First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

Gu Junxi has been back in the palace for more than five months. As her belly grows bigger, Mu Lingye is increasingly forbidding her from moving around.

Being confined to walking only within the Imperial Garden and one's own palace each day feels like being a caged bird.

This made Gu Junxi feel that the days were getting harder and harder to bear, and she wished she could start bleeding immediately and give birth to the child.

Actually, it's not Mu Lingye's fault. It's just that in the late stages of her pregnancy, her belly grew as if it were being blown up by the wind. When she looked down, she could only see her toes.

If this body were to go out and get hurt, it would result in the death of both the fetus and the child.

Just in case, Yao Duzhong, who was eager to return to Medicine King Valley after learning that Mr. Suxin had been found, was forced by Mu Lingye to stay in the palace to guard against any unforeseen circumstances during the birth of her child.

Mu Lingye had to handle state affairs every day, leaving early and returning late.

In addition, the Yan Kingdom finally learned of Leng Xuanjue's death during this time, and the emperor was furious, gathering troops to prepare to invade Dasheng.

The Yan Kingdom's ambition to invade remains undiminished. Previously, they only dared to engage in small, clandestine actions due to the constraints of the treaty imposed after their defeat. Now that Leng Xuanjue has died in Dasheng, it no longer provides them with a legitimate reason to openly break the treaty.

Mu Lingye was even busier. The court officials were divided into two factions: one advocating peace and the other advocating war. Every day, he could hear the officials arguing and discussing countermeasures.

Mu Lingye had no time to spend with Gu Junxi, which made Gu Junxi even more bored.

Fortunately, Su Li would go to the palace to talk to Gu Junxi whenever she was free.

Today, Su Li entered the palace as usual, accompanied by Mu Qingfu.

When Gu Junxi heard that Mu Qingfu had arrived, and considering that Mu Qingfu was only a little over a month younger than her and was also close to her due date, she had Xi'er help her and went to the palace gate to greet her personally.

It had been a long time since they last met. At this moment, Mu Qingfu, supported by Zuo Chengfeng, moved over step by step. Her belly didn't look much smaller than his own.

Pregnant women often have a strange kind of self-confidence, always seeing others as clumsy while feeling that they are still graceful and agile.

Mu Qingfu stopped in front of Gu Junxi, one hand supporting her belly and the other pointing at Gu Junxi's belly, laughing loudly: "Gu Xiaoxi, it's only been a short time since we last met, and your face looks so swollen, like you've been punched. If this belly gets any bigger, you might not be able to walk anymore."

Gu Junxi knew that Mu Qingfu had no bad intentions; she simply said whatever came to mind.

It's too tiring if family members are always calculating and petty.

Gu Junxi didn't pay attention; her face was full of the happy smile of seeing her family.

She reached out and took the hands of Mu Qingfu and Su Li respectively, leading them into the hall: "Yes, I'm also afraid that I won't be able to walk, so I'm hoping that the little one in my belly will be born soon. He's not in a hurry, but his old mother is anxious for him."

"By the way, why did you go to the palace with your cousin-in-law today? And your aunt and uncle allow you to go around freely?"

To show intimacy, Gu Junxi used the same terms of address as she had before becoming empress when addressing Mu Qingfu and the others.

Mu Qingfu thought of herself in the manor, unable to go anywhere, walk here, jump, or run. Her face, which looked swollen as if she had been beaten, turned into a bitter gourd shape, and she looked at Zuo Chengfeng standing beside her with a pale expression.

"No, I snuck out. But even so, someone still followed me like a leech."

Zuo Chengfeng, who was very self-aware, grinned and showed his white teeth.

They entered the hall as they walked. Fruits were already laid out in the courtyard. Gu Junxi sat down with Mu Qingfu, Su Li, and Zuo Chengfeng.

After Mu Qingfu sat down, she began to ask Gu Junxi, "Xixi, have you heard what the Emperor said about who will be sent to fight the war against Yan?"

"What? You want to go too?" Gu Junxi peeled a segment of orange and popped it into her mouth.

