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

Ning Shuyan poured the tea and placed the teacup in front of Xiao Yu, saying, "Your Majesty, please try it."

Xiao Yu took her hand and gently rubbed it: "Just now, you poured tea from a hot cup without worrying about burning your hand." As he spoke, he pulled Ning Shuyan to his side.

Ning Shuyan smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling: "I have the skills—fast, accurate, and efficient. As long as it's not held in my hand the whole time, it'll be fine."

"A beautiful woman brewing tea is enough to captivate and enthrall the soul."

As he spoke, Xiao Yu picked up the teacup. Steam rose and the aroma of tea wafted through the air. Xiao Yu took a deep breath and said, "The tea that Yan'er brewed is intoxicating at first whiff."

He took a sip and said with satisfaction, "Sweet and refreshing, with a long aftertaste, and a lingering resonance in the throat. Excellent! I never expected Yan'er to be such a good tea connoisseur."

Xiao Yu patted her hand, his heart filled with a mixture of surprise and satisfaction.

Ning Shuyan smiled gently: "If Your Majesty likes it, that's good. It's just a small skill of mine, only meant to amuse Your Majesty."

Xiao Yu's eyes were full of smiles as he reached out and flicked her nose with his finger: "It's more than just a trivial skill. Yan'er has truly impressed me."

He raised his teacup to Ning Shuyan's lips: "Take a sip too."

Ning Shuyan looked at the celadon teacup, slightly parted her lips, and let him put the tea into her mouth. She felt a little strange. Didn't Xiao Yu dislike being kissed by others?

So, does that count as an indirect kiss?

"How was it? Did you enjoy the aftertaste?"

Ning Shuyan nodded blankly: "Hmm..."

Xiao Yu put down his teacup and gently stroked her soft lips. This woman always had countless surprises that attracted his attention.

Ning Shuyan suddenly remembered what the Empress had mentioned about the Emperor's birthday a few days ago, and asked softly, "Your Majesty, is your birthday at the end of this month?"

Xiao Yu was slightly taken aback when he heard the birthday: "Yes, but I have never celebrated my birthday."

Although Ning Shuyan had heard the Empress mention it before, she still couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why? Does His Majesty not want to grow another year older?"

A hint of melancholy seemed to linger in Xiao Yu's deep eyes, but it vanished in the blink of an eye: "I simply don't like celebrating my birthday."

Ning Shuyan understood that there must be a reason for this. Since ancient times, the emperor's birthday celebrations have been a grand occasion for the whole country, with a large banquet for all the officials. However, there were very few emperors whose birthdays were celebrated.

Xiao Yu sat for another quarter of an hour, drinking tea and chatting before leaving Lan Yue Pavilion.

That evening, Xiao Yu summoned Consort Mi to his bedchamber. Ning Shuyan wasn't surprised; the fact that Xiao Yu had abandoned her to come to his palace that afternoon was probably known to everyone in the six palaces. Now that the envoy hadn't left yet, Xiao Yu had to pretend to dote on Consort Mi, even if he was unwilling.

The next day, Xiao Yu took a day off and came to Fengqi Palace with Mi Jieyu.

Consort Zhuang's eyes immediately turned cold as she looked at Consort Mi, especially since the Emperor had actually come to Fengqi Palace with her!

Consort Rong looked at Consort Mi's pomegranate-colored brocade dress with floral patterns, her heart filled with displeasure but her face wearing a smile: "Consort Mi's dress does look quite bright."

Upon hearing this, Consort Mi smiled brightly: "His Majesty said that I like to wear more colorful clothes, and this is a special gift for me."

Consort Zhuang sneered. She was just a lowly Jieyu, yet she flaunted such brightly colored clothes in front of all the other concubines. So what if it was a gift from the Emperor? She still dared to wear it; she really didn't know what was good for her.

