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

After the banquet, Consort Xue rode in the imperial sedan chair bestowed by the Emperor, passing by Ning Shuyan and Consort Xi.

She nodded slightly and smiled, "Greetings, elder sisters. I'll take my leave now."

Her eyes swept over Ning Shuyan with a hint of smugness as she rode forward in the sedan chair, swaying gently.

Xi Jieyu watched her retreating figure with disdain and said, "A petty person who has achieved success. Didn't you see the look in her eyes just now?"

"Of course I saw it. She wanted me to introduce her to the Emperor back then, and now that she's pregnant, she can finally hold her head high. How could she not be proud?"

Xi Jieyu pulled her cloak tighter around herself. "The real skill is having the ability to give birth."

Ning Shuyan gazed at the thick snow on the ground, its surface gleaming coldly in the dim candlelight, and murmured, "At least, this pregnancy will be much more stable than when we were pregnant."

Why?

"Consort Zhuang has finally regained favor, so she won't take any risks at this time. As for Consort Rong, we all know her methods. Her favor is far less than before, so if she had any self-awareness, she wouldn't take any risks. As for the Empress, it's even more impossible..."

Consort Xi suddenly realized and slowly nodded: "What you said is quite right. Compared to you, I suddenly feel that my mind is too simple. No wonder the Emperor dotes on you; you are beautiful, intelligent, and knowledgeable in poetry and literature."

Every time Xiao Yu talked about poetry in front of her, she was completely dumbfounded, and at this time she would often feel a little depressed.

"I've heard you have many books of poetry and literature in your palace. Could you lend me a couple? I'll read them when I have some free time. That way, if His Majesty speaks in those flowery phrases again, I can at least offer a few words in response, right?"

Ning Shuyan smiled gently, her voice warm and comforting: "Just be yourself, there's no need to change yourself for anyone. I really like you the way you are. If you also want to enrich yourself, just come to Lanyue Pavilion to get some books."

Consort Xi smiled and fluttered her long, wing-like eyelashes: "Alright, then I'll come to your palace to get the book in a couple of days."

It snowed for two days in a row, and the snow stopped on the second day of the Lunar New Year. All the flowers, plants and trees were covered with a thick layer of snow, which gave them a fragile and delicate beauty.

Under the long-awaited sunlight, the entire palace shone brightly.

Ning Shuyan led Ziying through the plum garden, searching for plum blossoms in the snow, surrounded by their delicate fragrance. Under the soft sunlight, the snow sparkled, crystal clear, and the touch of red in the white added to its beauty and elegant pride.

Ning Shuyan took the clean bottle from Ziying's hand and gently scraped the snow accumulated on the plum blossoms into the bottle with a silver spoon.

"This servant has never tasted tea made with snow water before. Following you, my mistress, I am truly blessed to have the chance to taste all sorts of strange and wonderful delicacies and snacks."

Ning Shuyan smiled sweetly, her radiant smile amidst the white snow and red plum blossoms was breathtaking: "Xin Qiji once wrote in his poem, 'Write the Tea Classic in detail and brew fragrant snow.' Why don't we give it a try today? The aroma of tea combined with the fragrance of plum blossoms should create a unique flavor."

After a while, Ning Shuyan heard footsteps. She turned her eyes slightly. Would they tell her which concubine she was going to run into again? It would be so boring to have such a beautiful scene disturbed.

Hearing the footsteps behind her stop but remain silent, Ning Shuyan roughly guessed who it was. Pretending not to see them, she continued to look up and collect snow.

In reality, Xiao Yu was standing behind her. Mi Jieyu was about to speak when he stopped her. He looked at Ning Shuyan, who was standing out against the beautiful scenery amidst the plum blossoms and snow with gentle eyes. She was a beauty like a dream, dazzling and captivating.

Ziying pulled down a larger branch. "My lady, over here."

Ning Shuyan smiled as she took the snow, completely unaware that someone had walked up to her from behind.

Ziying looked up at Xiao Yu and exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty!"

Ning Shuyan turned her head and saw Xiao Yu gazing at her with a gentle expression.

Surprised, she quickly curtsied slightly: "Is Your Majesty also here to admire the plum blossoms?"

Xiao Yu took Ning Shuyan's hand; it was icy cold, slightly red from the cold. He held it in his own hand and said reproachfully, "You've always been afraid of the cold. The snow is melting, which is the coldest time of year. What are you doing out here?"

Ning Shuyan sensed the concern in his tone, smiled gently, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I was preparing to fetch snow to make tea."

Xiao Yu glanced at the bottle in her hand and said with a smile, "Xin Qiji once wrote in his poem, 'Write the tea classic carefully and brew fragrant snow,' Yan'er is indeed thoughtful and unique."

Ziying then smiled broadly and said, "Just now, Your Highness and the Emperor said the exact same thing. The Emperor and Your Highness are truly of one mind."

Xiao Yu held Ning Shuyan's hand and rubbed it gently, then smiled at her and said, "Really?"

Ning Shuyan smiled and nodded.

When Mi Jieyu saw that the Emperor's eyes had been fixed on Zhao Jieyu ever since he saw her, completely forgetting about her and even calling her by her childhood name, her delicate face was very displeased. She took a deep breath before putting on a smile and stepped forward to give a slight curtsy: "Greetings, Sister Zhao."

Ning Shuyan returned the greeting. She was wearing a long, azure-colored dress with a thick, intricately patterned cloak over it, making her look charming and beautiful.

Her voice was melodious and gentle: "Sister Zhao, do you also know tea ceremony?"

Ning Shuyan smiled, her shallow dimples appearing and disappearing: "It's just something to pass the time when I have nothing to do, just some random research."

Mi Jieyu smiled and said, "Sister is too modest. I have heard of Sister Zhao's talent and beauty since I entered the palace. If I have done anything wrong since I first entered the palace, please give me some pointers."

Ning Shuyan looked at him with a smile. This Mi Jieyu was also a good talker. She had thought that Mi Jieyu was arrogant and domineering, but she was surprised to find that her words were gentle and polite. If Xiao Yu were not around, it was unknown whether she would still have such an attitude.

After all, on New Year's Eve, Ning Shuyan was certain from that one glance that she would never have any good feelings towards her.

Ning Shuyan's face remained smiling: "Sister is too modest. As a princess of Rong Kingdom, your words and actions are always proper and elegant. How could you possibly offer any guidance?"

Seeing the two exchanging polite formalities, Xiao Yu curled his lips and said to Consort Mi, "You should return to the palace first."

This meant that Xiao Yu was going to accompany Ning Shuyan back. Mi Jieyu's smile instantly froze on her lips, like a cold frost flower: "Your Majesty, didn't you say you would show me around the palace?"

Xiao Yu said calmly, "I will accompany you another day. The road is slippery, so be careful on your way back to the palace."

Seeing that the Emperor had spoken, Consort Mi had no choice but to give up and curtsied, saying, "Then this concubine will take her leave."