Upon hearing this, Yanshu was somewhat confused and frowned, saying, "What did you say?"

System: "When Zhu Shu came in earlier, she saw the brush in your hand, which looked the same as the one the Empress Dowager had her deliver to Qianming Palace two days ago. She became suspicious, so after returning to the Palace of Benevolent Peace, she went to check the inventory and confirmed it was indeed from the batch gifted to the Empress Dowager. She thinks you've kept the brush the Empress Dowager bestowed on the 'Carefree Gentleman' for yourself."

Yanshu: "..."

This situation was truly unexpected.

Actually, after the Empress Dowager had bestowed gifts on the "Carefree Gentleman" that day, Yuwen Lan had secretly delivered them to her.

But she wasn't foolish enough to use them openly.

The brush she was using now was actually one specially given to her by the Emperor, who saw that she was afraid to use the one from the Empress Dowager for fear of revealing her identity.

She had been using this imperial brush to write for the past few days, and no one who saw it had said anything. Who would have thought Zhu Shu would interpret it this way?

Hearing the System's explanation now, she suddenly found herself in a dilemma.

It was foreseeable that if Zhu Shu reported this to the Empress Dowager, she would certainly become suspicious.

Even if she brought the Emperor to testify that he had given her the brush, the Empress Dowager might not completely dismiss her doubts.

Unless the Carefree Gentleman himself came before the Empress Dowager holding the brush and said he had received it, it seemed impossible to resolve.

However, wasn't she the Carefree Gentleman?

"..."

This problem had become a vicious cycle, and Yanshu was getting a headache.

Then she heard the System sigh and say, "If you walk by the river long enough, your shoes are bound to get wet. Did you think you could keep this disguise forever? Since you'll have to reveal it sooner or later, why not do it now? After all, you're carrying the imperial heir now, so the Empress Dowager probably won't be too harsh on you no matter how angry she gets."

Yanshu: "..."

Although that was true, she really didn't want to anger the Empress Dowager!

She was her number one supporter!

And the female lead of her favorite ship!

How could she let the Empress Dowager dislike her? Sob.

However...

From their recent interactions, the Empress Dowager didn't seem to be a rigid person.

So... even if she found out the Carefree Gentleman wasn't a man, she wouldn't be too angry, right?

Then she heard the System say, "But a few days ago when the Empress Dowager said she wanted to meet the Carefree Gentleman, you made up all sorts of excuses to avoid it."

Yanshu: "..."

That's true. In the end, it was her dishonesty that started all this. If the Empress Dowager learned the truth now, she might really get angry...

Wuwuwu, this was her number one supporter! She didn't want to lose her biggest fan!!!

As she was struggling with this difficult decision, she heard the System say, "Look, Zhu Shu is already speaking to the Empress Dowager about it."

Yanshu: "!!!"

She finally steeled her resolve. Rather than being passively summoned by the Empress Dowager, it would be better to take the initiative to confess. So she hurriedly got up and walked out.

Rendong anxiously said, "My Lady, please be careful. The doctor said you need to be cautious..."

But Yanshu instructed her, "Come, go tell His Majesty something for me."

She then whispered something in her ear.

Rendong quickly agreed and hurried off to Qianming Palace.

Yanshu then got into her palanquin and headed to the Palace of Benevolent Peace.

Oh right, after being promoted to the rank of consort, she finally had her own means of transportation. That was another piece of good news.

Meanwhile, in the Palace of Benevolent Peace, Zhu Shu was reporting to the Empress Dowager, "Your Highness, I have already delivered the gifts you bestowed to Consort Yi."

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly and asked, "How is Consort Yi doing?"

Zhu Shu lowered her head and replied, "Consort Yi seemed to be in good spirits. When I arrived, she was writing at her desk."

The Empress Dowager made a sound of acknowledgment and smiled, "She's still practicing her writing even while pregnant? Quite diligent, isn't she?"

Ever since she started writing novels, Yanshu had been using the excuse of practicing calligraphy. So apart from the Emperor, Fu Hai, Rendong, and a few others who knew the truth, everyone else thought she was just practicing her writing.

