So what if she's my sister-in-law? You seduced me first.

late at night.

After Xie Xun left, Ning Yu lay on the bed unable to sleep. The sound of the night watchman's drum echoed through the palace gardens in the thick of night. She covered herself with the quilt and looked at the luxurious gauze curtains above her head, but she just couldn't fall asleep.

Since becoming pregnant, she has been very sleepy. One night she had insomnia and woke up the next day with dark circles under her eyes.

The head maid who came in to serve saw the water stains and fragments on the ground and quickly told the palace servants to clean them up first.

The well-trained matrons quickly cleaned the hall, and the calming incense burned in the incense burner. The head matron bowed and went over to help her up.

"Madam, please go and wash up first."

Ning Yu washed up in the washroom and lay back on the soft couch without eating.

Seeing her exhaustion, the head maid covered her with a soft quilt and gently comforted her, "Madam, the imperial physician's medicine has arrived. Drink it before you sleep."

Ning Yu kept her eyes closed and remained silent.

Each time, it was a merciless assault, crushing and trampling, treating her as a tool for sexual gratification. She never experienced any tenderness or mercy. Yet, how could this child be so robust that it couldn't be brought down?

Hearing the head maid still whispering words of comfort, she frowned and turned over.

The head maid shut her mouth and stopped trying to persuade her. She glanced at the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine being carried by the palace servants beside her, waved her hand, and left together.

Ning Yu woke up from a morning of sleep because she was hungry. When she was staying in the side hall, the food was rough, but after returning to Changxin Palace, her appetite was huge and she couldn't control her hunger.

She opened her eyes, got out of bed, and told the head maid at the palace gate that she was hungry. The maid was stunned for a moment.

Ning Yu didn't know what was wrong with her, so she licked her lips and repeated the sentence.

The stewardess's stunned face immediately broke into a smile, her wrinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes. "This old servant will have someone prepare it immediately."

No wonder His Majesty dotes on his wife so much. Just now, that soft, hungry look stunned her. So delicate and beautiful! Eyes and nose are perfectly shaped. How come other people are so beautiful, while she is so ugly?

"Aunt, you were a wonderful person when you were young, why belittle yourself?"

"Among those who can serve before the Emperor, there are a few ugly ones," the little palace maid flattered, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

Who doesn't like to hear nice things? The head maid patted her head as she walked away and said with a smile, "Have you distributed all the reward money?"

"Yes, yes, I've received it."

"We've all benefited from Madam's good fortune."

The treatment of pregnant empresses in the palace was naturally incomparable to that of women without children.

Even if arguing with His Majesty might lead to being forgotten and confined to the cold palace, the palace servants still dared not be negligent, because no one knew if one day she might rise in status because of her son.

Soon a large meal was served. Ning Yu sat on the stool, feeling so hungry she could eat a whole cow.

The head maidservant beside her served her food, saying, "Yesterday, His Majesty learned that the Lady was pregnant and bestowed great rewards upon the six palaces. This old servant also benefited from the Lady's joy."

Ning Yu paused in her eating, remaining silent, and quietly drank a few sips of ginseng tonic soup.

"His Majesty values ​​the Lady highly. Both the eldest son and the eldest daughter are His Majesty's first children after ascending the throne. Even if the Lady doesn't think of herself, she should think of the imperial heirs. She should apologize to His Majesty, and no matter how big the conflict is, it will be resolved."

Ning Yu realized that the head maid was trying to speak well of Xie Xun, hoping that she would humble herself and beg Xie Xun for forgiveness.

She ate her meal in silence, feeling that the food in her mouth was hard to swallow. Whenever they had an argument, everyone would pressure her, taking it for granted that she should apologize and beg for forgiveness.

Isn't it always her who bows her head?

After a couple of peaceful days, if anything goes wrong, he will fly into a rage again, and everyone will have to watch their step and act according to his mood. Her honor and disgrace are all tied to him alone.

so tired.

"I'm full, can I go for a walk?"

The tired voice interrupted the aunt's rambling. The head aunt immediately realized that she had overstepped her bounds. Thinking that His Majesty had not said anything before leaving and there were no instructions from above, she spoke up.

"Of course, Madam, you may go wherever you wish." He paused, then added, "However, Madam, are you full? You've only had a few sips of soup."

Ning Yu didn't want to eat anymore, so she wiped her mouth, rinsed it, and got up.

The weather was nice outside, so the head maid draped a cloak over her shoulders and followed behind with a hand warmer.

A dozen palace servants followed behind her. Ning Yu was displeased, but she didn't say anything. She slowly strolled around the palace along the stone steps.

It was midday, the sun was shining brightly, and the scenery of the palace gardens, pavilions, and towers was beautiful. Ning Yu wandered around for a while and felt her depressed mood improve slightly.

Just as she was enjoying the scenery around her in a fairly good mood, the head maid behind her suddenly stepped aside, knelt down and bowed, "Greetings, Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live ten thousand years."

Ning Yu was startled and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw a man in a black robe with gold accents walking from the other end of the garden, followed by a woman.

She recognized her; it was Xiao Yunnuan, the daughter of the Xiao family.

Her previously optimistic mood immediately plummeted. She lowered her eyes, glanced at the kneeling servants, and then bowed in greeting.

Ning Yu only saw a black robe pass by right under her nose without stopping. The woman behind her, wearing a smoky purple dress, hesitated for a moment, then stopped and smiled.

"Sister Ning."

Ning Yu slowly raised her head, and their eyes met. Xiao Yunnuan's eyes were filled with friendly goodwill. "We met at the Deer Hunting Ground that day, do you remember me?"

"Miss Xiao."

Xiao Yunnuan smiled faintly, glanced at the Emperor who had walked away, her eyelashes trembling slightly, "Your Majesty, this humble woman would like to have a chat with Sister Ning for a while."

She was summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager, who asked her to cultivate a relationship with the Emperor. When the Emperor came out, the Empress Dowager asked her to follow him, saying that she would pick up something on the way.

His Majesty didn't say much along the way, but she caught his gaze. When this Miss Ning walked over from the Jade Pool, His Majesty saw her at a glance.

"What's the point of talking to her?"

The cold, indifferent voice caused everyone present to react differently. Ning Yu's eyelids twitched, but she didn't look at the figure that had entered the corridor. Instead, she spoke calmly to Xiao Yunnuan, whose expression was unreadable.

"I won't disturb Your Majesty and Miss Xiao any longer. Please take care."

Xiao Yunnuan glanced at her flat stomach, chuckled, tucked her hair behind her ear, nodded in acknowledgment, and chased after the direction His Majesty had left in.

The two figures slowly walked away, and the scent of sandalwood seemed to linger in the air. Ning Yu looked at the goldfish in the pond, took a deep breath, and her desire to stroll around was gone. She lifted her foot and walked towards her bedroom.

She hadn't walked far when she remembered something, rubbed her forehead and eyes, and turned back to continue in that direction.