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

Ning Yu had only seen Yun Shu twice in the past few days. He seemed to be busy with something and was basically nowhere to be seen.

The head maid kept a close eye on her all day, so she couldn't go looking for him. It was only that night that someone suddenly came in and told her that everything was almost settled and that she would be sent away in a couple of days.

"Tell me your plan." Ning Yu looked at Yun Shu, who had put down the tray, and sat up from the soft couch.

Upon hearing this, Yun Shu could only say a few words to her briefly. When she mentioned the Vice Minister of Justice, she frowned and asked, "Is he believable?"

"Princess Consort, rest assured. The Prince has been entrenched in the Northwest for many years, and many officials who have been promoted in the capital have learned their skills from the Xie family."

Ning Yu didn't want to implicate anyone, so it was best to sneak out with the Donghu envoy. If the Vice Minister of Justice was willing to turn a blind eye and help smooth things over with the palace gate guards, the inspection shouldn't be too strict.

The most important thing now is that she can freely enter and leave Changxin Palace.

"My subordinate is very skilled in light-footed martial arts. I will take the Crown Princess out when they change shifts."

No, Xie Xun's bodyguards are all top-notch experts. If anything goes wrong, the whole operation will be lost. This is her last chance to leave the palace, and she absolutely cannot allow any mistakes to happen.

"You go back first, I'll find a way to get out of Changxin Palace."

Yunshu carried the tray out.

The palace servants on night watch outside saw him come out and sneered, "The old lady sent you to serve the cat master, not to fawn over the madam."

She didn't dare to linger in front of the madam, for fear of displeasing her. That damned Yun'er is a scheming woman.

The lady is currently pregnant and unable to serve the emperor. This gives her more opportunities to gain favor with the lady and appear before His Majesty. I truly hope the lady doesn't like her and would rather have her executed.

Yun Shu had no idea what the palace maid was thinking, so she lowered her head and went to the warm pavilion where the fox cat lived.

The hall fell silent again. Ning Yu, wearing an outer robe, stood by the window looking at the night outside. She patted her flat stomach, thought for a while, and then took out a pill from her purse and swallowed it.

In the middle of the night, the palace servants on night watch suddenly heard cries of pain coming from inside. They quickly stood up and asked, "Madam, are you awake?"

"Come in."

The palace servants sensed something was wrong with the sound and quickly pushed open the door and went inside.

There were no lights in the palace, so she quickly lit a palace lantern, walked to the bedside, and lifted the bed curtains to look. She saw the lady lying on her side, her face pale, clutching her stomach, looking extremely uncomfortable.

She hurriedly knelt at the corner of the bed, "Madam, what's wrong?"

Ning Yu's voice was devoid of emotion. "Go find His Majesty and tell him I'm dying from stomach pain."

Ah---The palace maid didn't dare to delay, fearing something might happen to the child in her womb, so she quickly nodded and went, calling out to the head maid as she went.

The Changxin Palace was immediately brightly lit, and the palace servants who were serving quickly dressed and came out from the palace corridor of the living quarters.

The head maidservant spoke to the guards who were holding the key, and then took the palace lantern to the Imperial Study.

Xie Xun had been resting in the Imperial Study for the past few days. In the middle of the night, a commotion suddenly broke out outside. He lay on the couch, a shadow of gloom crossing his clear eyes.

The gentle breeze outside also heard the commotion at the palace gate and came down the steps.

"Please go in and announce that the Lady wishes to see His Majesty."

"His Majesty is asleep in the middle of the night, so we can't go in and risk getting into trouble. If Madam has a stomachache, go and summon the imperial physician. His Majesty doesn't know how to treat illnesses."

The head maid hurriedly stuffed silver into his hand, saying, "Madam is pregnant; if something really happens, neither of us can bear the responsibility."

"Alright, enough of that nonsense. If we wake His Majesty, we'll both be dead. Stop making a scene here and go back."

He was an old hand in the harem, so he knew exactly what this lady was up to.

Why would a perfectly healthy woman's stomach hurt? Instead of summoning the imperial physician, why call someone to fetch His Majesty? Isn't it just because she's been ignored for a few days and is getting anxious? It's just a tactic used by women in the harem to compete for favor.

