Chapter 69:

Sometimes, what you think about is exactly what happens. Chen Yulan was just planning to show off to her cousin and teach her a lesson, determined to let her know that she was not someone to be trifled with, and more importantly, that even having the Emperor’s favor was useless without the ability to conceive.

Just as she was thinking this, Shen Layue actually arrived, and not only her, but Bai Youran came as well.

Upon hearing the eunuch’s announcement, Chen Yulan felt puzzled. At this time, shouldn’t she be avoiding her instead? Why would she come here willingly? She certainly didn’t think her cousin had come to flatter her because she was pregnant.

Clearly, her senior maid Lan’er shared the same thought.

“Your Highness, why has Lady Chun come here?”

Chen Yulan was equally puzzled and unsure of the reason.

“She came here with Bai Youran?”

Since they had a good relationship with Bai Xiaodie, they naturally knew about the misdeeds of Bai Xiaodie’s legitimate elder sister, who was no kind-hearted person, as could be seen from the fearful expression Bai Xiaodie wore when mentioning her.

“Yes,” Lan’er replied with concern.

“Your Highness, they might have ill intentions. After you sent her that sachet containing musk, who knows if she now resents you for being able to conceive and wants to harm you?”

Chen Yulan wasn’t completely clueless about scheming; otherwise, she wouldn’t have survived long in her previous life. But this life was different—not that her abilities had weakened, but rather that a different starting point led to a different mindset.

Now, with all kinds of things weighing on her, she had already lost her calm.

Lan’er was Chen Yulan’s trusted maid, and hearing her say this made her anxious too.

She hastily stood up, paced a few steps, and then stopped.

Looking at Lan’er, she asked, “Do you think she dares?”

There was hesitation in her voice, quite different from her earlier arrogance and confidence.

Lan’er was agitated: “Your Highness, we must not let our guard down. Normally, I might say she wouldn’t dare, but do you remember what happened at Huici Palace? The child of Consort Hui also perished, and the Emperor hasn’t addressed it yet. Perhaps Lady Chun is so resentful that she’s willing to go down with us.”

Her thoughts were understandable. But saying this made Chen Yulan even more uncertain.

She also felt nervous: “Then shall we refuse to see her?”

Lan’er shook her head again: “Your Highness, you’re newly pregnant, and neither the Emperor nor the Empress Dowager have come to visit. If we refuse to see these two, it might not be appropriate either…”

Seeing them would be inappropriate, but not seeing them would also be inappropriate.

Chen Yulan felt increasingly annoyed: “Forget it, forget it. Why should I be afraid of her? What’s so great about her? Just a pitiful orphan without a mother and unloved by her father. Don’t think that because you temporarily got the upper hand, you can dominate me forever. Let them in. If they dare to do anything, I won’t be polite either. Even if they don’t do anything, hmpf.” She sneered.

“This child of mine is truly precious.”

Understanding the implication in her mistress’s words, Lan’er paused and asked: “Your Highness, are you thinking of using this opportunity…?”

“Summon them.”

“Yes.”

Soon, Shen Layue and Bai Youran entered with charming smiles. In terms of rank, it was Chen Yulan who should greet them, but even though she was now pregnant, she could not ignore these formalities.

She bowed slightly, and Layue smiled and told her to rise.

“I heard you’re pregnant, and no matter what, I, as your elder sister, must come to visit you immediately,” Shen Layue said, a statement that was clearly uncomfortable to hear. Naturally, Layue intended to provoke this reaction. Indeed, she saw Chen Yulan frown slightly, looking somewhat displeased, though it quickly vanished without clear expression.

Smiling, Chen Yulan gently patted her belly and looked at Layue: “Ever since I was chosen, I’ve been thinking about how I must serve the Emperor well and bear him children. I never expected it to come true so soon, and I feel immense joy. Elder sister, since we grew up together, you should be able to understand this feeling of mine.”

This was a thoroughly provocative statement, yet Layue did not get angry.

She smiled along: “If that’s what you say, perhaps not. I haven’t guessed your thoughts correctly for a while now, so naturally, I cannot understand your feelings.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Yulan realized it was a reference to past events, her expression changed again, growing colder.

“I thought, elder sister, that you had come to congratulate me.”

Layue smiled even more sweetly: “Of course! Otherwise, why else would I come? Don’t be suspicious, dear younger sister. Look, I even specially had Jin Xin pick out a gift for you. Quickly, see if you like it.”

As if you’d be so kind!

Chen Yulan fixed her gaze on the gift, her expression clearly showing her skepticism.

