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

Cheng Yin was the only daughter of the Cheng family. She was pampered at home since childhood and was the apple of the family's eye.

In her spare time, her favorite thing to do was to go horseback riding with her grandfather and watch him practice archery and martial arts.

Or perhaps, he would sneak out of the Cheng residence with his maid to play.

Her father always said to her, "What kind of daughter is like you, who doesn't love music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and only thinks about how to eat, drink, and have fun all day long?"

But the Cheng family had been military men for generations, and looking at his innocent daughter, the grandfather stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "It's alright. The daughters of the Cheng family don't need to be bound by rules. As long as she's happy, that's all that matters."

Cheng Yin originally thought that she was one of the more carefree young ladies from a prominent family in Yifeng Dynasty, and that she would live her life like that from now on.

Her husband, like her grandfather, must spoil her rotten.

However, she never expected that someone as proud as her would fail to keep her own heart.

That year, she was only twelve years old and did not understand the feelings between men and women, but because of a single meeting, she fell in love with the man's appearance.

There is such a handsome man in the world.

She thought she was just admiring it.

However, this prince named Xiao Yu didn't smile much, and his cold and aloof demeanor made him unapproachable.

However, he was very respectful to his grandfather, and whenever he saw his grandfather, he would even bow to him first.

This made her curious about what kind of man he was, so she eavesdropped on their conversation.

Only then did he realize that this prince actually wanted his grandfather's support to help him gain the favor of the current emperor, and even the throne...

Just as she was eavesdropping for the second time, her hand holding the door suddenly lurched forward, and the door creaked.

Then came the grandfather's stern voice: "Who!"

Startled, she shuddered and clutched her skirt tightly as she went inside.

The grandfather breathed a sigh of relief upon learning it was his granddaughter. If anyone else had overheard their conversation, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

He introduced Xiao Yu to his granddaughter, Cheng Yin, and reassured Xiao Yu.

Out of politeness, Xiao Yu smiled and nodded at Cheng Yin.

It was that gentle smile that made her fall in love.

After that, every time Xiao Yu came to the Cheng residence, she no longer did it secretly, but would personally pour tea for them and then leave.

And when serving tea, she can openly look at her.

How could the grandfather not understand his granddaughter's thoughts? He valued Xiao Yu's talent and ability, but knew that his granddaughter's personality was not suitable for entering the palace.

He turned a blind eye, thinking that his granddaughter was still young and her mind might change when she got older.

Unexpectedly, this granddaughter's feelings for Xiao Yu grew deeper and deeper.

Until his deathbed, he made his final plans for this granddaughter, asking Xiao Yu to take good care of her for his sake.

Xiao Yu understood without needing to say a word. Considering that Grand Tutor Cheng was like a father to him, he agreed without hesitation.

Grand Tutor Cheng didn't know whether this decision was good or bad for his granddaughter, but it was the first time in her life she had asked him for a favor. He didn't want to have any regrets even in the afterlife.

He also believed that Xiao Yu would treat his granddaughter well after she entered the palace.

In fact, Xiao Yu was indeed very good to her.

After entering the palace, she was promoted faster and received more favor than the new concubines, and could even be compared to Consort Rong, who had a son.

The constant gifts and occasional company, coupled with her unique relationship with Xiao Yu, made her, who was already showered with affection, even more arrogant and haughty.

She disdained the concubines in the palace and even less so associated with them.

She felt that the women in the palace were more cunning than birds in a nest.

It wasn't until she witnessed Xiao Yu's affection for Consort Zhuang and Consort Ning that she realized Xiao Yu's feelings for her were no different.

Later, she became pregnant with their child, and she was overjoyed; it was her child with the man she loved.

He was also very happy, telling himself to take good care of himself and that he would protect her and the baby in her womb.

This instantly revived her spirits after her initial despair. The arrival of this child would surely make them love each other even more.

But, until that day...

The day she lost her child, her heart died along with the child.

She knew that Xiao Yu doted on Ning Shuyan, and that the doting was different from what he showed her.

But when she and Ning Shuyan fell at the same time, and he didn't see her first, he realized her place in his heart.

If I hadn't grabbed his hand in a panic, he probably wouldn't have even glanced at me.