However, as soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Zhu Shu added, "But Your Highness, I noticed that the brush Consort Yi was using... looked very similar to the one you bestowed upon the Carefree Gentleman last time."

"Oh?" The Empress Dowager paused.

Before she could say anything more, a palace servant announced from outside, "Consort Yi requests an audience."

The Empress Dowager composed herself and nodded, "Let her in."

The servant acknowledged the order.

Soon after, Yanshu entered.

"This subject greets the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager, seated on her warm couch, nodded, her expression neutral. She said, "Rise. Didn't I say there was no need to rush here to thank me? Why have you come?"

Yanshu replied, "Last night, Doctor Jiang said that this subject's condition was not serious and that I could engage in moderate activity. Since that's the case, having received Your Highness's gifts, it would be remiss of me not to come and express my gratitude."

She then added solemnly, "This subject thanks the Empress Dowager for her generous gifts."

The Empress Dowager nodded again, "This is His Majesty's first heir. You have indeed worked hard. Being your first pregnancy, you must be careful at all times. Tell those serving you to be extra vigilant. It's crucial that the imperial heir is born safely."

Yanshu nodded and said she would, then voluntarily added, "His Majesty raised this subject's rank last night."

The Empress Dowager replied in a calm voice, "I already know. This is His Majesty's love for you. You should fulfill your duties well and strive to repay his favor."

Yanshu nodded quickly.

But inwardly, she felt something was off—

The Empress Dowager's attitude towards her today seemed a bit more distant than it had been a couple of days ago.

Tsk, could it be that she really had become suspicious of her...

Well, since she was already here, she might as well take a gamble.

So she coughed lightly and said, "This subject has something to report to Your Highness."

The Empress Dowager, still maintaining a neutral expression, asked, "What is it?"

Yanshu coughed again, "This matter is of great importance..."

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow, deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt, and waved for everyone else to leave.

With no one else in the hall, Yanshu finally said, "Actually... this subject is the Carefree Gentleman."

As soon as she said this, the Empress Dowager was stunned.

"What did you say?"

Yanshu knelt down again and repeated slowly, "This subject is actually the one who writes the novels under the name of the Carefree Gentleman. I didn't report the truth to Your Highness before, which is truly a capital offense. I beg for Your Highness's forgiveness."

This time, the Empress Dowager heard clearly, but she was still shocked. She looked at Yanshu for a long while before asking, "Those novels were really written by you?"

Yanshu nodded, "Yes."

The Empress Dowager gasped, "How do you... have such talent?"

Yanshu steeled herself and explained, "Initially, His Majesty wanted to find someone to write novels based on cases investigated by the Imperial Guard. When I learned of this, I boldly volunteered to try. After I finished writing, His Majesty found it passable and had it published. Since then, I've continued writing."

The Empress Dowager still looked at her in amazement, "You tried writing and produced such excellent work?"

Yanshu added, "Actually, this subject has loved reading novels since childhood. Perhaps because I've read so many, writing comes naturally to me."

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but exclaim, "You're being quite modest."

She then asked, "But why did you use a man's name?"

Yanshu had to explain her initial reasoning to the Empress Dowager again, "Because many people nowadays are prejudiced against women. I was afraid that if I used a woman's name, they might not even give the book a chance."

The Empress Dowager sighed, "While that reasoning makes sense, the fact remains that people still believe they're reading novels written by a man, so their prejudice against women hasn't changed."

Yanshu quickly said, "It was this subject's oversight."

The Empress Dowager sighed again, "Never mind, it's not your fault. You're just one young woman, you can't change much on your own."

Yanshu nodded quickly, thinking to herself that this was her compromise with reality.

But before she could finish nodding, the Empress Dowager suddenly changed her tone and said coldly, "But last time when I asked you, why didn't you tell me the truth? When I bestowed gifts on you, why did you have His Majesty pass them on?"

Yanshu quickly lowered her head and said, "Yes, this subject was short-sighted at that time. I thought Your Highness might be angry if you suddenly learned the truth, so I lied to Your Highness..."