Mu Qingfu moved her chair closer to Gu Junxi: "To be honest, I really want to go. I even want to give birth to the baby today so I can catch up with the army."

Gu Junxi saw the burning passion in Mu Qingfu's eyes and knew that Mu Qingfu was not lying.

She glanced at Zuo Chengfeng without making a sound, and saw that Zuo Chengfeng was already as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Zuo Chengfeng is completely under Mu Qingfu's thumb. Who remembers that Zuo Chengfeng was once known as one of the two most notorious playboys in the capital, along with Gu Konghao?

Gu Junxi looked down at her heart and then peeled a segment of orange and put it in Mu Qingfu's hand: "Cousin, eat some oranges. We haven't even decided whether to make peace or go to war yet. Sending troops is still a long way off. You should give birth to the child first."

"Gu Xiaoxi, how dare you lie to me!" Mu Qingfu slammed her hand on the table, stood up with her hand on her stomach, and glared at Gu Junxi with her eyebrows raised. "At home, Father avoids me and won't talk to me about the war. Father-in-law at the Zuo residence won't talk to me either. And when we got to the palace, you didn't tell me either. Are you even my real sister?"

Gu Junxi was also helpless. She knew that Mu Qingfu wanted to be a female general, which was her dream, but now was the wrong time.

Gu Junxi was afraid that Mu Qingfu's excitement would affect the baby in her belly, so she quickly stood up, supporting her waist: "Cousin, don't get excited. Of course I'm your own sister... Ouch, my belly."

Gu Junxi was speaking when her face contorted in pain as she clutched her stomach and cried out in agony.

"Gu Xiaoxi, what's wrong?"

"The Queen."

"elder sister."

Seeing this, everyone gathered around Gu Junxi. Mu Qingfu ran the fastest, but halfway there, her expression changed. She clutched her stomach in pain. What was worse than Gu Junxi's situation was that she seemed to be urinating, as her amniotic fluid ruptured and gushed out.

"She's about to give birth! Quickly, call the imperial physician... no, quickly go and invite the Valley Master of Medicine and Prince Su."

When Mu Lingye received news of Gu Junxi's death, he was sitting in the main hall listening to the ministers arguing heatedly. Just as he was about to fall asleep, a little eunuch ran in from outside to report.

"Your Majesty, the Empress is about to give birth."

These words instantly jolted Mu Lingye awake. He stood up from the dragon throne, leaving behind his courtiers, and ran towards Fengyi Palace at top speed.

When Mu Lingye arrived at Fengyi Palace, Gu Junxi had not yet given birth and was lying in bed in excruciating pain. Unfortunately, Mu Lingye was also prevented from entering the palace.

Mu Lingye could only pace anxiously outside the hall, his brows furrowed, as could Zuo Chengfeng, who was just one hall away.

After an unknown amount of time, finally, with a "waaa!", the cry of a baby was heard. Zuo Chengfeng and Mu Lingye both stopped in their tracks, unsure if their wives had given birth, and stared expectantly at the palace gate in front of them.

Then a palace gate opened, and the midwife came out carrying a child: "Congratulations, Your Highness, Princess Qingfu has given birth to a little prince."

"Haha, good, good." Zuo Chengfeng hugged the wailing baby, his eyes practically popping out of his head with joy.

Zuo Chengfeng was happy, but Mu Lingye was not. Envious, she hurriedly asked Xuan Ying beside her, "Didn't you say that the Empress went into labor before Princess Qingfu? Why did Princess Qingfu give birth before the Empress?"

"I don't know either... Your Majesty, please don't worry. I believe that the Empress will give birth soon," Xuan Ying comforted him.

Mu Lingye glared at Xuan Ying and began pacing back and forth again: "What use are you?"

There's no set timeframe for childbirth; some people have to endure a full day and night of labor before they can give birth.

Some people give birth in half an hour.

Xuan Ying felt increasingly innocent, but dared not voice her opinions and could only silently endure it.