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

Two hours later, the hall finally returned to calm.

The palace servants and attendants of Yaohua Palace slumped down on the steps of the corridor, all of them aching backs and waists. For the past two hours, they had barely touched the ground. Now that their two masters had finally rested, they could finally rest as well.

They kept boiling water for the two masters to bathe and wash, and even changed three sets of bedding, without resting for a moment...

Song Shuangning's face was flushed and she looked exhausted.

She had always thought that Xiao Yan was already satisfied at that time, but that was not the case.

Tonight, Xiao Yan seemed to have taken a powerful tonic, his energy was incredibly abundant.

From the bed to the couch, and then to the bathroom, I tried positions and styles I had never tried before.

Of course, the experience was also good.

To prevent Song Shuangning from fainting like last time, Xiao Yan would pause for a moment to comfort her after each session.

Once she has recovered from the aftershocks, ask her if she can continue.

Of course, Xiao Yan wouldn't give her a chance to refuse.

Afterwards, Song Shuangning nestled in Xiao Yan's arms. She could feel that both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yan were extremely excited, to the point that Xiao Yan would immediately agree if she asked to become a concubine.

Song Shuangning pondered the reason for Xiao Yan's excitement.

At that time, Xiao Yan tried to please her by gently tracing the outline of her lips and said to her, "Ningning, it's good that you have this intention."

So, it's because of that medical book.

Song Shuangning realized this and was both amused and exasperated.

You should have said so earlier.

If I had known Xiao Yan was so easily satisfied, and she had "prescribed the right medicine," she might already be a Noble Consort.

Xiao Yan sat up. "Shall I carry you to take a bath now?"

Song Shuangning shook her head, "Your Majesty, I am not in a hurry. You may go first."

I originally wanted to use the Shimen acupoint massage technique I had just learned, but then I thought, today was too... crazy, so it would be safer to take contraceptive pills.

Xiao Yan looked down at her and teased, "Why have you been avoiding bathing with me lately?"

Song Shuangning pulled the brocade quilt over her face. The emperor could always say something shocking and outrageous in a serious manner, which often caught her off guard and made her admit defeat.

"Isn't it okay if I'm shy?"

Xiao Yan teased, "You weren't shy before, but you are now?"

Song Shuangning simply ignored him.

Xiao Yan wanted to say that she would always fall asleep before he could take her to the bath and wash her.

But seeing her like this, the words that were on the tip of his tongue ultimately turned into a soft laugh.

Xiao Yan knew she was shy, so he stopped teasing her. He simply reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his eyes full of doting affection.

"Alright, whatever you say. I'll go take a bath first."

Xiao Yan pulled on an outer robe and put it on, then walked towards the bathhouse.

Song Shuangning stared at his back, feeling a great weight lifted from her shoulders, and let out a long sigh of relief.

I get incredibly nervous at times like this.

She asked Tingyu to keep an eye on the bathroom.

Xiao Yan had already reached the bathing room. He glanced at Tingyu, who was still standing guard outside, and said, "Go and fetch the medicine. You don't need to come in later."

Hearing the rain, he hesitated for a moment, then said "Yes."

He remembered that Ningning seemed to be a little injured, so he thought he would carry her to take a bath and then apply medicine to her after the bath.

Ningning was a heavy sleeper and probably already asleep, so Xiao Yan kept quiet and walked lightly.

However, just as he returned, he saw Ningning quickly put something into her mouth and then swallow it down.

Xiao Yan paused for a moment, then turned and went back to the bathroom, his eyes becoming deep and thoughtful.

He sat in the bathtub, his arms resting on the rim, but his gaze was somewhat unfocused as he looked at the water.

There were still several fresh red marks on his back, and as soon as the water washed over them, he felt a sharp pain, but he was completely unaware of it.

Xiao Yan's mind was a complete mess, a jumble of guesses and doubts that he couldn't make sense of.

What is Ningning eating behind his back?

And why eat this?

Lately, Ningning has been deliberately avoiding bathing with others. Could it be... that it's all related to what she secretly ate earlier?

He only snapped back to reality when the water had cooled completely.

He silently stood up, put on his nightgown, and quietly walked out.

Song Shuangning had waited too long and had fallen into a deep sleep, with a slight weariness still on her face.

Xiao Yan looked at her, a helpless smile flashing in his eyes, and bent down to pick her up and wipe her body.

Then, they carefully applied the medicine to her.

Finally, he held her in his arms, letting her lean against his chest in comfort.

After all this was done, it was already 1:15 AM, and in about two more hours it would be time for the morning court session.

But Xiao Yan was still not sleepy; his mind was in turmoil, making it impossible for him to calm down.

Looking at Song Shuangning's peaceful sleeping face, Xiao Yan asked softly:

"Ningning, what are you eating?"

"Is there anything I cannot know?"

"Didn't we agree to be completely honest and have no secrets?"

He vaguely saw Ningning put the medicine back somewhere on the bedside table.

Since he couldn't sleep anyway, he got up and his gaze fell heavily on the familiar bed.

His fingers gently groped along the bed frame, his movements cautious and slow. However, as time passed, he tossed and turned, but still couldn't find it.

Just when Xiao Yan was about to give up.

My fingertips suddenly touched a piece of wood with a pattern that was slightly different from the rest of the wood.

He immediately pressed down hard with his fingertip, but the hidden compartment remained unmoved.

He tried several different methods, using all his strength, but the hidden compartment remained tightly closed.

Just as he was about to try again from a different angle, his fingertip accidentally brushed against an inconspicuous gap, and with a gentle push, the hidden compartment popped open.

With trembling hands, Xiao Yan took out a small pill from the medicine bottle, held it tightly in his palm, and his palm became sweaty.

*****

Three days later.

Qinzheng Hall.

With a "smash!", the emperor swept all the memorials, books, and inkstones off his desk and onto the ground.

Ink splattered everywhere, and paper flew in all directions.

The palace servants on duty outside the hall were all startled.

The emperor was furious. He strode forward, his gaze fixed on the trembling imperial physician kneeling on the ground. His chest heaved violently as he roared:

"Say it again!"

Judge Li closed his eyes and could only muster his courage to say it again.

"Your Majesty, this pill is of a cooling nature and is a contraceptive. Frequent use may cause menstrual irregularities or, in severe cases, deficiency of qi and blood."

After hearing these words, Xiao Yan laughed coldly, his laughter filled with deep disappointment.

He slowly closed his eyes, his jawline taut, and the veins on his forehead bulging.

It turned out that this tiny pill was a contraceptive she had kept hidden for a long time.

She's been taking it!

Even the recent mix-up with my irregular menstruation was all thanks to this medicine.

How long did she eat it?

When did it start?

It's all a lie!

She, Song Shuangning, had been deceiving herself.

An indescribable rage surged to his head, almost burning away his reason.

"Your Majesty, please calm down," Li Yuanpan said, as if out of nowhere.

"Get out!" Xiao Yan roared.