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

As Ning Shuyan walked, she said, "Actually, I heard about you when I was still a young lady. You are the only daughter in three generations of the Cheng family. You must have grown up being pampered."

Ning Shuyan thought that it was precisely because she was spoiled that she had such an arrogant and domineering personality.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yin's face gradually filled with a sweet joy: "You're right. After I was born, I was regarded as the apple of my father's and grandfather's eye. How carefree and free I was in the mansion. But in the palace, I was bound by these rules and regulations. Sometimes when I think about it, it really wasn't worth it."

"But we are women, and we have no say in who we marry," Ning Shuyan said slowly. Just like herself, she didn't want to enter the palace at first. If it weren't for her aunt and her future, why would she have chosen to enter the palace?

Cheng Yin shook her head: "No, I entered the palace voluntarily. Although it wasn't worth it, I don't regret it."

Ning Shuyan looked at her with certainty. She was also a woman who dared to love and hate, and could disregard everything for love.

"I dare say, in this palace, as long as I don't cross the Emperor's bottom line, he'll let me have my way. Do you believe me?"

Ning Shuyan nodded: "Of course I believe you."

Cheng Yin's somewhat proud voice drifted over again: "In the Emperor's eyes, my grandfather is like a teacher and a father. For that reason alone, the Emperor is exceptionally lenient towards me."

Seeing that they were about to part ways, Xi Jieyu gave a cold smile: "I seem to have said a bit too much today, but you've enlightened me. A woman should indeed love herself before loving others. Thank you, Ning Shuyan."

She uttered the last three words somewhat unnaturally, then turned and left with a slight smirk.

Ning Shuyan looked at the blue figure. The way she walked was different from others; she walked with a light and airy gait, and she seemed quite smug.

Qiu Le smiled and said, "This Consort Xi is quite a person of character."

Ning Shuyan looked at the sparse sunlight and felt a surge of joy: "In the palace, it's really not easy to find someone who can call you by your full name."

Take the emperor for example. If a concubine is favored, the emperor will usually call her by her nickname or "beloved concubine." Concubines will generally address each other as sisters or by their rank.

Ning Shuyan had even read in a novel about a concubine who had been in the palace for thirty years and almost forgot her own name because no one had ever called her by her name; she was always addressed by her title and rank.

Qiu Le nodded slowly: "In the palace, having a true sister makes life much easier. I think Consort Xi is a good person. At least she's not as cunning as others."

Upon hearing this, Ning Shuyan's smile gradually faded. Looking at the shadow of footsteps on the ground, she said calmly, "I just feel that I have made quite a few enemies in the palace. It's enough to have one or two people I can talk to. As for true feelings..."

Ning Shuyan shook her head, and the hibiscus crystal hairpin at her temple trembled slightly.

In the imperial harem, what true love is there? Whether it's a man's true love or a woman's true love, it's the most elusive thing. Like a handful of sand, even if you can hold onto it for a while, you can't hold onto it forever.

Back in the palace, Ning Shuyan knew that Xiao Yu would not come during this time. If she was not mistaken, he would probably be "doting" on Lü Rui for a while.

So, she should take this time to improve herself. After getting to know him, she realized that Xiao Yu is not only attracted to good looks, but he also likes knowledgeable and well-educated women.

The next day, at the Zhaochen Hall, in the late afternoon.

Green Buds knelt beside Xiao Yu, with a large basket of books still in front of her.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... My throat hurts so much I can't speak. Please forgive me today." Green Bud felt like her throat was suffocating with pain every time she spoke.

Xiao Yu didn't even lift his eyelids, looking at the memorial and saying, "What, do you think reading to me is torture?"

Green Bud quickly shook her head: "No...no, I wouldn't dare."

Her voice was hoarse and she kept swallowing, wishing she could have a sip of water. She stared blankly at the tea on Xiao Yu's table, but dared not reach out to pick it up.

After a long pause, Xiao Yu said indifferently, "Since that's the case, then you can wipe all these vases in Zhaochen Palace from top to bottom for me."

Green Bud was shocked that Xiao Yu would ask her to clean the vases. She stammered, "Your Majesty..."

Xiao Yu glanced at her coldly: "These vases are all of the highest quality. I'm giving you the honor of having you take care of them."

Green Bud bit her lip, looked at the gold bricks on the ground, and said in a trembling voice, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

Inside the hall, a delicate fragrance wafted gently from a golden, openwork incense burner, its serene aroma spreading silently throughout the space. Only the sound of Xiao Yu releasing paper folding instruments could be heard.

Green Buds held the vase gently, afraid of accidentally bumping or knocking it over, and also afraid of making too much noise and displeasing the Emperor.

Eunuch Xi entered from outside the palace and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhuang has arrived."

Xiao Yu was not surprised, a cold smile curving his thin lips: "Let her in."

A sharp, jarring "crack" echoed through the hall. Xiao Yu's eyelids twitched, and he looked up to see the white jade vase shattered into several pieces on the ground. Even in its broken state, the vase's delicate, lustrous texture and smooth, lustrous surface were still evident.

Yang An's heart skipped a beat. That was a tribute vase; even in the palace, you couldn't find many with such fine color.

Yang An almost scolded him, but no matter how coldly the Emperor treated Yu Lürui, she was still a concubine, and he naturally dared not. He looked up and sized up Xiao Yu, only to see that Xiao Yu's face was expressionless, but his dark eyes revealed a profound and unfathomable feeling, making it impossible to guess whether he was happy or angry.

Green Bud was terrified by the vase. After a moment, she quickly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I didn't mean it. Please forgive me."

She trembled with fear. Whether it was Consort Zhuang's arrival or the broken vase, both had given her a real fright. She quickly reached out to pick up the shards of the vase, but inadvertently cut her hand. Bright red blood instantly welled up on her fair hand, spreading and enlarging little by little.

The woman's gentle footsteps grew closer and closer. Xiao Yu's lips curled up slightly, and he quickly got up and walked to Lu Rui. He grabbed Lu Rui's hand and pressed it with the handkerchief at her waist to stop the bleeding from getting too rapid.

"How could you be so careless? The vase is broken, but it hurts me to see you injured."

His voice was as warm as the sun, making people feel extremely gentle and comfortable.

Just then, Consort Zhuang entered and overheard these words. The scene that greeted her eyes widened in surprise: Xiao Yu was looking at Lü Rui with concern and was pressing down on Lü Rui's fingers tightly.

Seeing the usually aloof and indifferent Emperor showing such concern for Lü Rui, Consort Zhuang was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. She slowly curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, this concubine greets you."

Xiao Yu seemed not to hear him and said to Yang An, "Hurry up and get the medicine."

Yang An quickly turned his head and took the plaster from beside the purple bamboo bookshelf. Xiao Yu took the handkerchief aside and gently sprinkled the white powder carefully onto Lü Rui's wound. He then awkwardly wrapped the handkerchief around his hand a few times.

He gently said to the bewildered Green Bud, "After we return to the palace, have the maids bandage you again. My beloved concubine, please do not touch water these next few days."

Green Bud stared blankly at Xiao Yu like a wooden sculpture, speechless for a moment.

Consort Zhuang's legs were trembling slightly from bending over, and Yulan was supporting her tightly. Her face was extremely pale, and her once charming phoenix eyes had instantly lost all their luster as she stared blankly at Xiao Yu: "Your Majesty!"