Gong Xinyue’s words were beyond anyone’s expectations in the room.

The guards holding Noble Consort Ya loosened their grip without thinking — carrying an imperial heir was no small matter.

Noble Consort Ya herself froze as well. She was pregnant — why didn’t she even know it herself?

“Your Majesty, please reconsider!” Gong Xinyue kowtowed again and again. “Please, Your Majesty, withdraw the order.”

Feng Qiongcang, his face somewhat pale, looked at Noble Consort Ya for a moment, then suddenly curled his lips.

“Very good! To think Noble Consort Ya is carrying my child. Guards, escort Noble Consort Ya back to Yaxiang Palace.”

“Yes.” An’bao nodded, then looked up at those in the hall. “Take Noble Consort Ya back!”

In the end, Noble Consort Ya was not taken to the imperial prison, but returned to her own Yaxiang Palace.

Inside, Noble Consort Ya sat on the main seat, still shaken. “Everyone, get out! All of you, get out of my sight!”

Everyone left except Gong Xinyue.

The crime Noble Consort Ya had committed was severe, and no one — whether they knew the truth or not — wanted to stay.

Who didn’t know that if the charge were confirmed, everyone in the entire household would suffer for it?

As Noble Consort Ya looked up while clutching her head, the only figure left in her sight was one person.

“Xiao You, aren’t you afraid?” she asked weakly.

Even the old maidservant who had served her for years had abandoned her, and yet she hadn’t expected this girl to stay.

“I am afraid.” Gong Xinyue came over holding a cup of tea and knelt down beside Noble Consort Ya. “My lady, drink some tea first.”

Noble Consort Ya took the cup, drank a mouthful, and set it down.

“What exactly happened?” Gong Xinyue picked up the teapot and refilled her cup.

Noble Consort Ya took a deep breath and leaned back against the backrest.

She rubbed her flat stomach and said in a somewhat hoarse voice, “Why did you say I’m carrying a child? He won’t believe it.”

“Feng Qiongcang has no ability whatsoever to get a woman with child. He doesn’t!”

“This servant had no choice.” Gong Xinyue set down the teapot and stood.

She came around behind Noble Consort Ya and gently massaged her shoulders.

“If this servant hadn’t said that, my lady would already be locked in the imperial prison by now, and it would be very hard to get out.”

“Do you think I can even get out first?” Noble Consort Ya laughed bitterly.

Just who had betrayed her — she no longer had the strength to pursue it now.

Feng Qiongcang knew she had meant to harm him; he would surely not let her go.

A’Jin was still on the battlefield, and the few remaining brothers of the Gao family were scarce — no one could save her now, could they?

“Does my lady wish to leave and seek out the Crown Prince?” Gong Xinyue knelt beside her, watching her.

“This servant might be able to get my lady out, only I don’t know if my lady would dare come with this servant.”

A flicker of light suddenly passed through Noble Consort Ya’s lifeless eyes.

She straightened her back and, in her excitement, clutched Gong Xinyue’s arm. “You can truly get me out of the palace?”

As long as she left the palace, she would still have a chance.

A’Jin had once said that the day he became king, she would be his empress.

She had worked so hard for so many years to build this up — she certainly wouldn’t give it up easily.

Gong Xinyue met Noble Consort Ya’s gaze, composed herself, and nodded firmly.

“This servant might have a way.” She patted the back of Noble Consort Ya’s hand lightly and stood up.

“My lady, please be patient. This servant will go out now to scout the way. Remember, until this servant returns, my lady must not go anywhere.”

Leaving those words of caution behind, Gong Xinyue left.

Not a single figure remained in the courtyard, yet there were no shortage of guards outside.

The imperial family knew no mercy — once misfortune befell a master, everyone who could hide, hid, and everyone who could flee, fled. Nothing was more normal than that.

Gong Xinyue wound her way through several places, evading watchful eyes, and slipped into the rear courtyard.

The moment she pushed open the door of a room, her brow furrowed, and she immediately drew a short blade and thrust it backward with force.