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

Song Shuangning was already captivated by Xiao Yan's handsome appearance, and Xiao Yan was equally unable to resist her beautiful face. Having been apart for half a month, they were like parched land receiving rain, and naturally embraced each other.

Xiao Yan's dark eyes swirled with lust as he pressed her against the edge of the hot spring pool and whispered, "**".

At least for now, the two are being honest with each other.

Xiao Yan grasped her chin, making her turn her head. "Ningning, I will ask you a question, and you will answer it."

"Okay." With what she was doing right now, there was no time to ask questions; Song Shuangning wasn't really listening to him at all.

Who is Ningning's favorite person?

Song Shuangning remained silent.

Xiao Yan (…).

Song Shuangning bit her lip and said sweetly, "Of course, I like Your Majesty the most."

……

"Ningning, are you truly honest with me?"

Song Shuangning's previously dazed eyes instantly cleared.

Alright, so that's where she was waiting for her.

She had no interest in indulging in romantic affairs and became nervous.

Did Xiao Yan discover something? Or... did Zhang Chengji betray her?

Xiao Yan noticed her change and nibbled at her earlobe. "Ningning, why aren't you saying anything? Hmm?"

Song Shuangning said, "Your Majesty, I have always been honest with you. Please do not misunderstand me."

Xiao Yan remained silent.

They just kept punishing her.

Little liar.

Xiao Yan regretted asking these questions at this time; he had been blinded by lust.

Half an hour later, Xiao Yan scooped up the woman who was already half asleep and strode towards the bedchamber.

He has dismissed the palace servants, so no one will disturb them tonight.

Length of night.

Xiao Yan was on leave, which allowed him to stay at the hot spring palace for a whole day.

During their day at the hot spring palace, Xiao Yan and Song Shuangning spent almost the entire day together, far away from the hustle and bustle of the world.

They might snuggle together reading the same serious storybook, sometimes whispering about the plot, sometimes exchanging smiles, or playing chess, their occasional playful scolding and tacit understanding revealing their sweetness.

Or perhaps it was Xiao Yan who insisted on using snail-shell ink to draw Song Shuangning's eyebrows.

At that moment, Xiao Yan suddenly understood and realized the truth.

Why did Emperor Wu Gao willingly abandon his vast empire and even fake his death to escape the world? Because within the high walls of the palace, despite possessing supreme power, there was no peace whatsoever. Only by breaking free from these invisible shackles could he find true inner peace and happiness.

******

Song Shuangning also preferred the days at the hot spring palace, where there were no worries or infighting.

After returning to the palace, one unpleasant thing after another happened.

What bothered her the most was her eldest sister, Song Luowei.

"Your Majesty, Consort Song requests an audience."

Song Luowei visited for two consecutive days, but she was still at the Hot Spring Palace yesterday.

Upon hearing this, Song Shuangning smiled knowingly, her hands still turning the pages of her storybook.

"What a rare guest! In the past, Song Luowei would avoid me at all costs, but today she has taken the initiative to come to my door."

"Let her wait outside; I'm enjoying the exciting part."

Of course, we cannot give up storybooks for Song Luowei.

And so, Song Luowei waited outside for a full half hour.

Song Shuangning, still savoring the last page, lazily stretched and asked, "Is Lady Song still waiting outside?"

"Yes, not a single complaint was uttered." Tingyu also found it strange.

Song Shuangning put down her storybook. "Let her in."

This is really rare. You know, Song Luowei has always been aloof. In the past, she probably would have stormed off in anger.

As Song Luowei entered the hall, the first thing she saw was the luxurious furnishings of Yaohua Palace.

Her gaze fell on Song Shuangning on the couch. The younger sister who had grown up with her was no longer the lowly concubine's daughter Song Jia, whom she could manipulate at will, but the noble only daughter of the Marquis of Zhenbei.

Through her cunning and scheming, Song Shuangning rose through the ranks in the palace, eventually becoming a third-rank Zhaoyi.

If, she said if,

Could it be that her decision not to let Song Shuangning enter the palace was a completely different one?

She remained a Song concubine of noble rank.

Tingyu asked the dazed Song Luowei, "Why didn't you bow to Consort Zhaoyi?"

Song Luowei suddenly realized what was happening and clenched her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Song Shuangning noticed her subtle movements and raised an eyebrow.

"This concubine greets Consort Yuan." Song Luowei took a deep breath and curtsied. Even after more than half a year, she still couldn't bring herself to give Song Shuangning that simple bow.

Song Shuangning leaned back on the couch, her gaze indifferently falling on Song Luowei, as if she were looking at an insignificant person.

"Get up, Consort Song is a rare guest of Yaohua Palace. What brings you here today?"

Song Luowei could easily tell that this was sarcasm; a sense of humiliation welled up within her. She clenched her teeth tightly, and after a moment, she knelt on the ground.

"All that happened before was my fault. I have a request for your help, Your Highness. Please lend me your assistance."

"My maid Tinglan was recently punished by the head maid with twenty strokes of the cane according to palace rules for offending Consort Liu, and was also sent to work in the laundry department for three months. The head maid is always strict, and this is the rule in the palace, which I dare not disobey. Now Tinglan has been overworked in the laundry department and has contracted the plague. She is delirious with fever. The head maid in the palace refuses to transfer her, and I have no other choice. I beg Your Majesty to put in a good word for her with the young consort, either to allow her to return to my courtyard to recuperate, or to ask the head maid to make a lenient decision. I will be forever grateful for Your Majesty's great kindness."

Song Shuangning smiled. "Past relationships?"

"In the past, did you slap me out of kindness, or did you torment me? Hmm?"

Song Luowei's face turned pale.

"You may go back now; I have other matters to attend to."

Song Luowei became anxious, "Shuangning, you grew up in the Song family for the first sixteen years of your life. No matter what, the Song family has been kind to you. Please help your elder sister this time."

Song Shuangning's eyes instantly turned as cold as frost. She raised her hand and overturned the teacup on the table, splashing tea everywhere and wetting Song Luowei's skirt.

"How did I live before the age of sixteen? How did my concubine live? Do I have to recall every single detail for you?"

If the past hadn't been brought up, Song Shuangning wouldn't have been so angry, but that idiot Song Luowei insisted on bringing it up.

and many more……

Song Luowei seemed to be deliberately provoking her.

Song Shuangning leaned forward slightly, looking down at the disheveled Song Luowei kneeling on the ground. "Let me tell you, I have already shown mercy by not kicking you when you're down. If you insist on making trouble for me, then I won't mind sending you to the Empress's place."

Song Luowei shrank back, angrily saying, "Song Shuangning, you finally couldn't keep up the act anymore, you finally revealed your true nature. You are selfish, you are cold-hearted, you are not the gentle and kind person you seem on the surface at all! I will let everyone see your true colors."

Song Shuangning smiled dismissively, her eyebrows curving upwards.

"Your true colors?" She paused slightly. "But don't forget, you were the one who came to my Yaohua Palace to cause trouble today. I'd like to see whether the Emperor will believe you or me."

Song Luowei came today to provoke her, but Song Shuangning was determined not to let Song Luowei have her way.

"Just consider this my kind heart, wishing to accumulate merit."

"Tingyu, you should personally escort Consort Song to Consort Shao's place. I think Consort Shao can help you. You don't need to waste your time at Yaohua Palace."