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

Inside the Jiaofang Palace, wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner.

Wu Lanyun dismissed everyone except Shen Jingyan. The dignified smile from the spring banquet was gone from her face, replaced by displeasure at being slighted.

"Ayan, tell your mother the truth, do you know anything about Sun Hongwen?" Wulan Yun's voice was relatively calm, but it carried a scrutinizing tone.

Shen Jingyan nonchalantly fiddled with the tassels of the jade pendant at her waist, and upon hearing this, she curled her lip: "I know, she's just a pretty face, rotten inside."

Wu Lanyun frowned: "Since you know that, why did you still..."

"Mother!" Shen Jingyan interrupted her, leaned over and hugged Wulanyun's arm, shaking it and pleading in a coquettish voice, "I just can't stand her! Didn't you see how she acted, putting on such a pitiful act, as if we had bullied her?"

"Let's get rid of her as soon as possible; out of sight, out of mind!"

She tilted her head back, a sly smile spreading across her face: "Besides, who knew Father would suddenly show up, and then make her put on that whole act..."

"Mother, please don't be angry. It's not worth it for her."

Looking at her beloved daughter's adorable appearance, Wulan Yun's resentment caused by Shen Wangxi's displeasure dissipated considerably.

She ultimately loved this daughter, but she didn't like Shen Qingruo either.

It's really not worth it to displease His Majesty just for an insignificant concubine's daughter.

She gently tapped Shen Jingyan's forehead, her tone filled with helpless indulgence: "You're just spoiled. Don't be so reckless next time."

"Okay, okay!" Shen Jingyan replied with a smile, knowing that this matter was now over.

That evening, Wulan Yun dressed up carefully and personally carried the stewed ginseng soup to the Taiji Hall.

Shen Wangxi was reading memorials under the lamp. When she saw her come in, she raised her eyes but didn't say anything.

Wulan Yun gently placed the soup bowl on the table, walked behind him, placed her soft hand on his shoulder, and massaged it with just the right amount of pressure. Her voice was gentle and apologetic:

"Your Majesty, I was careless today and failed to thoroughly investigate the character of that Sun family member. I almost made a mistake and displeased you."

Shen Wangxi put down his vermilion pen, feeling the pressure on his shoulder. He wasn't really angry at Wu Lanyun, but he disliked that such a despicable person had been pushed to the forefront, almost ruining Shen Qingruo's life.

He took her hand, pulled her close, and softened his tone: "It's alright, but we need to be more careful about such matters in the future."

Ulan Yun nestled into his arms, looked up at his still handsome profile, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I understand. You work hard day and night, please don't worry about such trivial matters."

Shen Wangxi looked down at his wife in his arms, and the lingering resentment he had felt about the daytime events had vanished.

He patted her on the back: "Mmm."

Inside Qingyi Palace, Shen Qingruo closed her eyes and leaned against the soft pillows. Xiao Jiu projected the scene of the Emperor and Empress reconciling in Taiji Palace into her mind.

Watching Wulan Yun easily defuse Shen Wangxi's displeasure, seeing their intimate interaction, and witnessing the gentleness in Shen Wangxi's eyes towards Wulan Yun, Shen Qingruo found it all ridiculous.

See, that's the difference.

Even if Wulan Yun makes a mistake, she can easily gain forgiveness and comfort by simply apologizing softly.

And all she could do, no matter how much she suffered or how hard she tried, was to receive only a fleeting moment of his pity.

"Xiao Jiu," she whispered, "we need to speed things up."