Hearing Cuihong’s words, Wei Qiang’s eyes suddenly deepened.

Medicine taken after receiving favor?

“Yu Niang, what medicine is this?” Wei Qiang looked at the pale-faced woman and asked coolly.

Zhaohua knelt down, her nails digging desperately into her palms.

Wei Qiang looked down from above at her exposed slender neck.

So fragile, as if it could snap with a light twist.

“What medicine is it exactly?” Zhaohua’s silence caused coldness to rise in Wei Qiang’s heart.

After who knows how long, he heard the prostrate woman say softly: “It’s contraceptive medicine.”

As soon as these words were spoken, shocked cries rose all around. Cuihong’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She had thought that at the very least, the Imperial Physician would be summoned for an examination to leave Consort Yu speechless.

She never expected Consort Yu would just admit it like this.

Zhaohua knelt on the cold floor as if falling into an icy cavern.

Her secret use of contraceptive medicine had been called out by Cuihong on the spot, with the Crown Prince right before her eyes.

If she stubbornly refused to admit it, the Crown Prince would summon the Imperial Physician for examination. Learning the truth afterward would only make him even more furious.

Rather than that, it was better to admit it directly and preserve a thread of hope for survival.

Upon hearing the three words “contraceptive medicine,” a surge of rage immediately rose in Wei Qiang, impacting him until his head felt like splitting.

He walked before Zhaohua, yanked her up with one hand, and questioned harshly: “Contraceptive medicine? Why would you take contraceptive medicine?”

Zhaohua kept her head lowered and said nothing.

There were over ten palace attendants serving in this place, all of whom had been alarmed and come over.

Wei Qiang’s icy gaze swept over these people once, and he shouted: “All of you, get out!”

The palace attendants withdrew like a receding tide, leaving only the two of them in the room.

“Why exactly would you take contraceptive medicine?” Wei Qiang asked through gritted teeth, veins bulging at his temple.

All these years, he had been hoping to have a child with Yu Niang.

Yu Niang was one of Luo’er’s favorite maids. Luo’er would surely love her child.

But this woman actually dared to take contraceptive medicine!

The more Wei Qiang thought about it, the angrier he became, squeezing Zhaohua’s wrist until it hurt.

Tears streamed down Zhaohua’s face as she finally spoke: “This concubine feared the Princess would blame me—”

Wei Qiang’s pupils suddenly contracted: “Are you saying Luo’er resents me?”

Zhaohua fell silent.

“Speak! Does Luo’er resent me? Is that why you’re unwilling to bear even half a child?” The red-eyed man pressed the pale, frail woman, completely forgetting to show pity.

At this moment, he only felt anger and fear.

He was angry at this woman’s deception, afraid that Luo’er would not forgive him.

“Has Luo’er appeared in your dreams, forbidding you to bear my child?”

If this was the case, then while Luo’er resented him, she also cared about him, didn’t she?

Zhaohua covered her face and wept: “No, the Princess has never appeared in my dreams. I thought the Princess blamed me—”

“Enough, don’t say anymore! Starting tomorrow, you will move out of Yu Lang Studio.” Wei Qiang couldn’t bear to listen anymore. He pushed Zhaohua forcefully outward and strode out in large steps.

Outside the door, palace attendants knelt all over the ground, trembling and not daring to make a sound.

Wei Qiang swept his cold gaze over them, his eyes finally settling on Cuihong.

Cuihong kept her head lowered, calling out tremulously: “Your Highness—”

Wei Qiang kicked her in the chest and left in large strides.

The news that the Crown Prince had erupted at Consort Yu and ordered her to move out of Yu Lang Studio spread throughout the Eastern Palace as if it had grown wings.

The matron in charge of Eastern Palace internal affairs came early the next morning to escort Zhaohua out of Yu Lang Studio, dispatching her to a remote residence so she wouldn’t offend the Crown Prince’s eyes.

As for the palace attendants of Yu Lang Studio, two or three were left to watch over the courtyard while the rest were reassigned.

“What? You want me to continue serving Consort Yu?” When receiving this news, Cuihong was shocked to the point of heartache.

