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

Xiao Yu looked at her slightly twitching back, took a deep breath, and thought that maybe he was overthinking things. Why was he arguing with a woman?

Xiao Yu placed his hand on her shoulder and said softly, "Alright, I apologize to you, let's consider this matter closed."

Ning Shuyan snorted inwardly. She had made a mess of things, and now it was all over with just one sentence?

She muttered, "Then Your Majesty, please tell me where I went wrong?"

Xiao Yu's brows furrowed instantly. For an emperor like himself, apologizing to a woman was already difficult enough. Did he really expect him to go through the motions of explaining exactly what he had done wrong?

His face was stiff, and in the candlelight, one could vaguely see the taut angles of his face.

Xiao Yu remained silent, watching as the woman on top of him moved gracefully to his legs, raising her shimmering, tear-filled eyes, which gleamed with a sorrowful light: "Your Majesty just asked me the same question. Is it so difficult for me to get Your Majesty to admit your mistake?"

Her voice was sweet and soft, and her coquettish expression made it impossible for Xiao Yu to harden his heart. It was all part of their intimate relationship, so he could lower his head once or twice without any problem.

Thinking this, Xiao Yu spoke up: "I shouldn't have been so rude." His tone was neither cold nor indifferent, and he tried his best to maintain his dignity as an emperor.

Seeing that Ning Shuyan remained silent, he asked again, "How is it? Are you satisfied?"

Ning Shuyan was definitely satisfied. She turned her fair and beautiful face to the side charmingly and said softly, "I'm satisfied. Now that Your Majesty knows your mistake, you must not repeat it in the future."

Her eyes were alluring, gazing gently at Xiao Yu with endless affection and tenderness.

Xiao Yu shook his head helplessly and reached out to pinch Ning Shuyan's cheek: "You still dare to beg me!"

His words contained a hint of reproach, yet also a touch of indulgence. Ning Shuyan smiled brightly, hooked her arm around Xiao Yu's, and lay down.

Being coquettish and willful, and having minor arguments can all help strengthen a relationship, but it's important to strike the right balance.

Men, once they bow their heads the first time, they'll bow their heads countless times; once they compromise the first time, they'll compromise the second time.

The next day, inside the Phoenix Palace.

Consort Zhuang, seeing that Ning Shuyan had not yet arrived, was displeased: "Why hasn't Consort Zhao arrived yet?"

"Consort Zhuang, you may not know this, but Consort Zhao is not feeling well today, and His Majesty has already sent someone to ask for leave." The Empress's eyes held a hint of a smile.

Consort Rong raised her chin, curled the corners of her mouth, and her lips were filled with deep hatred. Seeing that Consort Zhuang was doing the same, she felt a little better.

She chuckled and said, "In the past, it was always the Emperor who asked for sick leave for you, Consort Zhuang. It seems... it's time for someone else to take the leave!" She looked at Consort Zhuang with a meaningful expression.

Consort Zhuang held the teacup in her hands and played with it: "Whether or not someone has been replaced is not for you, Consort Rong, to speculate on. It's just that the Emperor took pity on her this time. What's so strange about that?"

Back then, there were many times when she wouldn't come to Fengqi Palace to pay her respects, so why would she be jealous of Ning Shuyan? She was just a little unhappy.

Lin Zhaorong picked up her handkerchief and touched the corner of her lips: "Yesterday I saw that Consort Zhao was in good spirits, how come she became unwell after the Emperor left?"

Consort Rong snorted coldly: "What else could she be but a vixen?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Xi immediately raised her head and stared intently at Consort Zhuang: "Consort Rong is truly ridiculous. If the Emperor favors Consort Zhao once or twice and she's considered a vixen, then there must be far too many vixens in the entire palace."

Consort Rong's eyes flashed with a cold light: "I was referring to Consort Zhao, why are you so agitated?"

The Empress glared at Consort Rong and said, "Consort Rong, I'll let it go today, but if you say it again, I will not let you off easily."

Consort Rong frowned, and said sourly, "But what I said is the truth."

The Empress, usually gentle, now had a more serious expression: "His Majesty is a wise ruler. He dotes on her now, yet you call her a vixen..." As she spoke, the Empress gave her an impatient glare.

Although Consort Rong was dissatisfied, she had no choice but to give up. Ever since the incident at the Thousand Carp Pond, the Emperor's favor towards her had diminished considerably, and if he heard these words, he would surely be displeased.

