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

Physician Zhang arrived breathlessly, and upon seeing Consort Song sitting on the Emperor's lap, he immediately lowered his head.

Having been in the palace for many years, this was the first time I had ever seen the Emperor so intimate with any of his concubines.

Just as he was about to kneel down to pay his respects, Xiao Yan shot him a glance and said impatiently, "What are you dawdling for? Come over and take my pulse."

"She suddenly had a nosebleed," Xiao Yan said succinctly.

Song Shuangning's nosebleed had stopped, but her handkerchief was stained with blood.

Physician Zhang carefully examined her pulse: "Your Highness, your constitution is weak; this is a case of being unable to tolerate strong tonics. Have you taken any highly tonifying medicine?"

"Ah?" Tingyu asked fearfully, "Consort Song... no, Consort Song clearly prescribed a nourishing formula for you, Your Highness."

The mere mention of the word "strong tonic" brought back a flood of memories for Xiao Yan. Li Fuquan had mentioned that Consort Song had instructed the imperial physicians to prescribe potent medicines, a fact unknown to Song Shuangning.

"Alas," Physician Zhang shook his head, his tone grave, "It is precisely because the prescription used by the young lady was too nourishing that she experienced nosebleeds. If she were to take such potent tonics again, it might damage her internal organs and lead to a serious mistake."

Upon hearing this, Song Shuangning snuggled closer to Xiao Yan, curling up even tighter, her voice choked with sobs: "Your Majesty, I'm scared."

Xiao Yan's patience with Consort Song had completely worn off. The most terrifying thing about people is not their wickedness, but their stupidity, their stupidity without realizing it.

Such eagerness for quick success and instant benefits is utterly foolish.

The woman in his arms was still sobbing.

Xiao Yan gently patted her back: "It's okay, don't be afraid."

Physician Zhang kept his head down, thinking to himself: This Master Song is really favored. If I can put in more effort in front of Master Song, perhaps I can also gain some favor with the Emperor.

"If that's the case, what should we do?"

Physician Zhang said, "I must first nourish Your Highness's Yin and reduce internal heat, and clear away the stagnant heat. After the nosebleed stops and the internal heat subsides, I will switch to a mild and nourishing prescription to gradually regulate your Qi and blood. Remember that you must not use any strong tonics after this. Your diet should also be light these days, and you should avoid spicy and warming foods in order to protect Your Highness's health."

Xiao Yan said, "I entrust Consort Song's body to you."

"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"

Xiao Yan waved his hand, and all the people in the hall withdrew, leaving only Xiao Yan and Song Shuangning.

"Your Majesty, my elder sister would never intend to harm me..."

"Don't you hate her?"

Xiao Yan stared intently at her, his gaze sharp as if trying to see through her outward appearance to uncover her truest self.

Song Shuangning showed no fear whatsoever, nor did she flinch or flinch; her eyes remained clear, innocent, and sincere.

"I wouldn't say I hate her, but I do harbor some resentment deep down. But we are ultimately connected by blood; she is still my elder sister, and the bond of blood cannot be severed. After I entered the palace, my elder sister treated me well."

"Repay injustice with justice, and repay kindness with kindness; this is what my aunt taught me since I was a child."

Xiao Yan was momentarily dazed.

Repay grievances directly and repay virtue by virtue.

Thinking back on it carefully, she never mentioned to him the bitterness of being targeted by Consort Shu, being forced to kneel by Consort Rongxian, or being slapped by her elder sister.

She was the kindest, and also the most foolish, woman he had ever met.

With tears in her eyes, Song Shuangning grasped Xiao Yan's large hand: "Your Majesty once promised that I would protect you. Perhaps it is because of your protection that I have become more open-minded."

Xiao Yan gently stroked her cheek with his thumb, the calluses on his fingertips causing her skin to sting slightly. Song Shuangning smiled and rubbed her face against his palm.

"Ningning."

Song Shuangning was taken aback. "Your Majesty, what did you call me?"

"Ningning." Xiao Yan's kiss landed on her face.

Song Shuangning happily hugged his neck, "Your Majesty, I love you so much. May Your Majesty call me that from now on?"

