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

Xiao Yu picked up a spoon, scooped up some, took a bite, looked at the bowl, and said gently, "It tastes quite good, sweet but not cloying, and refreshingly cool."

He looked up at Ning Shuyan, whose face was beaming with joy. She smiled sweetly and said, "I'm glad Your Majesty likes it."

Xiao Yu looked at the fine sweat on her forehead and felt a pang of sympathy: "Why did you come all the way here in such hot weather? You could have just had a maid bring it over."

Ning Shuyan bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears, and whispered, "Your Majesty, I haven't seen you in so long..."

Xiao Yu was well aware that he hadn't seen her in a long time. He simply wanted to calm his mind; as an emperor, he couldn't be obsessed with women.

It would have been better if I hadn't seen her. But now that she's here, I can't bring myself to be firm with her words, even though she's done nothing wrong.

Xiao Yu reached out to take her hand, but Ning Shuyan suddenly pulled her hand behind her back.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Ning Shuyan shook her head, her eyelids drooping, and said, "No, it's nothing."

Xiao Yu's eyes darkened slightly, and his tone became more stern: "Stretch it out."

Ning Shuyan slowly extended her hand, revealing a grayish-white swelling on her middle finger, as if a blister was about to form. Her hands were already delicate and fair, making this injury even more noticeable.

Xiao Yu frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "How did you do this? Just to make this dessert?"

Ning Shuyan withdrew her hand from Xiao Yu's palm, her cool, long nails gently tracing his palm as she softly said, "I accidentally burned myself, it's alright, it doesn't hurt."

Xiao Yu said gently, "From now on, you can leave these things to the chef. Why go through all this trouble? I bet you put a lot of thought into these desserts."

Ning Shuyan gently lowered her long eyelashes and said in a clear voice, "Although my cooking skills are not as good as those of the Imperial Kitchen, my sincerity is incomparable. Besides, it is only right that I do these things."

Xiao Yu glanced at the injury on her hand again, told her to sit down, and instructed Yang An, "Go and get the best burn ointment from the storeroom."

Yang An readily agreed and soon returned with an exquisite little box. He then tactfully withdrew from the main hall.

Xiao Yu opened the box, preparing to apply the medicine to her, when Ning Shuyan quickly stopped him, saying, "Your Majesty, you are the ruler of the country, how can you personally apply medicine to me? I can go back to Lanyue Pavilion and have a palace maid apply the medicine."

Xiao Yu didn't speak, but simply applied the ointment to her fingers. Holding her hand, he could feel that her hand seemed even more delicate and smooth. His gaze swept upwards and fell on her beautifully curved neck. Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, then looked at her smiling face. Her smile was warm and gentle, like a cool and comfortable breeze on a summer day.

Xiao Yu unconsciously smiled warmly as well: "Why are you so happy when you're injured?"

Ning Shuyan's clear eyes still shone with undisguised joy: "I was injured, but I have the honor of receiving medicine personally from Your Majesty. I am delighted."

Xiao Yu's expression softened, and he squeezed her hand, feigning annoyance, "You've got honey on your lips."

Ning Shuyan's eyes flickered slightly, the corners of her eyes lifting gently, giving her a touch of alluring charm. She suddenly kissed Xiao Yu's thin lips, the soft warmth tantalizing her senses.

Xiao Yu was slightly taken aback. Feeling her gentle provocation, his breath immediately became hot, and his hands unconsciously wandered in front of her.

Just a short while later, Ning Shuyan withdrew her lips and looked at Xiao Yu with a sly smile: "Your Majesty must taste it to know if there is honey in your mouth."

Xiao Yu's burning passion suddenly stopped. Looking at her luscious red lips, waves of emotion surged in his heart, and he couldn't help but swallow.

After a moment, his eyes darkened slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Do you know that no one in this harem has ever been as presumptuous as you!"

He never liked women kissing his lips, and Consort Zhuang and Consort Rong knew this, so they didn't challenge his bottom line.

A hint of grievance flashed in Ning Shuyan's eyes. She slowly lowered her gaze, stood up, and said, "Your Majesty, I was just momentarily overcome with a playful impulse. I know I was wrong, and I will return to the palace to reflect on my actions."

After saying that, she turned around, subtly curled the corners of her lips, and walked out without hesitation.

"come over!"

No sooner had they stepped into the hall than Xiao Yu's voice rang out, domineering yet with a touch of coldness.

Ning Shuyan turned around timidly, but before she could reach Xiao Yu, Yang An called out from the palace gate, "Your Majesty, Consort Rong has sent a maid to urge you to come over."

Xiao Yu paused, realizing that after what had just happened, he had almost forgotten that today was Consort Rong's birthday.

Upon hearing this, Ning Shuyan curtsied without showing any displeasure and said softly, "Since Your Majesty is going to Consort Rong's palace, then this concubine will take her leave."

Xiao Yu's face stiffened slightly as he said, "It's Consort Rong's birthday. I promised to spend the evening with her."

Ning Shuyan nodded and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, please go quickly, lest Consort Rong keep waiting."

After saying that, she left without looking back, smiling.

As Xiao Yu watched the purple figure gradually disappear, he suddenly realized that this woman was not only beautiful but also of good character. If it were any other concubine, she would have been dissatisfied long ago knowing that she was going elsewhere.

Just ...

He raised his hand and touched his lips; they were still warm. Then he turned to look at the desserts on the table and began to eat them, one bite at a time.

As Ning Shuyan left Zhaochen Palace, she couldn't help but feel hot and anxious. Lanyue Pavilion was far from Zhaochen Palace, and the walk was long. Even though she fanned herself vigorously, the wind she encountered was still hot.

Once she becomes one of the Nine Concubines, she can ride in a sedan chair and won't have to walk such a long way back to the palace in this sweltering heat.

Ziying also fanned Ning Shuyan and said, "This servant thought that you would stay in Zhaochen Palace tonight, Your Highness."

Ning Shuyan wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief: "How could that be? Today is Consort Rong's birthday, His Majesty will definitely go to Qiulan Palace no matter what."

"Your Highness, you go to great lengths to cook for the Emperor, running back and forth in this sweltering heat."

Ning Shuyan smiled meaningfully and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Wanting to go and having no choice but to go are two different things."

Admiring a beautiful woman is like eating a delicious fruit; if it comes too easily, you'll finish it in one bite and never crave it again. But if it's a long-awaited delicacy that you finally get your wish, the feeling is completely different.

Throughout history, few men have been able to escape a woman's "playing hard to get" tactics.