickle and fickle. Initially, he felt there were too many dignified and naive concubines in the palace, so he favored them for novelty. But after getting used to them, he'd also want something new.

Just because Miss Zheng Si hasn't succeeded yet doesn't mean she won't have another chance in the future.