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

Inside Yihe Palace, Nangong Yun recounted all of the Emperor's words to Consort Zhuang in detail.

Consort Zhuang was startled. The Emperor really knew that she was the one who had done the deed to Green Bud. That was why the Emperor had refused to see her and treated her coldly all this time.

"I'm not criticizing you, Ling'er, but why are you still so reckless? I've told you before that if you want to do something bad, you can't leave a single trace. Your every word and action in the harem affects the entire Nangong family."

Consort Zhuang felt a strange displeasure rising within her as she listened to the Nangong family: "Father, you yourself said that the Emperor is wary of our family, but he used to dote on me. Only recently..."

After a pause, Consort Zhuang carefully considered her words before finally speaking her mind: "Father, please don't get too close to Prince Xin."

Prince Xin was the fifth son of the late emperor, but he was not outstanding among the imperial heirs and was the easiest to forget. He was not as famous as Prince Xuan, nor as kind-hearted as the fourth prince, Prince Zhen, and his strategies were certainly inferior to those of the current emperor.

Nangong Yun listened to Consort Zhuang's words, but hesitated and picked up the tea to drink.

"Father, you don't really want to marry my younger sister off to the Prince Xin's mansion, do you?" Consort Zhuang's brow furrowed as she recalled her father mentioning this matter after the death of the Princess Xin.

"Why not?"

Consort Zhuang was momentarily agitated: "Father, why are you doing this?"

Nangong Yun glanced at Consort Zhuang and sighed softly: "If you had an heir, why would I need to consider other options?"

Consort Zhuang shook her head: "So what if my younger sister marries into the Prince Xin's household? So what if she can bear children? She will still be a princess in the end."

Nangong Yun had a smug look on his face. "I have to make two preparations. If you have an heir in the future, that would be great. If not... I can support the emperor to ascend the throne, and naturally I can also let a child from the Nangong family become emperor."

Consort Zhuang, realizing something, stared at Nangong Yun in disbelief: "Are you insane, Father! How can a prince's child become emperor?"

Looking at her daughter's hopeless state, Nangong Yun turned her eyes away and said, "I have my own way."

Consort Zhuang sneered, looking at her father who had doted on her since childhood, and said with a bitter smile, "But the Emperor is also my husband!"

Nangong Yun's face stiffened, and he uttered four words: "Womanly compassion!"

Consort Zhuang suddenly realized that she had become a pawn of the Nangong family. As her father's power and official rank increased, his ambition grew even stronger, and for some reason, she felt extremely terrified.

After a long pause, Consort Zhuang finally said, "Father, are you placing your hopes on my younger sister?" Her eyes were filled with a hint of sorrow.

"The Empress has no children. If I could have an heir, the next emperor would most likely be my child, Father!" she cried out to Nangong Yun in a desolate voice.

Nangong Yun sighed softly: "If you are pregnant, this is naturally the best solution, but..."

Speaking of offspring, this was also a source of pain for Consort Zhuang. No matter how much favored she was by the Emperor, she still longed for a child of her own, like Consort Rong.

"Father, please go outside and find me some folk remedies. I must conceive an imperial heir within the next two years." Consort Zhuang's hands gripped the corner of the table tightly.

With an heir, she wouldn't have to worry about everyone's opinions, and the emperor would favor her even more.

In Lan Yue Pavilion, Ning Shuyan was pruning the red plum blossoms and winter plum blossoms that Ziying had picked.

The red plum blossoms are beautiful, like the morning glow, and are the most beautiful flowers in winter. Therefore, Ning Shuyan loves them very much and picks some to put in a vase every winter.

The wintersweet is also very fragrant, much more pleasant than incense.

Her hands were already fair and jade-like, and holding a few red plum blossoms made them appear even more translucent and luminous.

"It's good to have a good family reputation. Consort Zhuang can see her relatives once or twice a year, but I don't know when the young lady will be able to."

