I died tragically in my previous life, and I want to be an empress in my next life

Mother Xu gently put down the food box in her hand, walked to Pei Zhixuan's side, and gently advised, "Second Miss, it's getting late, you should rest early."

Pei Zhixuan raised her head, with a hint of expectation and disappointment in her eyes, and asked: "Mother Xu, the prince still hasn't accepted the gift I gave him?"

Mother Xu hesitated and answered hesitantly, "The prince... The prince has been busy with official duties recently, so he may not have time to pay attention..."

Pei Zhixuan's heart sank. She stared at Mother Xu and asked, "Did you tell the prince that I made this for him personally?"

Mother Xu lowered her head and her voice became even weaker, "Second Miss, I...I haven't even seen the prince."

"Pah!" Pei Zhixuan threw the teacup on the table to the ground and said angrily, "No! I want to see the prince in person."

Mother Xu was shocked when she heard this. She hurriedly tried to dissuade him, "Second Miss, you can't do this! You are now confined to Yuxiang Pavilion. If you go out without permission, what if the prince finds out..."

"What's wrong with that?" Pei Zhixuan stood up and picked up the lunch box. "If I stay like this any longer, I'll suffocate to death! Mother Xu, you don't have to persuade me anymore. I know what to do."

Mother Xu held Pei Zhixuan back and said, "Second Miss, if the prince really has official business to attend to, he will surely annoy Miss again if he sees Miss there."

Mother Xu had just gone to deliver West Lake lotus seed soup to Xuanyuan Ping on behalf of Pei Zhixuan. Every time she delivered it, she was stopped before she even reached the study.

This was the third time that the young lady asked her to deliver something, but she didn't even see the prince. Mother Xu sighed inwardly.

In fact, Xuanyuan Ping had no idea about this. Every time Mother Xu approached the study, she was stopped by people planted by Pei Zhiyan for various reasons.

Pei Zhixuan raised her head slightly, her eyes moist, "Mother Xu, I'm so scared."

How could she not be afraid? Xuanyuan Ping had never treated her so coldly before. Now, her aunt had also been sent to Zhuangzi, and she didn't even have anyone to discuss things with.

Xuanyuan Ping hasn't set foot in Yuxiangxie for half a month since Xiao Cui's accident last time. I heard that Pei Zhiyan has given him another concubine. That concubine is the daughter of a minor official. She has a pretty face and is very charming. She must be more pleasing to Xuanyuan Ping than Xiao Cui.

If I had known this would happen, I would have kept Xiao Cui, the slave girl. At least, she would have no chance of winning Xuanyuan Ping's heart.

Now, she was trapped in this Yuxiang Pavilion, like a bird imprisoned in a golden cage.

Last time, she pretended to have a stomachache to coax Xuanyuan Ping over, but only Mother Xue and Pei Zhiyan came with the imperial physician, and Xuanyuan Ping didn't even send a servant to ask.

Mother Xu whispered to comfort her, "Miss, don't be afraid. When the little grandson is born, the prince will definitely forgive you."

Pei Zhixuan couldn't help but stroke her belly, feeling mixed emotions. She knew that what Mother Xu said was right, as long as the baby was born, everything would be fine. But how should she spend the days of waiting?

While Pei Zhixuan was daydreaming, Xuanyuan Ping was busy and exhausted.

Although Taifu Zhao has retired and returned to his hometown, he still has many disciples and has left many powerful supporters for Crown Prince Xuanyuan Zheng.

At the same time, the marriage between the daughter of Marquis Zhongwu and Xuanyuan Zheng also caused the generals to express their opinions, and they were clearly inclined towards Xuanyuan Zheng.

Recently, in the court, Xuanyuan Zheng has obviously begun to suppress Xuanyuan Ping. How can Xuanyuan Ping not be overwhelmed?

Inside the study, the lights were dim and the atmosphere was extremely solemn. Xuanyuan Ping paced back and forth with a frown on his face.

"Your Highness, if this continues, we will probably fall into an even more passive situation." Zhang Musheng finally couldn't help but speak.

He who gains military power has always won the world. In the court, the only one that can compete with the Loyalty and Martial Marquis's Mansion is the General's Mansion.

Xuanyuan Ping stopped and looked at Zhang Musheng, saying, "I contacted Mr. Lin Er of the General's Mansion the day before yesterday, and they told me to be patient."

Zhang Musheng pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Your Majesty, although the General's Mansion claims to be on your side, it seems that there has been no substantial action so far..."

Xuanyuan Ping's eyes flashed with doubt, "What do you mean?"

"I feel that the General's Mansion is not just trying to give us a perfunctory response," Zhang Musheng said after a moment's hesitation.

The General's Mansion is Pei Zhiyan's maternal family and has always secretly supported me. If one day I achieve great things, the General's Mansion, as the Queen's maternal family, will naturally enjoy wealth and glory with me. What reason does he have not to support me?

Pei Zhiyan's face appeared in front of Xuanyuan Ping's eyes again. Pei Zhiyan was dignified and generous, good at dancing with long sleeves, and always put herself first. The Prince Jing's Mansion was also managed by her in an orderly manner. However, he always felt that something was strange, as if she had a bit more mystery.

Pei Zhiyan sat quietly under the candlelight, holding a secret letter in her hand, her fingers gently sliding across the letter. After reading the secret letter, she had no expression on her face, just gently brought the letter close to the candlelight, watching it slowly burn into ashes.

There were only a few numbers in it, "Prince Jing is suspicious of the General's Mansion."

Zhang Musheng was already a frequent visitor to Fuyunlou, so Li Qiuniang naturally got the news from Zhang Musheng.

Pei Zhiyan was also aware of the situation in the court. Xuanyuan Ping had mentioned it to her intentionally or unintentionally, simply asking her to go to the General's Mansion and the Pei Mansion to mediate.

Lord Prime Minister Pei has always been cunning. In his previous life, he supported Xuanyuan Ping at the instigation of Aunt Yun. In this life, he did not want to get involved in this muddy water, so even when he met Xuanyuan Ping in the court, he was lukewarm and sometimes even deliberately kept some distance.

It seems that it is time to give Xuanyuan Ping a little sweetness, Pei Zhiyan smiled faintly.

In her previous life, she remembered that Wang Dunfa, a subordinate of the Marquis of Zhongwu, was exposed for embezzling military pay. Although there were many corrupt officials in the court, this year the military rations were in short supply and the soldiers on the frontline were starving and cold. At this time, if someone was found to have embezzled military pay, it would certainly shock the court and the public and cause public outrage.

Thinking of this, Pei Zhiyan picked up her pen and wrote another secret letter, calling Yin Liu, "Hurry and have someone deliver this letter to the General's Mansion and hand it over to General Lin personally."

Yinliu responded and went out with the secret letter.

On the second day, Lin Xiaoyu went to the Cuju field and practiced Cuju with Xuanyuan Ping.

After returning from the Cuju field, Xuanyuan Ping was in a good mood. He immediately summoned Zhang Musheng to the study. The two had a secret conversation in the study for nearly two hours before Zhang Musheng left in a hurry.

Pei Zhiyan knew that Xuanyuan Ping would naturally investigate the case of embezzlement of military pay. If this matter was confirmed, Marquis Zhongwu would definitely be involved, and Crown Prince Xuanyuan Zheng would also be affected.