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

Consort Song barely slept a wink all night, her heart filled with anxiety. Even after using a fragrant sachet, she still couldn't sleep.

Song Shuangning has already removed the green plaque, so why did the Emperor suddenly come to Cangdong Pavilion? Could Song Shuangning be trying to stir up trouble in front of the Emperor?

She finally couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep just before dawn.

When Tinglan woke her up, she had only slept for an hour. She had two dark circles under her eyes and looked very haggard.

Tinglan gently comforted her, "Your Majesty, you really don't need to worry so much. You have been by the Emperor's side for nearly five years, while Consort Song has only recently entered the palace. Perhaps the Emperor's interest in her is just temporary."

Consort Song sighed and murmured, "It would be best if it were just a passing fancy."

The red marks from the slap on Song Shuangning's cheek hadn't faded, and she was still claiming illness and taking sick leave today. Sound asleep under the covers, she was completely unaware that she had missed a good show.

When paying her respects, Consort Qiao clutched her chest and felt nauseous and dry heaved. The Empress summoned the imperial physician to examine her pulse and discovered that Consort Qiao was already one month pregnant.

The palace erupted in commotion. It turned out that Consort Qiao had conceived the emperor's child on her very first night with him. All the other concubines in the palace wore expressions of envy; Consort Qiao was truly the only one in the harem to possess such good fortune.

The Empress was overjoyed and immediately sent people to the Qin Zheng Hall and Shou Kang Palace to offer her congratulations. She instructed Consort Qiao to take good care of herself during her pregnancy and bestowed upon her many tonics. As the head of the harem, the Empress was truly dutiful.

Consort Rong Xian quietly composed herself, touching her belly in disappointment. Since giving birth to Shu'er three years ago, her belly had remained flat, despite her consistently taking fertility-enhancing medicine...

The Empress dismissed everyone, leaving Consort Song behind alone.

Consort Song asked nervously, "Does Your Majesty have any instructions?"

The Empress slammed her hand on the table, causing the double phoenix hairpin in her hair to sway gently with the movement, the pearls on the tassels reflecting a cold light.

"Consort Song, you have lived in the palace for so long, you should know how to behave properly. Do you even realize your mistake?"

Consort Song immediately knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty... I don't understand what you are saying?"

Her hand secretly clenched into a fist in her sleeve. Although Song Shuangning pretended to be docile, she still secretly told on them!

Seeing this, the Empress sneered: "Still playing dumb? I'm asking you, did you slap Consort Song?"

"Your Majesty," Consort Song forced herself to remain calm, raising her eyes to explain, "Consort Song is my younger sister, and her rank is no higher than Consort. As her elder sister and also a high-ranking concubine, I have the right to dispose of her..."

"Then I must ask you, what has Consort Song done wrong?"

Consort Song was speechless when asked the question, and could only stammer out a plausible reason.

The Empress's gaze was icy cold, her voice firm and resolute: "If the Emperor hadn't inadvertently noticed the red marks on her face yesterday and questioned her, Consort Song would likely have kept it a secret forever! The Emperor said that from beginning to end, Consort Song hadn't said a single bad word about you. Since the Emperor was busy with state affairs, he ordered me to deal with you!"

She paused, her authority growing even stronger: "I hereby punish you by confining you to the Summer Palace for five days to reflect on your actions! Half of your monthly allowance will be deducted! I will only say this once today. If there is a next time, I believe neither I nor the Emperor will show you any mercy!"

Consort Song gritted her teeth: "Your Majesty, I understand."

"Step down."

The Empress felt her mouth was dry and slowly took a sip of tea.

After a moment, she said, "Lady Song really does have some skills."

The Emperor specially ordered her to deal with Consort Song. Firstly, out of consideration for their past relationship and to save some face for Consort Song, and also out of consideration for Consort Song herself. Secondly, he did not want Consort Song to make things difficult for Consort Song. This thoughtful consideration shows that the Emperor cares about Consort Song.

