Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

Late at night

A thunderous roar resounded throughout the entire Nanyang Imperial Palace.

"what--"

As the thunder subsided, shouts from inside Yong'an Palace ripped through the silent night.

"Mother--"

Xiang'er quickly lit a lamp and went into the room, where she saw An Ruyi, covered in sweat, leaning against the bed and panting heavily.

"My lady, what's wrong with you?"

She quickly stepped forward and poured a glass of warm water for An Ruyi to calm her nerves.

An Ruyi's hands trembled as she subconsciously touched her gradually swelling belly, her eyes filled with terror, clearly awakened by a nightmare.

"I...I dreamt of my child...my child is gone..."

An Ruyi was panting heavily as she roughly gulped down the glass of warm water, but it was clear that the water did not calm her down.

She glanced at Xiang'er beside her, her voice trembling slightly.

"Where is Qingwu? Shouldn't she be on duty tonight?"

Although she had been wary of Qingwu these days, she was still somewhat unaccustomed to Xiang'er's presence because Qingwu had been with her in the mansion since she was young.

Xiang'er lowered her eyes and quickly answered.

“Aunt Qingwu caught a cold a few days ago because she got caught in the rain. She was afraid of passing on her illness to you, so she asked for leave and asked me to take her place at night.”

"A cold? She's never taken time off work for minor illnesses before."

An Ruyi frowned slightly in dissatisfaction. Perhaps because of her pregnancy and the need to protect her fetus, she had become somewhat sensitive and suspicious lately, always being paranoid.

Just like today, on an ordinary rainy night, I still feel suspicious of Qingwu.

Seeing this, Xiang'er quickly stepped forward and gently supported An Ruyi, whispering...

"Your Majesty need not worry. Aunt Qingwu may have taken leave because she was afraid of passing on her illness to the little prince in your womb. Why don't I light the calming incense that His Majesty sent you earlier?"

"Calming incense?"

An Ruyi frowned slightly, her bright eyes dimming in the candlelight.

She turned her head to look at Xiang'er, perhaps remembering how Qingwu had tampered with her sandalwood incense back then.

Thinking of this, An Ruyi, who was already somewhat uneasy because of the nightmare, suddenly became like a cat with its fur standing on end, and shouted.

"Does she think she's guilty? She clearly knows I'm pregnant, yet she still takes leave and neglects me like this. Does she think she's become too capable and wants to climb the social ladder?"

"Your Majesty, you are unique in the entire palace. Who can compare to you? What those lowly maids said during the day was nothing but hearsay."

Xiang'er's words reminded An Ruyi of what was happening.

An Ruyi's already pale face grew even colder.

During the day, she was enjoying the cool air in the courtyard when she overheard several palace maids delivering palace clothes talking about how the Emperor had recently taken a liking to Qingwu.

Even when he came to visit me a few days ago, he exchanged a few words with Qingwu.

That nameless jealousy instantly consumed her reason.

She ordered the palace maids to have their tongues pulled out on the spot and sent them to the Cold Palace to take care of the late emperor's concubines who were still alive.

Such reckless and unrestrained words, at this moment, were like a silver needle, piercing her heart.

Thinking of the conversation between the palace maids during the day, An Ruyi, her face pale, tried to get out of bed.

"Your Majesty, it's only past 9 PM, why don't you sleep a little longer?" Xiang'er quickly supported An Ruyi's swaying body, afraid that she might fall if she wasn't careful.

After all, Yong'an Palace now enjoys the unique favor of the entire palace.

If her prediction comes true, the palace maid's highest rank would be that of a lowly concubine. She wouldn't pose any threat to the currently powerful An family.

"Sleep? If I keep sleeping like this, I'm afraid people will start eyeing my position as the Imperial Concubine of Yong'an Palace!"

An Ruyi angrily made Xiang'er put clothes on her and wrapped them tightly around her body before storming off to the side room where Qingwu was.

The summer night was still somewhat muggy, but after the thunderclap, the heavy rain did not arrive as expected.

A squeak

Xiang'er was the first to push open the door to the side room where Aunt Qingwu was.

The empty side room immediately filled An Ruyi with a sense of foreboding.

At this moment, the palace maids behind her all lowered their heads and dared not make a sound, fearing that An Ruyi's anger would affect them.

"Your Highness, Aunt Qingwu...she must have gone to the outhouse..."

Xiang'er cautiously tried to explain, but her weak explanation failed to calm An Ruyi's restless heart.

An Ruyi narrowed her eyes menacingly, a premonition suddenly arising in her mind.

"Which palace is the Emperor resting in now?"

Her tone was tinged with dissatisfaction, indicating that she was already angry.

Xiang'er swallowed hard and quickly lowered her head to answer.

"His Majesty should be resting in the Imperial Study tonight. Perhaps because he is about to go to war with the Southern Barbarians, he has not summoned any concubines to his bedchamber in the past half month."

Xiang'er is certainly clever.

Ever since An Ruyi became pregnant, her personality has changed from being as easygoing and generous as before. Instead, she has become petty and suspicious, often doubting everything.

Such a restless nature forced Xiang'er to inquire about the Emperor's whereabouts in advance.

To avoid a situation like tonight, where the Empress suddenly decides to do something on a whim.

An Ruyi snorted coldly, thinking to herself that half a month had passed...

Doesn't that perfectly align with Qingwu's 'busy' days?

"Help me with my hair and makeup. I'm going to see the Emperor now."

"Your Majesty, it is already past midnight... I'm afraid this is inappropriate."

Although Xiang'er verbally tried to stop An Ruyi, she followed closely behind An Ruyi with her small, quick steps, afraid that she would be left behind in the side room.

An Ruyi raised her head and rested her hand on her stomach.

"I want to see who dares to openly seduce the Emperor while I am pregnant."

"Miss?"

Xiang'er's breath hitched, and she stood there, stunned. She looked up at An Ruyi, who looked somewhat haggard in the moonlight.

It seemed that An Ruyi's complexion had been getting worse and worse since she became pregnant. Her eyes were covered with dark circles, and anyone with eyes could see that she hadn't had a proper rest these days.

"What? You dare question my actions now?"

An Ruyi's arrogant demeanor startled Xiang'er awake.

She quickly stepped forward to support An Ruyi's body.

"This servant would certainly not dare to, but I am afraid that this would disturb His Majesty's rest and cause His Highness to quarrel with him."

Her thoughtful reply actually calmed An Ruyi's sudden outburst of anger. She gave her a cold glance and nodded with obvious satisfaction.

"Then let's go to the small kitchen and see if there's any food ready to send to His Majesty, so as not to arouse his suspicion."

"Yes, Your Majesty has a better idea."

Xiang'er glanced at the palace maid behind her, gesturing for her to go to the small kitchen, and then quickly supported An Ruyi's increasingly thin body.

"I'm afraid it's going to start raining soon, Your Highness. Please wear an extra coat so your clothes don't get wet."