The Rebirth of Li Fei: The Strongest Palace Fighting System

Not long after returning to the Yanx Palace, people from the Imperial Household Department came hurriedly, carrying several large bamboo baskets filled with fresh fish and shrimp.

When Xia Dongchun saw it, surprise flashed in his eyes and he said with a smile:

"These fish and shrimps arrived just in time. I was craving them."

Liang Duorui added at the right moment:

"Lady Xia is truly blessed. Lady An paid out of her own pocket to select these fine fish and shrimps especially for you."

Xia Dongchun heard this and turned to look at me, with a look of gratitude on his face:

"Thank you so much, Sister An, for thinking of me like this. I will definitely thank you someday."

I smiled and waved my hands, saying a few polite words:

"Sister Xia, you're too polite. I'm pregnant with a dragon fetus, so naturally I need to eat more nourishing foods, which are also good for the fetus. As long as you like it, I will prepare it for you often in the future."

"Sister An is so considerate."

I smiled and nodded, secretly calculating that this move would definitely cause the index to rise.

......

The next day, the Yanx Palace once again witnessed a lively scene. The Queen Mother's rewards arrived as promised, and the ceremony was so grand that it attracted people's attention.

On the third day, I couldn't help but feel alert. There must be an unknown conspiracy behind this sudden reward.

I looked carefully and saw that among the rewards, in addition to some gold, silver, treasures, silks and satins, there was also an exquisite cinnabar incense burner. Its color was warm and the carving was fine. It was obvious at first glance that it was a rare treasure.

Cinnabar itself is not toxic and is often regarded as something that can ward off evil and misfortune. There seems to be nothing wrong with using it as an incense burner.

However, I am well versed in the art of making incense, and I have a different interpretation of this cinnabar incense burner.

The fragrance from the burning cinnabar incense burner will trigger a strong allergic reaction if it comes into contact with fish and shrimp. This reaction is so fast and fierce that it is incomparable to ordinary reactions.

Originally, eating fish and shrimp alone might only cause some pain to the skin and would not harm the fetus. However, if the cinnabar incense burner is added as a catalyst, the consequences would be unpredictable.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but be shocked. If the fetus was really hurt, how could I, as the person in charge of taking care of the dragon fetus, escape responsibility?

I took a deep breath, tried to calm myself down, and began to carefully consider how to deal with the situation.

This must be the Empress's shrewd plan. She may have already known about the fish and shrimp sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and she deliberately used me to send this cinnabar incense burner, trying to kill two birds with one stone.

If something really happened, she could just claim to be completely unaware and put all the blame on me and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while she herself stayed out of it and reaped the benefits.

I am well aware of the thorny nature of this matter. I must protect the safety of Xia Dongchun and the fetus, but I cannot directly expose the Queen and openly offend the Empress. My life will become even more difficult if I openly offend the Empress.

Since the Empress has already sent me this cinnabar incense burner, I naturally can't openly refuse to use it, otherwise it will only arouse further suspicion. But I can't just sit there and wait for death. I must find a way to ensure the safety of Xia Dongchun and the fetus while keeping myself out of danger.

......

Two days later, I went to Jingren Palace as usual to report to the Empress on Xia Dongchun's pregnancy progress.

As soon as I stepped into the hall, I saw the emperor sitting there.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Your Majesty."

The emperor raised his hand gently, his voice gentle:

"Get up."

"I came here specifically to report to the Empress on Lady Xia's pregnancy status. I didn't expect the Emperor to be here too."

The emperor smiled:

"That's perfect. I'll also listen to Noble Lady An's report to see if my dragon fetus is safe."

The Queen smiled gently, her eyes wandering over me:

"Noble Lady An has been so thoughtful in taking care of Noble Lady Xia during her pregnancy. A few days ago, I also specially sent Jianqiu to deliver a cinnabar incense burner, hoping to ward off evil spirits and bless Noble Lady Xia with a safe pregnancy. I wonder if Noble Lady Xia finds it useful?"

The Empress' words were a double entendre. She showed her virtue and care to the Emperor, and at the same time she calmly asked me whether Xia Dongchun had really used the cinnabar incense burner.

I remained expressionless and responded with a smile:

"After receiving the incense burner, Lady Xia was overjoyed and said she would pray for the Empress and burn incense every day to show her respect."

After hearing this, the Queen Mother curled up a barely perceptible smile, and seemed quite satisfied with my answer.

As expected, the emperor praised the queen's virtue again.

I continued to report on Xia Dongchun's recent situation, daily life, and diet.

However, the Queen suddenly changed the subject and pretended not to know:

"Oh? Lady An, do you think Lady Xia eats so much fish and shrimp every day?"

"That's right. Since I've received the Emperor's order to take good care of the dragon fetus, I naturally dare not neglect it in the slightest. I've heard that eating more fish and shrimp during pregnancy is very beneficial to the fetus's development, so I paid out of my own pocket and bought some fresh fish and shrimp for Concubine Xia, hoping to do my part to ensure the healthy growth of the dragon fetus."

The emperor listened to my words and showed an expression of approval. He nodded, with a hint of satisfaction in his voice:

"Lady An is truly thoughtful. She is so virtuous and kind. I am very pleased that she is so devoted to my dragon fetus."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. This is all my responsibility and nothing to worry about. As long as the dragon fetus can grow healthily, I will be satisfied."

This report made the emperor express his appreciation for my dedication in taking care of the dragon fetus, and the index will undoubtedly rise again.

I looked up at the Emperor, only to see his eyes were gentle and a satisfied smile on his lips, clearly pleased with my performance. The Empress, beside me, smiled, but a subtle glint of calculation flickered in her eyes.

However, the Emperor seemed to be completely unaware of the conflict between cinnabar incense burners and fish and shrimps. Naturally, the Empress and I pretended not to know and maintained superficial harmony and peace.

Unless one is proficient in medicine or perfume making, it is difficult to detect the mystery of this kind of mutual restraint.

The Queen knows medicine, and I specialize in perfumery, and I am very familiar with the interaction between spices and ingredients.

......

Time flies, and two days passed in the blink of an eye.

I observed Xia Dongchun carefully and found that her cheeks were slightly flushed. This change came faster than I expected.

I was secretly anxious. If it weren't for the cinnabar incense burner, I might have been able to pretend to be ignorant and let the situation develop in order to complete the task assigned by Concubine Hua.

But now, I am well aware of the serious consequences that may arise from the conflict between the cinnabar incense burner and fish and shrimp, and I really cannot ignore it.

I walked lightly to Xia Dongchun and reminded him:

"Sister Xia, why is your face suddenly so red? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xia Dongchun touched her cheek and said doubtfully, "Maybe I'm pregnant recently. I feel a little weird. But I don't feel uncomfortable anywhere."