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

When the Empress Dowager passed away, the court and the people wore mourning clothes, and the whole country observed a period of mourning for twenty-seven days.

For more than twenty days, the sky was constantly overcast and shrouded in fog, with not a single day clear and not a sliver of sunshine in sight.

Song Shuangning was six months pregnant, and Xiao Yan granted her special permission not to attend the morning and evening memorial services every day, but only to be present at the three important ceremonies: the minor encoffining, the major encoffining, and the major funeral service.

During the Empress Dowager's mourning period, the Emperor visited her coffin every day, but never showed the slightest trace of grief.

The concubines and palace maids in the palace saw this and all secretly sighed at the emperor's heartlessness.

Only Song Shuangning knew the turmoil in Xiao Yan's heart.

How can the debt of gratitude for giving birth be so easily forgotten?

Even if there were past arguments, or even a determination to sever this bond; even if we once spoke harshly to each other and became like strangers.

The sorrow hidden deep in one's bones could not be concealed in the end.

This is what it means to be human: with feelings and thoughts, attachments and pains, and ties that cannot be severed.

The Empress Dowager's mourning period lasted for twenty-seven days, after which the mourning period ended and the mourning clothes were removed.

The night was silent, but the candles in the Hall of Diligent Governance continued to burn until midnight. Since the start of the funeral, to avoid giving others cause for gossip, Xiao Yan had been staying in the Zichen Hall.

Li Fuquan sighed.

The candles in the palace have never been lit since the beginning of the mourning period, and the emperor stays up until midnight almost every day.

Li Fuquan was really worried, so he reluctantly sent someone to invite Consort Yuan Xian.

Upon hearing this, Song Shuangning had a bowl of calming soup prepared and then led her people to the Hall of Diligent Governance.

The candlelight flickered inside the hall.

She stood at the doorway and saw Xiao Yan engrossed in writing his memorial; a pang of heartache flashed in her eyes.

She gently placed the calming soup on the corner of the table. Xiao Yan looked up and saw it was her. He looked out the window as if waking from a dream.

The night was as dark as ink, and it was pitch black all around.

Xiao Yan realized that Li Fuquan must have taken it upon himself to invite her.

His tone suddenly turned serious, "Li Fuquan."

Li Fuquan trotted into the hall: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Who gave you the right to invite Consort Xian here on your own initiative?"

Just as Li Fuquan was about to kneel down to beg for forgiveness, he heard Consort Yuan speak softly:

"It was my insistence that I come, Ah Yan, please don't blame them."

Li Fuquan quickly gave Song Shuangning a grateful look, then quietly withdrew.

Looking at Xiao Yan's eyes, which were filled with fine red veins, Song Shuangning handed him the calming soup. "Drink this calming soup, and then get a good night's sleep, okay?"

Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment, then spoke again in a hoarse voice: "There are still memorials to approve."

Song Shuangning held his hand, "It doesn't matter if the memorial is delayed by a day. Right now, what A-Yan should do most is to make arrangements as soon as possible and rest and recuperate."

"These twenty-odd days of continuous rain will soon pass, and the sun will shine again, revealing a clear blue sky."

"My birthday is in January, and our child will be born in March. I haven't had time to prepare all the little things yet, and I can't do without your help with anything. Ah Yan, you can't be lazy!"

Xiao Yan's eyes flickered slightly, as if he had suddenly realized something.

"Yes, there are still many things we haven't prepared for."

He took the medicine and drank it all in one gulp, then sighed heavily and rested his head on Song Shuangning's shoulder in a very dependent posture.

"Ningning, will you stay with me tonight?"

"Okay." Song Shuangning nodded.

Even if he doesn't say anything, she will stay and keep him company.

*

As night deepened, the brocade curtains hung low.

Song Shuangning lay on her side facing Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan stared at her soft brows and suddenly said, "Ningning, I didn't want you to come here. I didn't want you to see my vulnerability and dishevelment."

