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

Faced with Consort Shao's questioning, Consort Qing pursed her lips and said, "I...I didn't know that Consort Yuan was really unwell."

She was indeed terrified. If anything had happened to Consort Yuan, she would have been in deep trouble.

Consort Xu said, "Consort Qing wasn't like this when she was arguing unreasonably."

The Empress sat regally on her phoenix throne, her phoenix eyes slightly closed, her fingertips gently tracing the rim of her cup. When she opened her eyes again, a thin layer of ice covered them, but her voice remained gentle:

"Alright, everyone, that's enough. Right now, Consort Yuan's health is the most important thing."

Soon, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall. Physician Zhang rushed over and quickly headed towards the inner hall.

A short while later, Xiao Yan, still dressed in his court robes, also arrived.

Consort Shao had just sent a maid to invite him, and Xiao Yan received the news after the court session and came straight to Fengyi Palace.

Consort Qing had not expected the Emperor to arrive so quickly, so fast that she was caught off guard and had no time to think of what to say.

Consort Qing involuntarily lowered her head, not daring to meet Xiao Yan's gaze.

Consort Shao's maid was extremely clever. She saw everything that happened during the greeting and reported the details to Xiao Yan without missing a single word.

Xiao Yan's gaze fell on Consort Qing like a sharp sword, filled with undisguised anger.

"Consort Qing, do you know your mistake?"

"Your Majesty..."

Xiao Yan's voice was icy cold, "As a concubine, you should value harmony, yet you are so narrow-minded."

His rebuke was like a whip lashing at Consort Qing, leaving her utterly ashamed.

Upon seeing this, the Empress felt an indescribable sense of helplessness.

She knew that the Emperor doted on Consort Yuan, but today it was clearly Consort Yuan who was late in paying her respects. If we were to discuss who was right and who was wrong, Consort Qing was merely offering her honest advice and had done nothing wrong.

But the Emperor was so biased, completely disregarding Consort Qing's feelings.

She quickly stepped forward, trying to ease the tension, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Consort Qing has always been outspoken and meant no harm..."

"The Empress need not interfere," Xiao Yan interrupted sharply.

He stopped looking at Consort Qing and turned to walk towards the side hall, leaving only silence in the room and Consort Qing's slightly disheveled figure.

In the side hall, Physician Zhang was taking Song Shuangning's pulse.

Consort Shao, Consort Xu, and Lady Qiu stood by, watching nervously.

"Your Majesty, I (your concubine) pay my respects."

Consort Shao asked worriedly, "Sister Zhaoyi is bleeding, I wonder if it's because..."

The moment the words left his mouth, Xiao Yan froze, as if a thunderbolt had struck his mind.

After the initial joy, he was replaced by deep worry, and his brows furrowed even more tightly.

The thought that Ningning might be pregnant and was now bleeding could lead to a miscarriage.

Thinking of this, his hatred for Consort Qing deepened even further.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Physician Zhang withdrew his hand, and Xiao Yan immediately pressed for an answer, "How is she? How is she?"

Imperial Physician Zhang bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhaoyi simply... is menstruating, and her qi and blood are deficient, which is why she fainted. There is nothing serious about it; she just needs to rest for a few days."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly settled, while a hint of disappointment flashed across his face.

But then he breathed a sigh of relief; at least Ningning hadn't miscarried, which was good.

Children's matters cannot be rushed.

"Go down."

This blunder caused Consort Shao and Consort Xu to exchange a glance.

"It's good that Consort Zhao is alright, Your Majesty doesn't need to worry too much." Consort Shao said, her gaze falling on the Emperor's hand tightly holding Consort Yuan's.

"Um."

"Someone, prepare a sedan chair. Once Consort Yuan wakes up, I will take her back to Yaohua Palace."

Ningning is easily embarrassed; if she knew she had caused such a big misunderstanding, she would definitely feel guilty and ashamed.

Consort Shao and Consort Xu went out to deliver the message.

The Empress asked, "Consort Yuan, she...?"

Consort Shao replied, "Your Majesty, Consort Yuan is fine; she is merely suffering from some blood and qi deficiency."

The Empress nodded, relieved.

Fortunately, Consort Yuan did not miscarry or become pregnant, which was the best possible outcome.

Consort Qing also breathed a sigh of relief, her heart finally at ease.

After all that trouble, it turned out it wasn't a miscarriage, but just that my period had started and I was feeling weak and anemic.

Consort Qing felt a lump in her throat and almost burst into tears.

The Emperor took his anger out on her because of this, which was truly unfair.

It was clearly Consort Yuan's own frail health that made her so weak that a gust of wind could blow her over. What did that have to do with her?

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.

Yaohua Palace.

When Song Shuangning woke up, the first thing she saw was Xiao Yan's profile.

He looked down at her, his gaze focused and tender.

His voice was deep and pleasant, "You've been sleeping too much these past two days."

Song Shuangning coughed softly, her voice weak: "Has my period started?"

Xiao Yan was silent for a moment, seemingly considering his words, before speaking in a comforting tone: "Ningning, don't be sad, you'll have a child eventually."

"Hmm." Song Shuangning looked away, gazing out the window, her heart filled with desolation.

She wasn't expecting it; it was the Emperor who was. Now, she was the one expecting him to comfort her—it was truly going against the natural order.

Xiao Yan said, "You are currently weak. The imperial physician said you have some deficiency of qi and blood. After your period is over, I will take you to a hot spring for a soak. It will be very beneficial for your health."

Song Shuangning nodded.

Xiao Yan looked at her, a faint smile on his face.

However, a barely perceptible hint of doubt flickered deep in his eyes.

He had asked other imperial physicians, and they said that a ten-day delay in menstruation was not actually normal.

Zhang Chengji (Imperial Physician Zhang)'s answer was watertight, which only made him feel that something was amiss. Moreover, Ningning's emotions had been too abnormal these past two days, completely different from her usual self.

He wanted to find out if Ningning was hiding something from him or concealing something from him.

*

Seven days later, Song Shuangning's period ended.

Perhaps because she had finally put her mind at ease, Song Shuangning was as lively and energetic as before.

Xiao Yan took her to the hot spring pool in the imperial palace.

The hot spring water is steaming.

Xiao Yan leaned against the stone wall, wearing only a thin white undergarment, which was soaked through by the warm spring water and clung tightly to his body, outlining smooth and powerful muscle lines.

His chest and abdomen were clearly defined, his abdominal muscles were clearly visible as if carved by a knife, and every inch of his skin had a healthy glow.

Water droplets slid down his sharply defined jawline.

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze languid and profound, seemingly possessing a magnetic quality that made one involuntarily fall into its trap.

Song Shuangning stood there, stunned. Was this something she could see without spending any money?

"Ningning, come here." Xiao Yan beckoned to her.

Song Shuangning involuntarily took a step, and Xiao Yan reached out and grabbed her ankle, pulling her down. With a "plop," Song Shuangning fell into the hot spring pool.

Fortunately, Xiao Yan held her the whole time, which saved her from choking on the water.

"Your Majesty! Why did you frighten me!"

"You're so mean."

Looking at her fierce accusatory expression, Xiao Yan couldn't help but think of another matter.

Xiao Yan raised his hand and gently grasped Song Shuangning's chin, lifting her face slightly, and stared at her with deep eyes.

He remembered.

It was during those few days when Ningning's period was delayed that her emotions fluctuated so much.

Why is that?

What secrets are hidden behind her depressed mood?