After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

The eunuch lowered his head and dared not answer.

Pei Heng originally intended to discuss state affairs with Xu Yanqing, but after listening to their conversation, he temporarily abandoned the idea.

Who's inside?

"Your Majesty, it is Miss Shen Lingyi, the second daughter of the General's Mansion."

Pei Heng was very familiar with this name. Many court officials had accused her of being arrogant and domineering, and of bullying noble ladies. Now it seemed that she should be added to the list of being incredibly audacious.

"Strengthen the palace guards; not even a fly should be allowed to get in."

"Yes."

Shen Lingyi and the other woman were completely unaware that the Emperor had been there. Xu Yanqing frowned deeply, "Do you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I know. If I, Shen Lingyi, am going to do something, I'll do it at the very top."

"Will Your Highness help or not?" Shen Lingyi proudly raised her chin, revealing her fair and plump neck, which made Xu Yanqing unable to refuse.

"His Majesty dislikes women being near him, and palace maids are forbidden from entering the Zichen Palace. Have you considered what you would do if this were to happen and you anger the Emperor?"

Xu Yanqing thought it was just a passing fancy. Seeing that there was no hope of becoming the Crown Prince, she used the Emperor as an excuse to play hard to get and make him jealous.

"I have my own way." Shen Lingyi's every smile and gesture was full of charm, her eyes gleaming with a determined light.

"I promise you, now you can talk about witchcraft, right?" Xu Yanqing rubbed his temples, looking rather helpless.

That's enough. After hitting a wall, I'll realize that climbing the social ladder isn't something you can do just by talking.

"A few days ago, I went to Xuanqing Temple to pray for blessings. On my way back, I met a wandering Taoist priest. He was the one who told me about the witchcraft doll. I didn't believe it at first, but if it was really as he said, it could help Your Highness. So I wrote that letter."

"Unfortunately, when I sent people to search again, the Taoist priest had already disappeared. He must have gone to travel elsewhere. The word 'chance' is truly wondrous."

Shen Lingyi rested her slender arms on her cheeks, sometimes frowning, sometimes smiling, as if recalling the events of that day.

Xu Yanqing's probing gaze fell on her, his eyes dazzled by her snow-white skin. He turned his head away, his voice growing colder, "You think you can fool me with just any old lie?"

The girl buried herself under the covers again, her voice breaking with grievance as she sobbed, "Why should Your Highness ask if you don't believe me?"

Xu Yanqing was stunned; it seemed he had truly misunderstood her.

Shen Lingyi said coquettishly, "However, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, let alone His Highness's birth mother. I am a magnanimous woman, unlike some people who are petty."

"That wandering Taoist priest also said that even if the witchcraft is broken, the effects on the body will still be irreversible. Does Your Highness's birth mother have symptoms of headaches and insomnia?"

"Do you know how to treat this?" Xu Yanqing rarely showed such joy. "Ahem, I was just in a moment of panic. It wasn't that I didn't trust you. Second Miss, please forgive me."

Shen Lingyi crawled out of bed, her long, curled eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her fair face. She bit her lip and pouted with a coquettish smile.

"This is a one-time offer."

She got off the bed and took out her writing implements, and Xu Yanqing offered to grind the ink for her.

The young girl's small regular script is elegant and refined, with subtle sharpness in the concealed strokes and restraint in the exposed strokes, making the person appear as if one were seeing her.

Peony was stunned and her heart was filled with excitement. How many people in the world could make the Crown Prince grind ink? Her young lady was too amazing!

"If you decoct and take this medicine according to the prescription, you will definitely see results within half a month." Shen Lingyi smiled slightly.

It's naturally effective; this prescription comes from the divine doctor that Shen Tingjiao found in the original storyline.

Shen Lingyi changed her clothes and attended the banquet side by side with Xu Yanqing, causing quite a stir.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he granted a general amnesty, and the people became more open-minded, allowing men and women to sit together.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and toasts at the banquet, an inappropriate sound broke out.

