As the saying goes, "a tiger does not eat its own son". But the emperor has actually stooped to this level, using an unborn prince to plot against others. This is truly despicable.

  "This matter cannot be blamed on me. It's not that I don't want him, but he should blame his mother, the empress. A woman like her is not worthy of being the mother of a noble prince." Chu Yixuan raised an eyebrow, knowing what Luo Zhong was thinking, and slowly shifted the responsibility away from himself.

  "That's... that's..." Luo Zhong replied with a laugh. What could he say? A humble person's words are insignificant. Moreover, the Emperor might not even listen to others' words.

  Alas. The Emperor is right too. If anyone is to blame, it's Yan Zhaorong. Who let her not be the Emperor's favorite 'daughter' anyway?

  "This prince has come at the wrong time." Chu Yixuan muttered to himself. He stood up and instructed Luo Zhong, "Bring the imperial edict with you and go to Ganquan Palace."

  Luo Zhong quietly followed behind him. The master had made up his mind to get rid of this prince. But he wouldn't take action himself. He was waiting for the other concubines to make a move, then he could kill two birds with one stone.

  The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Truly a tall one indeed.

  These women are all pitiful. The most pitiful of them is Yan Zhaorong. She was given the fate to be a mother but didn't get to enjoy the blessing of having children.

  All of this was caused by the emperor in front who could turn his hand into clouds and cover his hand into rain.

  "Lu Zhong, don't you think I'm being a bit heartless and ruthless?" Chu Yixuan asked with some trepidation on the way to Ganquan Palace.

  Luo Zhong thought for a moment and said: "The Emperor also had no choice."

  "Haha, I suppose so." Chu Yixuan put down his uneasy heart and strode towards the palace with large steps.

  He did this indeed out of helplessness, and it wasn't even for her sake.

  Xue Er, you must not disappoint me.

  It wasn't until a slightly rough hand stroked her face that Yan Xijun woke up with a start. When she saw it was him, she was so bold as to not want to get up and pay her respects.

  Chu Yixuan's eyes showed a hint of annoyance, but he didn't say anything. He just asked lightly: "Are you very tired?"

  "No. I just want to sleep." Yan Xijun wasn't used to his hand caressing her face, so she could only turn her own face to one side.

  "Hehe, so quick to react." Chu Yixuan said with a fake smile. He moved her head onto his lap with both hands, letting her rest comfortably against his legs and sleep.

  Yan Xijun resisted and struggled up, saying: "Your Majesty doesn't have to deal with trivial matters like handling memorials, how do you have time to come over?"

  Chu Yixuan saw her resisting so much, so he just went along with it. He helped her sit up and listened to what she had to say. He smiled lightly: "I still have some time to visit my beloved concubine."

  "Ai Fei." Yan Xi Jun stared at him in shock.

  "Hmm, I have formally appointed you as the De Fei of Xi Lin country." Chu Yi Xuan said with a smile. He thought he would see her tearfully grateful appearance. Being appointed as a consort was already a very high rank, second only to the Empress.

  "De Fei." Yan Xikun did not make the move he had imagined, but instead cowered on the bed in a state of extreme terror and hastily said: "Your Majesty, please withdraw your imperial decree. I am not worthy of being called De Fei."

  Once she was made a consort, the harem would be filled with even more people who would envy her. When someone is driven to desperation, they will do anything.

  She would rather not be a thorn in everyone's side. Moreover, the best choice for self-preservation is to decline this title.

  "You don't deserve it, but who does? You are now carrying the only prince of Western Lin Country. Just for this reason, no one will object." Chu Yixuan said confidently.

  Ah, pregnancy. That's what it is. From now on, the other consorts will be even more jealous of her. She can imagine that. In the future, her days will make her even more difficult to take a step.

  "Your Majesty, I am now pregnant. Is it as you wished? Can you tell me what the real purpose of getting me pregnant is?" Yan Xijun bravely looked at Chu Yixuan, hoping to hear the answer to this riddle.

  Facing her aggressive questioning, Chu Yixuan denied it: "What true purpose? You're overthinking."

  "Take a good rest. I'll go back and attend to state affairs." After saying that, he left.

  On the road, Chu Yixuan's handsome face turned solemn. He thought to himself, "She is so intelligent and sensitive, it seems that I need to expedite Xue'er's entry into the palace, lest there be too many dreams in the long night."

  Yan Xijun gazed at his hastily departing back, a pang of sadness lingering in her heart. The more he insisted on doing so, the deeper it solidified her notion.

  He must have some ulterior motive that has something to do with the little life in her belly.

  It seems like being pregnant is really not a good thing after all.

  What should I do then? Should this prince in my belly stay or leave?

  Yan Xijun hesitated, unsure of what to do for the better. Only now did she realize that there was no one to discuss it with.

  Empress Yan hastily rushed into the Ganquan Palace, and with a smile on her face, she entered Lady Yan's room, closing the door behind her, leaving only the two of them inside.

  "You're pregnant with such a big thing and didn't even tell your sister. Your sister is still the one who announced it to the public." Yán Huáng Hòu scolded as soon as she entered the door, facing the person drinking tea on the tea table.

  Yan Xijun didn't salute her but instead invited: "Sister, come and have some tea too."

  Yuan Huanghou was in a great mood at this moment and didn't bother to hold her accountable for her rudeness. She walked over, picked up the tea that Si Mei had just poured for her, took a light sip, and said: "Jun Er, now that you're pregnant, it's better if you drink less of these stimulating things. It's good for the baby in your belly."

  Yan Xijun didn't respond to her words, but instead asked softly: "Sister, are you satisfied now? I've already fulfilled all your requirements, including getting pregnant."

  "What's not satisfying? You're pregnant. My sister is 'very' happy. But it's for your happiness, for the honor of our Yan family. Now you've been promoted to De Fei, and I'm the Empress. This harem has become our sisters' domain. Isn't this a 'very' delightful thing?"

  Empress Yan looked at her excitedly and said, "Now everything is going according to my previous plan. Everything is going smoothly. Just wait until your sister gives birth to the imperial son and then returns to my side. Then there will be no more worries."

  It seems that I still have a good eye for things. I knew that Fourth Sister would eventually win over the Emperor, so I let her enter the palace. If I had let her enter the palace a few years earlier, perhaps I would have already taken care of these matters by now.

  "Sister, I don't know why, but I always feel uneasy in my heart." Yan Xijun looked at her sister's contented expression and felt even more uneasy, so she couldn't help but tell her.

  "You're overthinking it. In this palace, there are many informants for the sisters. Whoever dares to do those heinous and unjust things, sister will not forgive." Yan Huanghou comforted.

  "Sister... but I..." Yan Xijun still wasn't quite at ease. Throughout history, imperial consorts had vied for favor and love, and the secret machinations they resorted to were countless.

  She's really afraid. One day, she'll be unable to protect the child in her womb.

  "Don't worry, you just focus on taking care of yourself and the baby. Leave everything to me, I'll take care of it. I'll ensure your safety and that of your child." Empress Yan said confidently.