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

Song Shuangning, Consort Shu, Consort Shao, and Consort Qiu were sitting together in the Huaiyin Pavilion, talking.

After hearing Song Shuangning and Consort Shu's plan, Consort Shao sighed helplessly, "You two are really something. Why didn't you tell us beforehand? Don't you trust us? We were so worried. I've been wondering why Shuangning would poison An'er. She was perfectly fine just a few days ago."

"Fortunately, it was just a play. Who would have thought that Consort De was hiding so well? She had people everywhere in the palace, dozens of whom were openly known. Indeed, appearances can be deceiving."

Song Shuangning smiled and said, "It's not that I don't trust you. The fewer people who know about this, the safer it is. I'm also afraid that if I tell you in advance, you'll worry about it and it will give us away."

Consort Qiu leaned close to her, her face still showing lingering fear: "Sister Shuangning, those few days really terrified me. I couldn't eat or drink, worrying about you day and night."

Song Shuangning chuckled and pinched her cheek, teasingly saying, "You're not eating or drinking? Why does your face look a little rounder and fatter?"

Consort Qiu blushed, covered her face, and softly called out, "Sister!"

Song Shuangning's expression softened. "I know you've always been thinking about me."

Consort Qiu said solemnly, "Sister, if there is a next time, you must let us know first, otherwise we will not feel at ease."

Consort Shu smiled and replied, "I suppose there won't be a next time. The most unpredictable person in the palace is Consort De. Now that Consort De is gone and the Empress is ill and bedridden, there probably won't be any more formidable characters like her in the future."

Song Shuangning smiled. "Logically speaking, it shouldn't be like this anymore, but who could have imagined it would happen again?"

The group exchanged smiles, all sighing with emotion: "Yes, who could have imagined that Consort De would be this kind of person?"

No one can predict what will happen in the future, so just live in the present.

there is always a solution to a problem.

Since entering the palace, how many people has she dealt with?

*

The funeral of Consort De was simple, with no posthumous title or ancestral rites, and was hastily concluded in just a few days.

At first, many concubines were not used to her absence from the palace.

After all, Consort De used to help the Empress manage the six palaces.

However, not long after, no one in the palace mentioned her anymore.

Naturally, this was also Xiao Yan's intention, to deliberately erase her traces.

Just as Xiao Yan and Consort De said, he would erase the stain on Consort De's reputation.

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.

The chirping of cicadas gradually fades away, the summer heat dissipates, and the autumn wind brings a touch of desolation.

The leaves in front of the courtyard fall and grow back, turn green and turn yellow again.

Spring goes and autumn comes, time flows silently and quietly.

Song Shuangning is five months pregnant, and her belly is becoming increasingly prominent.

The Empress was bedridden, and her energy and spirits grew weaker day by day.

The morning and evening greetings, a tradition in the palace, were temporarily suspended due to the Empress's illness.

Song Shuangning's body had become heavier, and she was not as agile as before. Except for necessary matters, she rarely went out and spent most of her time resting in the palace.

Snowball always loved to snuggle up to her, curling up on her lap with its head gently pressed against her belly, as if that way it could hear the baby's heartbeat.

Song Shuangning also played a guessing game with Xue Tuan.

Song Shuangning first extended her left hand, then asked Xue Tuan, "Xue Tuan, is the baby in Mother's belly a princess?"

"Or is he a prince?" She extended her right hand again.

Snowball blinked its round eyes and tilted its little head, seemingly hesitating.

After a long while, he gently placed his paw on her right hand.

Song Shuangning's smile froze for a moment.

Prince?

She immediately switched hands, extending her left hand. "Is it the prince?"

"Still a princess?" She stretched out her right hand again.

Snowball hesitated for a moment, then finally placed its little paw on the left hand that represented the prince.

Song Shuangning rubbed Xue Tuan's soft face. "You must be trying to spite me, trying to make me angry, right?"

Xiao Yan heard this as soon as he entered the room and asked with a smile, "Who dares to oppose Consort Xian?"

"It's not Snowball yet, you little rascal."

Snowball seemed to understand, and immediately burrowed out of her arms, found a corner to curl up and continue sleeping.

Song Shuangning glanced at the paper in Xiao Yan's hand and asked curiously, "What is Your Majesty holding?"

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "I have already thought of names for the children."

Actually, he started thinking about a name as soon as he found out he was pregnant.

I thought of many ideas, but I always felt they were lacking and I wasn't satisfied with any of them.

I was just sitting there doing nothing when suddenly something clicked, and that's how it was decided.

He placed the paper on the table.

It's Heng, and it's Yao.

The character "珩" (heng) symbolizes a person of unwavering integrity, upright character, and virtuous conduct, leading to a bright and successful future.

Yao is a natural jade, symbolizing purity, gentleness, and kindness. It also represents something as precious and rare as jade, with a character as clear and pure as a jade disc.

Both characters are the best choice, each one as beautiful as jade, with extraordinary meaning. They both reflect Xiao Yan's deep expectations for his child and his unique respect and cherishment for him.

Song Shuangning pondered very seriously. Xiao Yan pinched her cheek and asked with a smile, "How about it? Do these two words suit your taste?"

Song Shuangning tilted her head and rubbed her palm against his, nodding and saying, "They are all excellent characters, but I have to choose the child's nickname."

"I'll take your nickname."

He knows Ningning's personality too well; if he were to name her, he would definitely choose a soft and cute name like Snowball.

A nickname is fine.

We can't let her choose the formal name according to her whims; we should let her decide.

Song Shuangning's eyes crinkled into a smile. She had already decided that if she were to become a princess, she would name her Nuonuo.

What if it were a prince?

Let's decide later...

Just as she was saying her nickname, Song Shuangning suddenly exclaimed "Ah!"

He placed his hand on his lower abdomen and paused slightly.

Xiao Yan was startled. "Are you feeling unwell? Someone, bring Tao Banxia over here."

Song Shuangning shook her head, looked up at Xiao Yan with a slightly bewildered surprise in her eyes, "Your Majesty, I'm fine."

Then she took Xiao Yan's hand and gently placed it on her lower abdomen.

As soon as I placed my fingertips on it, I felt a very light drumbeat, one after another.

Xiao Yan was taken aback.

His hand was frozen, and he dared not move.

"Ningning, he... he moved..."