The empress is both charming and seductive, rising through the ranks of palace intrigue.

When Consort Zhuang and the other concubines arrived, this was the scene they saw: Ning Shuyan was leaning against Xiao Yu's chest, and Xiao Yu was holding her tightly, his face full of sorrow, but he was still comforting the woman in his arms in a low voice, gently stroking her back.

Consort Zhuang felt a sharp pain in her eyes, her pupils contracted, and her heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles. She twisted the handkerchief in her hand tightly, trying her best to show worry and sympathy on her face, and asked the imperial physician Ji beside her, "How is Consort Ning?"

Imperial Physician Ji bowed and said, "Your Highness, Consort Zhuang, the child in Consort Ning's womb could not be saved."

Upon hearing this, Consort Zhuang was startled and exclaimed, her eyes wide, "How could this be? Could Physician Ji have made a mistake?"

Ning Shuyan's lowered eyes trembled; the fox's tail had been revealed so easily...

Imperial Physician Ji's brow furrowed as he realized who was behind what Consort Ning had mentioned. He said in a deep voice, "I am very sorry that Consort Ning's pregnancy could not be saved, but I would not misdiagnose such a pulse."

Consort Zhuang looked at Ning Shuyan leaning against Xiao Yu's chest, her brows furrowed tightly. How could this be? She wasn't pregnant at all, so why did she miscarry?

Consort Zhuang was startled, realizing something. Could it be... that Imperial Physician Ji was one of her people? Was he helping her cover up the truth?

Consort Ying, standing to the side, looked at Consort Zhuang with some confusion.

Consort Zhuang quickly stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty, the child in Consort Ning's womb is a matter of great importance. Could Your Majesty please summon another imperial physician to examine Consort Ning?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Shuyan raised her eyes to look at Consort Zhuang, and said in a cold tone, "What does Your Highness mean by this? Could it be that Imperial Physician Ji can't even diagnose this pulse? Or does Your Highness suspect that I have done something underhanded?"

As she spoke, Ning Shuyan's tears, which she had managed to hold back, welled up again, and she sobbed softly in Xiao Yu's arms.

Xiao Yu's gaze darkened slightly as he looked at Consort Zhuang, a hint of displeasure appearing on his face. He called out, "Consort Zhuang!"

Consort Zhuang met Xiao Yu's eyes and was slightly taken aback. The Emperor was actually speaking to her like this for Ning Shuyan's sake. She lowered her eyes and said softly, "Your Majesty, I am doing all this for the sake of the imperial heir. With another imperial physician on the case, perhaps the child can be saved."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's expression softened somewhat. Seeing Xiao Yu's expression, Consort Zhuang quickly ordered the palace servants to summon the imperial physician.

Qiu Le brought out the safflower and motherwort soup she had prepared, but dared not offer it to Ning Shuyan, setting it aside instead. After all, she had just mentioned that she would need to consult a royal physician.

Not long after, an imperial physician arrived. After bowing, he raised his hand to take Ning Shuyan's pulse. He finished in a short while and glanced at the imperial physician Ji beside him, saying, "Your Majesty, Consort Ning's child is gone. I believe that the diagnosis made by Imperial Physician Ji and this humble servant is the same."

Consort Zhuang was shocked. How could this be... She was clearly not pregnant, so why did both imperial physicians diagnose a miscarriage?

Hearing the imperial physician's words, Ning Shuyan couldn't help but burst into tears. Tears streamed down her face as if her heart was breaking. She cried out in anguish, "Does Consort Zhuang believe me now? Why must I hear this unbearable truth again?"

Xiao Yu put his arm around her shoulders, which were shaking from sobbing, and wiped away her tears. He said softly, "It's okay, you can have more children in the future. Don't cry."

Even though Consort Zhuang had many questions in her heart, seeing how much the Emperor cared for Consort Ning, she could only say, "Your Majesty, I was only thinking about whether the child in my womb could be saved. I did not mean to make Consort Ning suffer."

Xiao Yu looked up at Consort Zhuang again, feeling inexplicably annoyed. He said sternly, "All of you, leave!"

Consort Zhuang couldn't help but tremble. Consort Ying tugged at Consort Zhuang's sleeve, and Consort Zhuang followed her out of the inner palace.

After Ning Shuyan drank the medicine, Xiao Yu saw that her emotions had stabilized a bit before gently saying, "Tell me why you fell. I will definitely stand up for you and the child in your womb!" His hands were clenched tightly, veins bulging, and his eyes were icy cold.

"I felt someone kick my leg from behind, but for some reason the person next to me also fell down. I don't know what happened."

As she spoke, she hugged Xiao Yu tightly, curling up into a ball, "Your Majesty, is someone trying to harm me? I'm scared..."

Xiao Yu loosened his fist and patted her back: "Don't worry, I will investigate thoroughly! Our child won't have been lost in vain."

The image of those pearls flashed through his mind, and he found a clue.

As they were talking, Du Ruo rushed in: "Your Majesty, Consort Xi has miscarried and is currently in a state of emotional distress. Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's already deep gaze lost all its light, becoming even more sorrowful, his chest heaving slightly. He gently released Ning Shuyan, about to speak, when Ning Shuyan said, "Your Majesty, please go quickly. I know how to take care of myself."

At this point, she naturally wouldn't try to keep the Emperor, since Consort Xi was the one truly carrying the imperial heir.

Before leaving, Xiao Yu squeezed Ning Shuyan's hand, signaling her not to be too sad.

Ning Shuyan watched Xiao Yu's disappearing figure and heard the footsteps of several people, and knew that the concubines had followed him.

"Qiu Le, the baby is already fully formed after four months, right?" Ning Shuyan felt so sorry for the baby, who was gone before she could even see him.

Qiu Le's brows furrowed with sadness: "Yes, it's already formed, and we can tell whether it's a boy or a girl. Besides, a four-month-old baby is much more painful and uncomfortable than a miscarriage at one or two months of pregnancy, and the body is also more weakened."

Ning Shuyan was taken aback upon hearing this, clutching the quilt tightly: "Killing two birds with one stone! What a brilliant scheme!"

Yes, while getting rid of herself, Consort Zhuang also got rid of the unsightly imperial heir in Consort Xi's womb. Consort Zhuang is truly ruthless!

But will Xiao Yu find out about her? Consort Zhuang walked ahead, thus avoiding all suspicion.

She was also very flustered at the time, but when she saw the pearls on the ground, she knew that it must be someone's pearls that had fallen from their jewelry, so the people around her also slipped and fell.

When Xiao Yu arrived at Yu Shu Palace, he heard a series of mournful cries even before entering.

The moment Consort Xi saw Xiao Yu's figure, she quickly got up. Unfortunately, she was extremely weak at the moment, and if it weren't for the palace maid supporting her, she would probably have already fallen off the bed.

Her hair was disheveled, and her pale face was streaked with tears as she cried out in anguish, "Your Majesty... the child is gone... Your Majesty!"

As Xiao Yu stepped in, he smelled a strong stench of blood. He raised his hand to the concubines who were bowing. As Xiao Yu walked to her side, Consort Xi rushed into his arms and hugged him tightly, as if all her sorrow and grievances had finally found a confidant and a kindred spirit. She cried out, "It's a prince, Your Majesty...it's a prince! Just a few days ago he was still moving in my womb. I don't believe he's gone."

When she woke up, the Empress told her that the child was gone. How could she accept this cruel news? She felt as if she was suffocating from the pain.