Meeting such a man was also Han Lu’s accumulated virtue from her past life—he walked into her traps step by step.

She raised her eyes to look at the Crown Prince, tears brimming in her eyes: “What does it matter that I’m with child? Won’t people still say I’m a singing girl’s daughter? Today someone didn’t take this concubine seriously either. I kindly invited her to the garden, wanting to get acquainted, but that person’s eyes were full of contempt and she avoided me. Seeing her gaze, this concubine felt truly terrible…”

As soon as she finished speaking, tears fell with a patter. Ming Xun felt heartbroken watching and hurriedly asked: “Who was that person? Tell me and I’ll stand up for you.”

Han Lu lowered her gaze: “How would I know her? I only heard you call her husband ‘Lord Gu.’ That madam was gorgeously dressed and seemed like someone this concubine cannot afford to offend…”

The Crown Prince understood: “You mean Gu Chaobei’s wife, Shen Guiyan?”

“Probably.” Han Lu bit her lip: “Originally I thought we had some connection and wanted to chat with her. Who knew she would…”

“You must have misunderstood.” The Crown Prince smiled, placing her on the bed and saying softly: “That Lady Shen Guiyan is praised by all for being well-read and courteous. She certainly wouldn’t look down on you. Before she was betrothed in her youth, my mother consort even wanted to arrange this marriage for me. Who knew the Empress would obstruct it, and in the end the Gu family claimed her.”

When mentioning Shen Guiyan, who wouldn’t praise her as well-read and courteous? Though people found it regrettable that she married Gu Chaobei, she had repeatedly helped Chaobei rise—truly an extraordinary woman.

Even hearing these few words from Han Lu, the Crown Prince remained dismissive. Women were petty—probably Han Lu just found Shen Guiyan disagreeable.

“Rest well. I’ll have servants prepare nourishing supplements for you.” The Crown Prince said gently and turned to leave.

Han Lu was furious to half-death. He actually didn’t believe her? And spoke well of Shen Guiyan instead? Was Shen Guiyan such a precious commodity that everyone fought over her—wasn’t it all because of that fortune-teller’s nonsense? She had originally felt some fondness for Ming Xun, but because of these words, it was completely obliterated.

She recalled what the Empress had said when summoning her to the palace, and secretly made a decision in her heart.

If he wouldn’t help her, then she couldn’t be blamed for being heartless.

The Imperial Medical Bureau, due to the Emperor’s critical illness, sought century-old ginseng and similar items from various places. The Gu manor naturally had some. Without a word, Chancellor Gu gave it to Gu Chaobei and told him to go present it with Shen Guiyan.

The various concubines in the manor were all unwilling, and Madam Gu’s expression was especially unpleasant. Gu Chaobei was neither a legitimate son nor rule-abiding—why give him such precious medicinal materials to curry favor?

However, Gu Chaonan came over and said: “Fourth Brother, just go. If you do well, Second Brother’s heart will be at ease. We brothers don’t split hairs over such things.”

The words were truly moving. Gu Chaobei also softened and remembered Second Brother’s sentiment.

However, he still had Shen Guiyan deliver the ginseng while he got off the carriage halfway, saying he was going to check on the Drunken Flower Shade.

Shen Guiyan wasn’t surprised at all. She had a vague feeling in her heart that the worse he appeared now, the safer he would be in the future.

Carrying the ginseng to present it, she encountered the Crown Prince and Han Lu on the road.

Speaking of which, Han Lu was truly formidable. Since being established as official consort, the Crown Princess had never again appeared by the Crown Prince’s side. No matter what he did, she accompanied him.

Shen Guiyan bowed to them and saw Han Lu also holding a box in her hands.

“Lord Gu didn’t come?” The Crown Prince asked curiously.

Shen Guiyan smiled: “Him? A fox spirit snatched him away halfway. Only Guiyan could come present the ginseng.”

Han Lu stepped forward and smiled at her: “Madam Gu has worked hard. In my box is a century-old snow lotus. Would you like to see it?”

A completely familiar manner—who knew what she’d ingested wrong. Shen Guiyan was on guard and had just wanted to refuse when Han Lu directly pulled her over. The Crown Prince beside them hurriedly said: “Madam Gu, please support Han Lu carefully. She’s with child.”

A person with child couldn’t be touched carelessly. Shen Guiyan was extremely careful. However, passing through the Imperial Garden all the way, Han Lu pulled her along walking behind the Crown Prince, chatting and laughing without making any moves. Just as Shen Guiyan was starting to relax a bit, the two reached the arched bridge.

“Oh my!” Han Lu, grasping her hand, dragged it toward herself while pretending her box slipped from her hands and fell into Jade Liquid Lake below the arched bridge.

With a “splash,” water splattered everywhere. The wooden box, which had somehow opened, floated up, but the snow lotus inside didn’t surface.

Ming Xun ahead turned back in surprise to see Shen Guiyan pulling her hand back while Han Lu looked down at the bridge with a panicked expression, almost crying: “What are you doing, madam? Do you know how precious that snow lotus is! The Crown Prince searched for half a year and only obtained this one. How could you…”

Shen Guiyan frowned, about to explain, when the Crown Prince had already ordered palace servants to retrieve it.

The snow lotus had been dried and preserved. Falling into the lake, it scattered apart. The heart of the flower sank to the bottom and couldn’t be found. The petals were bedraggled and naturally could no longer be presented to the Emperor.

The Crown Prince’s expression was somewhat unpleasant as he looked at Han Lu: “How could you be so careless?”

Han Lu looked completely aggrieved, as if unable to defend herself. However, a maid following behind said: “How can Her Ladyship the Consort be blamed? It was clearly Madam Gu who deliberately made trouble just now and pushed Her Ladyship’s hand, causing the box to fall.”