Consort Zhuang was getting anxious. Now that her father had achieved military merit, the Emperor hadn't even come to see her. Could it be that the Emperor had found out about what happened to Lü Rui...?

As she thought about it, Consort Zhuang became increasingly uneasy.

The following day, an envoy from the Rong Kingdom came to sue for peace, offering three cities, a princess in marriage, and annual tribute of precious goods in exchange for peace.

His Majesty of Rong Kingdom has no princesses, but has bestowed the title of princess upon the daughter of a prince, and sent her to the kingdom on an auspicious day after her return.

The other concubines were undoubtedly bitter, as there was now another person vying for their favor, and of noble status. Because it was a marriage alliance, the emperor would surely treat her well.

On the thirteenth day of the eleventh lunar month, our army returned to the capital in triumph, and everyone inside and outside the court was filled with pride and joy.

Xiao Yu was overjoyed and held a banquet to reward the three armies.

In terms of merit, the first should be General Nangong Yun, and the second is Cheng Fei.

Nangong Yun was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, and Cheng Fei was promoted to the rank of General of Huaihua, a third-grade official. Both were rewarded with generous amounts of gold.

In the imperial harem, Consort Zhuang and Consort Xi enjoyed immense prestige.

The next day, inside the Zhaochen Hall.

Xiao Yu dismissed the palace servants, leaving only Nangong Yun and himself.

"Minister Nangong, there's no need for you to rush over and thank me. Your service to the court is what you deserve." Xiao Yu waved his hand, gesturing for Nangong Yun, who was kneeling on the ground, to rise.

Nangong Yun slowly rose to his feet: "Your Majesty's grace has been deeply appreciated by this humble subject, and I naturally wish to come in person to express my gratitude. However, there is one more matter that I would like Your Majesty to grant."

Xiao Yu stroked the thumb ring on his thumb, his brow slightly raised: "Oh? What is it you're referring to, my dear minister?"

Nangong Yun said, "Your Majesty, I have not seen Consort Zhuang for a long time. I heard that she has been unwell recently. As her father, I am extremely worried. Please allow me to see my daughter."

When Xiao Yu mentioned Consort Zhuang, the smile on his face gradually turned into a look of worry, and he sighed deeply: "If only Ling'er had half of your composure and magnanimity."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Yun was immediately taken aback: "But what did Consort Zhuang do in the harem to put the Emperor in a difficult position?"

"It's one thing for Ling'er to be difficult and willful on ordinary days, but this time she has harmed the concubines. My dear minister, do you think I am in a difficult position?" His tone was slow and deep, and his fingertips tapped lightly on the table.

Nangong Yun lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment: "Although Consort Zhuang is a bit flamboyant, she is kind at heart. Is there something else going on in this matter?"

Xiao Yu's cold eyes fell on Nangong Yun, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "I wish this matter had nothing to do with Consort Zhuang, but the evidence is irrefutable. I am truly disappointed!"

Nangong Yun kept her head down in deep thought. The Emperor had not punished Consort Zhuang, but instead deliberately brought up the matter in front of her. The Emperor's heart was unfathomable!

He knelt down: "If the truth is indeed so, it is because I have failed to properly educate my daughter. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Xiao Yu smiled faintly and said, "Out of consideration for my long-standing relationship with Consort Zhuang and for your contributions to the court, I have not punished Consort Zhuang. I hope that Consort Zhuang will not let down my favor, nor your kindness towards her."

Nangong Yun listened to the Emperor's words, which all connected his daughter with himself. He understood that the Emperor was warning him, saying that he hoped his daughter would not let him down, but in reality, he was also implying something to himself.

The Emperor's pardoning of his daughter, to put it nicely, was giving him face; to put it bluntly, it was also giving him leverage. After all, he still had a daughter from the Nangong family in the harem, and she had committed a heinous crime of harming a concubine.

Nangong Yun kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness. Consort Zhuang must be filled with regret and resentment. It is my fault for indulging Consort Zhuang too much at home. However, Consort Zhuang has a good nature. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Xiao Yu got up and personally helped Nangong Yun up, saying gently, "My dear minister, there's no need to blame yourself. I'm sure Consort Zhuang misses you too. Go to Yihe Palace and see her."

Nangong Yun immediately expressed his gratitude before turning to leave.

Xiao Yu watched Nangong Yun's retreating figure and curled the corners of his lips into a smile.