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

"I have caught a chill, and it would be bad if I passed it on to Your Majesty. Would Your Majesty like to visit one of the other ladies?"

This was the second time Ning Shuyan had pushed Xiao Yu away, but this time it was different; she was completely thinking of his health. Although there was reluctance in her eyes, it was utterly sincere.

Xiao Yu patted her hand: "I have always been in good health, it's nothing to worry about."

Ning Shuyan did not refuse again. While lying in bed, Ning Shuyan also symbolically expressed her concern for Xi Jieyu.

Xiao Yu simply said, "I stayed with her for quite a while, and my mood calmed down a bit. Fortunately, the child is unharmed. If it weren't for Shuyan, that child would probably have been lost to me long ago."

Ning Shuyan lay on his arm, looking down at the exquisite flowers embroidered with gold thread on the quilt, and said softly, "That is the Emperor's child. Since I care for the Emperor, I naturally do not want his child to be harmed."

Xiao Yu was slightly moved, and gently stroked her forehead with his chin. "You're so silly. Don't you even think about what would happen if something were to happen to you?"

"I didn't think that much at the time. I know that Your Majesty cares about the imperial heir and Consort Xi. I didn't want to see Your Majesty sad."

Her words fell into Xiao Yu's ears, and he stroked her head with relief and emotion: "I care about Consort Xi because of the Cheng family."

Ning Shuyan looked up at Xiao Yu with a puzzled expression: "Is it because of the late Grand Tutor Cheng?"

She had previously heard from Consort Xi that the Emperor was grateful to Grand Tutor Cheng and regarded him as a second father.

Xiao Yu paused slightly, then lowered her hand from her head and said gently, "It's late, go to sleep early."

Ning Shuyan smiled and agreed. But she fell into deep thought. The Emperor hadn't directly answered her question, which meant it wasn't entirely because of Grand Tutor Cheng.

If it's because of the Cheng family... could it be that the Emperor intends to give the Cheng family an important position, or something else?

Currently, the Cheng family only has one male member, Xi Jieyu's father, who is thirty-seven years old and a fourth-rank general. It must be because of him.

The next day, the concubines all sent over a lot of things, which Qiu Le checked and then put away.

"Qiu Le, does the Imperial Household Department have any of our people?"

She remembered that Qiu Le had been assigned there, so the Imperial Household Department must have its own people there.

Qiu Le said, "Originally, there was one, Eunuch Li from the Imperial Household Department, who was originally a candidate for chief steward. But after Eunuch Wang became the chief steward, he transferred Eunuch Li away."

Ning Shuyan frowned slightly. Presumably, Chief Steward Wang also couldn't tolerate Eunuch Li, so he used some means to transfer him away.

Ning Shuyan picked up her teacup and thoughtfully blew on the pale yellow tea: "Today the Empress said she would have the Imperial Household Department send a palace maid and a eunuch over. I was thinking that if I had my own people with me, I could find out some information."

The main concern was that the person who sent it might have ulterior motives, perhaps even being a member of one of the palace concubines' factions.

In the afternoon, Chief Steward Wang from the Imperial Household Department arrived with three palace maids.

Chief Steward Wang looked exactly like a eunuch, with a fawning smile on his face, but a hint of scheming in his eyes.

He bowed respectfully and said, "These palace maids and eunuchs were all carefully selected by this servant. They are all outstanding. Please choose one, Your Highness."

Ning Shuyan looked up and randomly pointed to two men who looked honest and kind.

Steward Wang said with a grin, "Then this servant will take his leave."

Ning Shuyan nodded, and Qiu Le stepped forward and slipped a purse to Steward Wang, whose eyes immediately lit up slightly.

Afterwards, Ning Shuyan carried the longan and lotus seed porridge that Qiu Le had cooked to Zhaochen Palace.

Xiao Yu gave him gifts and promoted himself, which can be considered a return gift.

The August sun was no longer so harsh; the wind carried a hint of autumn, no longer hot and dry, but exceptionally comfortable and gentle. The leaves on the trees had turned golden, like beautiful butterflies fluttering in the air.

Yang An personally came out to greet her, saying, "Young Master Ning has arrived. It's unfortunate that Prince Xuan is inside at the moment."

Ning Shuyan looked at the food box in Qiu Le's hand and said, "Then I'll trouble Eunuch Yang to deliver the longan, lotus seed, and lily bulb porridge to His Majesty."

Yang An thought that Xiao Yu hadn't eaten much lunch, and that the favored Consort Ning rarely came to Zhaochen Palace. After a moment's thought, he said, "Why don't you wait a little while, Consort Ning? Prince Xuan has been inside for quite a while, he should be leaving soon. I'll go and inform him."

Ning Shuyan smiled and said, "Alright, then thank you for your trouble, Father-in-law."

Yang An quickly replied, "Young Master Ning, you're too kind. You flatter me by saying that."

As he spoke, Yang An walked towards the inner hall.

Who doesn't like a gentle person? Not to mention the Emperor, even Yang An would genuinely smile when Ning Shuyan came to Zhaochen Palace. Unlike Consort Zhuang and Consort Rong, who acted arrogantly from the moment they arrived, and even took their anger out on him when the Emperor refused to see them.

Although he was a servant, he was also the emperor's servant, and it was inevitable that he would feel unhappy about being treated coldly by the concubines.

After Yang An went in to announce his arrival, Xiao Yu glanced at Empress Xuan and said unhurriedly, "Let her in."

He then said to Prince Xuan, "I will post an imperial edict to find renowned doctors from across the land for the Imperial Concubine. Third Brother, you need not worry too much. I believe the Imperial Concubine is blessed with good fortune."

Although he disliked Prince Xuan, who had always challenged him in everything, he was willing to help the Dowager Consort, who was now seriously ill and whose cause of illness could not be found.

Prince Xuan quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you. I will take my leave now."

Xiao Yu nodded.

When Ning Shuyan entered, she ran into Prince Xuan, who was coming towards her. She bowed slightly, carrying a food box, as a gesture of respect.

She was wearing the hairpin that Xiao Yu had given her yesterday. The palace was magnificent and the golden pillars, combined with the sunlight, shone on Ning Shuyan. The hairpin on her head cast a layer of light and shadow like flowing light, which shone directly on the face of Prince Xuan.

Prince Xuan was about to leave after nodding slightly, but a glimmer of light was a bit dazzling, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look at Ning Shuyan.

With just one glance, Prince Xuan was unable to look away; she stood there quietly, like a beauty in a traditional Chinese ink painting.

The delicate sunlight shone on her face, making her skin as white as snow and her features as beautiful as jade. Every detail of her face was exquisite, as if meticulously sculpted. Bathed in sunlight, she seemed to be tinged with a faint golden glow, her charm ethereal and captivating.

Ning Shuyan looked at the man in front of her and stopped walking, puzzled.

Xiao Yu, seated at the head of the table, had a sullen face. He stroked the jade thumb ring on his hand and spoke in a low but deep voice: "Consort Ning, this is Prince Xuan."

Having been introduced, Ning Shuyan naturally bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Her voice was like warm jade, gentle and serene.

Prince Xuan forced his gaze away and nodded.

Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes, his face calm, and a cold smile appeared on his lips: "Prince Xuan, this is Consort Ning. You two met three years ago, by the way."