Chapter 7

　　I heard that Lucille was highly favored that she could even go in and out of the Imperial Palace at will. I heard that Zach sympathized with her for being defeated by the cold and gave her the pamper of the pepper room to keep her warm. It was said that Zach visited the Changchun Palace day after day, even when he didn’t have to, he still did.

　　He has never been to my Showa Palace again.

　　More than a month has passed since the last time he came, and this place has finally become a real Cold Palace as I wished.

　　The snow poured heavily, leaving a lump was two feet thick. I was born with a fear of the cold, so I stayed in bed all day and refused to move.

　　The eunuchs and maids who served outside the courtyard probably thought I was asleep, so they leaned against the corner and chatted lazily.

　　\"Hey, I wonder when will our wretched days end? Why does it seem like Showa Palace is becoming more and more like a Cold Palace.

　　\"Isn\'t it already one? Since the Emperor didn\'t come to Showa Palace, we have been ignored everywhere.\"

　　\"Well, everyone knows that the new queen is highly favored right now, and they are all rushing to court the Changchun Palace. Who has time to care about us?\"

　　\"Changchun Palace might be popular but I think it\'s not as good as our Showa Palace!\"

　　\"Well, the Emperor is always visiting the Changchun Palace, doesn\'t this imply that the new queen is still in favor? You know, it was said that the new queen...\"

　　I subconsciously turned sideways, wanting to listen more carefully, but before the servant could finish her words, it was interrupted by Cristin\'s slightly angry voice, \"What are you spewing about? Don’t you have nothing better to do? Be careful, I will report all of you to the Concubine and send you all to be punished!\"

　　I faintly heard a voice begging for mercy from outside the wall. I sighed, changed my posture and just lay down. Cristin opened the curtain and walked in.

　　Seeing me awake, she seemed to be stunned for a while, but soon returned to normal, \"My lady, it\'s cold today, I made a cup of bird\'s nest soup for you, please eat it while it\'s hot.\"

　　I got up and took the soup as I smiled at her, and then pretended to ask casually, \"Why didn\'t you let them continue talking?\"

　　Cristin’s hand that was putting a cloak on me paused for a moment, and said in an angry tone, \"My lady, don\'t listen to their nonsense. I can see that the Emperor still has you in mind. After a while, the Emperor will get tired of...\"

　　I suddenly felt a surge in my stomach causing me to drop the porridge that was in my hand. Fortunately, Cristin quickly caught it, and then patted my back to help soothe me, \"My lady, are you okay? Is the porridge... \"

　　When she said this, she suddenly stopped, her eyes full of horror.

　　\"My lady, you...\"

　　Cristin’s my personal court lady, I think she must have also realized that I haven’t bled for almost a month now. She knew that she always served me the black soup every time before, except for that time when I angered Zach last month.

　　I did not expect that I would get pregnant for that one time!

　　Instinctively, I grabbed Cristin\'s hand abruptly, and my voice was eager and helpless, \"Don\'t tell him, Cristin, you can\'t tell him...\"

　　She knew who I was talking about.

　　I was fully aware that Cristin served Zach, and I also knew that it’s absolutely impossible for Zach to let me give birth to his child.

　　Cristin looked at me at a loss, \"My lady...\"

　　At this moment, a eunuch notified me from outside the door, \"My lady, Doctor Hu is here to check your pulse and is waiting outside the door.\"

　　Doctor Hu! I suddenly looked up, watching Cristin\'s face turn pale instantly.