The queen stood outside the courtyard, her face calm, but her heart was turbulent. She recalled her carefully laid out plan, and a sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"You think you're so clever, so cautious," the Queen thought coldly, "but you don't know that three of the midwives you trust have already been bribed by me."

Her eyes grew sharper, as if they could see through the palace walls into the delivery room. The Queen imagined An Lingrong's painful struggle, and a surge of pleasure welled up in her heart.

"Today is the day you die." The Queen secretly made up her mind, "Not only you, but also the evil child in your belly. Only by killing two people with one body can we completely end this."

She took a deep breath, calming her inner excitement. The queen knew that all she had to do next was wait patiently. Soon, she would hear the tragic news she had long awaited.

As time passed and the sky gradually brightened, the atmosphere in the courtyard grew increasingly tense, and everyone waited with bated breath.

Suddenly, a loud baby cry came from the delivery room, breaking the silence.

The Queen's body trembled violently, her face turning pale. Her hands clutched her sleeves tightly, her knuckles turning white. A flash of panic and anger flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

The queen took a deep breath and quickly adjusted her expression, putting on a forced smile. She looked up and around to make sure no one noticed her unusual reaction.

"Thank God, the baby is finally born." The queen said softly.

The door to the delivery room suddenly opened, and a midwife with a beaming face hurried out, bowing deeply to the emperor: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Concubine Shu has safely given birth to a little prince!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor's eyes lit up with joy. He excitedly took a few steps forward and asked, "Really? I have another prince?"

The midwife nodded repeatedly: "Yes, Your Majesty. The little prince is in good health and cries loudly."

The Emperor took a deep breath and turned to face the Empress and the concubines. His gaze swept across each of their faces, finally landing on the Empress. The Emperor's voice was low and firm, with unquestionable majesty:

"Empress, please take the concubines back. I want to go see Rong'er and the Sixth Prince in person."

After saying this, he turned around and strode towards the delivery room without waiting for anyone to respond. The emperor's back was straight and anxious, and the sound of his footsteps was particularly clear in the silent courtyard.

The name "Rong'er" pierced the Empress' heart like a sharp sword. She realized that the Emperor's feelings for An Lingrong went beyond those of an ordinary concubine. Her mind raced, recalling the Emperor's recent favoritism towards An Lingrong, and a strong sense of crisis arose.

The Queen secretly thought in her heart that she must never let the Emperor truly fall in love with An Lingrong. But she soon regained her composure.

She turned gracefully and whispered to the other concubines:

"Sisters, let's go back."

Concubine Hua bit her lip, a hint of unwillingness flashed in her eyes, but she still followed the queen away.

The emperor walked quickly into the delivery room, his eyes filled with joy. He came to An Lingrong's bedside and gently held her hand.

"Rong'er, thank you for your hard work." The emperor said softly, looking at An Lingrong's pale face tenderly.

He leaned over and gently kissed An Lingrong's forehead: "Rong'er, you gave me a healthy prince. I want to thank you very much."

Tears welled up in An Lingrong's eyes as she whispered, "It is my great blessing to bear a prince for His Majesty."

The emperor held An Lingrong's hand tightly, his eyes full of tenderness: "Rest well, I will let the imperial physician take good care of you."

Gyeongin Palace

Jianqiu carefully leaned close to the Queen's ear, her voice so low it was almost inaudible: "Your Majesty, Concubine Shu successfully gave birth to the prince. I'm afraid those three midwives have been exposed. What...what should we do?"

Upon hearing this, the Queen's eyes flashed with panic, but she quickly regained her composure. She clenched the handkerchief tightly, her knuckles turning white from the strain. Suddenly, she slammed the table and stood up, her face twisted into a ball.

"An Lingrong, that bitch!" the Queen growled, gritting her teeth. "I didn't expect she was the best at disguising herself. She acted so pitiful, fooling everyone. Even I was almost fooled by her."