On that very day, the Emperor issued an edict promoting Consort Qiao to the rank of Imperial Concubine Qiao.

Song Shuangning casually fiddled with the gardenias, listening to the series of breaking sounds coming from the main hall.

A slight curve appeared at the corner of her lips, revealing a faint smile.

Only five days of confinement, and you can't stand it anymore? This is nothing.

-

Three days later is the Empress's birthday.

This year, refugees have sprung up everywhere and starvation has left countless corpses. The Empress did not wish to be extravagant, so she did not invite any imperial relatives, noblewomen, or court officials. Instead, she held a family banquet at Changyin Pavilion and invited the concubines in the palace to gather together.

Song Shuangning personally embroidered the "Hundred Blessings and Auspiciousness" picture, which is a picture of a hundred different forms of the character "福" (blessing) embroidered on plain silk with colorful silk threads.

When Song Shuangning brought Tingyu to Changyin Pavilion, many of the concubines had already arrived.

Song Shuangning presented the "Hundred Blessings and Auspiciousness" painting and said in a gentle voice, "This concubine congratulates Your Majesty on your birthday. This concubine offers this humble gift, wishing Your Majesty good health and longevity, and peace year after year."

The Empress smiled and said gently, "Consort Song is very kind. This is the first time I have ever seen the 'Hundred Blessings' painting." After saying that, she ordered someone to carefully put the "Hundred Blessings" painting away.

Consort Rong presented a gilded and kingfisher feather hairpin, made of the finest South China Sea green jade; Consort Shu, not to be outdone, offered a pair of mutton-fat jade bracelets, with intricate intertwined floral patterns carved along the edges, clearly of considerable value.

The Empress simply nodded slightly.

After the concubines had presented their birthday gifts, a eunuch's shrill voice could be heard from outside the hall—

"His Majesty has arrived!"

The concubines hurriedly rose and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

Xiao Yan walked to the main seat, reached out to help the Empress up, and then took her hand to sit down.

"No need for such formalities."

As Song Shuangning ate the grapes from the jade plate, she suddenly felt a gaze constantly falling on her.

She subconsciously looked up and happened to meet the Emperor's deep eyes.

Song Shuangning smiled shyly, hurriedly lowered her head, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings.

Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze; the injury on her face had healed.

On the Empress's birthday, everyone else dressed up in flamboyant attire, overshadowing her, while she remained dressed simply.

Xiao Yan picked up his wine cup and turned slightly towards the Empress: "Your Majesty, happy birthday."

"Your Majesty, I thank you." The Empress smiled shyly and raised her teacup to clink glasses with Xiao Yan.

Li Fuquan clapped his hands, and four eunuchs carried something covered with a red cloth.

The Empress stepped down and lifted the red cloth, revealing a crimson coral tree. The coral was a deep red, as beautiful as the sunset, with a natural and harmonious arrangement of density and sparseness.

The coral tree made the complexions of the concubines on both sides appear dull.

The Empress exclaimed in delight, "Your Majesty..."

"I know you don't like extravagance, but no matter what, you are still my Empress."

Upon hearing this, Consort Rong smiled bitterly, raised her wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

The empress took her seat, the musicians played music, and the dancers gracefully began to dance.

Not long after, Consort Rongxian said, "Today's singing and dancing were too bland; they were not interesting at all."

Consort Qiao, rubbing her belly and looking radiant, immediately chimed in, "I also find this banquet a bit boring. I remember that Consort Qiu's dancing skills are superb. Today is the Empress's birthday, such a joyous occasion. Why don't we have Consort Qiu perform a dance to entertain Your Majesty?"

Song Shuangning looked at Qiu Baolin. Qiu Baolin had been the one to serve the emperor for the past two days, which was probably why he had become the target of everyone's criticism.

Qiu Baolin was very timid and dared not dance alone in such a grand occasion. "I am not good at dancing, so please don't mind my ugliness."