The empress is both charming and seductive, rising through the ranks of palace intrigue.

Ning Shuyan stared at her in astonishment. How could a princess speak so recklessly? She gazed at Qin Ruolan, her clear eyes instantly turning icy cold: "Princess Consort Xuan, please watch your words. That matter and Prince Xuan have never been on my mind, nor are they worth my attention. Furthermore, if a woman cannot keep her husband's heart, she can only blame herself for her own incompetence. Why blame me?"

Qin Ruolan was furious and glared fiercely at Ning Shuyan.

Ning Shuyan didn't want to say anything more to her and was about to leave when she heard Qin Ruolan say, "A concubine's daughter can only ever be a concubine. Even if you are the emperor's concubine, you are still a concubine."

Ning Shuyan paused slightly, her eyes sharpening: "Even as a princess, don't you still have to share a man with the concubines in your household?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Ruolan's already furious face turned even uglier. What she hated most in her life was the fact that Prince Xuan had taken a concubine.

Ning Shuyan remained calm and aloof: "You are a princess consort, but you still have to perform the same courtesy as me. You know in your heart which is more important, the emperor's concubines or the princess consorts."

Just as she finished speaking, Ning Shuyan heard the steady footsteps of a man approaching from afar.

Qin Ruolan sneered repeatedly: "You're so arrogant just because you're a concubine? You're nothing but someone else's discarded slut."

As soon as Qin Ruolan finished speaking, she heard the person beside her lower their voice and call out softly, "Your Majesty."

The Emperor? She was startled, but when she turned around, she saw Xiao Yu striding towards her. She hurriedly curtsied in a panic.

Xiao Yu looked into the woman's reddened eyes, which were both charming and alluring, soft and delicate. The moment she saw him, her eyes lit up with a faint light. She looked at him with a face full of grievance, and his heart softened.

Xiao Yu stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, stroking her head with tenderness and affection in his eyes.

He then turned to Qin Ruolan, his eyes narrowing slightly: "This is my Consort Zhao, my favorite concubine. She has the right to be arrogant; how dare you be so presumptuous!"

He exuded a chilling aura, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made people afraid to look him in the eye. His tone was icy and devoid of warmth, tinged with anger, which frightened Qin Ruolan so much that she immediately knelt down.

"I misspoke; it was Consort Zhao who spoke to Your Highness..."

"I don't want to hear another word of your nonsense. Go back to your palace." Xiao Yu interrupted her abruptly, each word heavy and cold.

Qin Ruolan's body went limp, and the maid held her firmly. She gritted her teeth and stared at the ground. Just now, Consort Zhao was so arrogant, but as soon as the Emperor arrived, she became weak and helpless. More importantly, the Emperor protected her. What could she, a mere princess, do?

Xiao Yu embraced Ning Shuyan and turned to leave. Ning Shuyan turned back and smiled faintly, "Actually, I should thank Princess Consort Xuan, and please also tell Prince Xuan to be grateful for not accepting me back then, because it was through that I was able to meet the right person for me. Otherwise, if I had entered the Prince's mansion and met a narrow-minded princess consort like you..."

She smiled, didn't continue speaking, and left with Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu gently rubbed her palm, looking at her with pity: "If I hadn't come, would you have just let her bully you like this?"

Ning Shuyan leaned on Xiao Yu's shoulder, beaming, and said, "Your Majesty, I didn't expect the Princess Consort to be so unreasonable. Why did Your Majesty come?"

"I noticed you were in a bad mood at the banquet and hadn't returned home for a long time, so I came out to check on you."

Ning Shuyan walked up to Xiao Yu, hugged him tightly, and pressed her face against his chest: "Your Majesty, I feel more and more that as long as Your Majesty is there, I will not suffer the slightest grievance. Will Your Majesty always protect me like this?"

Seeing how much she relied on him, Xiao Yu held her even tighter. A slight smile appeared on his lips, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He said softly, "As long as Yan'er is innocent, I will protect you for the rest of my life."

He raised his hand and stroked her back: "I knew you were upset because of the Princess of Rong, weren't you?"

Ning Shuyan shook her head, her voice soft: "No, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, it's normal for you to have three wives and four concubines. Besides, the Princess of Rong Kingdom is related to both countries, so I won't be jealous or resentful. However, I still feel a little heartbroken..."