He carried Ning Shuyan back to the palace, leaving himself alone on the cold bed, enduring waves of abdominal pain and the gradual loss of that little life.

At that moment, she wished he could be by her side.

No one knows how scared she was at the time. She was afraid that the only bloodline she shared with him would be lost, and even more afraid that without this child, Xiao Yu's already very faint feelings for her would gradually fade.

When they learned that their child was gone, it felt like the sky was falling.

When Xiao Yu arrived, all her breakdowns and pain erupted at that moment.

She had thought he would be just as heartbroken as she was, that he would hold her and let her have a good cry.

However, apart from sadness and pity, he couldn't see a trace of heartache or love in his eyes.

Even when faced with her unreasonable behavior after losing her child, he did not patiently coax her.

Later, she learned that the Emperor had been gently comforting Ning Shuyan and sharing her sorrow.

She then realized that it was all just wishful thinking on her part.

The emperor's kindness towards her was more like that of an older brother or a promise, rather than romantic love.

However, because Ning Shuyan had previously jumped into the water to save her, she did not hold a grudge against Ning Shuyan for this.

This time, both of them suffered miscarriages on the same day, and it was all due to a conspiracy. Their shared misfortune brought them even closer together.

Cheng Yin herself was unaware that it was precisely because she was willing to open her heart to someone that she met the only person in the palace who could warm her heart.

Whenever she saw Ning Shuyan being bullied and mocked by the concubines, for some reason her fiery temper would instantly ignite, and no matter who the other party was, she would have to fight back.

She knew that Ning Shuyan didn't want to argue with those people.

Well then, let her take the blame for her.

She was straightforward and had a bad temper, which was common knowledge in the palace. Most people in the palace disliked her, so she wasn't afraid of offending anyone.

Fortunately, because of her one true confidante, she received Ning Shuyan's sincere treatment and protection for the rest of her life.

In a moment of impulse, he wanted to cause the fallen Consort Zhuang to miscarry, but his plan was not well thought out and was exposed.

Just when everyone was waiting for their identities to be exposed, Ning Shuyan came to their rescue.

Because she had injured her body, she was afraid that she would be alone for the rest of her life, so she asked Ning'er to take care of her.

She said that whether it's a prince or a princess, having a child raised in the palace is always a source of support.

It was Ning'er's presence that added boundless color and brilliance to her otherwise ordinary life.

Watching the concubines in the harem leave the palace while others choose to stay, she thought that if Ning'er weren't by her side, she would probably have chosen to leave the palace as well.

She entered the palace for Xiao Yu, but unexpectedly, she met two people who were even more important than Xiao Yu in the palace: Ning Shuyan and Ning'er.

If he didn't have Ning'er, then there would be no point in him staying in the palace to bless them.

Twenty-nine years have passed in the blink of an eye. Cheng Yin is now forty-nine years old. She is no longer as beautiful as before. Her once black hair has turned white, and the fine lines around her eyes and brows are clearly visible, but she has gained a touch of gentleness from the passage of time.

After the age of forty-five, her health deteriorated day by day. This serious illness confined her to bed, and her condition worsened in the winter.

On this day, snow fell heavily, and the entire palace was covered with a thick layer of white snow.

It was as if in the winter of that year, they went hand in hand to Fengqi Palace to pay their respects, and one day they went to the plum garden to admire the flowers and take a walk.

Back then, they were still very young, and these children hadn't grown up yet...

On her deathbed, she wanted to see her.

She didn't know how long she had slept, she just felt so tired, until she heard someone calling her from the side and she opened her eyes.

Seeing that it was Ning Shuyan calling her from the bedside, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at her with sorrow.

She smiled slowly, her face showing a weak, sickly look: "You've come..."

Ning Shuyan nodded: "Yes, I'm here."

Cheng Yin reached out and held her hand: "Why are you crying? I've lived for almost fifty years, and that's enough. We've been sisters for over thirty years, you should be happy for me. I'm finally going to find my own happiness."

Perhaps it was a brief respite before death, but she felt a little more energetic at this moment, though her voice was still weak and listless.

