[1]The Consort is Both Charming and Scheming, Rising Through Palace Intrigue

Cheng Yin gave Ning Shuyan a playful glare with a smile. "You really are cautious."

After speaking, Ning Shuyan looked up and swept her gaze across the crowd. She noticed Lady Ying Zhaoyi looking at her. Their eyes met, and as Ying Zhaoyi gave her a faint smile and nodded, Ning Shuyan returned the gesture with a nod.

"Is Xue Baolin feeling unwell?" Lady Chu Baolin's voice rang out, causing everyone to look over.

They saw Xue Baolin clutching her chest, her face pale, clearly looking very uncomfortable. She raised her head and saw both the emperor and empress watching her. She slowly stood and said, "This concubine is feeling a bit nauseous. I've disturbed Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress."

Her belly was round and protruding; even standing seemed to be a struggle.

Xiao Yu quickly said, "It's alright. If you're unwell, you may return to your palace."

But Xue Baolin shook her head and placed a hand gently on her belly. "This concubine is fine."

With that, a palace maid helped her sit down slowly, instinctively shielding her belly and leaning back.

Ning Shuyan observed her. Whether in ancient or modern times, the saying always held true—nine out of ten pregnant women lose their grace. Xue Baolin's figure had grown quite plump, and faint pregnancy spots had begun to appear on her face.

Knowing that Xiao Yu cared deeply about appearance, Ning Shuyan thought that if Xue Baolin still looked like this after childbirth, she might completely fall out of favor.

After the banquet dispersed, Ning Shuyan originally planned to return in her sedan chair, but as soon as she exited the hall, Cheng Yin grabbed her hand. "The sun's not too strong today. Walk back with me."

Though she said that, she lifted her semi-transparent magnolia fan to shade herself from the sun.

Her skin, already pale, glowed like smooth jade under the light—radiant and luminous.

Ning Shuyan playfully rolled her eyes. "Alright, I'll walk back with you. Otherwise, you'll say I've grown distant now that I have a sedan chair."

Cheng Yin smiled brilliantly, bright as the morning sun.

As they walked, she said, "Tell me, do you think the Empress truly cares about the Crown Prince?"

Ning Shuyan gently fanned herself with a faint sandalwood scent in the air. "There should be some genuine affection there. After all, the Empress has no children of her own. Her future depends on this son."

Still, there were certainly some political motivations involved.

History had shown countless examples of empresses supporting adopted heirs who later turned on them and posthumously honored their birth mothers instead. It was all too common.

If you truly love him, at the very least you might be rewarded with peace in your later years.

Just then, a eunuch hurried past Ning Shuyan and Cheng Yin. Cheng Yin frowned. "What's he rushing for?"

The eunuch turned back, recognizing the two and bowing deeply. "Greetings to Your Ladyships. Forgive this servant's carelessness."

Ning Shuyan said lightly, "What's going on to make you so flustered?"

The eunuch quickly replied, "The bearers of Lady Xue's sedan chair slipped, and the chair dropped. Lady Xue was jolted and is now experiencing contractions and severe abdominal pain. This servant is heading to inform the Emperor and Empress."

Both women were startled—she'd looked fine just moments ago. How could the bearers have slipped? They exchanged wide-eyed looks.

"Go quickly," Ning Shuyan said.