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

For the next three days, Xiao Yan did not come. He only sent Li Fuquan to deliver a message, saying that he had too many government affairs to attend to and could not spare the time to accompany her.

Song Shuangning didn't delve into the matter. From the day she gave birth, Xiao Yan stayed by her side every day, putting aside all political affairs that he could avoid.

For half a month straight, the backlog of official business was enough to keep him up for several sleepless nights.

She leaned lazily against the couch, teasing her young son.

That chubby little boy changes every day; he's incredibly clever.

A pair of big, round eyes always stared at her, and her little hands held her fingers tightly, refusing to let go.

Snowball was also very curious about this chubby little guy. It always liked to jump silently onto the side of the cradle and stare at the little guy.

Snowball is usually well-behaved and never extends its paw to touch anything.

Every afternoon, the sunlight streams in through the window, warm and cozy. It will curl up in the cradle, close to the baby's side, its ears perked up alertly. At the slightest sound outside, it will immediately raise its head, in a protective posture.

Because she had put in so much effort during childbirth, Song Shuangning was watched every day and drank bowl after bowl of nourishing soup clean.

That day, she had just finished drinking her medicine with a frown when she heard Tingyu say that Physician Zhang had arrived.

Song Shuangning was quite surprised.

After Banxia entered the palace to take care of her daily life, she instructed Zhang Chengji that unless there was something urgent, he did not need to travel back and forth every day.

"Why are you here?"

Physician Zhang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, there is something I have thought about carefully, and I still feel that I should tell you something."

Song Shuangning's eyes flickered slightly. "What is it?"

Physician Zhang quickly scanned the hall, and Song Shuangning understood, immediately dismissing all the palace servants who were serving in the hall.

The palace doors were slightly ajar.

Physician Zhang then lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, you have taken the infertility medicine."

Every word struck Song Shuangning's heart.

Song Shuangning asked in disbelief with difficulty, "A cure for infertility?"

"Yes, the infertility drug..."

"This medicine is extremely potent, and after taking it, one will suffer excruciating pain for several days. Your Majesty, you have been gritting your teeth and enduring it these past few days, strictly ordering the palace servants not to let the news leak out... However, I feel that this matter cannot be kept secret in the end, nor should it be kept from the Empress."

Song Shuangning's eyes reddened.

Like a boat carrying unspoken thoughts drifting by, it shattered the stillness of the pond, bringing a bittersweet feeling that stirred a dampness in her heart.

Xiao Yan...

He actually took a drug that would prevent him from having children.

Xiao Yan's actions these past few days have been increasingly shocking and moving.

First, he said that if anything happened to him, he would never live on his own.

Then he secretly gave her a potion that would prevent her from having children.

If Zhang Chengji hadn't secretly told her, she might never have known that the high and mighty emperor had done so much for her.

After Physician Zhang took his leave, the hall fell silent.

Song Shuangning wiped her eyes and turned to look at the baby in the cradle, who was smacking its little lips and sleeping soundly.

The emotions surging in my heart are gratitude and appreciation.

*

Two days later, Xiao Yan arrived at Yaohua Palace.

He can put on an air of nonchalance, his eyes and brows remaining gentle, his steps as composed as ever.

As soon as he entered, he went straight to the soft couch where Song Shuangning was leaning. "Are you feeling better? Are you still feeling unwell? Have you been taking your medicine obediently?"

Song Shuangning responded softly to each one.

She looked up and met Xiao Yan's eyes. Beneath that feigned calm surface lay a tension she knew all too well.

Since Xiao Yan didn't want her to know, she would pretend not to know.

Song Shuangning smiled and took his hand. "Your Majesty, this chubby little boy has been born for more than twenty days. He will be a month old in a few days, and you have not held him even once."

As she spoke, she called for her wet nurse.

By the time Xiao Yan realized what was happening, a swaddled baby was already in his arms.

Xiao Yan froze, his muscles tensing.

The near-death experience Ningning went through during childbirth that day is still vivid in my mind.

I'm still scared.

We can only drag this out in this rigid way.

The little one in the swaddling clothes was uncomfortable. At first, he whimpered and moaned pitifully, but soon he burst into loud crying.

Song Shuangning quickly took it and comforted him, "Don't cry, don't cry, your mother is here."

The clear crying stopped abruptly when she was in Song Shuangning's arms.

Her little mouth was still pouting pitifully, and she would whimper occasionally.

Song Shuangning held him and coaxed him gently until the little guy's breathing became long and even, then she let the wet nurse take him away.

The hall fell silent for a moment as Xiao Yan gazed at her intently, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Song Shuangning covered her face with her hands, feigning shyness: "Why is A-Yan staring at me? It's making me shy."

"You seem to care a lot about that brat."

Xiao Yan's voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of bitterness that was hard to describe.

"How can Ah-Yan say such baseless things again? He is our child, of course I have to love him. Not only do I have to love him, but Ah-Yan has to love him too. He can't stop loving him just because of what happened on the day of his birth."

"So, in your heart, am I still number one?"

He lowered his eyes, looking aggrieved.

Like a spoiled little husband.

This made Song Shuangning want to immediately and thoroughly humiliate him.

It would be nice if my eyes were red right now.

Song Shuangning was immersed in her delightful fantasy.

They didn't notice at all that Xiao Yan's eyes were actually red.

After waiting a long time for Song Shuangning's reply, Xiao Yan couldn't help but say angrily:

"Song Shuangning! You promised me! Are you going to go back on your word?!"

Song Shuangning snapped out of her daze and quickly pulled Xiao Yan into her arms, gently patting and coaxing him.

"I kept my word."

"In my heart, Ah Yan is naturally the most important person, always number one."

Heaven knows, she was most unable to resist Xiao Yan's doting husband act.

Xiao Yan snuggled closer to her, his voice muffled: "Even with that brat, in your heart, I'm still number one?"

Song Shuangning chuckled and replied repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes."

Even with that brat, Ah Yan will always be the most important person in my heart, no one can compare.

Xiao Yan was finally satisfied and buried his face even deeper into the crook of her neck.

*

In the stillness of the night, the brocade curtains hung low.

She hadn't bathed for over twenty days, and although she wiped her body with warm water every day, she still harbored some self-loathing.

Song Shuangning moved to the innermost part of the bed.

Xiao Yan narrowed his long, narrow eyes. "This morning you were saying I was number one in your heart, so why are you hiding so far away tonight?"

"I haven't showered in a long time, I'm afraid the smell will bother you..."

Without saying a word, Xiao Yan pulled her into his arms, lowered his head and sniffed her neck. "Ningning smells really good."

Xiao Yan's hand slipped inside her clothes.

Yu Feng stood there, and he grabbed him in one go.

His hot breath sprayed onto her face.

"It's changed."

Song Shuangning pushed him hard.

"You filthy scoundrel!"