I fulfilled the female supporting role's wish and I succeeded

The next morning after the Empress and the Emperor left the palace to pray for blessings, Concubine Hua got up early and dressed carefully. She stood in front of the mirror, looking at her gorgeous outfit with satisfaction, a smug smile on her face.

"Zhou Ninghai," she turned and said to the eunuch beside her, "Zhou Ninghai, go and tell all the concubines to come to the Yikun Palace immediately to hear the matter."

Zhou Ninghai responded respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Soon, the Yikun Palace was filled with a clamor of activity. Concubine Hua sat high in the main seat, looking down at the trembling concubines below. Her gaze swept over each face, a majestic glint in her eyes.

"I am now in charge of the six palaces," she said in a clear and intimidating voice. "From today on, everyone must come here every day to listen to orders. Anyone who disobeys will be severely punished!"

The concubines lowered their heads, not daring to look directly into Concubine Hua's eyes. The air was filled with tension and fear.

Concubine Hua watched this scene with satisfaction, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, enjoying the pleasure brought by power.

For several days in the Yiku Palace, the concubines stood in a row trembling with fear, with their heads lowered, not daring to look up at Concubine Hua sitting on the high seat.

"Raise your heads!" Concubine Hua suddenly shouted, scaring everyone so much that they trembled all over.

Her gaze swept across everyone's face like a knife, and she sneered, "Why? I asked you to come here to listen to something, and you all look so lifeless?"

Liu Changzai couldn't help sobbing softly.

Concubine Hua noticed it immediately and scolded him harshly: "Why are you crying? You useless thing! Come, slap him in the face!"

The two palace maids immediately stepped forward and attacked the poor concubine left and right.

The crisp sound of slaps echoed in the hall, and the other concubines were so frightened that they trembled all over and dared not breathe.

Concubine Hua watched this scene with satisfaction, a trace of cruel pleasure flashing in her eyes. She said slowly: "Remember, from now on, I am your heaven. Anyone who dares to disobey will suffer the same fate!"

The concubines responded in unison: "Yes, Your Majesty." Their voices were filled with fear and helplessness.

Concubine Hua waved her hand and said coldly, "Everyone, go away. Come to the hearing tomorrow morning on time. If anyone dares to be late, don't blame me for being rude!"

The concubines hurriedly left the hall as if they had been pardoned.

Someone muttered, "How can I live like this..."

The next morning, Zhen Huan woke up in the Suiyuxuan, feeling dizzy and weak all over.

She stroked her slightly bulging belly, a hint of worry on her face.

"Liu Zhu," Zhen Huan called out weakly, "I'm really not feeling well today. Please go to Yikun Palace and ask for leave from Concubine Hua."

Liu Zhu nodded in agreement and hurried to Yikun Palace. However, when Concubine Hua heard this, a trace of suspicion and displeasure flashed in her eyes.

"Zhou Ninghai," Concubine Hua ordered coldly, "You go to Suiyuxuan in person and ask Concubine Wan to come and hear the matter."

Zhou Ninghai took the order and left, soon arriving at Shuiyuxuan.

He bowed respectfully to Zhen Huan and said, "Madam Wanpin, the Imperial Concubine has ordered me to summon you to the Yikun Palace to hear a matter."

Zhen Huan's heart sank when she heard this. She understood Concubine Hua's intention, but she had to go. She took a deep breath and forced herself to stand.

"Liuzhu, help me change my clothes." Zhen Huan said in a low voice, with a hint of determination in her eyes.

A moment later, Zhen Huan slowly walked out of the Suiyu Pavilion. The sunlight shone on her pale face, highlighting the determination in her eyes.

Zhen Huan staggered to the gate of Yiku Palace, took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and slowly pushed open the heavy palace door.

Concubine Hua sat high up in the main seat, watching Zhen Huan with a cold gaze as she struggled to salute her. Zhen Huan suppressed her discomfort and whispered, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

Concubine Hua narrowed her eyes and sneered: "Wanpin, do you know what mistake you made?"

