The princess regretted it.

Chapter 246 Delivering Messages

Today, the maid, as usual, quietly lurked near the courtyard, holding her breath and carefully observing the movements within. She thought it was just another ordinary day, but she hadn't expected to discover the emperor's presence. Startled, she quickly retreated into hiding, her eyes fixed on the gate, not daring to slack off.

Although she could only get a rough idea of the situation from the courtyard gate, she still noticed the slightly bulging belly of the person inside. It looked like she was pregnant. This discovery was like a huge rock dropped into a calm lake, instantly causing a huge wave of shock in her heart.

She had never imagined that this seemingly insignificant courtyard could hold such a profound secret. Shocked, she knew the weight of this matter was grave and that no mistakes could be made. She dared not make the slightest noise, not even a breath, and carefully concealed her whereabouts, quietly leaving the area along a well-known, hidden path.

......

The Emperor's eldest grandson, Hongze, stayed at Concubine Chun's place for quite a while. In fact, even after Prime Minister Mu and the others had left, he had inexplicably felt the urge to visit Concubine Chun. Perhaps it was because the palace was full of complicated emotions and numerous worries, often leaving people feeling exhausted. Concubine Chun's place, however, was like a peaceful haven, allowing him to temporarily put aside the disputes at court and the calculations within the palace, and find a moment of comfort and peace.

Now, whenever he felt unhappy, he loved to come sit with her and talk with her. It was as if the accumulated annoyance in his heart could be largely dissipated by pouring out his heart to Concubine Chun. Concubine Chun always responded to the emperor with gentle words. The tenderness in her eyes and the concern in her words were like the warm spring sun, gradually warming the emperor's heart, which had been lonely for so long in high position.

I came here today thinking about the new additions to the palace, and I was a little worried she might overthink things. After all, she was pregnant, and the imperial physician had said that pregnant women tend to overthink things. It would be better to tell her in person than to hear the news from someone else.

When he carefully considered his words and mentioned that Lin Qian might soon enter the palace, Concubine Chun was momentarily stunned, her previously serene smile faltering for a moment. But she quickly regained her composure, her voice still soft and polite, as she said, "Then I, your Majesty, would like to congratulate you first."

Seeing her so generous and proper, the emperor's worried expression instantly eased, and he was extremely satisfied. There were many women in the inner court, but it was rare to find someone like Concubine Chun who was so sensible, considerate of the overall situation, and able to control her emotions appropriately.

Looking at Concubine Chun's gentle smile, he felt that the person in front of him was really considerate. He couldn't help but nod slightly, his eyes full of approval, and even his tone had a bit more intimacy and cherishment. He said softly: "My beloved concubine is so wise and righteous. I am very pleased." After that, he reached out and gently patted the back of Concubine Chun's hand.

Concubine Chun wasn't completely unmoved. After all, how could a newcomer to the palace truly have no impact on her? However, she was always aware that the man sitting on the throne, ruling the world, didn't belong to her alone.

He was the ruler of the world, shouldering the responsibility of the country and its people. The three thousand beauties in his harem were all his concubines, and she was just one of them. To be able to receive his occasional favor, to have a place to stay in this palace, and to be able to bear children was already a blessing.

So, even with bitterness and helplessness in her heart, she could only quietly bury those emotions deep within her heart, maintaining her graceful and gentle smile. This composure and understanding helped her maintain her safety within the palace, hoping to inspire more compassion and favor from the emperor. Only in this way could she build a solid barrier for herself and her unborn child, ensuring a stable and smooth life in the harem.

Changsun Hongze sat for a while and then stood up and left. Before leaving, he specifically instructed Nanny Su to take good care of Concubine Chun and to be careful not to let irrelevant people or things interfere with Concubine Chun.

Nanny Su naturally understood what the emperor meant, and she quickly bowed respectfully and agreed, promising to do her best to take good care of the empress, never let her be disturbed in the slightest, and to keep the empress and the fetus in her womb safe and sound.

After receiving Nanny Su's assurance, the Emperor was also satisfied and left with Fuquan. He felt that he had arranged for people to protect him secretly, and with Nanny Su and the others watching over him, nothing should happen.

But he was too relieved. He didn't expect that even though he protected her so carefully, someone still had his eyes on Concubine Chun's belly.

Zhang Hengrui, a member of the Imperial Guard, was leading a small team on patrol through the Imperial Palace. As they reached a corridor in the Imperial Garden, a maid in a emerald green palace dress casually passed by. Her steps were hurried, and the silk handkerchief in her hand slipped quietly.

Zhang Hengrui's eyes flashed, and after a quick glance, he calmly bent down to pick up the handkerchief and called her: "You! You dropped something." His tone was steady, without any abnormality.

The maid heard the shout, lowered her eyes, turned around and glanced at the handkerchief in Zhang Hengrui's hand, bowed to him, reached out and took the handkerchief from him, and her fingertips accidentally touched Zhang Hengrui's palm. Then, she bowed again, turned around, and quickly left.

The two of them didn't say a word, and it seemed like a normal thing. No one thought there was anything wrong with this action.

Zhang Hengrui calmly lowered his arm and subtly squeezed his palm, where the note the maid had just passed him lay. He glanced up at the retreating maid, his gaze deep and complex. Then, he turned and quickly walked to the patrol team, his expression still as stern and serious as ever, and continued to lead them on patrol.

A raging cold wind began to sweep through every corner of the palace. The biting wind, like an icy blade, stung everyone's face. As the weather grew colder, the trees within the palace shivered in the chill, the few remaining leaves on their branches mercilessly ripped from their branches, swirling and falling to the ground, adding to the bleak and desolate atmosphere.

The little incident that just happened did not attract anyone's attention. It was like a fallen leaf blown by the cold wind, falling silently to the ground and was immediately buried by the complicated affairs of the palace.