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

During this period, Consort Qing frequently visited the Second Princess's residence, bringing her exquisitely carved rattles or sweet and delicious hibiscus cakes, all of which were things the child liked.

However, the Second Princess was shy by nature and always kept her distance from Consort Qing, showing no intimacy whatsoever.

Consort Qing's desire to raise the second princess under her name was almost obvious.

Consort Qing heard that children often liked furry animals, so she sent someone to find a white jade rabbit from outside the palace. It was exquisite, cute, and lovable.

Lately, Song Shuangning has become fascinated with Go. She often sits for an entire afternoon without rushing to make a move. She simply picks up a black piece at random, plays with it between her fingers, and keeps her eyes on the Go board.

Tinglu said, "I heard that Consort Qing caught a little rabbit for the Second Princess to play with."

Song Shuangning took the chess piece and said, "Consort Qing was originally a foreign princess who came to the palace for a political marriage. After entering the palace, she received little favor. She also lost face at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. We urgently need to use the Second Princess to restore our dignity."

Tingyu asked, "In Your Majesty's opinion, will Consort Qing be able to get her wish?"

"Absolutely not," Song Shuangning said crisply as she placed her piece. "Even if the Emperor agrees, the Empress Dowager will never relent."

She lowered her eyes to the chessboard, her fingertip lightly touching a black piece, a slight smile playing on her lips.

She had once watched a documentary that showed rabbits were extremely sensitive to sounds.

In order to please the Empress and win over Consort Shao and Consort Xu, Consort Qing sent someone to invite the Empress, the eldest princess, the second prince, Consort Shao, Consort Xu, and the third prince.

Four children gathered around the rabbit cage, watching the fluffy white ball of fur bounce around. Even the usually reserved and shy second princess was jumping around, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

Consort Qing presented a cup of Imperial Longjing tea to the Empress with a slight bow, saying, "The Second Princess is so lovely and charming that she is truly endearing. I adore her from the bottom of my heart."

Consort Shao sipped her tea and smiled faintly. Consort Qing, after all, was a princess who had been pampered since childhood, and she was ultimately lacking in the art of navigating the inner palace.

The Empress took the teacup and said in a calm tone, "The Second Princess is simple-minded, and it's always good to have someone who cares for her."

The Empress's words were ambiguous and vague.

Song Shuangning took Xiao Yan's hand and walked into the Imperial Garden, saying with a smile that it was unusually lively here today.

The two stood at a distance. Xiao Yan watched the four children playing happily around the rabbit cage, his brows relaxed, and he smiled, "I'm hoping that this time next year, there will be another little one."

After saying that, he glanced at Song Shuangning.

Song Shuangning's forehead twitched. The current emperor was even more "annoying" than the aunts and uncles of modern times.

She pretended not to understand and deliberately changed the subject: "Next year, when Consort Shu's third princess is a little older, she will be able to play with the princes."

Xiao Yan reached out and pinched her cheek, both amused and annoyed: "Are you deliberately playing dumb with me? Can't you understand what I mean?"

Song Shuangning quickly lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Your Majesty, I know that you should not pinch my face in public. I am now a Consort."

Xiao Yan said, "Disobedience must be punished."

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the rabbit cage. The white rabbit suddenly bristled as if its fur had been pricked up. Its ears stood up and its four legs kicked wildly as it charged around in the cage, making the cage door creak.

Caught off guard, the playful children screamed and hid behind them, while the second princess was so frightened that she burst into tears on the spot, her cries heart-wrenching.

The Queen asked in a deep voice, "Why has this rabbit suddenly gone mad?"

Consort Qing panicked. She had personally found the rabbit to give to the princes and princesses, and if anything went wrong, she would be held responsible.

"I don't know either. She was perfectly fine just now. Did she suffer some kind of shock, or perhaps..."

The eunuch who was taking care of the rabbit said, "Your Majesty, no one touched the rabbit cage just now. The rabbit went mad for no reason."

Xiao Yan approached with a somber expression, coldly demanding, "Where did this rabbit come from?"

Consort Qing replied softly, "Your Majesty, it was...it was something I obtained from outside the palace..."

"Wild animals found outside the palace?" Xiao Yan's temple veins throbbed with anger. "You dare to casually give them to the princes and princesses to play with? This is utter nonsense."

Consort Qing felt extremely wronged and explained softly, "I only thought of pleasing the princess because I saw that she liked fluffy rabbits."

Looking at her clueless appearance, Xiao Yan felt that she was hopelessly stupid and had no sense of propriety in the palace.

"Go back and reflect on your actions behind closed doors. From now on, do not approach the Second Princess again."

Song Shuangning gazed intently at the white rabbit in the cage, which had calmed down. The fluffy white ball of fur was curled up in a ball, trembling.

This rabbit has really been wronged.

Just as she reached out to touch its head, Xiao Yan's heart tightened, and he quickly grabbed her wrist: "Ningning, don't touch it."

"Be careful, this crazy rabbit might hurt you."

Song Shuangning turned her gaze and smiled faintly, "It's alright, Your Majesty. Look, it has calmed down now. The prince and princess were frightened, it's its fault. I dare to beg Your Majesty to let this little fellow go, just to give the prince and princess a lucky start, so that they may be safe and sound in the future."

Xiao Yan nodded in agreement: "Very well, as you say."

The Empress frowned slightly. This beast had frightened the princes and princesses, yet he had still managed to survive.

Consort Yuan once saved Wan'er's life, and she would always remember and never forget this kindness.

But now, Consort Yuan's favor is growing stronger and stronger.