Looking at the vibrant red plum blossoms, Ning Shuyan smiled and said, "There are advantages and disadvantages. Throughout history, most of the favored concubines from powerful and influential families have not had a good ending."

If her family had been powerful, she believed it would have been impossible for her to catch Xiao Yu's eye so quickly, let alone win his heart; it would have been even more difficult.

She knew very well that because she did not have a distinguished family background and was an illegitimate daughter who was not valued by her family, it would not hurt for the emperor to give her more favors as a concubine.

Ning Shuyan placed the red plum blossoms into the vase, instantly adding color and making the rosewood table look vibrant.

Only after Xiao Yu promoted Consort Xi's father to the third rank did Ning Shuyan realize what he was planning. He was probably grooming the next commander.

Because of Grand Tutor Cheng, the Emperor values ​​the Cheng family and also favors Cheng Yin. It is very likely that while the Emperor is cultivating his own power base, he is also looking for an opportunity to seize leverage over the Nangong family. If they are not content and have treacherous intentions... then the Nangong family will fall.

Also, the Emperor probably won't neglect Consort Zhuang for too long...

As long as Nangong Yun remains a general with outstanding military achievements, Xiao Yu will give him plenty of face.

As she was thinking, she heard a commotion outside. Ning Shuyan looked out the window and saw that Yang An and people from the Imperial Household Department had arrived.

The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department didn't look as scheming as the previous Chief Eunuch Wang; his smile seemed more genuine.

After the two exchanged greetings, Ning Shuyan looked at the object being carried by the eunuchs behind her and asked with a smile, "May I ask, Eunuch Yang, what is this?"

Yang An's face was beaming with joy. He lifted the cloth covering the large object carried by the eunuchs and said with a smile, "My lord, look."

Ning Shuyan's eyes widened in surprise as she saw a large, round wooden barrel, accompanied by a faint, pleasant fragrance.

Yang An smiled and said, "His Majesty said that the bath tub in the concubine's palace was too small, so he ordered the Imperial Household Department to make a larger one."

Ning Shuyan suddenly remembered that Xiao Yu had wanted to bathe with her before, but she had declined because the tub was too small. She never expected him to be so indecent and bring over such a big tub.

"Why is there a faint, pleasant fragrance?"

Yang An gave a wink, and Eunuch Liu from the Imperial Household Department stepped forward and pointed to the bath tub, explaining, "Your Highness, His Majesty said that the best materials should be used. This bath tub is made of cedar wood, which is not only rare and precious, but also has a bright color and a natural fragrance. Cedar wood has the effects of beautifying the skin, nourishing the complexion, and relieving stress."

As he spoke, he pointed to the jade beads inlaid on the east side of the bathtub and said, "These jade beads can roll, and when you are tired, they can also massage and unblock your meridians."

Ning Shuyan felt extremely embarrassed. Of all the things to send, she had to send a bathtub. It would have been more practical to send some silver instead of something so precious.

She smiled and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. Please convey my thanks to His Majesty."

Yang An bowed and said, "His Majesty said he would come tonight. It's not too late for Your Highness to express your gratitude to His Majesty then."

Ning Shuyan nodded, and Ziying handed the two purses to Eunuch Liu and Yang An respectively.

Yang An was fine; he was already used to it. But Eunuch Liu was slightly surprised the moment he received the purse, then his eyes lit up with delight. This young master was truly generous!

As night fell, Ning Shuyan was reading a book when Xiao Yu arrived.

He sat down leisurely, his eyes full of amusement: "The bathtub sent by the Imperial Household Department must be quite large, right?"

Ning Shuyan put the book aside and said in a sweet voice, "It's not small, it's not small at all, it's huge."

Xiao Yu laughed and said, "I don't know what it is yet. Come with me and see."

As he spoke, he pulled Ning Shuyan towards the bathhouse. Xiao Yu examined the bath tub and smiled with satisfaction: "Not bad, it seems Liu Xing from the Imperial Household Department has done a good job. Is Yan'er satisfied?"