Ning Shuyan's eyes reddened, and her lips trembled as she said, "Yes, I should be happy for you. But I really can't bear to part with you, Cheng Yin..."

Cheng Yin shook her head weakly: "My life, in a way, is neither worthless nor worthless, but in a way, it was worth it. In the end, I have no regrets, except..."

At this point, she coughed violently and gasped for breath.

Ning Shuyan understood and quickly instructed the palace servants to invite Xiao Yu and Jin Ning.

Looking at Cheng Yin, whose face was deathly pale, he said, "Hold on a little longer, the Emperor Emeritus and Ning'er will be here soon."

"No..." Cheng Yin quickly grabbed Ning Shuyan's wrist.

He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving: "No need... Ning'er is pregnant, don't let her have another miscarriage."

"As for the retired emperor... I will not see him."

What's the point of saying goodbye? It's pointless...

She held Ning Shuyan's no longer delicate hand tightly: "In the end, I just want to see you and talk to you."

Ning Shuyan felt a lump in her throat, a subtle, dense pain welling up in her heart, and large tears welled up in her eyes, landing on Cheng Yin's hand.

Cheng Yin paused slightly, her eyes glazed over but gentle as she looked at Ning Shuyan: "I've been calling you that for over thirty years."

Ning Shuyan nodded, suppressing the sadness in her heart, and forced a smile: "Yes, I've been calling myself Cheng Yin for over thirty years."

Cheng Yin said softly, "I've always called you Ning Shuyan because... in this palace, you are Consort Zhao, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager, but in my heart you will always be Ning Shuyan. And this title is only used by me."

Her voice grew weaker and weaker, and her gaze became increasingly unfocused.

Ning Shuyan's eyelashes were wet, and she nodded heavily. In all these years, she was truly the only one in the palace who addressed her that way.

No matter where she was, as long as she heard the name Ning Shuyan, she knew that it was her.

"We've only argued once in all these years, right? Actually, that wasn't just because of Ning'er! You don't know, but I was jealous because Consort Ying treated you well. So I deliberately wanted to make you angry..."

Ning Shuyan held her hand tightly: "Don't say anything, Cheng Yin, I know how much you care about me."

Cheng Yin seemed a little tired, her eyelids half-closed in weariness: "If it weren't for your protection all these years, I wouldn't have gotten to where I am today. Actually, from beginning to end, I've always owed you a thank you."

She knew that she was too simple-minded and acted rashly and impulsively. Even after so many years in the palace, she had not improved at all.

She herself felt that she was stupid and foolish.

If it weren't for Ning Shuyan, I don't know who I would have fallen into, let alone live to be forty-nine years old.

Ning Shuyan shook her head with heartache: "You owe me nothing. Being sisters with you in this life is my greatest fortune and joy."

Cheng Yin, her eyes bulging with exhaustion, stared blankly at Ning Shuyan. She had a thousand words she wanted to say, but she had no strength left.

She only said slowly, "Ning Shuyan, continue living the life you yearn for. I... I'm leaving now. I hope we can be sisters again in the next life."

"In the next life... let me protect you."

After she finished speaking, she closed her eyes weakly, her breath growing fainter.

As early as when the imperial physician said that Cheng Yin might not survive the winter, Ning Shuyan had already prepared for the worst. However, facing her sister's impending death, her heart still felt like it was being torn apart.

It's like... something is suddenly missing from my heart.

She choked back tears and said, "Okay, in the next life we'll be sisters. You'll protect me, and I'll follow you around every day."

With the last tear falling, Cheng Yin fell into an eternal sleep in this cold yet compassionate palace.

She passed away peacefully, a serene smile on her lips, as if she were looking forward to the future, or as if she had no regrets in this life.

P.S.: Actually, Cheng Yin is a girl who has played her cards very well. If she were willing to put some effort into her relationships with men, and if she were a little smarter and knew how to capture a man's heart, not to mention Xiao Yu's promise to Grand Tutor Cheng, she would definitely become a favored concubine.

At first, Xiao Yu treated her quite well and doted on her, but her silly and fussy nature was very annoying to an emperor.

However, she was cold and arrogant towards the concubines, which made her many enemies.

Such a person is ultimately not suited to stay in the harem.