That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

On Suzaku Avenue, things are different today than they used to be.

Although Consort Rong's procession was not earth-shattering, it was still quite eye-catching.

Surrounded by hundreds of guards and palace maids, the road was cleared, and the common people were kept at a distance, standing on tiptoe and craning their necks, talking in hushed tones about the favored Consort Rong.

The Su family mansion was filled with joy, and the vermilion gates were wide open.

For Grand Tutor Su, this was not only his daughter's return home, but also a display of the family's glory.

"Her Majesty has returned to the palace—"

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Consort Rong slowly stepped down. She wore a light pink magnolia-patterned dress, her back ramrod straight, her chin slightly raised, and her gaze calmly swept over her family members kneeling below.

She stepped into the mansion surrounded by the crowd.

Consort Rong went to her grandfather's room. Her grandfather was so thin that he was unrecognizable, just a bunch of bony bones.

"Grandfather," Consort Rong said, her voice dry and trembling.

Su Yuan's eyelids trembled with difficulty as he slowly opened them a crack, forcing a smile.

"Xianning is back."

Consort Rong held Su Yuan's cold, withered hand and choked out many words of comfort.

The old man on the bed let his cloudy eyes linger on her face for a moment, then, with all his might, uttered a few words:

"Xianning, give birth to a prince soon."

This was Su Yuan's last expectation of her, and also his final entrustment to the future of the Su family.

Consort Rong nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her face.

After Su Yuan took his medicine and fell asleep, Consort Rong and Grand Tutor Su went to the main hall.

Consort Rong asked, "Father, is Grandfather still in contact with Prince Rui because he is seriously ill?"

Upon hearing this, Grand Tutor Su's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and he dared not meet her gaze.

How could such a subtle change escape Consort Rong's notice?

"Could it be that Grandfather is still secretly in contact with Prince Rui?"

Grand Tutor Su remained silent, tacitly agreeing.

"And what about you, Father? Why didn't you stop Grandfather?"

Grand Tutor Su sighed deeply, with a hint of desperation.

"Xian'er, you are in the palace and do not know what is happening outside the court. Although the Emperor has been on the throne for many years, Prince Rui has deep roots and his protégés and former officials are all over the court. His power is not as simple as you and I see it. I am also looking for a more secure path for the family."

"Foolish!" Consort Rong trembled with anger. "Father, you are so foolish."

"The Emperor is my husband, and you, Father, are his subject. The prosperity and honor of our Su family depend entirely on the Emperor. Father, instead of supporting the Emperor and consolidating my position, you're supporting Prince Rui? You're so foolish!"

"Womanly compassion!" Grand Tutor Su was also angered.

"Do you think you can rest easy just because you have the Emperor's favor? Without a prince, your favor is nothing but a mirage. I'm doing this for you, for the Su family, to secure a future!"

"A backup plan?"

Consort Rong looked at him with disappointment.

"Father, I'm begging you, let's stop here. Don't make another mistake!"

Grand Tutor Su turned his head away, his tone cold and hard: "If you had a prince by your side, why would I need to go to such lengths?"

These words were like a needle piercing deeply into Consort Rong's heart.

How could she not be anxious?

But the matter of the imperial heir is not something that can be resolved by her alone being anxious.

She has been taking fertility medication every day, but her belly still shows no signs of pregnancy.

"I will definitely give birth to a prince. Father, there is no need to urge me on this matter any further," Consort Rong said resolutely.

Half a day has passed.

Consort Rong boarded the carriage to return to the palace. She was no longer as arrogant as when she returned. She seemed to have lost all her strength, and her body seemed to have shrunk.

Consort Rong sighed with worry.

She didn't want her father to go down the wrong path and never turn back.

Hidden Winter Pavilion.

Song Shuangning's period came four or five days early again, and she was in unbearable abdominal pain. She curled up in the brocade quilt and didn't want to move at all.

Tinglu tucked a hand warmer into her arms.

"Your Highness, please ask Physician Zhang to come and take a look. This pain can't go on forever."

Song Shuangning shook her head: "Never mind."

She paused, then asked, "Has Consort Rong returned from her visit home?"

Tinglu replied, "Your Highness, Consort Rong summoned the imperial physician as soon as she returned. Quanlu went to inquire and heard that Consort Rong is troubled by something."

Song Shuangning listened without saying anything more, but simply hugged the hand warmer even tighter.

Tinglu assumed that the young lady was missing Aunt Su, and gently comforted her, "In the future, Your Highness will also be able to leave the palace to visit your family."

Song Shuangning was thinking about something else.

This time, Xiao Yan's decision to allow Consort Rong to leave the palace to visit her family was undoubtedly a slight to the Empress. This was not Xiao Yan's usual style.

Is Xiao Yan making any preparations?

Thinking about it this way, the cramps in my abdomen seemed to intensify.

She took a breath.

Her periods have always been irregular, but she almost fainted during her last period. Xiao Yan asked Physician Zhang to prescribe a nourishing formula for her, which she drank almost every day.

Logically speaking, tonifying medicine is meant to regulate the body, so why is her period still irregular and she still in so much pain?

Since she and Physician Zhang were in the same boat, Physician Zhang dared not deceive her.

Unless authorized by the emperor.

Song Shuangning said, "Tinglu, have Quanlu secretly send the tonic prescription I usually drink out of the palace to my aunt, and have her investigate it. Remember, don't make a fuss."

"Yes, I've got it."

With this back and forth, it will probably take half a month before we know what kind of medicine it is.

Song Shuangning closed her eyes: "I won't take this medicine for now."