After provoking the holy maiden of Miao territory, she was infected with a love curse.

The Cold Palace.

Gong Peilan sat at the stone table in the courtyard, and her maidservant hurriedly came out of the house and came to Gong Peilan's side.

"Your Majesty, she's awake."

Upon hearing the news that the Miao woman had woken up, Gong Peilan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She knew how important Jiawan was to Zhao Huining.

If something were to happen to this Miao woman, she really wouldn't know how to face His Highness.

"Help me inside."

"I must confirm this myself."

Everyone in the palace thought the Cold Palace was unlucky. This secluded courtyard was only frequented by the maids and eunuchs who swept and cleaned it; no one else would come here.

These eunuchs and palace maids had long been under Gong Peilan's command. Gong Peilan often paid for their food and clothing out of her own pocket, which made them grateful and willing to die for her.

Although the cottage was desolate, it was well-maintained.

Early spring was still a bit chilly, and Gong Peilan was worried that Jiawan would catch a cold, so she specially ordered someone to fetch charcoal and light a stove.

Jiawan's face was deathly pale, and her wrists were wrapped in thick white cloth, from which patches of bright red blood seeped.

"Who...are you?"

Why did you...save me?

Her faint voice only accentuated Jiawan's pitiful state. Gong Peilan sat down, her beautiful features making Jiawan lose her senses.

Han Chinese women are all incredibly beautiful and charming.

This woman's luxurious attire made Jiawan think that she must be a member of the royal family and a person of great power in the palace.

Seeing that she was alright, Gong Peilan breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "I am a close friend of His Highness. I know you are worried that His Highness will not return to the Princess's residence for several days, but you cannot sneak into the palace rashly."

"If it weren't for my men tipping you off, you would probably have already been arrested by the Imperial Guards and taken to His Majesty."

"How can life exist?"

Knowing that her clumsy tricks wouldn't fool the shrewd people in the palace, Jiawan lowered her head and remained silent.

Knowing what she wanted to ask, Gong Peilan simply sat down beside Jiawan's bed and gently reassured her, "Don't worry, Your Highness is only being held captive by His Majesty, and is safe for the time being."

"There is no danger to his life."

Upon hearing this, Jiawan reacted like a cat with its fur standing on end. She immediately tried to get out of bed, supporting herself on the bed with her hands and frowning.

"There's no... danger to your life?"

"How can you say that so lightly... What if something really happens to Aning?"

"I don't trust you. If you're unwilling to rescue Aning, I'll go rescue her myself!"

Seeing that she had a fiery temper like a little chili pepper, Gong Peilan sighed helplessly and finally understood why His Highness always seemed hesitant to speak whenever he mentioned Jiawan.

However, women as frank as her are truly rare, no wonder His Highness is so devoted to her.

Having spent so long in the palace, where intrigue and backstabbing reign, one must carefully consider every word spoken by the other person, regardless of how close they once were, and discern right from wrong.

Otherwise, you will make a mistake.

They will all be doomed.

"Prince Rui will soon be forcing the emperor to abdicate. Miss Ashui, I will escort you and His Highness out at that time."

This was a plan that had been discussed long ago.

Gong Peilan has experienced many ups and downs, all for this moment.

She hadn't expected His Highness to get involved in this matter, after all, her husband, her beloved Emperor, was His Highness's younger brother.

Upon hearing the words "forced abdication".

Jiawan was taken aback.

While she was in the Princess's residence, Zhao Huining worried that she would be bored, so she often had well-known opera troupes from the capital set up stages for her to perform.

Such dramas as "forcing the emperor to abdicate" often occur, so Jiawan naturally knew what was going on. She just didn't understand why this woman who called herself "this palace" would attack the emperor.

If she were the emperor's concubine, wouldn't it be advantageous for her if the emperor were alive?

If the emperor really dies, she will become a concubine dowager, and will have to step down from her position as a favored concubine to make way for the new emperor's harem.

How tragic that would be!

He brought trouble upon himself.

"You don't need to look at me like that. I know what you're thinking."

Gong Peilan smiled bitterly.

"I grew up with Your Highness since childhood and was taught etiquette from a young age, but I... have Your Highness in my heart, and also the Empress."

"It was His Majesty who killed the Empress."

"I watched my sister pass away so sadly, and on that day, I began to plot... However, Your Highness did not intend to get involved in this matter."

"But for your sake, His Highness still got involved."

Thinking of how the jasmine flowers that the Empress had planted for her had also died one after another, Gong Peilan hated the Emperor even more.

She knew that what the emperor cared about most was the dragon throne beneath his buttocks.

His Majesty killed her most cherished sister, and she will also cause His Majesty to lose his most cherished throne.

That's fair.

When Gong Peilan first entered the palace, her father and brothers taught her to remember her duties as a Noble Consort, to assist the Empress, and to manage the six palaces.

They also had to be constantly on guard against the intrigues and betrayals within the harem.

Gong Peilan came from a very high social standing and was a renowned figure for centuries. The emperor valued her reputation highly and dared not mistreat her.

Originally, when Gong Peilan met the Empress, she thought that the Empress would be ostracized because of her status as a favored concubine.

Unexpectedly, the Empress treated her extremely well.

She has absolutely no airs.

He patiently and gently taught her how to handle palace affairs, which made Gong Peilan want to visit the Empress's residence every few days, causing the Emperor to complain about her.

My sister's hands were so warm, and her embrace was filled with fragrance.

When her sister passed away, she cried uncontrollably, and tremblingly reached out to touch her sister's hand, only to find it ice-cold.

His Majesty felt no remorse, only saying that his sister was unfortunate and unfit for the position of Empress.

They even said that she had done enough acting and should stop crying, because her eyes were swollen like walnuts and she wasn't pretty at all, not at all like a noble concubine.

Your Majesty and the Empress were childhood sweethearts.

The feelings had long since faded.

Over the years, the couple had only one daughter.

The little princess was obtained by Gong Peilan after much effort from His Majesty, and she was carefully raised by his side.

Looking at that face that was exactly like her sister's, Gong Peilan felt a surge of tenderness in her heart and took good care of it.

But every day, seeing these objects reminded her of him.

It's inevitable that hatred will grow stronger in one's heart.

Yet she also had to pretend to be a reasonable and understanding imperial concubine in front of His Majesty, managing the harem in place of the Empress, keeping her extremely busy.

...

"Everyone says this because of me, but have you ever considered my feelings?"

"I don't need you to do anything for me, and I don't need Ah Ning to make any sacrifices to save me."

"I want to let Aning know that if I could save her the first time, I can save her the second and the third time."

The voice was weak, yet firm and powerful.

Gong Peilan was surprised and was about to say something else when a butterfly flew in through the window and obediently landed in front of Jiawan.

Reaching out to gently catch the butterfly, Jiawan instantly understood where Zhao Huining was.

This time, however, she was no longer reckless.

Instead of rushing to save people, she planned to stay and discuss with Gong Peilan how to use the Gu worms in her hands to completely pull the emperor off the throne.

In this way, Aning would no longer be frequently summoned to the palace by the emperor and threatened.

They don't need to hide; they can walk side by side in the bright spring sunshine.