Concubine Qi returned to Changchun Palace, her expression gloomy. She paced back and forth, her steps hurried, her long skirt rustling along the ground. Her hands twisted a handkerchief tightly, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

"Cuiguo," Concubine Qi suddenly stopped and turned to the palace maid beside her, her voice low and anxious, "What do you say...how should we deal with An Lingrong and her son?" A trace of uneasiness and anxiety flashed in her eyes.

Cuiguo lowered her head, folded her hands in front of her, and answered cautiously: "Your Majesty, this... I really dare not say anything nonsense." Her voice trembled slightly, and she was obviously afraid of angering her master.

Concubine Qi turned abruptly, her eyes fixed on Cuiguo. Her voice suddenly rose, tinged with anger: "Just tell me! Are you going to watch them and their son enjoy the favor?" Her chest heaved violently, clearly filled with emotion.

The palace was silent, with only Concubine Qi's rapid breathing echoing in the empty hall.

Cuiguo was so frightened by Concubine Qi's anger that she trembled all over and twisted her hands together unconsciously. She took a deep breath, mustered up the courage and whispered, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Otherwise... otherwise..." Her voice gradually became weaker and weaker, and finally it was almost inaudible.

Concubine Qi narrowed her eyes and approached Cui Guo. Her voice was low and dangerous: "What do you want? Go on!"

Cuiguo felt the pressure from her master, and cold sweat trickled down her forehead. She bit her lower lip, her eyes flickering as she finally raised her head with a determined look: "How about... poisoning?" As soon as she said that, she immediately lowered her head, not daring to look Concubine Qi in the eye.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Qi's eyes flashed with a cold gleam. A sneer curled up the corner of her mouth, and her voice was filled with excitement. "Good idea." She turned and walked to the window, where the sunlight filtered through the lattice, casting mottled shadows on her face. She pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned to Cuiguo and said, "Go prepare some cakes laced with arsenic and send them to Jingyang Palace."

Cuiguo was startled, but she still replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty." She slowly left Changchun Palace, feeling uneasy. After leaving the palace, she took a deep breath and walked quickly to the kitchen, preparing this fatal "gift."

Soon, Cuiguo walked into Jingyang Palace holding a box of exquisite pastries.

Cuiguo carefully held the box of pastries and slowly walked into Jingyang Palace. Her eyes flickered, her heart beat faster, and her palms were slightly sweaty.

Arriving in front of An Lingrong, Cuiguo took a deep breath, suppressed her inner anxiety, and forced a smile. She raised the cake box above her head with both hands and bowed respectfully:

"Empress Shu, this is the cake that our Empress Qi personally prepared for you." Cuiguo's voice trembled slightly. "Empress Shu said you've been working hard recently, so she specially ordered someone to make your favorite osmanthus cake. Please enjoy it."

After saying this, Cuiguo carefully placed the cake box on the table and gently opened the lid with both hands. A sweet and greasy sweet osmanthus fragrance immediately filled the room.

Cuiguo took two steps back, lowered her head, and folded her hands in front of her, waiting for An Lingrong's reaction. She glanced at the box of cakes, feeling uneasy.

An Lingrong took the box of pastries and gently lifted the lid with her slender fingers. Her eyes slowly swept over the brightly colored pastries, a flicker of understanding in them. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile, and then she shook her head gently.

"This Concubine Qi," An Lingrong shook her head, her voice filled with disdain, "is truly incredibly stupid. She's the first person in history to poison someone using her real name."

An Lingrong turned to Qiuyue beside her and said in a low, sarcastic voice, "Qiuyue," with a hint of coldness in her tone, "It looks like someone can't wait to send us off."

Qiuyue immediately understood, a look of understanding emerging on her face. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a meaningful smile played at the corner of her mouth. "Your Majesty," Qiuyue's voice was soft but firm, "I understand."

An Lingrong slowly stood up, her movements graceful and majestic. Her long skirt rustled softly as it dragged along the ground. Her gaze swept across the room, finally resting on the palace gate in the distance.

"Let's go and serve the pastries." An Lingrong's voice was filled with determination and a hint of excitement. "Let's go to Changchun Palace to meet Sister Qi Fei." There was a glint of wisdom in her eyes and a confident smile on her lips.

Qiuyue immediately followed her master's footsteps, and the two of them walked out of Jingyang Palace one after the other.

Inside Changchun Palace, Concubine Qi fidgeted restlessly, her eyes constantly glancing toward the door. Her fingers twisted a handkerchief tightly, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. The maids, sensing their mistress's abnormality, lowered their heads, refusing to speak. An eerie silence enveloped the entire palace.

Suddenly, the palace gate was flung open with a loud noise. An Lingrong strode in with Qiuyue, her eyes gleaming coldly and a sarcastic smile on her lips.

"Sister Qi Fei," An Lingrong's voice was like an ice knife, piercing the silence in the palace, "What do you mean?" Her eyes stared straight at Qi Fei, as if she wanted to see through her soul.

Concubine Qi stood up abruptly, her face turning pale. Her lips trembled, and her voice was filled with panic: "An... An sister, what are you doing..." Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted coldly by An Lingrong.

"Do you know," An Lingrong took a step forward, her voice low and dangerous, "what will happen if you succeed today?" A cold light flashed in her eyes, and her whole body exuded an unquestionable pressure.

Concubine Qi was frightened by the sudden questioning and took a half step back. Her back hit the table behind her with a dull sound.

Concubine Qi's face instantly turned pale, as if the blood had been drained out of her. Cold sweat oozed from her forehead and trickled down her cheeks. Her hands gripped the edge of the table behind her tightly, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

An Lingrong slowly stepped forward, each step treading upon Concubine Qi's heart. Her voice was low and cold, each word sharp as a knife: "If the Emperor knew of this, he would be furious." Her eyes, sharp as a knife, pierced Concubine Qi's eyes. "A thorough investigation will expose your crimes. Then, you will be condemned to eternal damnation, and death is inevitable."

Concubine Qi's body began to tremble slightly, and her breathing became rapid and disordered.

An Lingrong continued to approach, her voice tinged with sarcasm, "Have you ever considered the Third Prince's future?" Her gaze swept across the palace, finally landing on Concubine Qi. "A prince with a sinful mother cannot move a single step in this deep palace, his future bleak."

As An Lingrong spoke, the air within the palace seemed to freeze. Qi Fei's face drained of all color, her lips trembling, yet no sound emanated. The surrounding maids lowered their heads, not daring to breathe. The entire Changchun Palace fell into a deathly silence.

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