Jianqiu was frightened by the Queen's sudden anger and shrank her neck. She whispered, "Your Majesty, please calm down..."

The queen took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Her gaze sharpened, as if she were pondering something. After a moment, she whispered, "No rush. This bitch just gave birth, so we can't act rashly for now. Raising a child in the palace is a true testament to one's abilities."

Jianqiu couldn't help but shudder when she saw the queen's gloomy expression.

Yikun Palace

Concubine Hua sat alone on the couch, her slender fingers unconsciously stroking the brocade embroidered with peonies.

"Why...why can others give birth but I can't..." she murmured to herself, her voice full of bitterness.

Songzhi stood aside, watching her mistress's dejected expression, feeling sorry for her. She softly consoled her, "Don't be sad, Your Majesty. The Emperor dotes on you so much, you'll have a little prince sooner or later."

Hua Fei turned her head and forced a smile: "Yes, the emperor dotes on me. But..." Her voice trailed off, "Without an heir, how long can this favor last?"

She stood up and walked to the window. The moonlight shone on her delicate face, reflecting a hint of loneliness.

"Tell me, how could that bitch An Lingrong be pregnant with a dragon seed?" Concubine Hua bit her lip, a trace of jealousy flashing in her eyes, "I am more beautiful and intelligent than her, why is it that..."

Songzhi hurried forward: "My queen, please don't get yourself sick from anger. You are still young and have a long life ahead of you."

Hua Fei took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

A trace of pain flashed through Hua Fei's eyes, and she subconsciously stroked her flat belly. The child that Qi Yuebin had miscarried seemed to still be inside her.

"Songzhi, come with me." Hua Fei ordered in a low voice, with a cold murderous intent in her voice.

Songzhi nodded in understanding and followed closely behind with a few trusted palace maids. Concubine Hua walked with a firm step and a sharp look in her eyes as she hurried towards Yanqing Palace.

The moment she pushed open the palace door, Concubine Hua saw Qi Yuebin lying on the bed. The face that disgusted her instantly ignited her anger.

"Bitch!" Hua Fei shouted sternly.

Without waiting for Qi Yuebin to react, Concubine Hua rushed forward and slapped her hard in the face.

Qi Yuebin screamed, and before he could stand firmly, Hua Fei grabbed his hair and threw him to the ground.

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" The palace maids shouted in panic, but no one dared to step forward to stop them.

Hua Fei ignored him and beat Qi Yuebin, venting her pent-up hatred. Tears glistened in her eyes, and every blow seemed to seek justice for the unborn child.

"Hua Fei, are you crazy?" Qi Yuebin curled up on the ground, begging for mercy in a trembling voice.

Hua Fei didn't stop until Qi Yuebin lay dying on the ground. She gasped and looked down at the miserable Qi Yuebin, with a glimmer of pleasure and relief in her eyes.

"Songzhi, let's go." Concubine Hua took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and strode out of Yanqing Palace with her head held high.

Jixiang knelt at Concubine Duan's feet, tears streaming down her face. She clutched her sleeve, her voice choking with sobs, "Your Majesty, what should we do? If this continues, I'm afraid your body won't be able to hold on. I beg you to let me tell the Emperor and ask him to come and see you."

Concubine Duan gently stroked Jixiang's head, a trace of helplessness and bitterness flashing in her eyes. She said softly, "Jixiang, get up. What's the point of telling the emperor?"

She turned and walked to the window, looking at the palace wall in the distance, muttering to herself: "In this deep palace, where is there true care and pity? You and I both know the emperor's thoughts."

Concubine Duan turned around and met Jixiang's worried gaze. She forced a smile and said, "Don't worry, I have my own plans. I can still handle the turmoil in this palace for a while."

Concubine Duan's mind was in turmoil. It was the Emperor who instructed her to deliver the abortion drug to Concubine Hua's child, but she could not say anything about it.

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