That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

Hidden Winter Pavilion.

Tingyu and Tinglu stayed by Song Shuangning's side. Tingyu held a peeled, hot egg and gently rolled it over Song Shuangning's red and swollen eyes.

I cried for a long time, and my eyes felt sore and painful.

She recalled her tearful and heart-wrenching performance in front of the Emperor.

Song Shuangning couldn't help but laugh; she really should award herself a Hollywood Best Actress award.

This was inevitable.

She was facing an emperor, the supreme ruler, not an ordinary man.

Emperors have minds as deep as the sea; they are ruthless and cold-blooded, and they have three palaces and six courtyards.

The checks and balances of power in the imperial court and the power struggles within the harem made the triennial imperial concubine selection unavoidable.

Two years later, when the newcomers enter the palace for the imperial selection, will Xiao Yan still be as successful as he is today?

Hard to say.

Therefore, Song Shuangning must seize every opportunity.

Gradually warm the emperor's heart, and then firmly grasp the emperor's heart in your palm.

Make the emperor accustomed to your presence, until he can no longer live without you.

However, everything in excess is as bad as deficiency; there is always a limit.

Making too much noise will only backfire and incur the emperor's displeasure.

She can now grasp some of Xiao Yan's temperament, but she doesn't know him completely.

For now, we can only take it one step at a time and proceed gradually.

For several days afterward, Xiao Yan would come to Cangdong Pavilion every day.

Song Shuangning maintained her indifferent expression.

He spoke very little.

Xiao Yan, however, seemed completely oblivious, continuing to talk and chat with her as always.

Sometimes they talk about trivial and interesting things in the palace, and sometimes they talk about the newly blooming flowers in the Imperial Garden.

Even if all you get in return for your rambling is a few perfunctory replies, you're happy to keep going.

Xiao Yan stared at her aloof profile, a bitter feeling rising in his throat.

Her current indifferent demeanor is the complete opposite of her former vibrant self.

In the past, if he came, Ningning would happily come up to him and hug his arm.

Once inside the palace, she would sit on his lap tenderly and affectionately, or kiss him.

When exactly did he become accustomed to and unable to live without her vibrant and clingy appearance?

He didn't know either; all he knew was that habit is a deadly thing—once it's ingrained, it's impossible to break free.

*

That day, after handling his official duties, Xiao Yan went to Cangdong Pavilion under the moonlight.

As soon as I reached the door, I heard a clear, cheerful laugh coming from inside.

Song Shuangning and Qiu Meiren huddled together, seemingly discussing something extremely interesting.

But as soon as he entered the hall, the laughter stopped abruptly, and Song Shuangning put on that aloof and indifferent expression again.

Qiu Meiren had just been speaking ill of Xiao Yan, so she didn't even dare to raise her head, as if she had confessed without being asked.

Qiu Meiren shook Song Shuangning's hand. "Then I'll head back now."

A gentle smile appeared in Song Shuangning's eyes: "Walk slowly. Let Tingyu get you a hand warmer and a cloak; it's windy at night."

"Okay, thank you, Sister Song."

Seeing this scene, Xiao Yan suddenly felt uneasy.

She has always been like this, gentle and considerate to everyone.

An emotion, indistinguishable between envy and jealousy, quietly crept into my heart.

Qiu Cairen bowed to him and took her leave.

Song Shuangning also bowed respectfully to him, saying, "This concubine greets Your Majesty."

I haven't seen such a respectful and distant demeanor in a long time.

"No need for formalities," Xiao Yan said, his voice slightly hoarse.

"What were you doing just now...?"

Before he could finish speaking, his gaze fell on the paper on the table.

Song Shuangning's expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously reached for the book to close it, but Xiao Yan picked it up first.

The handwriting on the paper was neat and elegant.

The inscription above reads: "Old affections and joys, all now vanished."

Song Shuangning reached out to grab it.

Xiao Yan deftly dodged with a flick of his wrist, his gaze settling heavily on her face.

"What does this mean?"

Song Shuangning withdrew her hand, her tone distant and cold: "His Majesty can understand."

Xiao Yan gripped the paper tightly, his knuckles turning bluish-white, his chest heaving.

"I will not allow it!"

Every word he uttered was quite domineering.

