The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

For the next two weeks, Jiaofang Palace was unusually quiet.

With Wulan Yun under house arrest, Shen Wangxi never set foot there again.

The once magnificent Empress's Palace is now like a forgotten corner, with only Granny Su silently keeping her company.

Looking at the increasingly thin Empress, Su Mama sighed inwardly, but could only advise, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is currently infatuated with the one from Yilan Palace. Please be patient for a while."

"Moreover, His Highness Prince Xiaoyao has already entered the court, so there is still room for maneuver."

Ulan Yun gazed out the window, her voice hoarse: "A way out? There's still room for maneuver in matters of power, but what about his heart?"

"Now, his eyes and heart are only on that woman. What am I, the Empress, to him now?"

Granny Su was speechless.

His Majesty's favoritism is now so strong that he's no longer even bothering to hide it.

Despite being under house arrest, he still visited Yilan Palace every day, while Jiaofang Palace remained empty.

The two-week lockdown period passed in the blink of an eye.

Having been detained for so many days, Shen Qingruo felt extremely uncomfortable. As soon as she was released, she sidled up to Shen Wangxi and gently shook his sleeve.

"Your Majesty, being confined is so boring, Aruo is so bored." She looked up at her with a wronged expression, her voice soft and sweet. "You have to make it up to Aruo."

Shen Wangxi looked down at her. The little girl was wearing a cherry pink belted long dress today. Her cheeks were slightly puffed up because of a little complaint. She was so cute.

He loved her dearly, took her hand, and said gently, "I have already prepared it."

"I'll take you somewhere."

-

The palace's opera stage, built by the water, is pleasantly cool and breezy.

On stage, the gongs and drums resounded, and famous actors invited from outside the palace were singing popular plays.

Shen Wangxi and Shen Qingruo sat in the pavilion with the best view, and the palace servants quietly served them fragrant tea and snacks.

Shen Wangxi peeled a grape and naturally offered it to Shen Qingruo's lips.

She ate it from his hand, the sweetness delighting her, and smiled, her eyes crinkling: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The sounds of string and wind instruments drifted faintly into the long-silent Jiaofang Palace on the wind.

Wulan Yun was putting on her makeup in front of the mirror when she paused, tilting her head to listen. "What's all this commotion outside?"

The old woman, Su, who was standing to the side, lowered her eyes and replied in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, today is the day you and Consort Yilan are released from confinement. His Majesty has invited an opera troupe from outside the palace, and they are currently accompanying Consort Zhao in the opera house to listen to a play and enjoy tea."

Wu Lanyun's fingers tightened around the comb, her knuckles turning white.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her face, though meticulously made up, still showing signs of weariness, and suddenly let out a cold laugh:

"Very well, I'd like to see if they can truly live a peaceful life as a couple."

She stood up, her voice cold and hard: "Granny Su, help me change my clothes."

Granny Su was startled: "Your Highness, what's wrong...?"

Ulan Yun's eyes sharpened: "The more His Majesty avoids seeing me and desires to be alone with her, the less I will allow it!"

"Moreover, after what happened last time, I understand that as long as the Ulan family's relationship remains, and as long as Yinian is still the eldest son, His Majesty will never depose the Empress."

"Since I still hold the position of Empress, why should I hide away and let them have their way?"

She wants to go too, and she wants to go openly and honestly.

-

Inside the theater pavilion, Shen Qingruo was engrossed in the story when she suddenly heard a palace servant announce, "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

Shen Qingruo subconsciously looked at Shen Wangxi, only to see his previously relaxed brows furrow slightly.

Ulan Yun, dressed in her empress's everyday clothes and wearing a phoenix hairpin, walked over with an elegant demeanor, as if she had just come to watch a play.

With a slight smile on her face, she curtsied to Shen Wangxi and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Then, she turned her gaze to Shen Qingruo, her smile fading slightly: "Consort Zhao is also here."

Shen Qingruo ignored her, and Shen Wangxi asked in a flat tone, "Why is the Empress here?"

Wulan Yun sat down on the brocade stool brought by the palace servants, her position conveniently between Shen Wangxi and Shen Qingruo.

"I heard a lot of interesting things happening in the palace, and since Your Majesty must be in a good mood today after the restrictions have been lifted, I thought I'd join in the fun. I hope Your Majesty won't mind?"

Her words were so well-chosen that it was impossible to drive her away directly.

Shen Wangxi glanced at her, said nothing, and simply picked up her teacup and took a sip.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat stagnant, with only the lyrics on stage continuing.

Shen Qingruo glanced at Wu Lanyun's subtly provocative demeanor and sneered inwardly.

She suddenly hissed softly and rubbed her temples with her small hands.

Shen Wangxi immediately turned to look at her: "What's wrong?"

Shen Qingruo frowned, her voice carrying a hint of delicate complaint:

"Your Majesty, for some reason, the sound of gongs and drums has become a bit loud since the Empress arrived, and Aruo is feeling a little dizzy."

Ulan Yun listened from the side, almost crushing the handkerchief in her hand.

That bitch dared to slap her in the face to her face!

Upon hearing this, Shen Wangxi replied without hesitation, "Since it's so noisy, then I won't listen."

He stood up, walked past Wulan Yun, and went to Shen Qingruo's side. He extended his hand and said, "Let's go, A'ruo, I'll accompany you back to rest."

He completely ignored Wulan Yun, who had just sat down, and took Shen Qingruo's hand to leave.

Ulan Yun suddenly stood up: "Your Majesty!"

Shen Wangxi stopped in her tracks, turned her head to look at her, her eyes devoid of warmth: "Does the Empress have anything else to say?"

Looking at his protective posture towards Shen Qingruo, and at the impatience in his cold eyes, Wu Lanyun opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't utter a single word.

Shen Wangxi stopped looking at her, took Shen Qingruo's hand, and left the theater directly.

Wulan Yun was left standing alone, enduring the subtle, almost imperceptible, gazes of the palace servants around her.

She forced herself to remain composed and continued to sit and listen to the opera.

The lyrics on stage continued, but Wulan Yun felt that every line was mocking her for bringing shame upon herself.