On this day, the first snow came since the beginning of winter.

Throughout the day, white clouds rolled over in the vast sky. The snowflakes fell on the ground, made a rustling sound, and gradually accumulated. The high buildings were shrouded in the vast expanse of whiteness, stretching for thousands of miles.

At dusk, Emperor Jingxiao came to Xiaoye Chamber. Since that day Gu Yunyao rejected her parents ruthlessly on Lingming Terrace and caused Madam Min to hang herself from a beam, the Emperor was so annoyed. Even after he learned that she was pregnant, he never came to see her.

At the time of the New Year, the Emperor was not busy with court affairs. He came here on this snowy day not only to visit Gu Yunyao but also to give them an out and save their feelings on the pretext of her pregnancy. After all, this docile woman once carried considerable weight in the Emperor's heart.

After Gu Yunyao was informed about this by the eunuch, she stood on the porch wearing a fox-fur coat with the palace maids. When she saw the Emperor, she intended to bend her knees but the Emperor stopped her.

"Forego formalities. You are pregnant now. Take good care of yourself. You don't need to kneel."

Emperor Jingxiao lifted his fat face and smiled. He held Gu Yunyao's soft hands, feeling them a little cold.

The Emperor turned around, took the hand warmer wrapped in the yellow silk from Lord Hu's hands, and put it into Gu Yunyao's palms. And then he walked into the main hall with her.

Zhao An was so perspicacious that he knew the Emperor was going to have dinner at Xiaoye Chamber, which couldn't be better.

They didn't dare to dawdle. After the masters were seated, Zhao An found time to rush to the Imperial Kitchen to ask for some dishes that the Emperor liked.

In Xiaoye Chamber, the Emperor stood up after drinking half a cup of fragrant tea. He walked slowly into the main hall, watched around, and then said,

"Yaoer, you have been in the imperial palace for more than two years. The furnishings in Xiaoye Chamber are outdated and too simple, and it's time to change them..."

Gu Yunyao was taken aback on the armchair. When she raised her eyes, she saw the Emperor crossing his hands behind his back.

He said loudly then, "Listen! Since Zhaoyi Yu was born in the noble Min Family and she is always gentle, kind, and decent, I'll confer the title of Concubine Yu on her from now on and allow her to move to Jingyang Palace."

It was silent for a while.

The palace maids of Xiaoye Chamber were overjoyed of course. But since their master was sitting still dully with no expression, they didn't dare to show it out even if they were happy.

Perceiving the sudden weird atmosphere, Emperor Jingxiao looked gloomy. His sharp eyes looked straight at Gu Yunyao. At the same time, he frowned.

Seeing this, Lord Hu took a step forward instantly, making gestures to Song Qin incessantly with a smile,

"Oh, I say, you are always clever at ordinary times. But today you must be so happy because of the two good things that you forget to react. Help your master to her feet and thank Your Majesty!"

Song Qin reacted then, "Oh, oh... Yeah. Good things come in pairs..."

When she was trying to get close to her master in a panic, her master Gu Yunyao stood up, bowed down before Emperor Jingxiao, and said in a calm voice slowly,

"Your Majesty, you called me by the wrong surname just now. My surname is Gu, and my first name is Yunyao."

The atmosphere became serious again.

The Emperor crossed his hands behind the back, breathing in anger. The maids and eunuchs lowered their heads, and their hearts pounded.

Song Qin looked so pale, exchanging looks with Lord Hu who was also in a panic. Both of them fell into despair.

After a long time, Emperor Jingxiao exhaled deeply, suppressed the emotions in his heart, and tried to comfort her,

"Yaoer, I know how much you've suffered these years. But no matter you admit it or not, the Min couple is always your biological parents. I know you may feel a little under the weather because of your first pregnancy, so I will forgive you. Don't think too much. Let's have dinner first."

Zhao An came back just in time and he immediately asked people to place the dishes.

The food and wine were ready on the table, and the two masters were seated. Song Qin took the silver needle for testing poison and tried the dishes one by one.

Since the day when their master was found pregnant, they became so cautious at any time, not to mention that the Emperor was having dinner in Xiaoye Chamber this day.

The imperial harem was different from other places. It looked glamorous, while people living there were threatened by countless dangers actually.

Since Gu Yunyao was pregnant with the emperor's child, women in the imperial harem seemed to envy this. Actually, they must bear grudges against it.