Xiao Yu smiled warmly; what difference did it make between heartache and pain?

He doesn't know when it started, but he actually began to care about a woman's feelings? It's really strange.

Xiao Yu suppressed the complex emotions in his heart and patted her on the back: "Alright, go in, don't overthink it."

Ning Shuyan then released Xiao Yu and followed him into the main hall.

Everyone was slightly taken aback when they saw the Emperor and Ning Shuyan enter together. The Emperor had just said he had drunk too much and went out for some fresh air, but how come he came back with Consort Zhao?

Mi Jieyu stared intently at Ning Shuyan. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but the moment the two of them entered, they seemed like a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman.

I hadn't observed carefully before, but now I realize that the woman behind the Emperor is absolutely stunning, with snow-white skin, a delicate and graceful figure.

Even in the Rong Kingdom, few could rival her beauty. She was also the most outstanding in terms of appearance and temperament among the concubines.

Ning Shuyan seemed to sense a gaze looking at her from above. She gently raised her eyes and saw Mi Jieyu quickly look away, but in that instant, she read the word "jealousy" in her eyes.

After sitting down, Consort Xi hurriedly asked Ning Shuyan, "Why did the Emperor come back with you?"

Ning Shuyan, whose hands were slightly cool from the cold wind, held the warm teacup and smiled faintly, "It was just a coincidence."

Consort Xi whispered, "You didn't see it. That princess from Rong Kingdom was so unreserved; she even made the Emperor accompany her around the palace, saying she didn't know the way."

Ning Shuyan raised her eyes and glanced at Mi Jieyu. She saw Mi Jieyu sitting below the Emperor, smiling and talking to him. Xiao Yu also answered her gently.

If the Rong Kingdom envoy hadn't been there, Xiao Yu probably wouldn't have had such patience. I remember when I first entered the palace, the first two times I saw Xiao Yu, his face was incredibly cold and unsmiling.

However, it's also possible that Xiao Yu was lustful at first sight.

Xu Meiren, who was sitting down at the table, smiled and asked, "What are you two whispering about, sisters?"

Although she was a beauty, she was, after all, an old servant of the Prince's mansion, so calling her "sister" wasn't too presumptuous.

Ning Shuyan turned back with a smile: "Sister, the snow outside is falling heavily, and I don't know when it will stop."

Ye Meiren raised her wine glass: "Judging from this, it seems we won't be able to stop anytime soon."

After saying that, she whispered, "Sister, you must work harder, lest the favor be stolen away by the princess of Rong Kingdom."

Ning Shuyan chuckled softly upon hearing this, raising her wine glass: "Sister, you're really making me feel too flattered."

The women in the harem might have felt some prejudice against the princess of Rong Kingdom, since she was not a woman of the current dynasty.

Xiao Yu glanced at Ning Shuyan out of the corner of his eye, a faint smile playing on his lips. She seemed to get along quite well with the other concubines in the harem.

A moment later, Ning Shuyan's gaze fell upon a servant who walked up to Prince Xuan and whispered a few words to him. Seeing Prince Xuan's expression suddenly change and his eyes turn to look at her, Ning Shuyan quickly lowered her eyes.

At this moment, the Empress spoke up: "Your Majesty, I have good news to tell you."

Xiao Yu was slightly taken aback: "Oh? What good news?"

The Empress glanced at Consort Xue, and Xiao Yu followed her gaze, seeing a blush rise on Consort Xue's fair face, and her eyes lowered shyly.

"This morning, Consort Xue told me that she is three months pregnant."

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze fell upon Lady Xue, their expressions varying.

The Empress smiled warmly and said, "This is truly double happiness. Your Majesty, I congratulate you."

As he spoke, everyone in the hall stood up to offer their congratulations.

Xiao Yu nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with joy, "Good! Excellent!"

After saying this, he said gently to Consort Xue, "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to tell the Empress. The roads are slippery from the snow these past few days, so you don't need to go out."

He had few children, only one prince. Although he did not favor Consort Xue, he was still happy that she was pregnant.

Ning Shuyan had long guessed that Xue Yunu was pregnant, and she was just waiting for the pregnancy to stabilize after three months before telling everyone. She was really patient.

Xue Yunu instantly became the focus of everyone's attention, while Mi Jieyu's expression was not so good.