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

The Empress Dowager retrieved the imperial edict from the Imperial Household Department, her fingertips tracing the yellowed pages as her gaze slowly moved over the most recent ones. When she turned to the last two pages, her brows furrowed involuntarily.

On the latest two pages, apart from a faint red annotation next to Consort Yuan's name, the names of the other concubines were completely blank.

A hint of doubt arose in the Empress Dowager's heart. The vermilion annotations on this official document were the Emperor's daily record of choosing his concubines and who would serve him in bed.

The Empress Dowager's anger flared up, and she slammed the book shut and slammed it heavily onto the rosewood table.

What is the Emperor doing?!

Apart from Consort Yuan, none of the other concubines had the opportunity to sleep with the emperor.

Could it be that he intends to favor Consort Yuan exclusively?

Absurd! Utterly absurd!

After sitting quietly for a while, his anger subsided slightly, and he pondered to himself:

Could it be that the emperor is unwell and lacks energy?

Immediately, the Empress Dowager called out, "Summon Li Fuquan here."

Upon receiving the news, Li Fuquan jogged into Shou Kang Palace, a fawning smile on his face, "This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

"I cannot find peace!"

The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table, glancing at him with displeasure. "Li Fuquan, what kind of person are you as the chief eunuch of the Imperial Guard? The Emperor is unwell, yet you didn't even summon the imperial physicians to treat him."

Li Fuquan was taken aback, then bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is in good health and has no ill health."

The Empress Dowager's gaze was deep as she turned her prayer beads. After a long while, she said indifferently, "Since His Majesty is in good health, it must be due to overwork. From now on, instruct the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a bowl of nourishing soup for His Majesty every day to strengthen his constitution and replenish his vital energy. Remember to have at least one bowl every day."

"Your servant obeys the decree."

The Empress Dowager nodded. "You may leave now. Remember what I have instructed you to do."

"Yes, sir."

The Empress Dowager sighed softly: It's probably due to overwork.

Qinzheng Hall.

On the first day, the imperial kitchen delivered ginseng, wolfberry, and black-boned chicken soup; on the second day, it was replaced with deer antler and angelica stewed venison; and on the third day, it was cordyceps gelatin stewed pigeon.

After three days of such intensive nourishment, Xiao Yan sensed something was amiss. He glanced at the guilty-looking Li Fuquan and asked, "What's wrong? Are you afraid I'll overwork myself and pass away?"

Li Fuquan was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "This servant would never dare to have such a thought!!"

"Get down there and get thirty lashes. If you dare to act on your own again, you can pack your bags and get out of here."

Li Fuquan was extremely aggrieved and cried out, "Your Majesty, it wasn't my own idea, but... the Empress Dowager ordered me to do it."

"The Empress Dowager?"

Li Fuquan wiped away his tears. "A few days ago, the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned me to Shou Kang Palace. She asked me if I had been feeling unwell lately, and said that I must have been overworking myself with the affairs of the previous dynasty. She specifically instructed me to have the Imperial Kitchen prepare nourishing soups for me every day, saying that she wanted to take good care of my health."

Since it was the Empress Dowager's order, it must have been Consort Shen who complained to the Empress Dowager.

Xiao Yan glared at Li Fuquan, who was also stubborn.

"I won't punish you this time, but there won't be a next time."

Li Fuquan immediately kowtowed, "This servant thanks Your Majesty for your mercy!"

That evening, the Empress Dowager sent someone to invite Xiao Yan to have dinner at Shou Kang Palace. Xiao Yan was also thinking the same thing. If this matter was not clarified, the Empress Dowager would definitely find another excuse to make things difficult for Ning Ning.

Consort Shen was also present at Shou Kang Palace.

The Empress Dowager, with a kind and gentle expression, asked, "How has the Emperor been feeling lately?"

Xiao Yan said, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. I am in good health and feel perfectly fine."

The Empress Dowager glanced around, realizing that the Emperor already knew about the tonic soup and was quite displeased.

But she was also thinking of the country and its people.

"Your Majesty, as the supreme ruler, you bear the responsibility for the stability of the nation and its people. Your favor should be distributed evenly, not only to ensure the continuation of the imperial line but also to stabilize the court. Excessive favoritism will invite criticism from the harem and only add to your troubles. Do you agree?"

The words were a reminder, implying something.

Xiao Yan slowly said, "Consort Yuan is now the daughter of the Marquis of Zhenbei, and her status is noble. It is only right and proper for me to take good care of her. Moreover, she is gentle and knows how to behave properly. I feel at ease when I am with her. What is even more rare is that she has never had the intention to gossip or disturb the peace of her elders."

Every word he spoke was like an invisible slap, sent from afar at Consort Shen.

The Empress Dowager failed to discern the sarcasm in Xiao Yan's words. Instead, she frowned and earnestly advised, "I know that Consort Yuan's status is extraordinary now, and it is not wrong for you to take good care of her. However, there must be limits to your favor. You must not favor only one person and disrupt the rules of the harem."

Xiao Yan smiled. "I haven't overstepped my bounds. Otherwise, why would I still be staying in a separate palace?"

Even though he stayed overnight in another palace, he did not summon them to serve him in bed! The Empress Dowager was speechless at Xiao Yan's words, and swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

The old nanny quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, it's getting late. Let's have dinner first."

During the meal, the Empress Dowager gestured to the table laden with delicacies and said gently, "Tonight's dinner is all your usual favorites."

"It's rare that the Empress Dowager still remembers what I like."

The Empress Dowager put down her silver chopsticks, a hint of displeasure in her eyes: "Why do you insist on speaking to me in such a sarcastic and veiled manner?"

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "I had no such intention."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling a palace servant to fill a cup with wine: "This wine has been brewed for many years, please try it."

Xiao Yan picked up the glass and took a sip. The wine was rich and strong, spicy and pungent. If someone who was not good at drinking were to drink, they would probably get drunk after just one cup.

He drank it all in one gulp; today might be a trap.

Did the Empress Dowager want him to get drunk?

Xiao Yan found it laughable that the Empress Dowager had never truly remembered his preferences over the years, and that she would go to such lengths to find out his likes and dislikes in order to set up this trap. It was truly absurd.

Consort Shen picked up her wine cup and said softly, "This concubine also toasts Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan raised his cup perfunctorily, touching it to her lightly across the distance, his expression indifferent.

A palace maid was carefully adding wine to Xiao Yan's cup when she suddenly stumbled, the wine pot in her hand tilted violently, and the wine spilled out, splashing all over Xiao Yan's magnificent dragon robe.

The palace maid turned pale with fright and knelt down crying, "This servant is guilty, this servant deserves to die, please spare my life, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager was taken aback at first.

A smile then spread across his lips as he sternly reprimanded, "Clumsy thing, get down here now."

After reprimanding him, she turned her gaze to Xiao Yan and said in a gentler tone, "Go to the side hall and change your clothes first."

"Li Fuquan, go back immediately and fetch the Emperor's everyday clothes."

Xiao Yan frowned. "No need. I'll head back now."

The Empress Dowager immediately frowned. "What's wrong? You're so unwilling to have dinner with your mother now?"

If he leaves Shou Kang Palace, he will be branded as 'unfilial'.

Xiao Yan said coldly, "I will go to the side hall to change my clothes."

The Empress Dowager watched Xiao Yan's retreating figure, then turned to look at Consort Shen, who was still standing there motionless, and said, "Hurry up and go serve the Emperor."

Shen Jieyu nervously scratched her palms. "Thank you, Aunt."