That kick from the Crown Prince last night had not been light.

The palace maid delivering the message softly consoled her: “You exposed Consort Yu, so His Highness is certainly taking his anger out on you right now. If the Crown Princess were to arrange for you to serve the Crown Prince immediately, it would likely be counterproductive.”

Hearing this, Cuihong became somewhat anxious: “But—”

“No ‘buts.’ The Crown Princess said you should serve Consort Yu for now. When His Highness’s anger subsides, she’ll make arrangements for you.”

“But I exposed Consort Yu—how can I continue serving her—”

The palace maid smiled: “That’s precisely why you’re suitable. Don’t forget, the current Consort Yu is not the same as the former Consort Yu.”

Cuihong was stunned.

The palace maid leaned close to Cuihong’s ear and said in an extremely low voice: “Consort Yu has a delicate body and weak constitution, yet her temperament is proud and she can’t bear grievances. If you take advantage of this opportunity… you’ll certainly be rewarded with wealth and honor.”

Cuihong’s heart jumped, and she slowly nodded.

She and Consort Yu had already formed a great enmity. Even without the Crown Princess’s hints, there was no way back.

Either you die, or I live.

Receiving the report, the Crown Princess smiled with satisfaction: “So you’re saying there are only two palace maids left serving Consort Yu now?”

Her trusted matron replied: “Yes, one is Cuihong, and the other is named Qing’er. That Qing’er seems to have some genuine affection for Consort Yu.”

The Crown Princess sneered: “A bit of affection can’t withstand wearing down. What’s more, whether she can last until that affection is worn away is still questionable.”

Having lost the Crown Prince’s favor, Consort Yu was nothing.

Malicious words cut like knives.

That lowly servant who would topple at a breeze—with a vicious slave like Cuihong tormenting her, surviving until autumn would be fortunate.

The Crown Princess finally felt she had expelled a foul breath. She straightened her clothing and lifted her foot to go to Zhaohua’s newly assigned residence.

The new place was a remote small courtyard with low eaves that barely saw sunlight.

Cuihong and Qing’er were quarreling.

“Why did you expose the Consort? Now look—the Consort has fallen into misfortune, and what good does it do you!”

“Qing’er, you’re wrong about this. We serve the Consort because she belongs to His Highness. Our true masters are His Highness and the Crown Princess. The Consort killing the heir’s bloodline is a grave crime. Did you expect me to cover for her and commit a crime together?”

“You—” Qing’er was furious but her tongue was clumsy and she couldn’t out-argue her.

A cough sounded.

“What are you two squabbling about? Why haven’t you greeted the Crown Princess?”

The two turned around together and bowed to the approaching Crown Princess.

“Where is Consort Yu?”

“In reply to the Crown Princess, the Consort is inside. This servant will go call her—”

“No need.” The Crown Princess signaled for Cuihong and Qing’er to remain outside and walked in with two palace maids.

The interior was dimly lit, permeated with a deathly atmosphere.

The Crown Princess was quite satisfied with this atmosphere.

In the past, Consort Yu’s days had been even more comfortable than her own as Crown Princess.

A mere maid—wasn’t she afraid her meager fortune would shorten her life?

“Greetings to the Crown Princess.” Zhaohua curtsied in respect.

The Crown Princess stared at Zhaohua for a moment, then let out a cold laugh: “Consort Yu, you killed the Crown Prince’s bloodline. Do you know that’s a capital offense?”

Zhaohua changed from a curtsy to kneeling, her tone humble: “This servant-concubine is guilty.”

The Crown Princess narrowed her eyes.

In such circumstances, this lowly servant could still maintain such composure.

A maid not acting like a maid—how exactly did Princess Qingyang train her?

The Crown Princess lifted her foot and used her embroidered shoe adorned with rice-pearl beads to lift Zhaohua’s chin, laughing lightly: “Consort Yu is the person closest to His Highness’s heart. His Highness can’t bear to punish you, so naturally I as Crown Princess won’t punish you either. Consort Yu can rest assured.”