The Crown Princess furiously complained in her heart, but her face remained impassive. “Why does Your Highness want to invite Miss Luo into the palace to visit?”

Could it be that His Highness had taken a fancy to Miss Luo?

The Crown Princess wasn’t worried about this.

The Crown Prince’s heart only held that short-lived Qingyang Princess. If you said he’d transferred his affections to Qingyang Princess’s maid, she’d believe it, but taking a fancy to Miss Luo was absolutely impossible.

“Miss Luo helped with a favor, and she—” Wei Qiang found it somewhat difficult to say. “She wants to see what Consort Yu looks like.”

The Crown Princess was stunned.

She didn’t know if it was because she hadn’t slept well, but her mind seemed unable to process this.

What connection did these two things have?

Seeing the Crown Princess’s expression, Wei Qiang immediately understood what she was thinking, and a wave of irritation rose in his heart.

He also knew it was somewhat absurd, but that was Miss Luo who even kept male favorites—she couldn’t be judged by common reasoning. Couldn’t the Crown Princess be a bit understanding?

Adopting a serious expression, Wei Qiang said coolly, “Crown Princess, just remember to invite Miss Luo into the palace. When the time comes, have Consort Yu come over and let her meet her, that’s all.”

“But why does Miss Luo want to meet Consort Yu?” The Crown Princess could see that Wei Qiang didn’t want to say, but she was too curious.

Occasionally, it was acceptable not to completely follow the Crown Prince’s wishes.

Wei Qiang’s face darkened.

He hadn’t expected the Crown Princess to be so tactless.

Thinking it over, even if he didn’t say it now, once Miss Luo and the Crown Princess met face to face, she would probably spill it anyway. He might as well tell her.

“Miss Luo took a fancy to Wei Wen’s bracelet. Hearing that there’s another one with Consort Yu, she wants to meet her.”

“Miss Luo wants to demand Consort Yu’s bracelet in person?” The Crown Princess was shocked.

Wei Qiang was also shocked.

Was that what Miss Luo was planning?

That couldn’t be.

Steadying himself, Wei Qiang forced a smile. “Crown Princess, you’ve misunderstood. Miss Luo just heard that the other bracelet is with Consort Yu and is curious to meet her.”

“So that’s how it is.” The Crown Princess’s face remained impassive, but she sneered inwardly.

What, was she curious about what kind of enchanting beauty Consort Yu possessed that had the Crown Prince so thoroughly bewitched?

Having said what needed to be said and obtained the banknotes, Wei Qiang stood up. “I still have matters to attend to. Crown Princess, you must be busy as well.”

“Respectfully seeing off Your Highness.” The Crown Princess performed a curtsy.

Once Wei Qiang left, the Crown Princess leaned against the screen, her emotions difficult to calm for a time.

Consort Yu, again it was Consort Yu.

The Crown Prince had specifically come to find her, but in the end it was still for Consort Yu.

Even that Miss Luo had grown curious about Consort Yu and was specially entering the palace to see her.

This wasn’t looking at Consort Yu—this was slapping her face.

The reputation of Consort Yu’s favor had spread outside the palace. Didn’t that just make her, the Crown Princess, look like a joke?

A maid left behind by Qingyang Princess had actually trampled over her head as Crown Princess…

The more the Crown Princess thought about it, the more vexed she became.

Who knew how much time had passed when her trusted nanny quietly came to report. “Crown Princess, there’s news from Imperial Physician Wang’s side.”

“How is it?” The Crown Princess straightened her expression, her heart both tense and expectant.

To speak of it, over these years Consort Yu had been rather well-behaved, not presuming to appear before her eyes without knowing her place.

Originally she could have continued ignoring her like this, but who knew the Crown Prince would recently act somewhat abnormal toward Consort Yu.

Besides her as Crown Princess and Consort Yu, the Crown Prince had several other concubines, all added successively over these years.

Each one younger than the last, each one more beautiful than the last.

What made Consort Yu special was that for many years, the Crown Prince unfailingly went to her several times every month, unlike the other concubines who were cast aside once the novelty wore off.

