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

"Your Majesty," the Empress said softly, seeing the Emperor's fury, "Now that things have come to this, please take care of your health. Concubine Hua was confused for a moment and made a serious mistake. Please, Your Majesty, spare her life for the sake of her many years of service."

The Queen's words were like a plea for mercy, but in reality they were a stab in the heart. She specifically pointed out that Hua Fei had "committed a serious mistake" and mentioned her "long years of service", which made Hua Fei seem ungrateful and aggravated her crime.

The Emperor closed his eyes for a long time, as if trying to calm his anger, or as if he was considering a decision. After a long time, he slowly opened his eyes, his eyes were cold, and he looked directly at Concubine Hua.

"Concubine Hua Nian, stripped of her title..." He paused, his voice cold and without a trace of warmth, "Demoted to Concubine Nian. From today on, she is confined to the Yikun Palace and is not allowed to leave without an imperial decree!"

"Your Majesty!" Concubine Hua looked at the emperor in disbelief, tears streaming down her face.

The Emperor did not leave immediately, but stared at Concubine Hua intently, his eyes filled with complex emotions. There was disappointment, anger, and a subtle pain.

"You disappoint me so much." He spoke each word clearly, and each word was like an ice cone, piercing Hua Fei's heart.

After saying that, he turned away, his back looking resolute and without a trace of nostalgia.

An Lingrong and Concubine Jin strolled along the winding paths of the Imperial Garden, their skirts fluttering in the wind, and the occasional rustling of fallen leaves made the surroundings even more quiet.

An Lingrong nonchalantly fiddled with the handkerchief in her hand and asked casually, "Noble Lady Jin, Concubine Li has made such a great contribution. How do you think the Emperor will reward her?"

Concubine Jin thought for a moment and said, "Of course it's a promotion, but..."

An Lingrong sneered, "I'm afraid she might not even be alive to enjoy this reward."

Concubine Jin's expression suddenly changed. She gasped, twisted her hands together unconsciously, and asked in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, are you saying..."

An Lingrong's eyes were deep and her tone was firm: "Just wait and see." After that, she continued to walk forward, leaving Concubine Jin standing there alone, her face pale and her heart uneasy.

After thinking about it, Concubine Jin felt that An Lingrong's words were not groundless.

Hua Fei has been in the palace for many years and has a deep foundation. Although she has been stripped of her title and demoted to a concubine, she still has a certain position in the emperor's heart.

Lipin's action is tantamount to betraying her former master. Can the Emperor and the Empress Dowager really tolerate such an ungrateful person?

A few days later, news arrived from the palace that Lipin had been promoted to Lifei. The enthronement ceremony was scheduled to take place in the palace a month later.

An Lingrong was leaning on the couch, holding a collection of poems in her hand.

"Your Majesty," the personal maid Qiuyue walked quickly into the hall and knelt in greeting, "I have heard that Concubine Li is ill, and the imperial physician has been summoned today."

An Lingrong put down the poetry collection in her hand, her eyes flashing. She had been waiting for news for the past few days, and now it seemed that everything was as expected. "Oh? Sick?"

Qiuyue bowed her head and replied respectfully, "Yes, I also find it strange. Concubine Li has always been in good health, how could she suddenly fall ill? The enthronement ceremony is about to begin..."

An Lingrong's slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a crisp sound, each one a knock that seemed to strike at the heart of the person. "What did the imperial physician say?"

Qiuyue hesitated for a moment, then replied cautiously, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that Concubine Li caught a cold at night and is not seriously ill. She just needs to rest."

"Cold?" An Lingrong repeated these two words.

"Qiuyue," she said slowly, her voice soft but with a hint of unquestionable meaning, "Go and ask Concubine Jin to come over."

Qiuyue knelt down in response, turned around and walked out of the hall quickly.

About half a cup of tea later, Concubine Jin arrived. She bowed to An Lingrong and stood aside a little awkwardly.

"Lady Jin, please take a seat." An Lingrong pointed to the embroidered cushion beside her with a gentle smile on her face.

Concubine Jin sat down as she was told, her hands folded nervously on her knees.

An Lingrong put down the Buddhist beads in her hand, her eyes fell on Concubine Jin, and she said calmly, "Concubine Li is ill."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Jin was startled and subconsciously straightened up. "Empress Li...did you mention what illness you had?"

An Lingrong chuckled softly, but there was a hint of chill in her laughter. "The imperial physician said it was a cold and I needed to rest. It's true that this night is cold, but what's even colder than the night in this palace is the human heart."

Concubine Jin's face turned slightly pale and she twisted her hands together unconsciously. She vaguely understood the meaning of An Lingrong's words, but did not dare to ask more.

An Lingrong looked at Concubine Jin's uneasy expression, sighed slightly, and continued, "Concubine Li climbed the ranks to become a concubine step by step, so she naturally knows how to protect herself. How could she easily catch a cold? I'm afraid someone doesn't want her to return to the palace alive."

Concubine Jin gasped, her eyes filled with fear, "Your Majesty, what do you mean..."

She paused, her gaze returning to Concubine Jin, her tone tinged with seriousness, "After returning to the palace, instruct your subordinates to take good care of Nian."

"Although you can't plead for her in front of the emperor, you can't forget her care and kindness over the years. Let her live a better life in the palace and not be bullied by those servants who flatter the powerful and look down on the weak."

Concubine Jin's eyes were slightly red, and she nodded vigorously, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I understand."

"Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful for your consideration for me."

She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself, stood up, bowed deeply to An Lingrong, and touched her forehead to the cold ground.

In the Changchun Fairy Pavilion, the queen sat upright on the phoenix chair, her eyes deep as she stared at the teacup in her hand.

Zhen Huan stood quietly aside, with her eyes lowered, her simple and elegant palace dress making her look even more elegant and refined.

"Princess Wan," the Queen put down her teacup, her tone gentle, yet with a barely perceptible chill, "You've witnessed Concubine Hua's arrogance."

Zhen Huan nodded slightly, a trace of worry flashing across her brows: "Your Majesty, the Queen is absolutely right. Concubine Hua has been domineering for many years, and now she has ended up like this. It is all her own fault."

The Queen sighed softly, as if expressing regret and emotion: "I am not heartless, but what Hua Fei did is truly chilling."

She paused, her eyes fixed on Zhen Huan, and asked tentatively, "Do you know why Concubine Hua has been childless for so many years?"

Zhen Huan's heart trembled, but she remained calm and shook her head slightly: "I don't know."

The queen's lips curled up into a meaningful smile, and she slowly said, "In the Yikun Palace, a kind of incense called 'Huan Yi Xiang' is burned year-round. That incense is mixed with a large amount of musk."

"Huan Yi Xiang, wasn't that a gift from the Emperor to her?" Zhen Huan exclaimed, then covered her lips, a hint of shock flashing in her eyes.

Zhen Huan's heart was filled with turmoil, but she forced herself to remain calm and whispered, "I understand."

She thought of Nian Shilan's obsession with the emperor and her desire for an heir. How desperate would she be if she knew the truth?

Unfortunately, she was sent back to the palace first. When she returned to the palace, she personally sent Nian Shilan to the west.