"She only showed up halfway through the banquet, and even His Majesty and the Crown Prince came. Miss Shen has quite the airs."

Looking in the direction of the voice, one could see that the person had bright eyes and white teeth, but a mole on the side of their nose marred their kind appearance.

She was Shen Tingjiao's best friend, Xie Chichun, the daughter of the General of the Thousand Bull Guard.

In the original storyline, Shen Tingjiao risked her life, only to be abandoned and left to rot in the wilderness.

Shen Lingyi clicked her tongue; she was a pitiful person too.

"What kind of look is that? Not only do you bully your own sister at home, but you also don't follow the rules at the palace banquet!"

Xie Chichun slammed her hand on the table and stood up. What a joke! She actually read the word "pitiful" in Shen Lingyi's eyes.

"Chi Chun, forget it." Shen Tingjiao bit her lip lightly, tugged at her sleeve, her eyes flickered slightly, as if she was afraid.

"I just can't stand her bullying you. You're supposed to be the young lady, but she always puts you down and you don't even have the money to go shopping."

Upon hearing this, everyone reacted with varying expressions and sighs.

Some busybodies waved away the dancing girls, allowing them to leisurely watch this good show.

Shen Lingyi's doe-like, wet eyes seemed to be frightened by her, misty and foggy. "Miss Xie, you've misunderstood. There was a reason I'm late. His Highness knows about it."

"Besides, Mother gives my sister more monthly allowance than I do, and whenever she hears that she's going out with her friends, she gives her some more. How could it not be enough?"

Xu Yanqing subtly stood in front of her and nodded in confirmation.

Shen Ting's petite face turned deathly pale, her fists clenched tightly in her sleeves, her nails digging deep into her palms.

"Why are you pretending to be pitiful!" Xie Chichun was furious. In the past, the two of them were always at odds and never gave an inch. Today, Shen Lingyi had actually learned to act cute and clever. She must be up to no good.

Shen Lingyi was weak after falling into the water, while Xie Chichun was arrogant and domineering, even more so than Shen Lingyi.

The guests were all young masters and ladies from various families, and they couldn't help but change their opinion of Shen Lingyi, this domineering woman.

After all, she is truly beautiful. Once she starts acting cute, the poor folks forget how she used to bully people.

"Your Highness, my daughter is not feeling well and would like to take her leave now."

Shen Lingyi didn't want to get entangled with her, so she left some things unsaid. Even if Xie Chichun was stupid, she would still reflect on her actions in her spare time.

Since Wei Chengrui wasn't there, she didn't need to stay any longer.

"I'll see you off."

Xu Yanqing felt guilty towards her, nodded to Shen Tingjiao, and then saw Shen Lingyi out of the palace.

Therefore, he didn't see Shen Tingjiao's jealous gaze.

Xu Yanqing dutifully escorted her to the carriage before leaving. After lowering the curtain, Shen Lingyi lay lazily on the couch, a smile playing on her lips, full of sarcasm and mockery.

He had no lingering affection or love for the crown prince; only ambition remained.

"Miss, why don't you strike while the iron is hot and take your relationship with the Crown Prince to the next level?"

When she left the palace, she could clearly sense that her mistress was becoming distant from the crown prince.

The specially made carriage had charcoal fires burning on it, and the table shelves held all kinds of pastries and snacks. The lower compartments contained self-defense weapons and books.

The soft couch was covered with a thick fox fur coat, which completely dispelled the cold.

Her luscious lips bit into the grape that Peony had peeled, and she parted her lips slightly, saying, "Men, what you can't have is always more alluring. If you're too proactive, the other person will only think you're cheap."

"Besides, your young lady no longer takes a liking to the Crown Prince."

Peony covered her mouth, which could swallow an egg, and asked, "Are you really going to harm the Emperor?"

Shen Lingyi chuckled, "Why not?"

She wanted the most noble man in the world to kneel at her feet, the courtiers to submit, and all the people to admire her.