Quick Transmigration: Knowing I'm a Bad Woman, Yet Still Liking Me?

Xiao Chengyu's gaze was fixed on Shen Xun'er's face, and he could tell that she had put a lot of effort into her makeup today.

The more I looked, the more disoriented I felt.

The soft contours of his eyebrows and eyes, and the way his eyelashes trembled when he lowered his gaze, bore a striking resemblance to the Imperial Concubine.

Especially now, under the sunlight, the curve of her profile, along with the gentle grace that she couldn't hide when she lowered her eyes, is just like the appearance of the imperial concubine when she first entered the palace.

Xiao Chengyu unconsciously traced the edge of the memorial with his fingertips, a complex sense of melancholy flashing across his eyes.

"Since you have done the prince a favor, you should naturally be rewarded. What reward do you desire?"

Shen Xun'er slowly raised her head, her gaze clear, and looked directly at Xiao Chengyu on the throne. "Your Majesty, this servant is grateful for the kindness of Your Majesty and the Empress. I only ask to stay in the palace and serve Your Majesty."

Wang Shunan, who was standing on one side of the main hall, slightly raised his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved into a barely perceptible smile.

Xiao Chengyu pondered for a moment, then said, "Since you have this intention, I grant it. Wang Shunan."

"Your servant is here."

"By imperial decree, Shen Xun'er is hereby conferred the title of Talented Lady and granted residence in Ningxiang Pavilion."

Shen Xun'er was overjoyed upon hearing this, but she still maintained her manners and kowtowed three times.

She turned this dead end around.

"This servant... thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

The Empress's heart was filled with complex emotions, but she still smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I congratulate you on the acquisition of your beautiful wife. I also congratulate Consort Shen on gaining Your Majesty's favor."

When the news reached the inner palace, the usually dignified Consort Shu broke down and smashed several vases, and the other concubines did the same.

They knew that one imperial concubine was already enough to make their lives difficult, and now another one was coming, making their future even harder.

Bai Yuan was in a similar situation. She had just finished eating when she felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, which made her so angry that she swept her teacup onto the ground.

Xiao Qi, who was reporting on Shen Xun'er's situation, immediately stopped talking. Wan Yue and Ting Xue quickly stepped forward to comfort her, "Master, even if Shen Xun'er is gone, someone else will come. This year's selection is over, and who knows how many new people will enter the harem. You should focus on resting your health now."

Bai Yuan glared at the teacup on the ground. "I don't care whether it's Shen Xun'er or those other ladies-in-waiting. Go and prepare, I'm on my period."

Wan Yue was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and then quickly went to find something.

Bai Yuan frowned in thought. It had been more than two months, and Xiao Chengyu had been staying at her place whenever he had free time.

She was perfectly healthy, and she hadn't eaten any of the food Xiao Chengyu had brought her.

She would have everything delivered from the main kitchen inspected, and since the Jade Palace had a small system monitoring it, the people in the small kitchen had no chance to tamper with it.

That leaves only one reason.

Tingxue stepped forward and placed a soup bowl on the table. "My lady, I've instructed the kitchen to make you some ginger tea. It will take a while, please have some first..."

Unexpectedly, Bai Yuan swept the new teacup to the ground with her hand. She growled with a ferocious expression, "Xiao Chengyu is such a waste. I wasted more than two months of my time on him. Who knew he was so useless that he couldn't even get me pregnant?"

These words startled Wan Yue and Ting Xue, who were inside the room, so much so that they trembled.

Wan Yue quickly went out to check and closed the door behind her. Ting Xue took a handkerchief and carefully wiped her hands. "My lady, please don't get angry. If you hurt yourself, the master and madam will be heartbroken."

Bai Yuan closed her eyes tightly.

If Xiao Chengyu weren't the only man in the harem, she wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.

Damn Xiao Chengyu, damn Wei Ci, it's all useless.

After a while, her breathing gradually calmed down, and the room fell silent again.

