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

During dinner, Ziying, looking uncomfortable, said to Lürui, "Lürui, I have a headache. Please go in and serve the dishes."

Green Bud was very surprised: "You mean you want me to go in?" She looked at Ziying in disbelief.

Ziying said, "Yes, if you don't want me to, I'll let Liuli in."

"No! I do, I do..."

Seeing Ziying turn to leave, Lürui blurted out. She had finally gotten a chance to get close to the Emperor; how could she possibly let it slip away?

After Ziying walked away, she quickly took out fish oil and rubbed it on her hands. She was most proud of her hands, with slender and fair fingers. She thought that if she were not a palace maid and did not have to do such rough work, her hands would be no less than those of Consort Ning and Consort Zhuang if she took good care of them.

Ning Shuyan looked at the jade-colored tofu on the table and smiled, "The tofu made in this small kitchen today is quite good. Your Majesty, please try it."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lü Rui quickly picked up her chopsticks and served food to Xiao Yu. With her other hand, she lifted her sleeve, revealing her lotus root-like white wrist. This was the first time Ning Shuyan thought that Lü Rui's appearance was average, but her hands were quite beautiful.

Xiao Yu picked up a piece of tofu and tasted it: "The taste is not bad. Where is this chef from?"

Ning Shuyan was drinking her soup when Lü Rui, seeing that Ning Shuyan didn't speak, quickly said, "Your Majesty, the chef is from Sichuan. He makes a variety of dishes, all with delicious flavors and a perfect balance of richness and savory taste. Our young mistress likes them very much."

Her voice was exceptionally clear and pleasant, and Ning Shuyan calmly drank her soup.

Upon hearing the unfamiliar voice, Xiao Yu looked up and glanced at Lü Rui, who quickly lowered her head and smiled shyly.

"The palace maids around you are just like you; they are all eloquent."

Ning Shuyan's gaze lightly swept over Lü Rui's face, noticing her delighted expression, before she looked at Xiao Yu and smiled, "Your Majesty is always good at teasing me."

Green Bud picked up another piece of braised pork for Xiao Yu. As Xiao Yu ate, he said, "This palace maid looks unfamiliar. I remember that Ziying usually serves you."

Ning Shuyan smiled faintly: "Ziying is not feeling well, so I let her go and rest."

Xiao Yu said gently, "You treat the palace maids quite well."

Ning Shuyan picked up a piece of radish and put it in her mouth: "They work hard every day, and now that they're sick, they should rest properly."

Throughout the meal, Ning Shuyan noticed from time to time that Lü Rui's hand was on the table, but her eyes seemed to be fixed on Xiao Yu.

After bathing, Consort Zhuang emerged from Yihe Palace, her face still flushed, looking incredibly beautiful.

She picked up her herbal tea and took a couple of sips, her expression somewhat displeased. "Where's Lü Rui? Wasn't she supposed to come today to report on Consort Ning's situation?"

Yulan stepped forward and said, "It's strange, it's already dark and Lürui still hasn't arrived."

Consort Zhuang slammed her teacup down, making a sharp, clattering sound. Her brow furrowed, she said, "What is this little hussy doing? How dare she be so careless about the task I entrusted to her!"

Yulan quickly said, "Perhaps Lürui is also unable to get away. What if Consort Ning finds out?"

Consort Zhuang felt uneasy when Ning Shuyan was mentioned. The Emperor had been neglecting her lately, and she felt that it was related to Ning Shuyan.

She said fiercely, "It seems I need to deal with that bitch as soon as possible. She hasn't fully recovered from her miscarriage, yet she still manages to get the Emperor to visit her palace frequently."

Upon hearing this, Yulan asked in confusion, "Your Highness, are you preparing to take action?"

Consort Zhuang gently rubbed her temples and said, "Otherwise, why do you think I went to all this trouble to plant Green Stamen? That restless thing is hidden away, isn't it?"

Yulan whispered, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I've hidden it well."

Consort Zhuang nodded slowly: "Give it to Lü Rui when she arrives, and let her put it in that slut's inner palace."

As she spoke, a chilling smile crept onto Consort Zhuang's face; she was truly eager for that moment to arrive.

The next day at Fengqi Palace.

The peacock-shaped incense burner was filled with the finest calming incense, and the wisps of smoke drifted gently, soothing and calming.

The Empress flipped through the official records and learned that Consort Zhuang had served the Emperor half the number of times this month compared to previous months. Normally she would have served him six or seven times, but this month she only had three.

The Empress clearly remembered that Xiao Yu had stayed overnight at Lan Yue Pavilion several times this month, but there was no record of it in the official history.

The Empress closed the official document and gave a meaningful smile: "I previously thought that His Majesty's interest in Consort Ning was just a passing fancy, but it seems that it is indeed something special."

Du Ruo was puzzled: "This servant is dull-witted and can't see it very well."

The Empress smiled faintly, the smile deepening in her eyes: "She's not fully recovered yet, but she still keeps the Emperor here. And the Emperor would rather do nothing in her palace than return to Zhaochen Palace. Wouldn't you say that's special? Moreover, this Consort Ning is the only one below the Ninth Consort who rarely goes to Zhaochen Palace to serve the Emperor. It's mostly the Emperor who goes to Lanyue Pavilion."

After a pause, the Empress continued, "Moreover, on the day Consort Ning miscarried, I had been married to the Emperor for many years, and I had never seen him so distraught and anxious. He was heartbroken over the loss of his child, and although he tried his best to hide it, I could still tell."

"Now that the Emperor is so fond of Consort Ning, Your Majesty, shouldn't you make some plans?" Du Ruo said.

The Empress rested her forehead on her hand, her beautifully manicured nails gleaming softly with a bluish light in the candlelight, carrying a cool, pearly sheen: "I was hoping she could steal Consort Zhuang's favor, so why the rush to deal with her? Besides, she doesn't have Consort Zhuang's family background, and she's just a concubine's daughter. Even if the Emperor favors her a little, it won't cause any real trouble."

Du Ruo nodded: "Indeed... Your Majesty, rest assured, no matter how favored Consort Zhuang is, she still poses no threat to Your Majesty if she has no children."

"Yes, it's fortunate that I made plans in advance, otherwise Consort Zhuang..." The Empress did not continue speaking, but stared blankly at the flickering candlelight in front of her.

The October nights were already chilly. Ning Shuyan sat on the couch, covered with a small blanket, holding a book in one hand and resting her chin on the other, reading casually.

Ning Shuyan was engrossed in the book when she heard a voice clearing its throat. She looked up and saw Xiao Yu standing in front of her with a smile, his eyebrows slightly raised, looking at her tenderly. His eyes seemed to hold twinkling stars, shimmering softly in the candlelight.

"Take it"

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, Ning Shuyan noticed a small wooden box in his hand and quickly put down her book.

Xiao Yu took two steps closer and tossed the wooden box into her hands. Ning Shuyan felt a sudden heaviness in her hand and almost dropped it. She frowned and said, "It's so heavy! What is this, Your Majesty?"

As Xiao Yu sat down, he smiled and said, "It's something you've been longing for."