无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

“Concubine Yu,” accused, “You tried to harm me by sending me food. The emperor spared you because of his mercy, but you show no remorse, do you?”

Jiang Ning eyed her with her jet-black eyes, her smile carrying a touch of coldness. “Didn’t you let your maid taste the food first? How come she showed no adverse reactions, but you did?”

Concubine Yu was secretly alarmed in her heart.

She indeed had her servant taste the food first, but how did the Princess Consort come to know of this?

Smiling faintly, Jiang Ning said, “You are concealing your pregnancy and you set me up by pretending to fall sick after eating the food I prepared for you. Are you trying to avenge your useless nephew?”

“Avenge? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Concubine Yu denied, avoiding her gaze, but the guilt was clearly evident in her eyes.

Jiang Ning rose from her seat and walked over to her bed, looking down at her, “Concubine Yu, you are rather beautiful and it’s your moment of favor. You should seize this opportunity and not allow yourself to be manipulated by others.”

“What are you saying?” Concubine Yu looked up at her, taken aback.

“You came from a humble background, inferior to your full-blood sister. When she got married, she became a legitimate Princess Consort, while you had to enter the palace as a lowly female attendant. After these many grueling years in the palace, you finally received some favor and became pregnant. Instead of keeping a low profile and biding your time, you hastily sought to gain favor for your sister and nephew.”

Jiang Ning smiled and said unhurriedly: “If anything were to happen to you in the palace, could the Princess Consort of An support you or even save your child?”

Concubine Yu’s face changed, and she remained silent.

Although she had a good relationship with her sister, there was indeed a difference between a legitimate and a concubine-born daughter. Her sister, as a legitimate daughter, was the honorable Princess Consort of An, while she resorted to being the lowest ranked female attendant in the palace.

For all these years, she suffered in the palace while her sister lived a comfortable life as the Princess Consort, and they seldom saw each other.

It was only when she received favor and ascended to the position of Concubine Yu that the Princess Consort of An started visiting her more often.

Although she knew that the Princess Consort was trying to provoke her, the facts were right there and she couldn’t deny them.

After a long while, Concubine Yu sighed faintly, “Maybe it’s because I am of lower stature than her, inferior in every way. I was not valued in my own family. Now that I have some power, I want to show off my capabilities.”

Jiang Ning smiled faintly, “Concubine Yu, you’re quite brave. Even though I am not much educated, I know that certain cooling foods are harmful during pregnancy. Yet, you claimed to be suffering from heatstroke and ate those cooling dishes I sent you. Wouldn’t that harm the child? Thankfully the child is blessed. If anything had happened… I could have claimed myself innocent. You would ultimately be the one to lose.”

Concubine Yu’s face changed again.

She moved her hand to her belly, filled with regret.

If her child really was in danger, what would she do?

She didn’t dare to think about it.

She had been too impulsive, reckless, and foolish!

“I am also curious about something. If you intended to teach me a lesson, Concubine Yu, why did you still eat the food I sent you?” Jiang Ning asked curiously.

At Jiang Ning’s words, Concubine Yu appeared somewhat uncomfortable.

“Or did you find the food I cooked irresistible, and you just couldn’t control yourself?”

“…Nonsense, I’m not a glutton,” Concubine Yu blushed as she defended herself, “Due to my pregnancy and the hot weather, my appetite hasn’t been good. Seeing that your food was refreshing and seemed appetizing, I merely ate a little more than usual.”