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

Shen Jingyan stormed into the Jiaofang Palace, her anger still simmering. She embellished her conversation with her father after the morning court session, emphasizing how her father favored that outsider, how he reprimanded her for Shen Qingruo, and how he even gave away the red coral jewelry she had been longing for.

"Mother, do you think Father has been bewitched by that vile woman? He actually told me to give in to her. What kind of person is she?" Shen Jingyan stomped her feet in anger, full of resentment.

As Wulan Yun listened to her daughter's accusations, she felt that this was not something His Majesty would normally say.

She knew of His Majesty's favor towards Ayan; he practically granted her every wish.

She calmly comforted her daughter, telling her to return to the palace to rest. Then, she immediately summoned her trusted maid and whispered her instructions:

"Go and investigate what His Majesty has been sending to Qingyi Palace from his private treasury these past few days."

Soon, the message came back, and the list contained many rare and precious items that even she found unusual.

Wu Lanyun held the list, somewhat stunned. So many rewards?

It was because she made Shen Qingruo perform a dance at the Thousand Autumns Banquet, which wronged her, so Shen Qingruo went to the Emperor to complain, hoping that the Emperor would take pity on her and reward her.

But isn't it only natural for a fake princess with an awkward identity to curry favor with the Empress and perform dances for her? Why should she feel wronged?

What about His Majesty? Did he also feel that she had treated Shen Qingruo badly, and that's why he made other compensations?

This thought felt like a thorn in Wulan Yun's heart. She asked herself, as the Empress, she had been quite lenient with Shen Qingruo, allowing her to live peacefully in the palace without any mistreatment. Did His Majesty think that was not enough?

She took a deep breath and decided to personally sound out His Majesty's opinion.

At lunchtime, Wulan Yun dressed up carefully and brought the ginseng soup she had personally prepared to the Taiji Hall.

When Shen Wangxi saw her, his expression remained unchanged.

"Your Majesty has worked hard. I have prepared some ginseng soup. Please have some while it's hot," Wulan Yun said softly, personally serving him the soup with elegant movements.

"Thank you for your trouble." Shen Wangxi took the drink and took a sip.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Wulan Yun observed his expression and carefully chose her words: "Your Majesty, I heard that you bestowed that set of red coral jewelry from your private treasury upon Qingruo?"

Shen Wangxi looked up at her, her eyes calm and expressionless: "Yes, what's wrong?"

His candor made Wulan Yun's prepared remarks catch in her throat.

She was somewhat confused and aggrieved: "I just felt that Ah Yan really liked that set of jewelry, and she was talking about it to me a few days ago."

"Your Majesty's sudden bestowal upon Qingruo may cause Ayan some sullenness. I am afraid that this will create discord among the children."

Shen Wangxi put down the soup bowl, her gaze falling on Wu Lanyun's carefully made-up face, and said slowly, "Ayun, you're overthinking it."

He reached out, took her hand, and patted it gently in a comforting manner.

"That child, after his true identity was revealed, has been very careful and has been trying to please you silently."

"I gave her these things only because I saw how lonely she was and hoped that she could live more comfortably in the palace. I did not intend to compete with Ayan for anything."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Consider it as a way of thanking her for going to Daliang to marry in place of Ayan and for enduring all the hardships she went through."

"It's only right that we compensate her more."

"Ayan is now a noble princess, and she should be more open-minded and not fuss over such trivial matters."

Looking into his deep eyes and listening to his reasonable explanation, Wu Lanyun's doubts were mostly dispelled.

Yes, Your Majesty is right.

She's just a helpless orphan girl. What good are a few gifts to comfort her?

Could we possibly bypass her and Ayan?

She squeezed Shen Wangxi's hand in return, a bright smile returning to her face: "Your Majesty is right, I was thinking too narrowly. The most important thing is for the children to be harmonious. I will give Ayan some advice later."

Seeing that she was convinced, Shen Wangxi nodded slightly: "Yes, it's good that you understand."

Lunch continued in a harmonious atmosphere between the couple.

Wulan Yun forgot that her husband was, in essence, a ruthless and unpredictable emperor.

If it were anyone else, Shen Wangxi would only feel that thunder and rain were all imperial favors, and that it was his duty to arrange a marriage for his princess.

Only when Shen Qingruo is involved will this seemingly noble but actually cold and hard monarch show any tenderness.