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

The next day, when Xiao Yu came to Lan Yue Pavilion, Ning Shuyan was lying on the couch reading a storybook.

"Does it still hurt?" These were the first words Xiao Yu asked as he entered.

Ning Shuyan sat up and nodded. "It hurts."

She was honest, unlike others who would awkwardly smile and say it was nothing.

After the palace servants withdrew, Xiao Yu sat down beside her and said gently, "I will be more careful in the future. It was my negligence last night."

Ning Shuyan gave a soft, coquettish hum: "Don't do it here again."

Xiao Yu glanced at the small tea table on the daybed, still feeling a lingering sense of unfulfilled enjoyment from the previous night. He chuckled softly, "I'll be more careful in the future."

Ning Shuyan pouted, "Fine, that means you have to do it again next time..."

Ning Shuyan suddenly wondered, what had she done to ignite the fire within this cold-faced emperor before her? Why did he become more and more unrestrained with each encounter? Was he... the same way with other women?

"What are you thinking about?" Xiao Yu asked, noticing that she seemed lost in thought.

Ning Shuyan lowered her fan-like eyelashes and said softly, "Your Majesty, I may not be able to serve you for some time."

Xiao Yu smiled slightly and said, "It's alright, I'll come when you're better."

Ning Shuyan thought to herself: You are naturally fine, it's not like you don't have other women.

Xiao Yu returned to Zhaochen Palace after lunch.

These minor injuries, though they will hurt for a long time, were ignored by Ning Shuyan, who went to pay her respects on the third day. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was spoiled and disregarded the rules.

On the way, they ran into Xue Yunu, who looked at Ning Shuyan with concern: "Sister Ning, I heard you were injured. Are you alright?"

People are showing you kindness and concern, so you can't be cold to them. Ning Shuyan smiled faintly, "It's nothing, just a minor injury."

Xue Yunu was relieved and nodded. She said softly, "That's good. I wanted to go see my sister, but I was afraid of disturbing her."

Xue Yunu's voice was always soft and delicate, just like a weak woman who needed to be protected.

On the contrary, Ning Shuyan, who usually had a gentle and soft voice, seemed a bit tougher in front of her.

Lady Xue then asked, "Has His Majesty been visiting my sister frequently lately?"

She talks about the Emperor all the time; that's her...

Ning Shuyan smiled faintly: "Occasionally."

After saying that, she quickened her pace and arrived at Phoenix Palace.

After paying her respects, the Empress asked with concern, "How is Consort Ning feeling?"

Ning Shuyan nodded and lowered her eyes: "I'm almost fully recovered. I'm sorry to have worried Your Majesty."

Consort Zhuang stared at Ning Shuyan with her beautiful, shimmering eyes, as if they contained a layer of frost: "How did you get hurt, Consort Ning? It's making our Emperor so distressed, he's been coming to your Lanyue Pavilion every day."

For the past three days, although Xiao Yu did not stay at Zhaochen Palace, he went to Lanyue Pavilion every day. This made Consort Zhuang suspicious. Could Ning Shuyan's injury have been caused by the Emperor? She knew that the Emperor would never show such pity for a woman over such a minor injury.

Ning Shuyan said in a low voice, "It was my fault for accidentally falling while I was taking a bath, but it is also my fault for making Your Majesty and all the ladies worry."

"What's wrong with that? Fortunately, it's just minor injuries. It's good that you're alright. Just be more careful in the future." The Empress smiled dignifiedly, but she didn't think Ning Shuyan was such a careless and reckless person.

After saying that, she asked, "Is Xi Jieyu's morning sickness any better?"

When Consort Xi heard the Empress talking about her, she straightened up, gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen, and smiled broadly, saying, "I'm feeling much better these past few days, but I feel very sore all over and have no energy."

Consort Rong snorted and sneered, "Consort Xi is already so pretentious at the very beginning of her pregnancy. I'm afraid you won't be able to put your feet down in the later stages of your pregnancy."

Consort Xi's face suddenly turned cold. Before she could speak, the Empress said, "Pregnant women are inevitably more delicate, and everyone's symptoms are different. Consort Rong, have you forgotten that you were the same way when you were in the Prince's residence?"

Consort Rong curled her lips into a cool smile and said awkwardly, "It was so long ago, I don't remember."

The Empress gently said to Consort Xi, "You should walk around more while you're pregnant; it's good for your pregnancy."

Consort Xi smiled and said, "Yes, I have been taking walks in the Thousand Carp Pond to relax after paying my respects to the Emperor. I have heard that pregnant women who look at koi fish will have their wishes fulfilled, and I pray that I can give birth to a healthy prince for the Emperor."

The Empress still smiled and said, "Very well."

Consort Rong and Consort Zhuang's eyes were full of sarcasm. It was uncertain whether they could even give birth, so why were they hoping that the baby in their womb would be a prince?

After leaving Fengqi Palace, Lady Xue followed closely behind Ning Shuyan, acting as if they were very close. Ning Shuyan frowned imperceptibly.

Seeing Ning Shuyan walking very quickly, Consort Xi thought she was trying to shake off Lady Xue. She chuckled lightly and said in a crisp voice, "Would Consort Ning like to go for a stroll with me?"

Ning Shuyan had been lying in Lanyue Pavilion for several days, but she would occasionally take a walk. Her main goal was to get rid of Xue Yunu.

She nodded and said, "That works too."

After all, Consort Xi was also pregnant, so Ning Shuyan kept her distance, intending to return to the palace after a short while. Consort Xi noticed her expression and laughed, "Why are you keeping such a distance? I'm not afraid of you, so why are you afraid of me?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly remembered the incident when Ning Shuyan was wrongly accused by Tang Shi when she entered the palace. Her tone softened a bit: "Don't worry, my unborn child is perfectly fine. Even if something were to happen to me, I would never do something like framing someone. You have no grudge against me, so there's no reason for me to frame you."

Ning Shuyan didn't need to hide anything from such a straightforward person, and said directly, "Although I believe that you, Consort Xi, are not that kind of person, it's always good to learn from your mistakes and be careful in the harem, and you should too."

Consort Xi did not find these words offensive, especially the last three words, "you too." She stroked her still-flat stomach, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Of course I know, I don't need you to remind me, and besides, I have the Emperor protecting me."

This wasn't the first time Ning Shuyan had witnessed Xi Jieyu's profound trust and reliance on the emperor. She gently advised, "Your straightforward nature isn't necessarily a bad thing, but in the harem, especially now that you're pregnant, you should be more discreet and reserved. Even if the emperor can protect you, he can't always be by your side."

Consort Xi paused slightly, a rare softening appearing on her usually cold face, radiating a gentle and serene beauty in the morning sunlight: "Since entering the palace, no one has ever said these things to me. Don't you dislike me?"

"Dislike?" Ning Shuyan smiled faintly: "What's there to dislike? Like you said, we have no grudge against each other, so why would I dislike you?"

Although Xi Jieyu is straightforward and arrogant, this kind of personality is often the most genuine. Everything is written on her face, so there's no need for people to guess what she's scheming.

Just like the empress, she always has a dignified smile, and you can never know if she is truly sincere.

Consort Xi sized up Ning Shuyan. She hated everyone in the harem. Because she loved the Emperor, she disliked any woman who had been favored by him, all because those women were vying for his favor.