“Surely, elder sister, you don’t mind if I don’t trust you? Oh right, it’s better to be cautious. Perhaps we should have a royal physician examine this gift to prevent you from worrying unnecessarily. Naturally, this would also be good for you. Not only for my elder sister, but for anyone else who brings gifts, I must inspect them carefully. We are not all knowledgeable in medicine, and if something harmful to a pregnant woman is hidden, it’s better to detect it early. This is not only good for me, but also for others.”

This speech made Chen Yulan’s expression thoroughly cold.

“I know how to handle who gives me things, but I wonder why my elder sister has really come today. Surely it’s not just out of kindness to give me a gift? Now that I’m pregnant, things are different. Just a few days ago, I requested an audience with you, but you avoided me.”

She hadn’t spoken a few sentences before Chen Yulan changed her tone so much that Bai Youran, standing nearby, was astonished.

Quickly stepping in to mediate, Bai Youran said: “What are you saying, younger sister? We are all family. Why be so distant? Lady Chun is surely thinking about you, Lady Chen.”

Looking at Bai Youran, Chen Yulan lost her composure slightly: “Bai elder sister and Xiaodie are also family, yet you are quite distant from her.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Youran remained expressionless.

“There is a difference between legitimate and concubine-born, don’t forget your status.”

“I didn’t know Bai elder sister was such a stickler for propriety.”

Shen Layue almost laughed out loud watching Chen Yulan’s manner. How had she become so foolish? Originally, she had only invited Bai Youran to serve as a witness, but unexpectedly, Chen Yulan was being so impolite.

Didn’t she really think this pregnancy would bring her anything?

“It’s fine if you don’t trust me, but why must you be so arrogant and showy just because you’re pregnant? Elder sister Bai did nothing to provoke you,” Layue wanted Chen Yulan to get angry.

Unexpectedly, she cooperated so well.

“I think the one who came to show off upon hearing of my pregnancy is you, elder sister.”

The two were now at each other’s throats—Layue was intentionally provoking, while Chen Yulan was arrogant and unrestrained due to her pregnancy.

Shen Layue stood up and coldly looked at Chen Yulan. After a long while, she gave a cold smile: “I wonder how elder sister showed off just now. If it weren’t for the guilty conscience from past wrongdoings, why would you fear me so much today?”

“I was wronged. Moreover, I have already paid dearly for that injustice. Even an outsider like Xiaodie believes me, yet you, my own cousin, keep making things difficult for me and don’t trust me. Between us, only I care about this sisterly bond. In the past, I never spoke much about it. But now I am not just myself anymore; I have this child too. I must protect him and will not let my elder sister harm him.”

Chen Yulan’s words sounded noble and justified, not only noble but also twisting the truth. Even Bai Youran felt a wave of nausea upon hearing them, yet Layue remained calm.

Crying thief while robbing, since her younger sister insisted on not trusting her and speaking so many twisted truths, she must clarify the matter thoroughly. With that thought, Layue stood up and left.

Bai Youran was puzzled by Layue’s actions but eventually followed her out, while Chen Yulan was even more confused, unable to figure out what she was up to.

“His Majesty the Emperor approaches!” Before Layue could even reach the door, she heard the eunuch’s announcement.

Perhaps because Layue was walking too hastily, she accidentally collided with the Emperor.

“Reckless!” the eunuch Laixi scolded.

“What happened? You were in such a hurry that you collided with Me,” the Emperor said in a calm tone, showing no emotion.

Layue looked up directly into his eyes: “This concubine was just going to request an audience with Your Majesty.”

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow, indicating for her to continue.

Chen Yulan feared that Layue might twist the facts and put her at a disadvantage, so she sweetly called out: “Your Majesty~ This concubine greets Your Majesty~”

Then Bai Youran and everyone else kowtowed, and Layue did the same, though her expression was different.

The Emperor strode into the room and sat at the upper seat, looking at these women.

He spoke coldly: “What happened? Who will explain?”

Chen Yulan quickly changed her expression, her tears flowing like pear blossoms in the rain as she sobbed: “Your Majesty, my elder sister… elder sister…”

Unable to bear it, before she could prepare to continue, the Emperor interrupted her.

“If you can’t explain clearly, let someone else speak. Lady Bai, you tell Me.”

Bai Youran impartially recounted the events that had just occurred. Her tone was gentle and her narration clear, allowing the Emperor to quickly understand.

Looking at the two cousins, he asked: “Is what Lady Bai said true?”

Chen Yulan, relying on the fact that this was her own quarters with more of her people, immediately spoke up: “Your Majesty, generally speaking, it’s the same, but Bai elder sister came here with my cousin and they are close friends. Moreover, in the past, I often interacted with Xiaodie, while Bai elder sister has always disliked me, a concubine-born younger sister. Today, she must have been biased because of this relationship and spoke against me. Her narration just now was also in favor of my cousin…”

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Layue give a cold laugh.