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

The air inside Phoenix Palace was filled with the rich fragrance of the concubines. But the most eye-catching feature was the Empress's gilded throne, magnificent and opulent.

After the concubines arrived one after another, the sound of jingling jewelry and a dense throng of footsteps came from the inner palace, and everyone knew that the Empress had come out.

He quickly rose and bowed, saying, "May Your Majesty the Empress enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

The Empress wore a phoenix crown adorned with red pearls and gold, its exquisitely engraved phoenix scales and feathers layered and lifelike. Symmetrical phoenix wings hung on either side of the crown, their shimmering pearls and gold gleaming, exuding a regal and elegant beauty. She wore a coral-colored robe embroidered with peonies and phoenixes, radiating unparalleled nobility. From head to toe, her attire was a symbol of her status and power.

The Empress quickly scanned the crowd, a gentle smile spreading across her face: "Rise, all of you."

The concubines all expressed their gratitude and slowly rose.

The Empress glanced at the first empty seat below, her gentle expression changing slightly. She sat down as if it were normal and didn't ask any further questions.

The old servants in the palace all knew that Consort Zhuang was arrogant and often failed to come to pay her respects, relying solely on the Emperor's favor and her father's status as a first-rank general.

"My sister had to serve the Emperor, so she's late. Please don't blame her, elder sister." Just as the Empress finished speaking, a woman's sweet voice rang out from the palace gate.

Consort Zhuang was dressed in a crimson palace gown adorned with intricate floral patterns. Her hair, styled in a cloud-like, fragrant bun, was embellished with a gold hairpin adorned with openwork phoenixes, and her ruby ​​earrings swayed shimmering in the light. Her entire being exuded an overwhelming beauty and nobility.

Except for Consort Rong and the Empress, everyone else stood up and bowed.

Consort Zhuang bowed slightly to the Empress and said calmly, "Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress."

The Empress raised her hand and smiled, "No need for such formalities."

After sitting down, Consort Zhuang looked at the newly arrived concubines, her charming phoenix eyes sparkling with allure as she glanced around. She said coldly, "No need for that."

After the concubines were seated, Consort Zhuang fixed her gaze on Ning Shuyan, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, before chuckling lightly, "They are all beauties, more delicate than flowers."

She paused, then looked at Consort Rong opposite her, a meaningful smile playing on her lips: "It seems Consort Rong will also be suppressed."

Consort Rong – her title originated from her stunning beauty.

Following Consort Zhuang's gaze, Ning Shuyan glanced up at Consort Rong and indeed, she was stunningly beautiful. Her features were round and smooth, her hair piled high like clouds, her eyebrows were delicate and arched, and her hands were as soft as tender shoots.

She was beautiful, but a bit plump. Ning Shuyan wondered: Could it be that the Emperor preferred women who were a bit plump?

This is not the modern era where thinness is considered beautiful. However, Ning Shuyan has always maintained her figure, resulting in a slender waist and graceful posture.

Consort Rong raised her hand and touched the agate earring around her neck, a faint smile appearing on her face, seemingly ethereal: "Sister Consort Zhuang is joking. Everyone here is a beauty, you are, and so is Her Majesty the Empress. Why would you say that I am outshone?"

Consort Zhuang smiled faintly, picked up her teacup, and said leisurely, "Yes, these delicate faces make me feel comfortable, let alone the Emperor."

Although Consort Rong appeared indifferent, her sharp gaze scrutinized the newcomers, finally settling on Ning Shuyan. Her face was only lightly powdered, yet it couldn't conceal her exquisite beauty. Sitting there gracefully, she possessed both a lively, ethereal quality and a delicate, charming allure.

Consort Rong stroked her newly painted nails on her jade-like hands and asked, "Are you Consort Cheng?"

Ning Shuyan looked up and saw Consort Rong looking at her. Consort Cheng beside her shifted her body but did not get up. Ning Shuyan stood up and nodded, saying, "Your Highness Consort Rong, I am Consort Ning."

After saying this, Consort Cheng also stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am Consort Cheng."

The Empress nodded in satisfaction and looked at Consort Cheng with a smile, saying, "Indeed, just like Consort Zhuang, you have the bearing of a military family, and you are also exceptionally beautiful."

He then turned to Ning Shuyan and said, "Looking at your appearance, I can understand why the late emperor bestowed you upon the emperor. You are indeed extremely beautiful."

Ning Shuyan curtsied, her voice slightly uneasy as she said softly, "Your Majesty is too kind. Compared to the other ladies, I am truly ashamed."

Consort Rong glanced at Ning Shuyan with a disdainful look in her eyes, and straightened her posture.

Consort Zhuang rose lazily, a smug smile playing on her lips, and said, "Your Majesty, I must return to the palace to cook longan and lotus seed porridge for His Majesty. Otherwise, His Majesty will have to wait a long time. I must return to the palace now." She gave a slight curtsy.

The Empress still wore a gentle smile and nodded, saying, "Alright, sister, you've worked hard serving His Majesty, but you won't have to work so hard from now on."

The smile on Consort Zhuang's face gradually froze, then slowly faded away. She gave a low, cold snort and turned to leave.

Nothing else happened, and the Empress dismissed everyone.

Back in the inner palace, the Empress's expression gradually cooled down. Her eyes, which had been laughing so hard, were a little sore, and she rubbed her temples.

Du Ruo reached out to massage the Empress, frowning as she said, "On the first day of the new concubine's greetings, Consort Zhuang couldn't help but act arrogantly. It's only because Your Majesty is so magnanimous that you didn't hold it against her."

The Empress smiled lazily, the golden hairpin at her temple swaying gently, casting a cold glint: "What does it matter how much favor she enjoys? She's still just a concubine. I am the Empress, the Emperor's rightful wife. Based on that alone, she must bow down before me and be inferior to me."

"That's right, but what Her Majesty said before Consort Zhuang left made her look extremely unpleasant," Du Ruo said with a light laugh.

The Empress sighed softly, "However, Consort Zhuang has been in the limelight for too long. Let's see if these newly arrived concubines can share some of her favor. I find her smug and self-satisfied extremely irritating."

"Among this new batch of brides, only Consort Cheng and Consort Ning come from relatively good families. However, I noticed that when you praised Consort Ning, she seemed particularly apprehensive. After all, she is a concubine's daughter and has never seen the world."

The Empress's eyes closed slightly, her long eyelashes drooping gently: "What can one glean from a single meeting? However, His Majesty probably won't like Consort Ning."

Du Ruo's massaging hands paused slightly, and she asked in confusion, "Why?"

The Empress laughed and said, "Have you forgotten why Ning was given to the Emperor in the first place?"

Du Ruo frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly realized something.

The Empress nodded: "That's right, how could His Majesty like a woman that even the Prince doesn't fancy?"

Back then, the late emperor took a liking to the eldest daughter of the Ning family at first sight, but unexpectedly found out she was an illegitimate daughter. He then intended to bestow her upon the third prince, who is now the Prince Xuan, as a concubine. However, at that time, the third prince was acquainted with the legitimate daughter of the Qin family and only wanted her to be his princess. He didn't even glance at the other women and thus politely declined.

The late emperor was furious, but it was only after the Consort Gui's kind words that Ning Shuyan was given to the current emperor.

The current emperor has never even met Ning Shuyan once. A woman whom others didn't want was forced into his life. He must be extremely repulsed by her. Otherwise, why didn't he summon her to the palace after ascending the throne? Even the three-year mourning period doesn't apply.