But recently it had been different. Not only had the Crown Prince suddenly increased the frequency of his visits to Consort Yu, he even went there on the first of the month, not to mention last night when he specifically brought food from outside the palace that Consort Yu liked to eat.

This was the Crown Prince, not an ordinary man.

Being so thoughtful in pleasing a concubine—she didn’t believe he hadn’t developed true feelings.

The Crown Princess reached out, her hand falling on her flat abdomen.

Married to the Crown Prince for six years, she had only borne him one daughter, Wan’er. Since then there had been no movement.

If the Crown Prince had truly fallen for Consort Yu, once Consort Yu gave birth to a son, she didn’t believe the position of Crown Princess would remain so secure.

No—if the Crown Prince remained the Crown Prince, the position of Crown Princess would still be secure. But what about after the Crown Prince ascended the throne?

Thinking this way, the Crown Princess’s heart felt as if it were immersed in a cold pool.

And her trusted nanny’s words greatly surprised her.

“In reply to Your Highness the Crown Princess, Imperial Physician Wang says those pills have contraceptive effects.” As Nanny Gui spoke these words, she also found it inconceivable.

Had Consort Yu gone mad? Facing the Crown Prince’s intimacy, she was actually using contraception.

“She—why would she do this?” The Crown Princess murmured.

Nanny Gui couldn’t provide an answer.

Who could make sense of it?

Beauty fades and love cools; a mother’s status depends on her son.

If a woman didn’t bear a child to depend on, could she really think she could live her whole life relying on that bit of the Crown Prince’s favor?

“Crown Princess, should we have Cui Hong stand down—”

In Nanny Gui’s view, a concubine who wouldn’t bear children was nothing to worry about.

“Let me think.” The Crown Princess leaned against the screen, rubbing the space between her brows.

The news from Imperial Physician Wang had truly thrown her plans into disarray.

Previously, she had simply thought Consort Yu was weak in constitution, or that heaven had eyes and prevented that woman who enjoyed all the Crown Prince’s favor from conceiving.

But she never imagined the woman was taking contraceptive drugs.

What she dreamed of obtaining was something a mere concubine disdained.

This thought made the Crown Princess even more vexed. Vicious energy grew wildly like spring weeds, covering her heart chamber so no light could enter.

After a long while, the Crown Princess said word by word, “No. I will use this opportunity to eliminate Consort Yu!”

People’s thoughts can change. She hadn’t taken Consort Yu seriously before, but now hadn’t she developed murderous intent?

And Consort Yu—she didn’t want children now, but who knew about the future?

Once such a woman developed a competitive mindset, she was often even more terrifying.

Rather than nurturing a tiger to invite calamity, better to eliminate this hidden danger now.

“Nanny Gui, tell someone to say to Cui Hong…”

Nanny Gui nodded repeatedly and left to carry out the orders.

Still by that same artificial mountain.

Cui Hong listened to the palace maid’s instructions from the Crown Princess’s side, her face full of terror. “You want—you want me to personally expose the Consort?”

The palace maid smiled faintly. “Is there anyone more suitable than you? Consort Yu secretly takes contraceptive drugs, extinguishing imperial bloodline—her sins are grave. If you expose Consort Yu, that’s meritorious service. Our mistress won’t mistreat those who render meritorious service.”

Having said this, the palace maid lowered her voice with a hint of enticement. “Cui Hong, don’t you envy Consort Yu? When you think about it, Consort Yu’s birth isn’t any more noble than ours…”

Cui Hong was so excited her voice trembled. “You’re saying the Crown Princess will, will—”

The palace maid pressed her index finger to Cui Hong’s lips, shaking her head. “Don’t mention noble status.”

Cui Hong nodded vigorously. “I understand, I understand.”

She was younger than Consort Yu, more gentle and considerate than Consort Yu. As long as she had the opportunity, why couldn’t she become a second Consort Yu?

The palace maid smiled sweetly. “Since you understand, then hurry back. We’ll await your good news.”