I started as a concubine, and I made the crown prince cry with my delicious food.

Fu Yuehua's words were like gentle, poisonous needles coated in honey, slowly and deliberately piercing Ye An'an's heart.

She was reminding Ye An'an that she was now pregnant and physically unable to serve the Crown Prince as attentively as before. She, on the other hand, was young and healthy, and had even learned to make nourishing soups, making her a suitable replacement for Ye An'an.

This is the ultimate green tea rhetoric. Every word seems humble, but in reality, every word is a veiled attack. She places herself in the lowest, most harmless position, using a "for your own good" attitude to subtly convey a sense of threat.

Hearing these words, Ye An'an felt her stomach churning again. An uncontrollable feeling of nausea shot from her stomach straight to her throat.

She didn't know if it was physiological morning sickness caused by pregnancy, or if she was disgusted by the woman's words. She tried to suppress the urge to vomit by picking up her teacup to calm herself down, but her hands were trembling slightly.

This subtle reaction did not escape Fu Yuehua's notice. Zhang Qinghe looked at her pale face and her hesitation to drink water, a barely perceptible cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.

She thought Ye An'an had been hit where it hurt. So she decided to add fuel to the fire, taking a step closer and speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Your Highness, you are a wise woman and should understand Qinghe's meaning." Her voice was still soft, but her words were full of provocation.

"Now that the nation is in peril, His Majesty is personally leading the army to raise funds. As the heir apparent, Your Highness the Crown Prince should naturally share the burden. The twenty million taels of silver donated by my father is for the sake of the country and its people."

"Qinghe's entry into the Eastern Palace is in accordance with the will of Heaven. If Your Majesty is a sensible person, you should gladly accept it and take the initiative to request permission from His Highness and the Emperor. Only in this way can you demonstrate your virtue as the Crown Princess."

"If you insist on obstructing this matter out of your own jealousy, you will be placing His Highness in a position of disloyalty, filial impiety, inhumanity, and injustice! You will also be placing yourself in opposition to the entire people of Great Liang!"

"By then, you will truly be unfit to be the Crown Princess!"

"Unfit to be the Crown Princess..." These five words were like the sharpest knife, stabbing Ye An'an's heart.

She felt the taut string in her mind snap with a "buzz." The Empress had said that, and now even this woman, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, dared to point her finger at her and say she was "unfit to be the Crown Princess!"

On what grounds? Just because she's unwilling to hand over her husband? Just because she's unwilling to accept this dirty political deal?

Overwhelmed by resentment and anger, she felt her vision blur. Fu Yuehua's gentle face began to blur and distort before her eyes.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty, what's wrong? You look terrible..." Fu Yuehua looked at her pale face and felt a surge of joy in her heart, but on the surface she pretended to be panicked and even reached out to support her arm.

"Don't touch me!" Ye An'an used her last bit of strength to push her hand away. Then she felt she could no longer hold on, her vision went completely black, and her body slumped to the ground.

"An'an!" Xiao Jingshi, sitting next to her, reacted almost immediately. He pulled her into his arms, his voice filled with unprecedented panic.

"An'an! What's wrong with you? Wake up! Someone! Summon the imperial physician! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"

He held the petite, unconscious body in his arms, feeling as if his heart was about to stop beating.

"The Crown Princess has fainted!"

"Quickly! Summon the imperial physician!"

The sudden turn of events was like a boulder thrown into a lake, causing a huge uproar. The music and dancing stopped, and everyone's attention was focused on the chaotic scene at the head table.

Empress Wei was the first to react, and quickly went over: "What happened?!"

"Mother, An'an...she has fainted!" Xiao Jingshi's voice trembled.

"Quickly! Move her to the side hall at the back!" the Empress ordered decisively. She knew this was not the time to investigate the cause; she absolutely could not allow the Crown Princess to have an accident in front of so many civil and military officials, otherwise, what would become of the royal family's reputation?

Immediately, nimble palace maids and eunuchs stepped forward to help, escorting Ye An'an to a resting side hall behind the main hall. The Empress personally instructed the imperial physicians to take good care of her, then took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She walked back to the center of the hall and addressed the murmuring guests in a loud voice, "Gentlemen, there's no need to panic. The Crown Princess has simply caught a cold and isn't feeling well. The banquet hall is crowded and stuffy, which is why she's feeling dizzy for a moment. It's nothing serious. Guards, continue the music! Continue the dance!"

With her powerful aura, she forcefully brought the out-of-control banquet back on track. However, everyone knew that the palace was destined to be anything but peaceful tonight.