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

Song Shuangning was playing with the baby in the swaddling clothes when she heard footsteps. She looked up and saw Xiao Yan. She immediately waved with a smile in her eyes.

"Ah Yan, come and take a look at this chubby brat."

Xiao Yan took a step forward, gripping the jade pendant tightly.

His steps were heavy, as if he were carrying a thousand pounds.

As he approached the bedside, his gaze fell upon the wrinkled infant in the swaddling clothes, but his eyes held a strange, unfamiliar look, devoid of any joy of fatherhood.

"Ayan, look," Song Shuangning gently tapped the child's little nose with her fingertip, her eyes crinkling into a smile.

"This chubby brat's nose is like yours, and so are his eyebrows. He'll definitely grow up to be a handsome young man. His eyes, on the other hand, are like mine."

Xiao Yan didn't respond, but his expression grew increasingly grim.

He turned his head sharply, looked at the wet nurse, and uttered cold, hard words, "Take the Fourth Prince away."

Song Shuangning muttered softly, "I haven't hugged you enough yet..."

The wet nurse hesitated.

"Take the Fourth Prince away!" His tone suddenly became more forceful.

Looking at his cold, hard profile, Song Shuangning noticed that his mood was off and took the initiative to hand the somewhat uneasy child to the wet nurse.

The palace servants inside the hall retreated in succession, and the hall door was gently closed.

Song Shuangning patted the spot beside her.

Xiao Yan paused for a moment, then did as instructed and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Seeing the gloom in his eyes, Song Shuangning reached out and hooked her fingertips around his. "Ayan, why are you getting angry with a child? He's so young, what does he know?"

The words were spoken for a long time.

Xiao Yan then moved slightly.

He slowly turned his head, the redness in his eyes becoming increasingly apparent.

"I'm not angry with him..."

He gently stroked Song Shuangning's cheek.

"Whenever I see him, I am reminded of the suffering you endured. You barely survived childbirth. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't have had to suffer like that."

He spoke each word carefully, speaking very softly, yet with great weight.

Song Shuangning stared into his eyes, her heart skipped a beat, as if something had broken through the clouds and brought sudden clarity.

He wasn't angry with the child, nor was he unhappy.

He himself had faced a life-or-death ordeal, while the man by his side endured perhaps a hundred times more suffering than he had.

"Ningning,"

"I'm so scared."

"If something really happens to you, I will never live on alone."

Xiao Yan spoke each word with utmost seriousness.

His throat was choked with emotion, as if a thousand-pound boulder was pressing down on it, and even breathing was a dull ache.

At that time, he was also thinking—

If Heaven does not show mercy and he loses Ningning, then this vast land will be nothing but ruins to him.

He would never live alone.

He will manage all affairs of the court, select a steady and reliable member of the imperial family to entrust with the throne, and ensure a smooth transition of power and the stability of the country.

Then he removed the shackles of the dragon robe and went to the Yellow Springs to find his Ningning without any worries.

As for this child who was obtained at the cost of Ningning's life,

Whether he lived or died was of no importance to him.

Song Shuangning was filled with emotion.

She opened her mouth, but her throat was so dry that she couldn't make a sound.

Never live alone?

He was willing to give up the vast empire and prosperous nation that everyone coveted for her.

That was a power that many people could never attain in their entire lives; it was the power and glory he had borne since childhood.

However, in his eyes, he was more important than this magnificent world, so important that he was willing to sacrifice his life for it rather than live alone.

Xiao Yan's love for her was far deeper than she had imagined.

Song Shuangning could no longer resist. She hooked her arms around his neck, tilted her head back, and kissed his lips.

The moment their lips touched,

Hot tears streamed down their faces, mingling and sliding between their pressed lips, tasting salty and bitter, yet reflecting the burning passion in their hearts.

Song Shuangning gently brushed against his slightly cool lips, choking back tears, "Ayan, I'm alright now, nothing will happen, don't be afraid."

Xiao Yan held the back of her head and deepened the kiss.

Except when absolutely necessary to go to the Hall of Diligent Governance to discuss matters with ministers, Xiao Yan stayed by her side almost every step of the way in Yaohua Palace to take care of her, even bringing her memorials to review.

She was meticulous and attentive to the utmost.

The two slept in the same bed at night. Several times, Xiao Yan was awakened by nightmares, and Song Shuangning would gently soothe him back to sleep.

……

The warm sunlight slanted in through the curtains and fell on the cradle in front of the bed.

Song Shuangning rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the baby in the cradle.

Just as Tao Banxia and the others had said, children really do change very quickly. In just a few days, the wrinkled little face from before completely disappeared, replaced by a delicate and beautiful little face.

It's so cute it makes your heart melt.

She has recovered considerably and is able to get out of bed and walk around.

The sound of palace servants announcing something came from outside the hall.

Consort Shu, Consort Shao, and Consort Xu arrived together, followed by Consort Qiu, whose eyes were red.

As soon as Consort Shu and Consort Shao entered the room, they went straight to the cradle.

"This little fellow has really grown up. He's become so handsome in just a few days, and he even has a bit of the Emperor's heroic air about him."

Consort Xu and Consort Qiu walked to the bedside and carefully examined Song Shuangning's complexion.

Xu Jieyu said, "Shuangning, you really suffered this time. You must take good care of yourself and not slack off. Last time I gave birth to Cheng'er, it took me half a year to recover."

"Waaaaah~~" Qiu Pin couldn't hold back any longer, and tears streamed down her face.

Song Shuangning and Xu Jieyu exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh.

Song Shuangning patted her head.

Like a child.

Consort Shu teased the little prince in the cradle again before turning around and sitting down by Song Shuangning's bedside.

"Speaking of which, the Empress's health is getting worse and worse. She couldn't even come to see you in person for such important events as your birthday and childbirth."

"I heard from the palace maids that the imperial physicians all advised the Empress to relax. In my opinion, she is still wary of you, but she is helpless and thinks about it every day, exhausting herself."

After a slight pause, Consort Shu seemed to suddenly remember something and changed the subject: "Did His Majesty mention anything about your promotion? The birth of the Fourth Prince is a joyous occasion, and your promotion is a foregone conclusion. Didn't His Majesty give you any hints?"

Song Shuangning smiled and shook her head.

Xiao Yan hadn't mentioned it in the past two weeks, but given his personality, he would never wrong her and always wanted to give her the best.

Is someone preparing something big?

Hey.

She tried hard to suppress the smile on her lips. "His Majesty never mentioned it, and I never asked."

Consort Shao smiled and said, "I heard that His Majesty will be bestowing titles upon many concubines on his birthday, and the ranks of many sisters will be adjusted. Shuangning, you have worked so hard during your childbirth, and your contributions are immense. I imagine the decree to promote you will be issued on that day as well."

Song Shuangning smiled again.

Even though she and Xiao Yan were deeply in love, she still desired a higher social status.

Consort Shao's words also reminded her.

The Emperor's birthday is three days before Lunar New Year's Eve. The Emperor's birthday is approaching. What birthday gift should she give to the Emperor?