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This time, not only did she eat, but she ate with particular relish.

A dish of Fried Rice was polished off by the Empress, who contentedly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

Chun Xi brewed a new cup of tea and placed it in front of the Empress to cut the grease.

The Empress, holding the teacup, drank leisurely, "Lady Chuwei’s culinary skills are really good."

There was some regret in her tone, If it weren’t for Lady Chuwei, she could have gone to Fengyi Palace to cook just for her.

What a pity!

Shen Chuwei smiled, her cooking skills weren’t up to satisfying her own discerning taste either!

The Empress sipped her tea twice, then looked up at Shen Chuwei and asked warmly, "Lady Chuwei, are you settling in well at Hehuan Hall?"

Just as Chuwei was about to express her opinion, the Empress continued, "Hehuan Hall is much better than Xiyun Pavilion, comfortable to live in, and you’re neighbors with the Crown Prince, so you don’t need to thank me too much."

Shen Chuwei: "..." I didn’t even want to thank you! I was fine in Xiyun Pavilion, but you moved me out.

See, easy to leave but hard to return!

The Empress spoke with considerable satisfaction, "It’s all thanks to me that you and the Crown Prince reconciled so quickly. With your timid nature, who knows when you could have restored your relationship with him like before."

Shen Chuwei said, "The Empress has been so thoughtful."

The Empress added, "A few days ago, Lady Chang suddenly fainted, and I asked the Crown Prince to spend more time with Lady Chang—to share his favors evenly. Only when the anteroom and the inner palace are stable can there be peace."

Chuwei, looking down at the tips of her shoes, sighed helplessly, those evenly shared favors could definitely be given to them instead of me...

The Empress took another sip of tea, and then said with full expectation, "Hurry and bear me a big, healthy boy."

Shen Chuwei was so embarrassed she could hardly bear it, as if being interrupted twice during the imperial visit wasn’t embarrassing enough, now there was talk of having children...

"Your Concubine will try her best."

The Empress said, "’Try your best’ won’t do, you must work hard! I know the Crown Prince dotes on you the most right now, your chances are very good."

Shen Chuwei, feeling guilty, said, "Then Your Concubine will work hard."

The Empress smiled with satisfaction, "That’s more like it, I have high hopes for you."

Shen Chuwei smiled, placing hope on a salted fish like me might be your biggest mistake!

Having finished her cup of tea, the Empress left.

As she passed by the Imperial Garden, she saw the dog Emperor and Concubine Ning enjoying the flowers in the garden. She couldn’t remember the last time she had leisurely strolled through the Imperial Garden with the dog Emperor.

With so many women, and the selection of new concubines, the dog Emperor chasing after young girls—no wonder his kidneys are failing!

Qing Ying glanced at the Emperor and Concubine Ning in the distance, whispering, "Your Highness, it is said that Concubine Ning is pregnant again."

The Empress snorted, "Going over to Concubine Ning’s day and night, how could she not get pregnant?"

Concubine Ning, seeing the Empress not far away, tugged at the Emperor’s arm and coquettishly said, "Your Majesty, isn’t that sister Empress?"

The Emperor turned his head to look and saw the Empress standing not far away. He smiled and said, "It indeed is the Empress."

Seeing that they had already noticed her, the Empress didn’t hide and confidently approached them, bowing to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, may you have peace and safety."

The Emperor, in a cheery voice, asked, "Empress, where are you off to?"

"Your Concubine just visited the East Palace." The Empress glanced at Concubine Ning, only twenty years old with a beautiful face and creamy skin—it’s no wonder the Emperor gave her the title of Concubine Ning.

"Since Your Majesty and Concubine Ning are enjoying the flowers, Your Concubine will not disturb you and takes her leave now."

After speaking, the Empress bowed again and then turned to walk toward Fengyi Palace.

Concubine Ning looked confusedly at the Empress’s departing figure, raising her head to look at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, is sister Empress angry with your Concubine?"

The Emperor’s voice grew heavier, "Nonsense, the Empress is virtuous and moral, how could she be so petty?"

Concubine Ning paused for a moment, then in a coquettish tone said, "Your Majesty, don’t be angry. Your Concubine just fears that sister Empress doesn’t like me. My last child was lost, I’m so worried about this hard-won baby."

As she spoke, she looked down at her belly, her hand gingerly touching it.

The Emperor hugged Concubine Ning’s shoulders, comforting her, "Alright, don’t worry, this time I’ll have people be more cautious. You just stay in the palace, and once the child is born, I will make you Noble Consort."

Concubine Ning’s eyes sparkled with a smile, "Thank you, Your Majesty, I will take good care of myself and the child."

At night, the Empress was about to rest when she heard "The Emperor has arrived" and had to get up from the bed to greet him.

That damn Emperor, when is a good time to come? Why did it have to be exactly when I was about to sleep?

When the Emperor entered, the Empress stood up to greet him: "Your Majesty."

The Emperor sat down at the table and, looking up at the Empress, he said, "Empress, Concubine Ning is already with child."

The Empress was not surprised, and she asked indifferently, "What are Your Majesty’s plans?"

The Emperor said, "I plan to wait until she gives birth and then promote her to Noble Consort."

The Empress smiled, though her eyes did not mirror the sentiment: "Whatever Your Majesty decides is good."

Suddenly, the Emperor took the Empress’s hand, his gaze somewhat fervent: "Empress."

The Empress glanced at her hand being held and lifted her head in confusion: "Does Your Majesty have other matters?"

"Of course, there is." The Emperor suddenly stood up, scooped the Empress into a bridal carry, and strode towards the bed.

The Empress, startled by the unexpected princess carry, instinctively wrapped her arms around the scoundrel Emperor’s neck.

The Emperor’s action had clearly indicated what he intended to do.

After placing the Empress on the bed and looming over her, he said, "Lingling, don’t you miss me at all?"

Stunned by the Emperor calling her by her intimate name, the Empress faltered, "Why would Your Majesty say such a thing?"

In her mind, though, she was scoffing. Was the damn Emperor drunk tonight?

Why suddenly so cheesy?

I’m getting goosebumps.

While the Empress was internally complaining, the Emperor had already disrobed and climbed into bed.

After some tossing and turning, the Empress was too exhausted to even curse, and simply called him a scoundrel Emperor in her mind before falling asleep.

Hehuan Hall

By the time Xiao Jinyan arrived, Shen Chuwei had already gone to bed to rest.

Xiao Jinyan went directly for a bath upon arrival.

After the time it takes to brew a pot of tea

Shen Chuwei watched as Xiao Jinyan got into bed, pulled her into his arms, and placed his large hand on her belly, skillfully doing what they had done twice before.

Her belly was uncomfortably hot.

Xiao Jinyan said, "We’ll be taking a horse carriage tomorrow. Better keep warm, it’ll make the carriage ride easier."

Shen Chuwei suddenly realized, was Xiao Jinyan warming her belly because he was afraid she would be uncomfortable on the carriage ride tomorrow?

"Your Highness is so thoughtful."

Thoughtful? Xiao Jinyan said, "Tomorrow, you should dress as a personal guard and follow."

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously, "Your Concubine understands."

This suddenly reminded her of a play, where every time the Emperor went incognito, he always took a concubine with him out of the palace.

It made her feel that the Emperor deeply favored that concubine, always choosing that one.

Regrettably, every time the Emperor went incognito, he ended up bringing back a woman to the palace to be a concubine.

It made her think the Emperor was such a philanderer, that concubine must feel jealous every single time...

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