The Crown Prince frowned. Shen Guiyan said through gritted teeth: “Guiyan was walking perfectly well. How would I go push someone? Just now it was clearly Her Ladyship the Consort who pulled Guiyan’s hand to…”

“Enough.” The Crown Prince said: “The item is already gone. What use is saying all this? Go apologize to Father Emperor!”

He didn’t blame Shen Guiyan, but his words carried anger. Just now when he turned around, he clearly saw Shen Guiyan pulling her hand back. Women having conflicts and minor squabbles was one thing, but he hadn’t expected Shen Guiyan to be so lacking in propriety, destroying such precious snow lotus.

He noted this debt in his heart. Though he didn’t pursue it openly, afterward he was no longer as trusting toward Gu Chaobei.

Shen Guiyan drew a deep breath and walked far away. She knew she shouldn’t get too close to this woman—whenever she got close, nothing good happened.

Han Lu’s face was full of guilt, but her eyes were quite pleased. Watching the Crown Prince sulk, she fanned the flames: “Without the snow lotus, won’t His Majesty think my lord lacks filial piety? At such a critical time…”

The Crown Prince irritably waved his hand and went straight to the Emperor’s bedchamber, kneeling for half an hour. The Emperor lay on the bed, saying with his mouth not to mind it, yet he didn’t reward him—only rewarding others who had brought gifts.

This made the Crown Prince even angrier. Leaving the palace, he summoned Gu Chaobei and said with a dark expression: “Regarding today’s gift presentation, this Crown Prince doesn’t wish to say more. But your wife should be properly disciplined. She lacks propriety and trapped me in unfilial injustice. It’s only for your sake that this Crown Prince won’t pursue it.”

Gu Chaobei had been in a state of indecision, but the Crown Prince delivered this blow. Fine—the path ahead became very easy to decide.

He still had to thank that eternally restless woman Shen Guiya. The more trouble she caused, the more advantageous it was for him.

Shen Guiyan returned to the manor and shut herself in her room for a long time without emerging. Finally, Gu Chaobei opened the door and embraced her with a smile: “What’s wrong?”

“I feel like I’m too stupid.” Shen Guiyan said sullenly: “Knowing that person certainly wouldn’t let me have peace, yet I still couldn’t avoid her.”

Gu Chaobei amusedly pinched her nose: “You can’t avoid her not because you’re stupid, but because her status is what it is and she has the Crown Prince backing her. If you want to avoid her, you can only stand higher than her.”

How to stand higher? Shen Guiyan was extremely dejected. This lifetime she wanted to live peacefully and steadily, not compete for power and profit.

“I’d better not leave the manor.”

Gu Chaobei laughed lightly. This was an era where women depended on men. Naturally she didn’t need to climb—he would take her up.

In the imperial palace.

The Empress, listening to the imperial physician’s report, frowned: “How much longer can you delay?”

The imperial physician kowtowed trembling: “Replying to Your Majesty, this humble subject can only do his utmost to sustain His Majesty until early spring. Beyond that, I am powerless.”

The Empress’s complexion was very unpleasant. Supporting her forehead, she waved for him to leave.

Currently the Crown Prince assisted in governance. His arrogance grew increasingly unbridled, and he didn’t put her in his eyes at all. She wanted to eliminate him. However, this realm couldn’t have a woman sit on the dragon throne. She could only find someone else to elevate.

But without imperial bloodline, how would the clan relatives acknowledge anyone? The Empress was so anxious her hair was turning white.

“Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort requests an audience.” A palace maid outside reported.

Lady Nian? Wen Xiuli had always most detested this woman. She was too beloved by the Emperor. If not for losing her child, her position as Empress wouldn’t have been so secure in earlier years.

Now the Emperor was dying—what did she want to say by coming?

The Empress laughed coldly and waved for someone to admit her.

Lady Nian was extremely well-maintained. Walking in, she moved like a lotus blooming with each step, watching which made Empress Wen quite displeased.

“Your Majesty the Empress, may you have peace.” Lady Nian curtsied. The Empress ignored it and only asked: “You have business?”

Lady Nian straightened herself and smiled at her: “With His Majesty critically ill, this concubine figured elder sister would also be at her wit’s end, so I’ve brought elder sister a prescription.”

“Hmph, what good intentions could you have?” Empress Wen said coldly: “Once His Majesty dies, you can only enjoy your twilight years in the Cold Palace. Best not struggle now.”

“How is this struggling?” Lady Nian smiled lightly and took out a wooden hairpin from her bosom: “Does elder sister remember that palace maid in my palace who was favored many years ago?”

Empress Wen froze. How could she not remember? That palace maid later became pregnant and was said to have been quietly executed by Lady Nian.

“What are you trying to say?”

Lady Nian waved the wooden hairpin: “This concubine only wishes to tell Your Majesty—no need to be too anxious. In this world, there is another imperial prince. Your Majesty’s control of the realm still has hope.”

Empress Wen was greatly shocked, staring blankly at the hairpin in her hand.

These past two days, Gu Chaobei had been especially troublesome—not only beating people at the Drunken Flower Shade over White Fox and getting embroiled in lawsuits, but also frequently staying out and not returning. Everyone in the manor worried greatly, fearing this Fourth Young Master had reverted to his former profligate ways.

But Shen Guiyan wasn’t worried, because every night at midnight, Gu Chaobei would climb over the wall to return.

“Aren’t you tired doing this?” Shen Guiyan couldn’t help asking: “Is being open and aboveboard so difficult?”

“Difficult.” Gu Chaobei clicked his tongue twice, his eyes gazing deeply at her: “Your husband is doing great things. Do you believe it or not?”