A month later, everything seemed to have returned normal. Huang Shu was busy with ministry reports while preparing for Yunyu to be his new Empress. Because it would need a grand imperial banquet, twice greater than the previous disastrous imperial banquet.

There was no more protest from Empress Dowager Aixi about Huang Shu's decision to bestow marriage for Lady Xi Yue and Fu Shipeng. Everything went smoothly. Too smooth for Huang Shu's prediction. He was still trying to whittle his Mother Empress' power in the court by replacing some ministry that was recommended by her.

Because he realized his mother would always be a thorn in his life with Yunyu, so this was the best thing he could do for now.

'Yunyu, wait for me to make you my Empress, once again.'

**

Empress Dowager Aixi was drinking the tea served by her servant with Xi Yue. They looked a lot calmer than before as if they had everything perfectly planned after Emperor Xianliang's announcement.

"This is the box of tea leaves that have been mixed with some… stuff to make sure that Bai Yunyu cannot be the next Empress, E'nie," Lady Xi Yue said. She ordered her servant to put a box of tea leaves on the table.

Empress Dowager Aixi checked the box, "Oh, this one looks like regular tea leaves. As expected from you, Xi Yue, you really know how to find important goods."

Empress Dowager sighed and closed the box, "If there is no you here, then I will not be able to get such thing. Because my son, the Emperor, has put a tight watch over any goods that came from outside to my Palace. He wants to make sure that I am unofficially locked inside my Palace."

"That's why I cannot obtain this poison myself," Empress Dowager said.

Lady Xi Yue gracefully bowed her head, "It is my honor to be your trusted daughter-in-law, E'nie. I know what you mean. Huang Shu has been talking with my grandfather and father. Though they were disappointed at first, after knowing Fu Shipeng and all his achievements, they agreed with him."

"Hmph! My son is too blind. There is someone so beautiful and well mannered like you, yet he still chooses a deformed bitch like that thing!" Empress Dowager said. She glanced at her servant behind her and said, "Bring that woman here!"

The servants brought an old maid in her late fifty. She was badly beaten by Empress Dowager's loyal eunuchs.

Empress Dowager looked down at the old maid on the floor, and she ordered, "Do you want me to spare yours and your daughter's life?"

The old maid crawled and tried to sit on the floor as she paid respect to Empress Dowager, "Y—Yes, Mistress Empress Dowager…." She replied weakly.

She signaled her servant to give the box full of poisoned tea leaves and gave it to the old maidservant, "Ben Gong will give you a simple mission. That is a box of tea leaves. You should put it in your palace kitchen to replace the old one, simple as that. Don't worry, I will not only spare your daughter's life but also give her a reward."

The old maid stared at the box, she had many questions, but the thing she was most afraid of now was the life of her daughter, whom she recommended to be imperial maidservant once she got old enough.

…

"Yes, Mistress Empress Dowager, this maid will do it," the old maid said. Then she left the Palace of White Swan, heading to the Palace of Serene Harmony.

Xi Yue couldn't help to get curious, "Who is that old woman, E'nie?"

Empress Dowager had a thin but malicious smile on her face, "That's an old maid from Palace of Serene Harmony, where that deformed bitch is living currently. Her daughter is working here, in my Palace. So I just told her if she wants her daughter to live, then she would have to do something for us."

"Ah, I see. I should learn a lot from E'nie."

"Certainly, I will teach you many things. This is for the good of the nation and for my son as well."

**

Bai Yunyu was enjoying the end of spring by sitting under a tree shade in his garden. He felt a bit strange these days, mainly because he felt easily fatigued and nauseous, but he couldn't puke anything. He also felt bloated every single day.

He didn't know what caused this, but Meilan had her own idea.

"Master Bai, maybe you are pregnant? I mean, the symptom of pregnancy for a Ger man is less obvious than a woman, right? We should ask His Majesty to bring the Palace Psychician for you!" Meilan suggested.

Yunyu was thinking for a moment. He wanted to ask Larva, but what could that floating orange thing do anyway?

"If it's true that I'm pregnant, that would be good news…" Yunyu thought. He didn't exactly prefer birthing a child. Because he heard the rumor about bad the pain could be, especially for a ger man. But Huang Shu was an Emperor, and he only wanted children from Yunyu.

"Then we should get you checked," a deep voice suddenly interrupted Yunyu and Meilan in the garden. Yunyu darted his gaze over his shoulder and found Huang Shu was eavesdropping.

"Did you hear anything?" Yunyu asked.

"Yes," Huang Shu replied. He sat beside Yunyu and gently put his hand over Yunyu's thigh. "We will get you checked now. I have a good feeling about this, wife."

Huang Shu glanced at Meilan, "You, go and call Palace Physician now. I want to know if my wife is really pregnant."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Meilan left to call the palace Physician. Leaving Yunyu and Huang Shu alone in the garden.

"Don't wish for you much, you know it's hard for a ger man to get pregnant, and also hard to detect a ger man's pregnancy. Besides, you're still busy with the court, right? Why are you here then."

"I am, but I want to see you. It's about your status. The ministers and officials who were against the notion of you becoming the Empress finally hesitated. Some have chosen to finally follow my order, and they would accept the new Empress, Empress Xiuying."

"It's just a matter of time until everyone will agree on this, and you'll be my Empress once more."

"Once more?" Yunyu frowned.

"Ah—" Huang Shu gulped and shook his head. "Nothing. I had a dream of you becoming the Empress once."

"I see…" Yunyu was irked as if he sensed that something was wrong with Huang Shu. But his suspicion dispersed instantly when he heard Meilan's voice.

"Your Majesty, Emperor Xianliang, Master Bai, I've brought the Imperial Physician!"

Huang Shu smiled at Yunyu and kissed Yunyu's cinnabar mole on his forehead, "Don't be nervous. Even if the result turns out that you're not pregnant yet. Then we will just try harder… tonight."

"S—Scoundrel!" Yunyu yelled, but his cheek turned red.

The Imperial physician bowed his head to Emperor Xianliang, "Your Majesty, I was called by your request."

"Yes, I want you to examine and determine whether my wife, Bai Yunyu, is pregnant or not."