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

She looked up at Ning Shuyan, her expression a mixture of doubt and inquiry: "If you don't want me to stay in the palace, there are many ways you could end things. Why come here personally to tell me this?"

Ning Shuyan slowly rose, gently stroking the tassels on her chest, and said softly, "Perhaps, I have seen a rare sincerity in you that is rare in the palace."

This sincerity is rare, and it may change over time.

Or perhaps, she now has everything: supreme power, adorable children, and the love of her husband.

Her heart was stirred with pity and kindness. These women, in the prime of their lives, were cast aside and forgotten. Their lives were not worth it...

"A carriage will be waiting for you outside the palace at dawn tomorrow. Pack your things now, and you can leave the palace and live your own life from now on."

Her words clearly left Shen Cainu with only this one option.

Ning Shuyan's pity was genuine, but she still couldn't tolerate having a woman who deeply loved the emperor in the palace.

Shen Cainu stared blankly at Ning Shuyan's retreating figure, a glistening tear suddenly welling up in her eyes: "Consort Zhao, do you know, more than your status and position, what I envy is the Emperor's love for you."

Tears welled up in her eyes: "I'm so envious! From the first moment I saw you, I've been incredibly envious!"

Ning Shuyan did not turn her head, but said gently, "Then I wish that you will be someone who is envied for the rest of your life."

By this time, the sky was gradually darkening, and Shen Cainu stood in front of the candlelight, lost in thought for a long time.

There was a reason why Consort Zhao enjoyed exclusive favor in the harem.

After a long while, she looked up at the twilight sky and slowly began to speak: "Frosty clouds reflect the hazy moon, magpies vie to fly over the paulownia tree by the well."

She knew that tomorrow morning, she would have to leave whether she wanted to or not.

If she stayed in the palace, she would only be Shen Cainu.

But if she leaves the palace, she is Shen Yuetong.

Ning Shuyan returned to Zhaochen Palace, just as Xiao Yu opened his eyes. Seeing her sitting right in front of him, he smiled gently and said, "It's so good that I can see you as soon as I wake up."

Ning Shuyan smiled, though the words sounded somewhat like something a woman would say, a sweet feeling welled up inside her. Even her smile became purer and brighter.

"Is Yulang hungry? I've cooked some millet porridge. Since you're still suffering from the effects of the poison, you can only eat something light."

Looking at the steaming porridge, Xiao Yu asked softly, "Did you cook this yourself?"

Ning Shuyan nodded with a smile and gently stirred with a spoon.

Xiao Yu looked at her with a mixture of happiness and heartache: "Didn't I tell you to get some sleep too?"

Ning Shuyan personally fed the porridge to Xiao Yu, saying, "Your Majesty, I am not sleepy."

How could she sleep? No one knew how terrified she was when Xiao Yu spat out that mouthful of blood, as if all the blood in her body had frozen, like a walking corpse with its soul ripped out.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a false alarm, and the poison was eventually expelled from his body by fighting poison with poison. However, the residual poison in his body requires him to take medicine every day and rest for a period of time.

However, Xiao Yu instructed those close to him not to spread the news of his illness.

There was only one reason: he wanted to take this opportunity to dismiss some of his concubines from the palace.

He said that from now on, he would only see himself and no one else.

Xiao Yu clearly sensed that Ning Shuyan was different this time when she woke up; the way she looked at him was different. And her heart was slowly drawing closer to his.

Whether he was genuinely hungry or simply in a good mood, he finished the bowl of porridge in no time and even found it delicious.

After finishing his drink, he held Ning Shuyan in his arms, gently pressing his cheek against hers, savoring this precious moment bestowed by heaven.

"Yan Yan, I asked you before if you had to choose again, would you still want to be my wife, my empress? You said you would."

He paused. "Does that statement still stand?"

Ning Shuyan pressed herself against his chest, and even through his brocade robes, the warmth emanating from her could still penetrate her heart.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes sparkling with a hint of starlight, her tenderness hidden beneath the surface: "It's a promise! I will be Yulang's wife. We will be buried together after a hundred years, never to be separated again."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu couldn't stop smiling, which made his originally pale face look radiant. He excitedly kissed her forehead.

After being released, he smiled broadly and said, "October 15th is an auspicious day. Let's set the coronation ceremony for that day."

Ning Shuyan was somewhat surprised, as Xiao Yu had not summoned the Imperial Observatory. She asked, "How did Yulang know that the fifteenth of October was an auspicious day?"

Xiao Yu held her hand, looking down at the person in his arms with extreme tenderness: "I had the Imperial Observatory check before I was poisoned."

"I will not only make you my empress, but I will also give you a grand wedding ceremony."

Ning Shuyan paused slightly, her eyes gleaming, and called out with emotion, "Yulang..."

Xiao Yu affectionately stroked her head and said gently, "From now on, we are husband and wife as one. Even if time is chaotic and the sky falls, I will never betray you. You will be the only one in my life, and I will accompany you until we grow old."

Although there were other concubines in the palace, in his heart, there was only Ning Shuyan.

And no new women will be allowed to enter the palace.