Su Pan’er understood clearly that now that Liu Xuan’er had "beco pregnant," it would definitely attract the attention of the entire civil and military court.
Thus, they would begin to suspect the veracity of the matter.
She assud that from now on, tests similar to today’s would be unavoidable.
However, this was not an unsolvable problem.
Since they wanted to investigate, let them investigate thoroughly – if a Liu Jieyu could beco pregnant, then a "Feng Gui Ren" becoming pregnant seed a matter of course as well.
Su Pan’er was not worried about Liu Xuan’er’s side; although Prince Qi had caught everyone by surprise today, she believed that Liu Jieyu would be able to handle herself in the future. If the truth were to leak, she wouldn’t mind placing a big hat labeled "falsely reported pregnancy, the cri of deceiving the emperor" on her head.
As for "Feng Gui Ren," how should she broach the subject? Su Pan’er pondered for several days, finding it difficult to decide.
The weather was getting colder day by day, with the relentless drizzle mixed with snow indicating an especially early winter this year.
Just as Su Pan’er was unsure how to approach the topic, Feng Xiyue unexpectedly took the initiative to co over.
Unlike previous empresses after becoming the Empress, Su Pan’er had not ordered the won of the Imperial Harem’s Palace to pay their respects daily. Instead, she decided on a laissez-faire approach, letting those won fend for themselves in the Imperial Harem’s Palace.
This approach had several advantages, such as not having to be annoyed by the constant presence of the chirping and chirruping beauties, and it often made Su Pan’er forget that the rear courtyard was filled with innurable beauties.
However, the disadvantages were even more significant!
For instance, these won had grown accustod to not paying their respects to the Empress since entering the Imperial Harem’s Palace, which had allowed them to develop an arrogant ntality, not taking Su Pan’er, who had climbed out from remote rural corners, seriously as the Empress at all.
Su Pan’er turned a blind eye to all this and further did not allow these won to co to Huayang Palace at will. This also resulted in Feng Xiyue, who lived within the Imperial Harem’s Palace, having to ponder multiple tis before daring to have soone notify the Empress of her visit.
"Have you co to see because there is sothing you need?"
Su Pan’er sized up Feng Xiyue standing in front of her, with a willowy waist and a sprightly deanor, her lotus-like face showing white through the pink, her eyes like two clear springs.
Shedding the dust of the world, Feng Xiyue had gained a touch more grace and seed even more enchanting than before.
Feng Xiyue bowed slightly, "Yesterday, while I was in the Imperial Garden collecting flower petals, I happened to see several palace maids under the Empress doing the sa, so I thought to bring these petals to offer to you, as a token of my heart."
"You are thoughtful to do so. Nanny Xiao, please take the flower basket."
Su Pan’er glanced at the flower basket in her hands and then smiled, "I was planning to make so floral water with these petals, so I had them collect quite a few. Anyway, the weather has turned cold, and all these flowers will wither one after another – it would be a waste otherwise."
Nanny Xiao agreed and took the basket before withdrawing.
"It’s rare for you to think of such things, unlike Xiyue who is always clumsy with her hands and tongue."
Feng Xiyue appeared very amiable.
"Co, this is a new snack just made by a newly arrived chef; it has a unique flavor, sowhat reminiscent of my hotown. I don’t know if it will suit your palate, but try so," Su Pan’er said as she pushed a stack of snacks forward.
"I slled the fragrance from quite a distance and was wondering what snack it was. I didn’t expect to co across such delicious food so soon," Feng Xiyue said with a smile, bending her eyebrows and eyes. She picked up a piece of the snack and took several bites in succession, along with the refreshnt on the table.
This made Su Pan’er feel particularly pleased.
"I like them a lot too, but His Majesty doesn’t care much for them."
The conversation turned to Qin Yi, causing Feng Xiyue to noticeably slow down in her snack-eating.
Su Pan’er naturally noticed this too. She casually dismissed the attendants and then lowered her voice, "Liu Jieyu is pregnant, you must know that, right?"
"I know, I heard it has been almost four months."
The Imperial Palace, with its high walls and multiple layers, was the most heavily guarded place. But these walls and layers could not block the spread of ssages and various rumors inside. A trivial matter within the palace could reach the ears of interested parties in a very short ti.
That Liu Jieyu was carrying the dragon spawn was, of course, sothing Feng Xiyue had heard about early on.
"Hmm, indeed."
Su Pan’er nodded her head, smiling aningfully, "Right now, it’s hard to tell from Liu Jieyu’s belly that she’s pregnant. But wait a few more months, when the child is born, the Imperial Palace will beco lively."
These words forced a sowhat strained smile onto Feng Xiyue’s face, "It will indeed be quite lively."
She was sowhat uncertain of Su Pan’er’s intentions.
At this mont, the person who probably least wished for the child in Liu Jieyu’s womb to be born was the Empress herself.
She secretly clenched her handkerchief, unable to stop her palms from trembling. In the next mont, as if she had made up her mind, she looked up into Su Pan’er’s eyes.
"Since Liu Jieyu has beco pregnant, I have always wanted to visit her, but I have been unable to do so. I also heard that Liu Jieyu has a poor appetite and the Imperial Kitchen has been creating all sorts of new dishes every day to help her nourish her body. Now that I’ve seen this plate of pastries from the Empress, I suppose Liu Jieyu must like them very much. Why don’t I personally take so pastries to her?"
Taking pastries was just a pretense, using the offer to carry out sothing the Empress wanted was the real intention.
As she said these words, Feng Xiyue herself felt nervous for what she had proposed.
If the child in Liu Jieyu’s womb were to et with any misfortune, her own life would likely be at risk.
But this was fine too, it would be a way to repay the great kindness of the Empress!
Su Pan’er looked at her in surprise and then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Liu Jieyu has a special kitchen over there. She wouldn’t mind missing out on such ordinary pastries. There’s no need to deliver pastries."
Feng Xiyue beca anxious!
"Empress, I was thinking..."
Before she could finish, Su Pan’er shook her head at her.
"Xiyue, I have a task for you to do. It’s extrely risky, and if it goes wrong, it won’t just be a matter of fighting and killing, but a great cri that could implicate the whole family. Do you dare to do it?"
Feng Xiyue’s heart thudded erratically, but she quickly cald herself down. Had she not considered these risks before she ca? Now that the Empress had spoken, could she back down?
Resolute, Feng Xiyue knelt to the ground with a look of resolve.
"The Empress exonerated the Feng Family and gave Xiyue a chance to live again. Not to ntion doing one thing for the Empress, even if it’s ten or a hundred things, as long as the Empress needs Xiyue, just say the word. I would not hesitate to go through fire and water for you!"
"Good Xiyue, you won’t need to go through fire and water for this task," Su Pan’er said, smiling with satisfaction. She personally went forward and helped Feng Xiyue to her feet, "Co, sit down and listen to ..."
What Su Pan’er and Feng Xiyue discussed that afternoon, no one knew.
The palace maids only saw Feng Xiyue leave with a lost look on her face, nearly stumbling over the threshold. Fortunately, the servant girl beside her supported her, preventing a fall.
In the snowstorm, the two supported each other, moving further away and gradually blending into the vastness.
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