Wan Yue and Ting Xue stood to one side, carefully observing her expression.

About an hour later, Bai Yuan opened her eyes again. She looked at Wan Yue and said, "Have someone send a message to the General's Mansion."

That night, Xiao Chengyu went to Ningxiang Pavilion. Countless people in the harem gritted their teeth in anger, but Bai Yuan slept quite well.

The news of Xiao Chengyu's generous reward to Consort Shen spread throughout the harem early the next morning.

Bai Yuan even had someone say that she was unwell and directly closed the gates of Yu Fu Palace.

The imperial physician sent by Xiao Chengyu entered, but he himself was not allowed to enter.

Fortunately, the imperial physician returned and told the emperor that Bai Yuan was just feeling unwell due to menstruation, which put Xiao Chengyu at ease.

He has indeed been spoiling the Consort too much lately, bestowing upon her a great deal of food, fearing both that she might become pregnant and that her body might not be able to withstand the effects of the medicine.

Everyone in the harem thought that His Majesty would continue to visit Ningxiang Pavilion the next day, but he did not enter the harem for seven consecutive days.

On the eighth day, after the imperial physician examined Bai Yuan, Xiao Chengyu went to Yufu Palace.

Everyone in the harem was watching the Emperor's attitude closely, knowing that even with Consort Shen, the Imperial Concubine would not lose favor anytime soon.

But to everyone's surprise, the gates of Jade Hibiscus Palace remained closed.

Looking at the tightly closed palace gates in front of him, Xiao Chengyu was not angry. Instead, he smiled and said, "Wang Shunan, you can continue knocking on the door."

Wang Shunan bowed his head in response, then went forward and knocked for a long time, but there was still no response from inside.

He turned back to Xiao Chengyu somewhat awkwardly, "Your Majesty, what do you think of this..."

Xiao Chengyu didn't speak, stood there for a while longer before turning around, "Let's go."

Wang Shunan hurried to catch up, taking small, quick steps, and cautiously offered his suggestion, "Your Majesty, how about we go to Ningxiang Pavilion?"

Xiao Chengyu waved his hand, "If I go to Ningxiang Pavilion today, I'm afraid I won't be able to enter Yufu Palace again."

Wang Shunan's eyes flickered, and he joked with a smile, "Hey, it seems that Consort Shen's pigeon soup will be wasted again today."

Xiao Chengyu paused, "How did you know Consort Shen cooked pigeon soup today? Did she send someone to tell you?"

Wang Shunan's expression remained unchanged. "I didn't send anyone to deliver a message. But I heard that ever since Your Majesty went to Ningxiang Pavilion, Consort Shen has been stewing pigeon soup every day, saying that she hopes Your Majesty can drink it when you go there."

"She's quite obedient." Xiao Chengyu's face remained expressionless, thinking to himself that the Imperial Concubine had never been obedient.

Wang Shunan glanced at his expression, then mustered his courage and stammered, "Both Consort Shen and the Imperial Concubine are His Majesty's concubines. Her Majesty is known for her magnanimity, so she shouldn't..."

"When have you ever seen the Imperial Concubine be so magnanimous?" Xiao Chengyu asked with amusement.

Wang Shunan was instantly speechless. The Imperial Concubine was indeed arrogant, but she had the right to be arrogant, something that Consort Shen could not learn.

He could only stammer, "Your Majesty is right..."

"Pass down the order that no one is to disturb me."

"Your servant obeys the decree."

Inside the Jade Hibiscus Palace, Xiao Qi had been listening to the sounds outside the door. When the footsteps faded into the distance, she hurriedly came over to report to Bai Yuan.

"My lord, His Majesty has departed."

Wan Yue placed the ice basin inside the room, feeling a lingering fear as she looked at Bai Yuan.

In other palaces, they would try to drag the emperor inside even if he were just passing by.

Their master, on the contrary, simply locked them outside. Isn't that disrespectful to His Majesty?

"My lord, will His Majesty be angry with you?"