Zhen Huan raised her head, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes: "I don't know, please tell me clearly, Your Majesty."

Concubine Hua slammed the table and stood up, shouting, "Just because you're pregnant, you think you can be arrogant because of your favor? How dare you refuse to listen to my orders!"

Zhen Huan's face turned pale, and she hurriedly explained: "I am not feeling well today, really..."

"Shut up!" Concubine Hua interrupted her. "Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you're pregnant? Don't forget, I have the final say here!"

A glint of ruthlessness flashed in Concubine Hua's eyes, and she sneered, "Since Wanpin is unwell, she should go outside the palace to sober up. Someone, come!"

Two palace maids immediately stepped forward.

"Take Concubine Wan to the outside of the palace and make her kneel. Let her recite the "Instructions for Women" until I am satisfied." Concubine Hua's voice was icy cold.

Zhen Huan's face turned pale instantly. She subconsciously protected her abdomen and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I am pregnant..."

"Pregnant?" Concubine Hua sneered, "You should study the 'Instructions for Women' carefully, lest you teach your child bad things in the future!"

The maids forcibly dragged Zhen Huan out. Zhen Huan staggered, tears in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

The sun was blazing, and the stone steps outside the palace were scorching hot. Zhen Huan knelt on her knees, gasping for air in pain. She endured the discomfort and began to recite in a trembling voice:

"The way of husband and wife is to coordinate yin and yang and communicate with the gods..."

Sweat trickled down her cheeks, soaking her clothes. Zhen Huan's voice gradually grew hoarse, but she persisted, reciting word for word.

Concubine Hua stood in the shade, watching the scene coldly, a cruel smile on her lips.

Shen Meizhuang stood in the crowd, watching Zhen Huan kneeling on the hot stone steps, her clothes soaked with sweat, reciting "The Admonitions for Women" in a hoarse voice.

A complex emotion surged in Shen Meizhuang's heart. She thought back to the days when she and Zhen Huan were close, and then thought about how they had drifted apart since then.

Reason told her that she should keep her distance, but deep down she couldn't remain indifferent to what happened to Zhen Huan.

Her heart was clenched, and a trace of pain and anger flashed in her eyes. Although she had parted ways with Zhen Huan now, she did not want to see Zhen Huan being insulted like this.

Shen Meizhuang walked quickly to Zhen Huan's side and helped her shaky body up.

She looked directly into Concubine Hua's eyes and said firmly, "Wanpin is pregnant. If we continue like this, it might harm the fetus. Please have mercy, Your Majesty."

Concubine Hua sneered, "Concubine Hui, are you going to plead for her?"

A cold look flashed across Concubine Hua's eyes, and a cruel smile curled up at the corner of her mouth. She slowly walked in front of Shen Meizhuang, her voice as cold as ice:

"Huipin, since you care so much about Wanpin, why don't you kneel with her?"

Shen Meizhuang's expression changed, but she quickly regained her composure. She took a deep breath, met Concubine Hua's gaze without flinching, and slowly knelt down.

The sun blazed, the stone steps scorching. Shen Meizhuang felt the burning pain in her knees, but she gritted her teeth and said nothing. She turned to look at Zhen Huan, only to see her face pale and her clothes soaked with sweat.

Shen Meizhuang's heart tightened, and she quietly approached Liu Zhu and said in a low and hurried voice:

"Hurry up and go to Jingyang Palace to invite Concubine Shu. She is the only one who can save our master now."

A flash of panic flashed across Liu Zhu's eyes, but she quickly nodded in agreement. She cautiously stepped back a few steps, and when Concubine Hua wasn't paying attention, she turned and quickly left.

Shen Meizhuang watched Liu Zhu's receding figure, a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart. She turned to look at Zhen Huan and whispered comfortingly:

"Wanpin, hold on. It's going to be okay."