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

Xiao Yan then pressed on, "In the past, were your periods regular, or did they ever become irregular?"

Song Shuangning lowered her head hesitantly, not expecting the Emperor to ask her so directly.

"There have been some irregularities in the past, but this time, it has been delayed by ten days."

"Ten days?" Xiao Yan suddenly raised his voice, his eyes flashing with joy. He excitedly grasped Song Shuangning's hand, "This... Ningning... I have a premonition..."

"Your Majesty!" Song Shuangning interrupted him.

She raised her head, her expression complex, and said, "Your Majesty, you know my health. This occasional delay is probably normal. Moreover, the imperial physician has said that if one is restless or careless about their diet, it may cause a delay in menstruation."

"Your Majesty, the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. What if it's not? I don't want to disappoint you."

She unconsciously clenched her sleeve, her knuckles turning slightly white.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yan's heart tightened, and he quickly reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, while his other hand tenderly stroked her back.

"I was too excited. Ningning is right, the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment."

If it weren't for her pregnancy, Ningning would probably be even more disappointed.

His voice softened, "Ningning, don't be too disappointed. If it's not true, try harder in the future."

Song Shuangning nodded slightly.

Seeing that her mood had improved, Xiao Yan felt somewhat relieved. "You didn't eat dinner. What would you like to eat?"

"I have no appetite."

"That won't do. I don't want you waking up in the middle of the night and bothering me again."

Song Shuangning chuckled at his words and said sweetly, "No way."

Looking at her smiling face, Xiao Yan also showed a relieved smile.

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.

At dawn on the second day, everyone in the palace was busy, but Yaohua Palace was unusually quiet.

Song Shuangning lay on the bed, listening to the faint footsteps coming from outside the window, her brows furrowing slightly.

Song Shuangning touched her side; it was already cold.

"What time is it?"

Tingyu lifted the curtain and said, "Your Majesty, it's almost Chenshi (7-9 AM)."

"His Majesty knows you haven't been sleeping well lately, so he specially excused you from today's morning greetings. This morning, seeing you sleeping so soundly, he couldn't bear to disturb you. It's still early, Your Majesty, why don't you sleep a little longer?"

Song Shuangning gently shook her head. In the past month, she had taken leave many times. As the head of the harem, the Empress was naturally displeased by her frequent absences, and the other concubines were also inevitably unhappy.

We can't be lazy anymore. If we want to climb higher in the future, we can't afford to give others cause for criticism.

As I sat in the sedan chair, a warm, throbbing pain suddenly came from my lower abdomen.

It felt somewhat like the dull ache that comes with menstruation, yet it was also mixed with another kind of strange pain.

Song Shuangning leaned against the side, closed her eyes, and tried to ignore the vague discomfort.

When they arrived at Fengyi Palace, they were still a little late in paying their respects.

"Consort Yuan is quite leisurely; she only came to pay her respects to the Empress after almost finishing her own greetings." Consort Qing's voice was full of sarcasm.

Consort Qing has always been like this; she's sharp-tongued but never learns her lesson.

Consort Shao asked with concern, "Your Highness, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"

Song Shuangning pressed her slightly aching lower abdomen, probably because her period had started.

"Your Majesty, I am feeling unwell and have arrived late to pay my respects. Please forgive me."

Consort Qing snorted, "Even if you're unwell, that's no excuse. Consort Yuan, count for yourself how many times you've asked for leave this month to pay your respects. What concubine is as lazy as you?"

Consort Shao glanced at Consort Qing, who was sharp-tongued, and said in a cold voice, "Sister Zhaoyi's request for leave must have a reason; it is by no means without cause."

Consort Shao really couldn't stand Consort Qing's sharp tongue.

"But we can't..."

Just then, the Empress, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, "Alright. Stop arguing, you're giving me a headache. Consort Zhao is not feeling well, so please sit down. Just come earlier next time."

"Your Majesty, you are always so kind, but in the harem, rules are paramount. Consort Yuan has taken leave more times in the past month than many concubines have taken leave in several years. Today, Consort Yuan is late again. If you do not take this opportunity to punish her, how can you expect the other concubines to be convinced? If everyone follows her example and makes excuses to avoid paying their respects, wouldn't the rules of the harem become meaningless?"

Consort Qing's words both flattered the Empress and put Song Shuangning in a difficult position, with each sentence condemning Song Shuangning for breaking the rules.

At this moment, Song Shuangning's lower abdominal pain became more pronounced.

She was so upset that she no longer had the energy to retort to Consort Qing.

The lesson learned last time was too lenient; it probably wasn't enough to teach Consort Qing a lesson.

The Empress's gaze fell on Song Shuangning's pale face, and judging from her appearance, it didn't seem like she was faking it.

Consort Yuan has indeed asked for leave more often this month, and each time it was Li Fuquan who came to ask for leave on her behalf, all at the Emperor's behest.

This inevitably left her, as the Empress, feeling somewhat uneasy.

But she also knew that the Emperor's favor towards Consort Yuan was extraordinary. If she really punished Consort Yuan for this and displeased the Emperor, he would blame her, the Empress, for being petty.

She had no choice but to suppress her anger and speak again, "Alright, Consort Qing, you should say less."

Seeing this, Consort Qing was displeased, but dared not say anything more.

She glared angrily at the group of concubines below who dared not say a word. They were usually so energetic when gossiping, but why did they all pretend to be mute when it came to the crucial moment?

The Empress said indifferently, "Consort Yuan, please sit down. What Consort Qing said earlier wasn't entirely unreasonable. If there's a next time, I'll have no choice but to deal with you according to palace rules."

"Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings."

The Empress glanced at her: "Get up. Be more mindful of your behavior in the future."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Song Shuangning slightly bent her knees and slowly stood up.

I felt the lower abdominal pain becoming more and more pronounced, and my vision even started to go black.

Just as I was taking a step, my body suddenly spun around, my vision went black, and I felt a "buzz" in my head. All my strength was drained, and my body fell backward uncontrollably.

"Shuang Ning".

"Your Majesty!"

Everyone was terrified by this sudden turn of events, and screams and shouts filled the air.

The smugness on Consort Qing's face vanished instantly, replaced by panic.

The Empress suddenly stood up, her expression changing drastically.

Qiu Meiren and Shaofei ran quickly to Song Shuangning's side, "Shuangning, Sister Shuangning."

Tingyu cried, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

The Empress's brow twitched, and she said, "First, carry Consort Yuan into the side hall, then find someone to inform the Emperor."

The crowd lifted Song Shuangning up, and a pool of blood appeared on the ground where she had been lying.

Qiu Meiren cried out, "Blood, blood."

The Empress's eyes widened in surprise, and her hands trembled at her sides.

Consort Yuan is bleeding, could it be...?

Did you miscarry?

If she really did miscarry, then she would be a sinner.

Consort Qing, who was standing nearby, was also frightened and covered her mouth, hiding to the side.

After Song Shuangning was carried to the side hall, Consort Shao coldly looked at Consort Qing.

"Consort Qing, are you satisfied now?"