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

Ning Shuyan stayed from Shen Shi (3-5 PM) until Hai Shi (9-11 PM) before leaving.

The next day, when I went to pay my respects, I noticed that I hadn't slept well since returning home the previous night and didn't seem to have much energy.

The Empress arrived quite some time ago, but Consort Zhuang's seat remained empty.

Yesterday, Ning Shuyan heard in Zhaochen Palace that Rong Kingdom had launched a military campaign against the enemy. After some consideration, the ministers recommended that Nangong Yun lead the troops into battle.

Consort Zhuang was already enjoying great favor, and now she was even more glamorous and glorious.

Consort Lin, always outspoken and a veteran of the palace, had long harbored resentment towards Consort Zhuang. Looking at her empty seat, she rolled her eyes and said coldly, "Why isn't Consort Zhuang here? Is she feeling unwell?"

Upon hearing this, the smile on the Empress's face gradually faded.

"Who said I didn't come!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Consort Zhuang walked towards the crowd step by step. The pearl hanging from her hair swayed and shone brightly, making her face even more radiant.

She gave a slight curtsy and said in a loud voice, "I was worried about my father going to war last night and didn't sleep well. That's why I was late in paying my respects to Her Majesty the Empress. Please don't blame me." With that, she stood up and sat down.

A smile appeared on the Empress's lips: "General Nangong serves the country. On the battlefield, swords have no eyes. It is only natural for children to worry about their father. How could I blame him?"

Consort Zhuang's eyes sparkled, and she smiled, "Your Majesty the Empress surely cannot understand my thoughts. I'm just glad Your Majesty doesn't blame me for being late."

These words froze the smile on the Empress's lips. They meant that since the Empress's father was not a military general and could not serve the country on the battlefield, the Empress naturally did not need to worry about him.

The Empress picked up a teacup from the side, a faint smile playing on her lips, and said, "I naturally don't understand matters of the court, but as for matters of the harem..."

She gently skimmed off the foam with the teacup lid before saying, "I understand this better than Consort Zhuang, and Consort Zhuang cannot comprehend my thoughts. I simply wish for harmony within the six palaces, while also clearly distinguishing between superiors and inferiors and adhering to proper etiquette."

Consort Zhuang lowered her eyes, her brows furrowed with displeasure. Remembering something, she slowly raised her gaze to Ning Shuyan: "Rules? That Consort Ning stayed in Zhaochen Palace for several hours yesterday. May I ask Your Majesty, how should Consort Ning be punished for such breaches of etiquette?"

Last night she dressed up carefully, thinking that Xiao Yu would come to her palace. However, she sent someone to inquire and found out that Ning Shuyan was in Zhaochen Palace.

Upon hearing this, Ning Shuyan immediately perked up and stood up, curtsying and saying, "Your Majesty, I forgot the rules for a moment. Please forgive me."

Then she turned to look at Consort Zhuang: "I don't know whether Your Majesty's will or the rules should be followed by me. I am confused and beg Consort Zhuang to enlighten me."

Consort Zhuang frowned slightly, her hand holding the handkerchief tightened slightly, and she looked sharply at Ning Shuyan, her eyes filled with coldness.

Consort Lin covered her mouth with her handkerchief and smiled, saying cheerfully, "The Emperor is the rule. Consort Ning, which one do you agree to?"

The Empress smiled and nodded, "Consort Lin is right. I know you've always been a reasonable person." She then turned her gaze to Consort Zhuang, whose face was grim, "If it weren't for the Emperor's instruction, why would you have stayed in Zhaochen Palace for so long? Get up. You've done nothing wrong."

Ning Shuyan replied neither arrogantly nor humbly, "Yes, thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty."

Consort Zhuang tilted her head, casually picked up the teacup, but didn't drink it. She gently smelled the tea and then frowned as if she was disgusted, putting it down again.

The Empress chuckled inwardly at what she saw.

After leaving Zhaochen Palace, they were almost at Lanyue Pavilion. Qiu Le said, "I thought Consort Zhuang wanted to punish you, Your Highness."

Ning Shuyan said softly, "She does want to, but since the Empress doesn't blame me, she wouldn't dare to punish me on her own."

Qiu Le nodded slowly: "It seems that Consort Zhuang has been enjoying great success again recently."

Consort Zhuang was already favored by the emperor and had a capable father. Now that her father was away at war, she was undoubtedly the most glamorous person in the harem.

"Let's just act as usual, so she won't find fault with us."

As she spoke, she walked into Lanyue Pavilion and saw the palace maid who had been brought yesterday pruning the branches and leaves of several potted flowers in the courtyard. The leaves of the pot she had pruned were neat and tidy, and it was a very pleasing sight to behold.

Ning Shuyan looked at her slender, white fingers, a detail she hadn't noticed yesterday. She wore a jade bracelet on her wrist, which had peeked out while she was trimming the leaves. The jade was clear and lustrous, making her hands even more beautiful.

Upon seeing Ning Shuyan arrive, she quickly bowed and greeted her.

"What's your name?"

The palace maid replied respectfully, "Reporting to Your Majesty, my name is Lü Rui."

"I think you're quite good at pruning potted plants," Ning Shuyan said, looking her over.

Green Bud smiled and said, "I've loved flowers and plants since I was little. I'm just showing off."

Ning Shuyan smiled slightly and said gently, "It's normal for women to like flowers. Work well at Lanyue Pavilion, and you'll get your share of the benefits."

Upon hearing this, Lü Rui beamed and said, "Yes, this servant will certainly do her best to fulfill her duties."

Once inside the inner palace, Ning Shuyan whispered, "Go and investigate that palace maid. Find out where she worked before and who her family is."

"Does Your Highness suspect her?"

Ning Shuyan nodded and said slowly, "Just now I noticed that the jade bracelet on her wrist was very lustrous, not an ordinary piece. She's just a palace maid, how could she possess such a valuable jade bracelet? If she came from a well-off family, that might be possible."

Many palace maids came from wealthy families who later fell on hard times and entered the palace. If her family had been poor for generations, then this jade bracelet must have some history…

Qiu Le agreed: "When I have nothing else to do, I will keep an eye on Lü Rui to see if she makes any small moves."

Ning Shuyan nodded and rubbed her temples. Suddenly remembering something, she perked up and said, "How could I forget that I promised the Emperor I would embroider a sachet for him?"

She had genuinely forgotten about it; perhaps too many things had happened recently. Even Xiao Yu himself probably didn't remember.

As she spoke, Ning Shuyan hurriedly asked Qiu Le to prepare the silk thread, and after thinking for a long time, she finally came up with a pattern.

Ziying smiled and said, "Why don't you embroider a dragon, Miss? I noticed that even the Emperor's sachets have dragon patterns on them."

Ning Shuyan chuckled: "You think too highly of your young lady. Dragons are too difficult to embroider. I'm afraid if I were really asked to embroider them, I don't know how long it would take. Besides, you said yourself that everything the Emperor makes is dragons. My needlework is already bad, so wouldn't I look even worse in comparison?"

After much thought, I decided to embroider the character "安" (peace/safety) and then embroider some auspicious seven-colored clouds around the edge of the character.