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

The most prestigious place during this period was Yihe Palace, but it was Green Bud in Yihe Palace, not Consort Zhuang.

Surprisingly, Consort Zhuang stopped targeting Lü Rui and even brought her along when she paid her respects every day, which was really puzzling and unlike Consort Zhuang's usual personality.

After paying her respects, Lü Rui, supported by a palace maid, hurriedly caught up with Ning Shuyan, calling out loudly from behind, "Consort Zhao, please wait!"

Ning Shuyan stopped without turning her head. Lü Rui walked to her side, her eyes fixed on Ning Shuyan's face: "I want to know, when did Consort Zhao find out my identity?"

Ning Shuyan smiled coldly: "Even the most flawless deception will eventually be exposed, let alone with your brains. Do you really think you can fool me?"

"So, you knew about my scheme? You went out on purpose that night, didn't you?" Her face was full of hatred. All of this was thanks to Ning Shuyan. How could she not hate her?

Ning Shuyan smiled faintly, her dimples deepening, and took a step closer to whisper in her ear, "Between you and me, it's nothing more than a cat-and-mouse game."

Green Bud gritted her teeth and glared at Ning Shuyan.

"Oh, are you catching up with your former master?" Seeing Consort Zhuang approach gracefully, the fox fur on her cloak swayed in the wind.

The two quickly curtsied.

Consort Zhuang didn't cry out, her phoenix eyes coldly fixed on Lü Rui: "Didn't you say you hated her? Why are you chatting here?"

Green Bud lowered her eyes and said in a soft, timid voice, "Your Majesty, I will always have only you in my heart. You are the only one in my heart. Please understand."

Consort Zhuang pulled her cloak tighter, a cold smile curving her cherry lips: "Then you'll have to do something to make me believe in you."

Green Buds stared blankly at Consort Zhuang.

Ning Shuyan stood up and said coldly to Consort Zhuang, "Cowardly yet arrogant, this is the kind of person Consort Zhuang has raised."

Consort Zhuang's expression changed, and she stared coldly at Lü Rui's beautiful face, her eyes narrowing slightly: "How dare you disrespect your high position and speak against me, Lü Rui, it's time for you to show your loyalty."

Consort Zhuang had a penchant for slapping people, and now, staring at Ning Shuyan's charming face, Lü Rui naturally knew that Consort Zhuang meant for her to slap Ning Shuyan.

However, in everyone's eyes, she is now the emperor's favorite, while Ning Shuyan has fallen out of favor. But only she knows that in the emperor's eyes, she is nothing more than an object to be played with.

But if she didn't act now, she would surely be tortured to death by Consort Zhuang! She had finally had a few days of comfort, and she didn't want to return to Yihe Palace only to be insulted and scolded by Consort Zhuang again.

Ning Shuyan's expression remained calm and serene as she looked at Lü Rui.

"Green Stamen! What are you standing there for?"

Green Bud shivered at the angry shout. She stared intently at Ning Shuyan, her heart filled with hatred. It was all because of Ning Shuyan that she was tormented by Consort Zhuang every day, and it was all because of her that she was neglected by the Emperor.

Anyway, it was Consort Zhuang who instructed me to do it, so if the Emperor blames me, I can't be blamed.

"It's all because of you!" Green Bud said bitterly.

One dares to speak, and the other dares to act.

Having said that, Lü Rui raised her hand and slapped Ning Shuyan with all her might. Ning Shuyan firmly grabbed her hand in mid-air, and before Lü Rui could react, she raised her other hand and slapped her across the face with a crisp sound. Her voice was low and deep as she said, "Who do you think you are, daring to lecture me?"

Ning Shuyan usually takes excellent care of her hands, especially her nails, which are smooth, shiny, and long like water scallions. This slap was extremely heavy, and her own hand still stings.

Green Bud's hair was disheveled from the beating, a strand of hair fell onto her face, and her skin immediately became red and swollen, with faint traces of scratches from fingernails still visible. A drop of blood also seeped from the corner of her lips.

"How dare you! How dare you lay a hand on me!" Consort Zhuang roared in fury.

Ning Shuyan curtsied and said, "Your Majesty knows all too well why this happened. You allowed a mere concubine to slap me in the face. Even if the Empress knew about this, I would not be in the wrong."

Consort Zhuang's anger flared, her expression turning as cold as snow. Suddenly, as if remembering something, a sinister smile curled at the corner of her lips: "Lü Rui, why aren't you going to Zhaochen Palace to beg the Emperor for justice!"

Upon arriving before the Emperor, she and Lü Rui took the initiative, giving Ning Shuyan no chance to explain. Given the Emperor's favor towards Lü Rui, she didn't believe the Emperor wouldn't punish Ning Shuyan.

Green Bud dared not answer, tightly covering her aching cheek. How could she dare to ask the Emperor for a decision?

"I will go with you." Consort Zhuang looked at Lü Rui's weak and helpless appearance with disdain.

Ning Shuyan watched Consort Zhuang and Lu Rui's departing figures and chuckled softly.

Go ahead and make a scene; the bigger the scene, the more the Emperor will dislike Consort Zhuang!

Meanwhile, Consort Zhuang took Green Bud to Zhaochen Palace.

Consort Zhuang was the first to kneel down and said softly, "Your Majesty, you must stand up for Consort Lü. Consort Zhao is really arrogant. She slapped Consort Lü without even knowing the facts. It broke my heart to see her like that."

Xiao Yu frowned slightly and glanced at Lü Cai Nu indifferently: "I'm sorry to have wronged Lü Cai Nu."

"Then Your Majesty..."

"Then let's promote Lu Rui to Imperial Concubine." With that, Xiao Yu stepped down, helped Lu Rui up, and left Consort Zhuang kneeling there alone.

Xiao Yu looked at the handprint on her cheek, gently stroked it, and subtly curled the corner of his lips: "You really hit hard."

Green Bud felt Xiao Yu's warm fingertips, and for some reason, she felt they were burning hot, causing her heart to clench tightly.

Xiao Yu then turned his gaze to Consort Zhuang: "To be honest, I have long wanted to promote Lady Lü to a higher rank. After all, you are a Consort, while the other Consorts living in the palace are only Lady Lü, which is really too low."

Consort Zhuang stared at Xiao Yu in astonishment. Did the Emperor mean that he would still promote her in the future? If it weren't for today's events, wouldn't the Emperor have found a reason to promote her? Wouldn't that be letting this little slut get away with it?

Consort Zhuang quickly said, "Then... Consort Zhao..."

Xiao Yu patted Lü Rui's shoulder, his deep eyes filled with a profound look: "It seems I must personally go to Lan Yue Pavilion to avenge my beloved consort, otherwise I will surely wrong her."

Green Bud forced a smile: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty is fine."

"Alright, I still have state affairs to attend to. My beloved concubine and Consort Zhuang, you may return now."

Xiao Yu's casual remark seemed to pierce Consort Zhuang's heart like a needle.

It's Consort Zhuang again! Does the Emperor really favor this wretched woman to this extent?

After leaving Zhaochen Palace, Lürui thought that Consort Zhuang would scold and beat her again, but to her surprise, she just returned to Yihe Palace with a pale face and without saying a word.

This only made Lü Rui feel more uneasy.