The verbal decree of the Emperor this time lifted Gu Yunyao's position and granted her to move to the new palace. By the morning of the next day, the news would be known to the whole imperial harem.

They, as the servants, had to be extremely careful to protect their master and the baby in her belly so that they would have a stable life in the future.

In the silence, they had an unpleasant dinner.

Emperor Jingxiao knew Gu Yunyao's temperament well. Since Madam Min found her not long ago, she must still be angry out of what she had suffered before.

However, he was the Emperor. Even if he only came to his concubines' palaces to have a short talk, they should show great happiness, let alone he came to have dinner with them.

Although she was pregnant, he didn't blame her for forcing her mother to hang herself from the beam, and he even promoted her position and awarded her a gorgeous palace! What else did she want?

The Emperor suppressed the anger in his heart and swallowed the rice which tasted like sawdust.

With his brows furrowed, the Emperor put down the bowl and chopsticks. The sound of the knock on the square table which was made out of rosewood was not too loud, but it was enough to shake the hearts of the people present.

Emperor Jingxiao looked straight at Gu Yunyao. Seeing that the food in her bowl was not eaten at all, he asked in a deep voice,

"Concubine Yu, you don't like the food?"

Gu Yunyao was expressionless.

She said in a cold voice, "I know my talents and virtues don't deserve the title. So Your Majesty, please retreat the order."

"You..."

Emperor Jingxiao suddenly became furious, and his turbid eyes turned so sharp.

He shouted, "My words are to be taken seriously! Concubine Yu, why do you spoil the fun at this time deliberately?"

Gu Yunyao smiled slightly,

"It has been ten days since I was found pregnant. So Your Majesty, don't you come to Xiaoye Chamber to visit me at this time for Madam Min? The court has always been closely related to the imperial harem. At the beginning, Your Majesty and Your Grace wanted me to admit them so much. I thought it must have something to do with the court affairs."

The Emperor snorted with anger.

When the Emperor flicked his sleeves and stood up, all the palace maids and eunuchs knelt down together.

"Concubine Yu, it seems that I spoil you so much that you even dare to estimate my mind. As I said, Min Rui and his wife are your biological parents. They gave birth to you. Whether you admit it or not, you can't change the fact that your surname is Min. If you disobey my order, you will be accused of acting against the emperor's order. My imperial harem can't tolerate people who show no respect to parents and violate the ethic like you!"

As soon as Emperor Jingxiao finished speaking, he stepped forward resolutely and walked out of the hall angrily.

"Oh! You are really..."

Lord Hu bore so much complaint against Gu Yunyao but he didn't dare to say it. He could just stomp to chase the Emperor angrily,

"Master, why did you do that?"

Zhao An and Song Qin stood around Gu Yunyao, who looked sad. And they helped her to sit on the rose chair.

Zhao An squatted down, his big warm hands holding her cold hands. He looked up at her tear-stained face, saying with heartache and pity in his eyes,

"Master, His Majesty intended to repair your relationship. Why did you refuse him? Madam Min never came to tangle with you again. Since His Majesty did not mention it, you should just let it go. Why did you mention it again?"

Gu Yunyao showed a dull smile, and her lips trembled,

"The imperial family is the most ruthless. In the heart of His Majesty, my baby is not as important as the court and his throne. He has known I'm pregnant already, but he didn't come here until today. He just came here for his courtier. Why did he come to visit at this time?"

Her eyes turned to Zhao An slowly, and then she covered her lower abdomen with her hands,

"Zhao An, His Majesty and I live in different worlds. We have nothing in common. My baby shouldn't have come into this world."

Zhao An looked shocked and hurriedly motioned Song Qin to the door to check if anyone else was there,

"Your Grace, now you are pregnant with the emperor's child. You must not say such words again. No matter what the situation will be in the future, I will be with you and never betray you..."

"So will I!"

Song Qin heard Zhao An's solemn promise when she walked back, so she also walked close to Gu Yunyao, smiling softly to please her,

"Your Grace, I will not betray you as well! Just nourish the fetus happily! Lord Zhao and I will follow your lead and be always loyal to you."

Gu Yunyao was so touched. She looked at them with watery eyes and her nose became red gradually.

The Emperor's concern, high position, and great wealth were nothing to her because they didn't belong to her. She didn't mind losing them. The rarest and the most commendable thing was that she had two loyal servants and a child who was about to be born. Even though every day in the imperial palace would be tough in the future, she would still feel warm as long as they were with her.