Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

Unlike Lian Rongrong, who was troubled, Yan Mingyue was in a great mood after leaving Cining Palace.

"The princess seems to be in a very good mood." Yan Mingyue brought her personal maid Ping'er with her when she entered the palace this time.

Ever since Mei'er embarrassed herself at the Lotus Hot Pot restaurant, Yan Mingyue has sent her to work in the kitchen.

Ping'er had been with Yan Mingyue since childhood, so she naturally had more influence and dared to say more.

"Of course I'm in a good mood. Didn't you notice that the Empress Dowager doesn't like that mother and son very much?"

"Don't you like him? I saw that the Empress Dowager rewarded that young prince with quite a bit of gold."

"Gold? Ha, is that gold as a reward? It's telling them that with their status, they only deserve mundane things."

"So that's what it means?"

"You're still too stupid." Yan Mingyue's lips almost curled up.

"This servant is indeed stupid. If it weren't for the Princess's guidance, I'm afraid I would have been sold off and would still be counting the money for the seller."

"However, there is one thing that I must remind myself of today."

Ping'er knew that Yan Mingyue was talking about offspring, but she dared not say anything more.

"Ever since His Highness fell seriously ill last year, he has hardly touched my body. I always feel that His Highness has become a different person since then."

"If His Highness doesn't come, how will I bear children for the royal family? Since the Empress Dowager has brought this up today, I must think of a solution."

Ping'er listened quietly until Yan Mingyue said she needed to think of a solution, then she cautiously leaned closer to Yan Mingyue and whispered:

"Your Highness, I have heard that many wives and concubines from noble families sometimes resort to underhanded tactics to compete for the emperor's favor."

"Tips and tricks?"

Ping'er tiptoed and whispered a few words in Yan Mingyue's ear.

Yan Mingyue's face instantly turned bright red with embarrassment.

"Really useful?"

"This servant doesn't know either. I overheard a maid from the Ling Prince's residence mentioning it unintentionally."

"Uncle Ling is really playing some fancy tricks."

"Who can argue with that? Just look at that illegitimate daughter of the Meng family."

Yan Mingyue didn't reply, as if she was thinking about something. The two walked a little further before she seemed to have made up her mind and said to Ping'er:

"Go and get some of that stuff. No matter what method you use, I must conceive His Highness's child."

Also, see if there's any way to find out what kind of birthday gift that bitch Lian Rong plans to give the Empress Dowager?

Neither of the two tasks Yan Mingyue had given was easy to accomplish, but since her master had given the order, Ping'er had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

After finishing the first task, Ping'er tried to take a walk around the General's Mansion, but the guards of the General's Mansion were so strong that not even a fly could get in, let alone a little maid.

Finding out what gift Lian Rongrong was preparing was simply impossible. Fortunately, she managed to accomplish one of the two tasks, so she wouldn't be punished by her master.

Ping'er returned to the Prince's mansion with the "treasure" she had found at the brothel. By this time, Yan Mingyue was already getting impatient.

"Your Highness, I'm back." As soon as Ping'er entered the room, Yan Mingyue dismissed the other servants.

"How is it?" Yan Mingyue asked anxiously.

Ping'er carefully took out a wooden box from her bosom. Inside the box were incense sticks and a small porcelain bottle.

"These are the 'Carefree Powder' and 'Rejuvenating Fragrance' specially used in brothels. The madam says that just one of them is enough to make a man unable to resist. If both are used together..."

Ping'er's face flushed red. After all, she was still inexperienced and couldn't bring herself to say such shameless things.

However, even without being told, Yan Mingyue already understood.

Yan Mingyue took the wooden box and placed it under her pillow. Thinking about how she would be able to make love with Li Yuanyi that night, her body couldn't help but react.

She hadn't been satisfied in so long, and the thought of such things now made her feel uncomfortably aroused.

Even so, Yan Mingyue did not forget the second thing.

"Have you found out about the birthday gift?"

Ping'er shook her head nervously, "The guards at the General's Mansion are too tight; this servant can't find out anything at all."

Contrary to expectations, Yan Mingyue instead spoke to Ping'er with great understanding:

"This isn't your fault; those two were very careful. Tomorrow, I'll go and ask them myself."

"Ping'er, go and invite His Highness here now. Tell him that I wish to discuss the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet with him."

Ping'er curtsied and turned to leave. Yan Mingyue immediately took out the Rejuvenating Incense, lit it, and mixed the Carefree Powder into the tea.

Yan Mingyue was confident that Li Yuanyi would come, because the Empress Dowager was his biggest backer.

Li Yuanyi's mother, the current Imperial Concubine Yao, was the Empress Dowager's niece. Therefore, the Empress Dowager naturally regarded Li Yuanyi as much closer than Li Yuanqi.

Yan Mingyue's prediction was correct. Not long after Ping'er left, Li Yuanyi came to Yan Mingyue's room.

"Your Highness has arrived." Yan Mingyue stepped forward and removed Li Yuanyi's cloak.

The chill emanating from Li Yuanyi made Yan Mingyue's heart beat faster.

"It must be cold outside, Your Highness. Have some hot tea." Yan Mingyue turned around, poured tea, and handed it to Li Yuanyi with a smile.

Li Yuanyi, without suspicion, accepted the drink and drank it.

"You said you wanted to discuss the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration. What happened? Did the Empress Dowager say something when you entered the palace today?"

Li Yuanyi casually placed the cup on the table and asked in a nonchalant tone.

"Yes, the Empress Dowager said not to send gold, silver, jade and other vulgar items."

"Is that all?" A hint of impatience appeared between Li Yuanyi's brows.

"I'm just undecided, so I'd like Your Highness to give me some advice. After all, it's the Empress Dowager's birthday, so we can't be careless."

As Yan Mingyue was speaking, she noticed Li Yuanyi tugging at his collar in frustration. Although Yan Mingyue hadn't drunk the "Carefree Powder," she was still disturbed by the "Rejuvenating Incense."

She slowly got up and walked to Li Yuanyi's side. Her jade-like hands gently touched Li Yuanyi's shoulders, and her warm fingers intentionally or unintentionally caressed Li Yuanyi's slightly reddened neck.

"I was thinking, how about having someone embroider a longevity picture?"

Li Yuanyi's consciousness gradually blurred, and Yan Mingyue's voice grew farther and farther away.

As if the heat within him was about to burst forth, Li Yuanyi's Adam's apple bobbed, and then he grabbed Yan Mingyue's wrist.

Yan Mingyue was pulled into Li Yuanyi's arms by a domineering force. She parted her lips slightly and softly called out, "Your Highness."

Li Yuanyi's mind cleared for a moment, but then became blurry again.

The woman in his arms gradually resembled Lian Rongrong, and Li Yuanqi called out emotionally, "Rongrong."

Yan Mingyue's body stiffened, and her eyes instantly filled with tears.

"Your Highness, look carefully, look at me clearly..."

Yan Mingyue's words were drowned out by Li Yuanyi's domineering kiss, and tears fell uncontrollably. She had planned so much, but in the end, she became someone else's substitute.

Physical pleasure could not replace the hatred in her heart. That night, Yan Mingyue's hatred for Lian Rongrong finally became an unresolved knot in her heart.