Song Shuangning turned her face away. "Your Majesty has a harem full of beauties and is never short of concubines. Why be so persistent? I made it very clear that day that I was just feeling physically and mentally exhausted. Please allow me to withdraw my feelings."

"Don't even think about it," Xiao Yan interrupted excitedly.

Song Shuangning looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"This relationship is not something you can decide on your own. It's not something you can sever just because you want to. Do you dare to say that you have no feelings for me at all?"

Song Shuangning met his gaze. "So what? With time, even the deepest feelings will fade. Time can heal all wounds."

The coldness and decisiveness in her tone suggested that she was determined to sever all ties.

Xiao Yan lost his composure, grabbing her shoulders. "Ningning, I love you, it's no lie, I'll prove it to you."

Song Shuangning suddenly broke free, crying out, "How will Your Majesty prove this to me?!"

Xiao Yan's voice was deep and magnetic: "I will issue an edict to promote you to the rank of Zhaoyi, a third-rank concubine, and allow you to assist the Empress in managing the affairs of the six palaces. You will be in charge of the Imperial Household Department, and you can access and view the records of the Imperial Household Department at any time. You can see whether I have favored other concubines or what my whereabouts are."

Song Shuangning was surprised, a hint of astonishment flashing in her eyes.

Xiao Yan was still staring at her, his dark eyes deep, waiting for her reply.

Xiao Yan's words instantly disrupted Song Shuangning's thoughts; she hadn't expected Xiao Yan to go to such lengths for her.

Besides being favored by the emperor, she also wanted the confidence to establish herself in the palace, and now, Xiao Yan personally handed that confidence to her.

"Ningning." Xiao Yan's voice softened, carrying a hint of intimate whisper.

"say."

"This concubine doesn't know what to say..."

Xiao Yan stretched out his long arm and pulled her into his embrace. Seeing that she did not resist, he slowly tightened his arms around her.

"You don't need to worry about this; I will arrange everything for you," he said.

Since Xiao Yan had put it this way, Song Shuangning couldn't make any more trouble.

If this continues, it will be a serious matter.

Xiao Yan still couldn't stay overnight. Song Shuangning said she wanted some peace and quiet, so Xiao Yan didn't insist.

Xiao Yan returned to Zichen Palace in silence. He chuckled and shook his head, wondering when he had ever thought so much about someone, to the point that even finding a place to stay was a problem.

The knot of worry that had been lingering between his brows for days quietly loosened a bit.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The following day, the Marquis of Zhenbei entered the palace to pay his respects. He was solemn and bowed deeply to Xiao Yan.

"Your Majesty, I have investigated the whole story of how my daughter was switched at birth and explained the cause and effect to the clan elders. Everyone in the clan has no objection. I dare to suggest that the Shangsi Festival on the third day of the third lunar month is a good omen, when all things are revived. I would like to hold a ceremony to recognize my daughter's family on that day. I have come to ask Your Majesty for your decision."

The midwife and Consort Su were childhood best friends. On that day, the Lady of Zhenbei Marquis and Consort Su happened to give birth on the same day. Consort Su suffered a difficult labor and gave birth to a stillborn baby; upon seeing the baby, she fainted.

The midwife was both panicked and afraid. Because Aunt Su came from a humble background, losing the child would mean losing her support, and she herself would be punished for "negligence in care".

Just then, the lady's newborn daughter was barely alive and looked like she wouldn't make it. The midwife, seizing the chaos in the mansion, secretly switched the two baby girls. She figured both children were on the verge of death, and whichever died later could be blamed on "congenital weakness."

This way, Su Yiniang could be saved, and she could also absolve herself of guilt. Unexpectedly, Song Shuangning was resilient and was saved, and the midwife kept the secret of the baby swap for more than 20 years.

Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Aunt Su has always treated Ningning kindly, and Ningning is deeply grateful to her. If the truth is suddenly revealed now, Ningning will probably find it very difficult to bear. How about this, another day you invite the old lady and your sister to the palace, I will host a family banquet, and the whole family can sit together, and then I will tell Ningning about this matter, so that she can calm down and accept it more easily."

Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Zhenbei was both surprised and delighted. He immediately bowed and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your compassion! Your Majesty's thoughtfulness moves me to tears. I will dedicate my life to repaying your grace!"