The Empress Dowager snorted, "And now you're not afraid of my anger?"

Yanshu hurriedly explained, "This subject has been struggling internally for a long time. I wanted to report the truth to Your Highness several times, but I was afraid Your Highness wouldn't like me anymore... After all, Your Highness has been so trusting of me and has liked my novels so much..."

At this point, she couldn't help but shed tears, and continued, "Especially after receiving the Empress Dowager's rewards this morning, I feel extremely guilty. That's why I finally made up my mind to tell the truth to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty is angry with me, it's justified. I dare not hope for Your Majesty's forgiveness."

As she spoke, she wiped her tears again.

But in fact, these words were spoken with genuine sincerity. She truly didn't want to lose the love of her top fan! Sob...

After she finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the hall.

Then came the sound of the Empress Dowager sighing.

"I knew you were a clever one. Well, you're carrying the imperial heir, so get up."

Yanshu was stunned. Had the Empress Dowager forgiven her?!

Tsk, the System was right indeed!!!

This was the best opportunity for honesty, and she had won the gamble!!!

Her heart leaped with joy, and she quickly kowtowed in gratitude before standing up.

However, at that moment, an announcement came from outside, "His Majesty has arrived..."

Both Yanshu and the Empress Dowager were taken aback. Then, they saw Yuwen Lan enter the hall.

As soon as he came in, he anxiously scanned the room, seeming a bit rushed.

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow and said, "Why has Your Majesty come at this time?"

Yanshu was also a bit puzzled. She had only asked Rendong to inform him that she might need to confess the truth to the Empress Dowager, but she hadn't asked him to come.

Yuwen Lan was indeed full of anxiety, thinking to himself, how could he not come?

— The Empress Dowager was known for her strict standards. If she found out that he had been deceived by Yanshu for so long, who knew how she would treat her.

So he rushed over as soon as he heard the news.

"I just finished with state affairs and thought that since Consort Yi is with child, it's a significant matter. So I wanted to personally report it to Mother Empress," he said.

Then he pretended to be surprised to see Yanshu, "I didn't expect Consort Yi to be here as well?"

Yanshu could only nod.

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "I just found out today that the Carefree Gentleman was right under our noses. Your Majesty has kept this secret from me quite well."

Only then did Yuwen Lan realize that Yanshu had already confessed. He had no choice but to say, "I... was afraid that Mother Empress wouldn't accept that the Carefree Gentleman was a woman at first, so I had no choice but to resort to this strategy."

Inwardly, he wondered if the Empress Dowager hadn't reprimanded her, judging from the earlier atmosphere in the hall.

Then he heard the Empress Dowager say, "I was indeed surprised, but I am a woman myself. How could I look down on women?"

As she spoke, she looked Yanshu up and down again, shaking her head and sighing, "I truly didn't expect that there was such a talent in the harem."

Yanshu smiled bashfully and said, "Your Majesty praises me too much. Actually, the person I admire most... is you! I was just writing a story about Master Gu and his wife in the hall, intending to let you read it soon."

The Empress Dowager snorted with laughter, "You always know how to please me. Now that you're pregnant, you must prioritize your health. Rest when you're tired, don't rush to write."

As she spoke, she marveled inwardly, surprised that such a young girl had such talent, writing stories that always kept her on the edge of her seat.

Wait a minute?

Since she was the Carefree Gentleman...

Wouldn't that mean she could read new stories earlier from now on?

Just as she was thinking this, Yanshu voluntarily said, "In the future, when I finish a new story, I will definitely let Your Majesty read it first."

The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction, "That's more like it."

Then she heard Yanshu say, "I've received many interesting letters from readers these days, which I've kept specifically to share with Your Majesty someday."

The Empress Dowager's eyes lit up, "That sounds wonderful!"

She couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you tell me about some of them now? What kind of things are there?"

...

Yuwen Lan silently observed all this, suddenly feeling a bit out of place.

He felt that these two women were more like mother and daughter.

Also, shouldn't he be the first to read her stories?

Why had it suddenly changed to someone else?