Seeing the mess in the room, Lin Xiaowei simply slammed the table and reprimanded, "What kind of behavior is this!"
The room fell silent in an instant, everyone lowering their heads submissively.
Lin Xiaowei was very satisfied with the result she had caused. If the situation hadn't been so unusual, she would have burst into laughter.
Taking a deep breath, suppressing the laughter in her heart, Lin Xiaowei looked at the young maid and said, "Hurry and help your mistress up. Can you let her just lie there like this? Xiao Mozi, send someone to summon the imperial physician."
Although she wished Baili Ziyun would just die like this, the necessary superficial courtesies still had to be observed.
Xiao Mozi left to carry out the order, while the young maid, with the help of other maids, had already helped Baili Ziyun to sit up.
Baili Ziyun was in no condition to sit up any longer. No matter how unwilling Lin Xiaowei was, she had to have someone help her to the side hall to lie down.
Not long after she lay down, the imperial physician arrived.
Xiao Mozi knew that Lin Xiaowei disliked Baili Ziyun. He also intended to stall for time, hoping that by the time he returned, Baili Ziyun would be dead.
However, he couldn't be too obvious. This time, Lin Xiaowei was still lying there properly. Apart from looking a bit pale, she seemed to have no other issues.
"The imperial physician is here, quickly examine Noble Consort Yue."
When Lin Xiaowei saw the imperial physician arrive, she knew that dragging Baili Ziyun to death was probably impossible. Since she couldn't achieve it, she might as well do a good deed and have everyone remember her kindness. This way, when she dealt with Baili Ziyun in the future, someone would be grateful for her help.
But what Lin Xiaowei didn't expect was that after examining Baili Ziyun, the imperial physician actually said that Baili Ziyun...
Was pregnant.
And she was already two months along.
Her fainting spell was merely due to recent overwork and posed no serious problem. The child was developing healthily, and she only needed to pay more attention to rest from now on.
As soon as the imperial physician finished speaking, Sima Zhu's surprised voice was heard, "Is what the imperial physician said true?"
No one had expected Sima Zhu to come at this time, and everyone was startled by his voice.
But then, they became extremely excited.
Because of Lin Xiaowei's pregnancy, the Emperor had recently stopped visiting other consorts and had been sleeping and eating with Lin Xiaowei.
Although she knew this was due to Sima Zhu's fondness for the child, it was impossible not to feel jealous.
Although they didn't know why Sima Zhu had come now, everyone showed their best selves to Sima Zhu, hoping to gain his attention and receive his favor that night.
Unfortunately, they were destined to be disappointed.
Because after receiving the imperial physician's confirmation, Sima Zhu had already rushed to Baili Ziyun's bedside and sat down.
"Ziyun? Ziyun?"
Sima Zhu called out softly a few times, but Baili Ziyun showed no reaction. He then looked at the imperial physician worriedly and said, "Why isn't she responding?"
The imperial physician internally lamented. He had already said it was due to overwork and she wouldn't wake up immediately.
But since His Majesty had asked, he naturally wished for Noble Consort Yue to wake up immediately.
Although he was a doctor with a compassionate heart, with His Majesty present, His Majesty was naturally the most important. The imperial physician didn't hesitate, took out his needle, and pricked Baili Ziyun. Baili Ziyun immediately and slowly regained consciousness.
She had intended to curse, but when she opened her eyes, she saw Sima Zhu's dark and plump face. The words she was about to speak were instantly swallowed back.
Forcing a smile, Baili Ziyun said, "Your Majesty, why are you here? What happened to me? I remember I seemed to be listening to Imperial Concubine Yun lecture in her palace, but I accidentally fell asleep. Will Imperial Concubine Yun blame me? Your Majesty, I didn't do it on purpose, please speak to Imperial Concubine Yun on my behalf."
Baili Ziyun's speech was incredibly fluent, and her facial expressions were perfectly conveyed, making it almost believable that she was telling the truth.
But Lin Xiaowei wouldn't believe her.
She didn't know who had enlightened Baili Ziyun. Now she had finally understood and even learned to play mind games with her.
But that wasn't the most important thing; the most critical point was that she was pregnant.
And two months along.
This was a whole month earlier than her own.
Did that mean Baili Ziyun's body was more fertile than hers?
Just thinking about it, she had endured years in the apocalypse, experiencing things that ordinary people couldn't comprehend.
If not for her special skin that didn't scar, she would never have reached this point.
She had schemed and schemed, lost all dignity, and finally obtained the holy water from Shen Xiaoyan to change her physique so that she could conceive.
Yet Baili Ziyun, without any effort, had quietly conceived a child.
Lin Xiaowei clenched her fists tightly, afraid that she would lunge forward and strangle Baili Ziyun.
However, even if she was a month ahead, so what? There was still a long way to go.
From now until delivery, there were eight months.
These eight months were more than enough time for her to deal with this troublesome child.
Unfortunately, imagination was beautiful, but reality was cruel.
Although Lin Xiaowei was deeply favored by Sima Zhu, she lacked any influential backing.
Previously, although Baili Ziyun's rank was not high, with Grand Princess Zande by her side, her life was quite comfortable.
Now, with a child and the Emperor's attention, and most importantly, being due a month earlier than Lin Xiaowei.
If she could give birth to a son, she would undoubtedly become a dark horse.
Therefore, many people in the palace were placing their bets on Baili Ziyun.
Lin Xiaowei was so enraged that she gnashed her teeth.
She knew why people weren't betting on her; it was because she had no maternal family support.
If Baili Ziyun didn't have a good mother, how could she have a chance to turn things around?
However, why had she never heard much about Baili Ziyun's father, Baili Hao?
Before, she hadn't paid attention, so it was fine.
But now, upon serious reflection, it seemed there was indeed a huge problem.
Baili Hao had always worn a mask. When she was by Baili Ziyun's side, every time she saw Baili Hao, he always appeared so gloomy, making her feel that he was more terrifying than a zombie.
Such a person, and also the驸马 of Grand Princess Zande, shouldn't he be quite attention-grabbing?
Yet, not only in that small town before, but even now, in the capital, and in the palace, no one had ever mentioned a single word about Baili Hao.
This situation could only have two possibilities.
Either this person, who had worked so hard, had no talent and attracted no attention.
Or, it was intentional concealment, to prevent someone from knowing.
Lin Xiaowei could never believe that someone who could marry a princess would have no outstanding qualities.
If that was the case, then only the second possibility remained.
But who was the person being concealed from?