The Whisper Bowl looked different at night.
All lanterns dimmed, the streets empty, kitchen fires dying out. The training hall was silent—no shouting twins, no scholar scolding workers, no clatter of bowls.
But inside one small room…
The Empress was glaring at her reflection with the fury of a thousand storms.
A rounded pregnancy pillow was tied to her stomach under her soft robe.
A sash wrapped around it, making her appear exactly six months pregnant.
She poked the pillow.
It bounced.
She poked it again.
It bounced harder.
She wanted to murder someone.
Fen Yu drifted around her like a dramatic actress in a tragedy play.
"This is humiliating… You, a queen, pretending to be pregnant… truly, men are the worst."
Li Shen nodded solemnly.
"He tricked you with logic. Male strategy. Very common."
Wei Rong sighed deeply.
"Just accept it. We tried arguing; you still have to go."
The Empress gritted her teeth.
"I will kill him one day."
A soft tapping interrupted her rage.
