Her impertinent words made Yan Xijun frown. At this moment, she no longer wanted to argue with her about the rules of seniority. She just wanted to know what she meant by her previous words.

  "You all know something, what's the meaning of 'I'm paving the way'. A thick layer of rouge powder puffed up in her face. Yan Xijun furrowed his good-looking eyebrows and couldn't help but take a step back, feeling astonished in his heart. The one he saw at that time was a fresh and elegant beauty, how could she change so much after entering the palace, becoming so vulgar and unbearable."

  Yang Qixue saw her retreat a few steps, thought it was interesting, and then stepped forward again, staring at her and saying: "You think I can know something? With my relationship with the emperor, he tells me everything."

  "I don't care about how close you two are. I just want to know what 'I paved the way for you' means." Yan Xijun asked with a furrowed brow.

  "Haha, Yan Xijun, you've never been very smart, have you? And yet now you're so foolish." Yang Qixue sneered and curled her lip. It's really hard to understand why the Emperor would choose her as a pawn to use.

  "I don't understand what you mean." Frankly speaking, it has always been Yan Xizhen's style to be straightforward. If she doesn't understand, she just says so and doesn't pretend to understand.

  Yang Qixue rubbed her temples and said: "How do you think the emperor treats me?"

  Yan Xijun thought for a moment before saying: "Very well."

  "What do you think would happen if I were to enter the palace and receive imperial favor? How would the other consorts in the palace react?"

  "Of course it's jealousy towards you, then hatred, and finally harming you in every possible way."

  "That's it! You've already put on a great show for me, haven't you?" Yang Qixue laughed again, but this time with a rather smug expression.

  Yan Xijun suddenly had a great realization. The fragments of the past moments were now clearly connected in her mind. Everything seemed to be linked and understood.

  No wonder I was inexplicably favored, then chosen and made pregnant, only to become a thorn in the eyes of all the other concubines. It turns out that everything was planned by someone from the very beginning. No wonder I always felt uneasy at heart back then. It turns out that I had been treated as prey long ago.

  No wonder she said that she had paved the way for her to enter the palace herself. She was really stupid, stupidly becoming someone else's shield. A scapegoat. If she hadn't spoken up, she would still be unaware of it.

  Yan Xijun's face turned ugly. She stared at Yang Qixue, gritting her teeth and said: "Was all of this your idea or his?"

  "What do you think?" Yang Qixue asked back without answering.

  "Where is he now?" Clenching her fists, Yan Xijun told herself in her heart: Calm down, calm down, don't get excited.

  Although her hands were clenched into fists through the wide sleeves, it was still evident that she was furious.

  And I am quite angry.

  "Oh dear, don't be so angry. The Emperor chose you, that's your good fortune..."

  "I'm asking you again, where is he?" Yan Xijun shouted loudly in anger.

  "What's the point of yelling at me so loudly? If you have the ability, go find him..."

  Yang Qixue hadn't finished speaking, but Yan Xijun had already turned around and left. Looking at the small angry figure, she curled her lip in a cold smile and shouted to the person in front of her: "You can go take a look at the imperial study."

  Yan Xijun's footsteps didn't stop. She continued walking forward. She wanted to go find him. She had to go ask clearly about some things.

  Yan Xijun was furious and stormed into the imperial study, but was intercepted by Luo Zhong before she even reached the door.

  "Lord Luo, let me in." Yan Xijun said furiously, being blocked by Luo Zhong.

  "De Fei, it's not that I don't want to let you in, but the rules of the imperial court have already been established. The consorts are not allowed to enter the Imperial Study." Luo Zhong looked at Yan Xiu Jun with difficulty, his heart still puzzled. Usually clever and gentle, what was wrong with her today?

  Look at her little face all red and full of anger. Who made her angry?

  "Lord, rules are dead, people are alive. Let me in, I have business with the Emperor."

  Luo Zhong clapped his hands together and said calmly, "Empress De, the Emperor is currently in the study reviewing memorials. If you really have an urgent matter, you can tell me, old slave, and I will go and report it for you."

  "It's not something that can be explained in a few words. This is between him and me, and others cannot convey it."

  Luo Zhong dusted off his clothes with a wave of his hand, bowed and said: "Empress De, since it's like this, I'm also helpless. If Your Majesty is not in a hurry, you can wait until the Emperor finishes reading the memorial and then talk to him."

  Yan Xijun's voice was firm: "No way. I must see him now. After finishing speaking, I will leave from Luo Zhong's side."

  Lu Gong stopped her again, his tone firm: "Your Majesty, don't make it difficult for me. If you really want to force your way in, I'll have no choice but to use force and won't let you enter the imperial study."

  "Hmph." Yan Xijun coldly snorted. Furiously laughing, he said: "Heh, you also dare to use force on me?"

  Luo Zhong remained silent, but he stood in the corridor and refused to budge an inch. His old eyes were filled with stubbornness.

  Yan Xijun couldn't bring himself to do it either. He knew that Chu Yixuan was a loyal and devoted servant, and would rather offend Yan Xijun himself than allow him to enter the imperial study.

  Just as he was hesitating, he suddenly heard a stern voice coming from the study room. "Luo Zhong, who is outside?"

  Yan Xikun's heart skipped a beat. She rushed to the front of Luo Zhong and replied, "Your Majesty, it is I, Yan Xikun. I have an urgent matter to discuss with you."

  Inside was silent for a moment. Then heard his voice. "Come in."

  "Your Majesty......" Luo Zhong hastily dissuaded, "What's wrong with Master? Can't the imperial consorts enter the imperial study? Why do you want to let her in?"

  "Shut your mouth." Yan Xijun glared at Luo Zhong fiercely, and Luo Zhong stopped talking. She turned her head with a pleased expression and pushed open the door to enter the imperial study.

  Yan Xijun saw Chu Yixuan sitting at the desk, reviewing memorials, his tall back, cold and handsome face, and arrogant expression all indicated that he was a master who would not tolerate any invasion.

  Looking at his sacred and inviolable face, Yan Xikun hesitated about whether or not to ask him those things. That Yang Zhao Rong didn't know if he had deceived her. What if there was no such thing? How could she reason with him? What if she provoked his anger? Her life would be in danger then.

  "Nothing's wrong? Why aren't you speaking up?" Chu Yixuan saw her enter for a long time without making a sound, so he stopped the work in his hands and looked up at her.

  I haven't seen her since the day she had a miscarriage. It's been several days since I last saw her, and she seems to have lost even more weight. Her once slightly rounded face has become thin and pointed. Those round and bright eyes are still as clear and spirited as ever.

  The jade belt around her waist outlined a slender waist that was barely the width of one's palm. She had really lost a lot of weight. Chu Yixuan looked at her, still feeling some guilt in his heart. Her innocent and carefree youth had been harmed by him, causing her to lose so much.

  "How come you have nothing to say when you see me?" Chu Yixuan looked at her with a hint of a smile, his voice carrying a subtle gentleness.