He should have been the one protecting Ningning, not the one making Ningning worry about him.

Song Shuangning leaned closer, resting her forehead on his shoulder, and said softly, "Everyone has moments of vulnerability; you have to allow yourself those moments."

Xiao Yan's Adam's apple bobbed, a sour feeling welled up in his eyes, and his throat felt a little congested.

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 sun shone brightly, and it was already November 29th.

This day is Song Shuangning's birthday.

The chrysanthemums in the courtyard have long since lost their last vibrant color, while tiny buds have quietly sprouted on the branches of the winter plum blossoms in the garden.

On the day of Consort Yuan's birthday, the Emperor did two things that made the entire palace gasp in amazement and envy.

First, the Emperor suspended court for a day and personally went to the Imperial Kitchen to cook a bowl of longevity noodles for Consort Yuan.

This was the first time since the founding of the dynasty that the emperor had personally entered the kitchen.

I heard that this bowl of longevity noodles was made from 7 AM to 11 PM.

The imperial kitchen was in complete chaos, with the imperial chefs pacing around the cutting board, their foreheads flaring with anxiety.

The imperial chefs dared not step forward to stop him, nor did they dare to order the emperor around; they could only let the emperor do whatever he pleased.

One moment they complain that the broth isn't flavorful enough, so they add a pinch of salt; the next moment they complain that it doesn't look appealing enough, so they sprinkle in some scallions.

After a flurry of activity, they finally managed to put together a bowl of longevity noodles.

They even carved the four characters "Birthday Blessing" on a carrot.

Although not exquisite, it is full of heartfelt sentiment.

This disturbance delayed the lunchtime in each palace by half an hour.

Xiao Yan brought over the hard-won longevity noodles and led the way to Yaohua Palace.

Song Shuangning was also hungry.

Xiao Yan had the noodles brought out, but he didn't dare tell the truth. He only said vaguely, "The imperial kitchen just cooked them. Ningning, eat them while they're hot."

Song Shuangning took a bite. The noodles weren't bad, but they weren't exactly delicious either. The broth was a bit bland, and the noodles were a little undercooked.

"How is it?"

Song Shuangning subconsciously shook her head and said bluntly, "It doesn't taste good."

What's wrong with the Imperial Kitchen today?

The craftsmanship is declining.

Perhaps her mind was sluggish in late pregnancy, because she didn't notice Xiao Yan's nervousness when he asked the question.

"Oh..." Xiao Yan responded softly.

The "oh" that sounded so disappointed finally brought Song Shuangning back to her senses. She looked up and met Xiao Yan's wistful expression.

Could this have been done by the Emperor?

He quickly gave Tinglu a look that asked for confirmation.

Tinglu nodded.

Song Shuangning picked up her chopsticks and began to eat heartily, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons. She quickly changed her tune, "Delicious, delicious! Mmm, this noodle dish gets better and better with every bite. Has the Imperial Kitchen finally had a breakthrough today? They've actually made noodles that are just to my liking."

As she spoke, she ate with relish, leaving not a drop of soup behind.

Li Fuquan, who was standing nearby, quickly smiled and said, "Your Majesty, this is not the work of the Imperial Kitchen; it was made for you by His Majesty himself."

Song Shuangning feigned surprise, "Did His Majesty make this himself?"

Xiao Yan's ears turned slightly red, and she glared at Li Fuquan, "Why did you have to be so talkative?"

Song Shuangning praised with a smile, "So it was made by His Majesty himself! No wonder it tastes so good, no wonder it pleases my heart so much, and I'm eating it with such relish! His Majesty is so thoughtful~"

Xiao Yan's gaze softened as he watched her earnestly praise her cooking skills.

Ningning had already guessed that he made the noodles, and her words just now were just to make him happy.

He leaned down and gently touched her forehead, his voice low and tender: "Ningning, happy birthday."

Song Shuangning blinked, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Thank you, my husband."

Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment.

He replied softly, "It's what I should do, my wife."