When Qingfeng arrived, she saw her father-in-law shoving the head maid. Standing at the door, she asked, "What's wrong, Madam?"

The two stopped moving immediately, and the old man quickly stepped aside and explained the whole story.

The head maid added, "Madam has had a poor appetite these past few days, and suddenly experienced severe pain in the middle of the night, which is why this old servant has come to request an audience with His Majesty."

Qingfeng's expression was indifferent. "I understand. I'll go and inform them. You can go back now."

"Thank you for your trouble, sir."

The hall was pitch black, without a single ray of light. Qingfeng hesitated for a long time at the door before knocking and speaking. He didn't know if his master had been woken up.

"Your Majesty, a palace servant from Changxin Palace says that the Lady has a stomachache."

A voice, neither too loud nor too soft, slowly drifted into the hall. Xie Xun stood before the table, poured a cup of cold tea, and said, "Come in."

A gentle breeze pushed open the door and entered. Through the beaded curtain, she saw that the master of the inner palace was not asleep. He bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty."

"What's wrong with her?"

"They said they had a stomachache and wanted to see His Majesty."

Xie Xun gave a cold smirk. This woman was heartless and fickle. When she needed his help, she would pretend to be weak, affectionate, and dependent on him, but when she had nothing to do with him, she would kick him aside.

"What were her exact words?"

"Tell him—tell him you're going to see His Majesty and that you're dying of a stomachache."

What tricks are you playing? Xie Xun looked down at the rippling tea. "Go tell her that the pain is so bad it'll just solve the problem of the child in her belly, just as she wants."

"---"

Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, then respectfully turned and left. The moment he closed the door, he heard His Majesty's voice, "Find her an imperial physician."

"Yes."

When Ning Yu heard the words from the dog emperor, the pain in her stomach disappeared instantly, and her eyes were filled with an unreadable darkness.

The palace servants kneeling on the ground couldn't see the woman's expression inside the curtains, but they sensed that the atmosphere in the hall had suddenly changed.

The head maid instantly realized that the lady didn't actually have a stomachache, but wanted to see His Majesty. She breathed a sigh of relief; as long as it wasn't real pain, that was good.

"Madam, the imperial physician has arrived."

The imperial physician entered and took the patient's pulse behind the screen. The hall was completely silent, except for the occasional questions from the physician.

Ning Yu leaned against the bedside, her head slightly turned to the side. Strands of hair at her temples brushed against her neck. Her voice was tired and cold. "It's only been half an incense stick's time, but the pain is terribly intense."

The imperial physicians in the palace were all shrewd and experienced. They put away the red thread and said respectfully, "Madam, please rest assured, there is nothing serious. This old minister will go to the pharmacy to brew some medicine for you. Please drink it first and see how things go."

"Thank you for your help."

The imperial physician quickly replied that he dared not accept such praise, and then asked the head maid, "Have you kept records of my usual dietary supplements?"

"Naturally, the lady's diet is all in accordance with the dietary supplements prescribed by the Imperial Hospital, and all of this is recorded."

"Take me to see this."

After everyone left, Ning Yu frowned as she looked at her aching stomach and quickly tried to think of other solutions.

"The Crown Princess."

Yun Shu entered while the others weren't paying attention. Ning Yu looked at the person behind the screen, dressed neatly, and walked over.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you alright? I just heard you were dying, it scared me to death."

If he fails to complete the tasks assigned by his superiors, he will be a complete failure as a spy.

Ning Yu sighed. "I'm fine. Oh, by the way, you only told me that you'd send me out of the capital and that someone would meet me. Who was it?"

Yun Shu said in a low voice, "I don't know about that."

"Is there any news about the Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince is not in the capital, so don't worry. We have made all the necessary arrangements and will safely escort you to his side."

Ning Yu paused slightly, "Are you going to take me to see the Crown Prince?"

"Yes, the young master will arrange everything for you afterwards."

Ning Yu recalled the last time she escaped and was caught, and nodded faintly. Now she could only follow his arrangements.

The imperial physician personally prepared a bowl of nourishing soup for him before going to the imperial study to report.

In the dead of night, His Majesty was not asleep. He knelt on the ground, bowed and greeted His Majesty through the beaded curtain, and reported the matter in detail.