She tried her best to keep her gentle tone steady and said to the Emperor in a sweet voice, "It is true that Your Majesty loves Consort Mi, but this dress is a bit too much for a Consort of her rank."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu said gently, "Mi Jieyu has just arrived in the palace and is unfamiliar with the rules of the inner palace. It's alright if she wears it once in a while."

The Empress nodded with a smile: "Yes, I think this color suits Consort Mi very well, as beautiful as the morning glow."

Seeing that the Emperor and Empress were protecting her, Consort Mi smiled brightly and stared intently at Xiao Yu. Her phoenix eyes, enhanced by her heavy makeup, were especially captivating.

Xi Jieyu was casually playing with her handkerchief when she looked up and was disgusted with herself.

Consort Zhuang was not to be outdone, and looked at Xiao Yu with affection: "I heard that yesterday the Emperor and Consort Mi went to the Plum Garden and ran into Consort Zhao. The Emperor is really biased, he didn't even take us sisters with him."

Xiao Yu pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Very well, I have nothing to do today anyway, so I'll accompany you to tour the plum garden."

Consort Zhuang's eyes revealed a hint of smugness as she gently swayed towards Consort Mi.

Mi Jieyu was also the only daughter in the family. As a county princess and later a princess, she considered herself superior to others and glared back at Consort Zhuang.

The snow in the plum garden had almost melted overnight after yesterday's sunshine, and the delicate plum blossoms were as bright as rosy clouds, extremely beautiful.

The yellow stamens still held glistening dewdrops, their beauty pure and elegant.

As the new favorite, Consort Mi walked behind Xiao Yu. Even though the other concubines were dissatisfied, they could only silently follow behind since the Emperor and Empress had not said anything.

Consort Xi nudged Ning Shuyan's hand softly: "The Emperor dotes on you too, why are you still lagging behind? You should try to compete for it too."

Ning Shuyan watched as the two fell behind before saying, "Why should I join in the fun at a time like this?"

"Just like the emperor's heart, not just anyone can squeeze in. If he has you in his heart, he will naturally reserve a place for you."

Consort Xi plucked a plum blossom and nodded slowly: "Indeed, I am no longer as obsessed with the Emperor as I once was, so I no longer bother to compete for him."

Xiao Yu turned his head to look at the beautiful women behind him, and he paused as if searching for something.

The Empress immediately understood: "Consort Zhao and Consort Xi were picking plum blossoms in the back."

Xiao Yu withdrew his gaze and pointed to a tree, saying, "I remember this tree was transplanted when Father Emperor was still alive."

This is the same tree where I collected snow with Ning Shuyan yesterday.

The Empress smiled and said, "No wonder this tree is so big and the plum blossoms are so beautiful."

Upon hearing this, Consort Mi quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please fold some and place them in Zhaochen Palace."

As she spoke, she raised her hand and, together with the palace maid beside her, plucked several red plum blossoms that were about to bloom.

"What are the two younger sisters talking about in the back?"

Consort Ying smiled at Consort Xi and Consort Ning, who were approaching.

The two were considered among the most beautiful women in the harem, especially Ning Shuyan, who wore a long and wide white cloak that made her stand out like a secluded orchid amidst the red plum blossoms, exuding an ethereal charm.

The Empress immediately recognized that the fox fur cloak Ning Shuyan was wearing was a gift from Xiao Yu.

Consort Xi smiled and said, "Your Majesty and Consort Zhao were just talking about how lush the plum blossoms are this year."

Consort Mi, holding a handful of bright red plum blossoms, walked smilingly to Xiao Yu's side, saying as she went, "Your Majesty does not know, but in the Rong Kingdom, there was a plum tree in my courtyard that was even larger than this. Its fragrance was so strong that when the blossoms fell, the ground looked as if it were inlaid with a layer of gold."

Consort Zhuang's brows furrowed deeper as she listened. What an arrogant and ignorant woman, daring to step in front of her.

Consort Zhuang stepped on Consort Mi's skirt, causing Consort Mi to lean back. In her panic, she quickly grabbed Xiao Yu's arm.