"it is good."

Xiao Yan kissed her long, fair neck, and slowly, Song Shuangning's face flushed.

The atmosphere inside the hall was enchanting.

Just as they were about to make their next move, Li Fuquan's spoilsport voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, Consort Rongxian has developed a high fever. Would you like to go and see her?"

Song Shuangning bit her lip and pulled up the thin shirt that Xiao Yan had pulled down. The lust in Xiao Yan's eyes faded, and he leaned against her shoulder, breathing heavily.

"Your Majesty, you should go and see Consort Rongxian first."

When he looked up again, Xiao Yan had already returned to his usual aloof demeanor.

"If I leave, will Ningning be unhappy?"

Song Shuangning lowered her head to straighten his slightly disheveled clothes and said softly, "Consort Rongxian is ill. If I didn't allow Your Majesty to visit her, I would be too wicked. As long as Your Majesty thinks of me, I will be very happy."

She's generous and quite adorable.

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "I will come to see you again tomorrow."

"Your Majesty, please go."

Song Shuangning tiptoed and first gave him a light peck on the corner of his lips, then kissed him hard on the cheek, making a loud sound.

The "pop" sound was exceptionally clear.

Song Shuangning lowered her head shyly, twisting her handkerchief in her hands.

Xiao Yan's smile deepened, and he ruffled her hair.

Song Shuangning chuckled. A trace of flesh-colored lip rouge remained on the Emperor's face. It was a dark and windy night, and Li Fuquan and the others had better be blind to have seen it!

"Let's go to Zhaoyang Palace." Once on the imperial carriage, Xiao Yan's smile vanished, replaced by irritation.

The imperial physician said that Consort Rong had caught a cold, which caused her high fever.

Consort Rong leaned weakly against the bed. When she saw the Emperor enter, she intended to get out of bed to pay her respects. Xiao Yan quickly went over and stopped her: "Since you are ill, don't move around."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." As soon as Consort Rong looked up, she saw that Xiao Yan had a few traces of flesh-colored lip rouge on his cheeks and lips, the marks were faint.

She lost all her strength in an instant. "Your Majesty, your face..."

"What's wrong?"

Consort Rong gritted her teeth: "Xia Yun, bring the bronze mirror over so His Majesty can take a look."

When the bronze mirror was brought over, Xiao Yan saw that his profile and the corner of his lips were smeared with a faint trace of lip rouge, creating an ambiguous and alluring effect.

But you can't tell unless you look closely.

Xiao Yan's face darkened, but he calmly took a handkerchief and wiped it away.

Did that silly boy forget he was wearing lip rouge? Why didn't he remind him when it got on his face?

Was it intentional?

Is Li Fuquan blind?

"I accidentally brushed against it."

When they were deeply in love, the Emperor said he didn't like kissing, so she never dared to touch his sore spot.

If she can't do it, then other women can?!

Jealousy overwhelmed her reason, and Consort Rong sneered, "This illness of mine has come at a truly inopportune time, spoiling His Majesty's mood and ruining his good deed!"

The tone was sarcastic and unpleasant.

"Consort Rongxian." Xiao Yan raised his eyes in a warning.

Consort Rong turned her back to Xiao Yan in a huff, saying, "Your Majesty, you don't need to stay here with me. I won't bother you anymore. Your Majesty, you should go and spend time with the person you love."

Xiao Yan did not hesitate and got up to leave.

Consort Rong stared wide-eyed in shock, unable to believe that the Emperor had really left like that.

She was clearly just saying it in anger, but the Emperor didn't even try to comfort her!

Xiao Yan returned to the Zichen Palace with a gloomy face.

On one side was a gentle and understanding person, and on the other was someone who was relentlessly pressuring him. Xiao Yan was already annoyed, and he was even less likely to lower himself to coax her.

"Li Fuquan, twenty strokes of the cane, go now."

"Huh?" Li Fuquan was dumbfounded.

What did he do wrong again?

"If you don't want your eyes, you can gouge them out."

"Yes, sir." Li Fuquan was even more puzzled and went down to receive his punishment with a wronged expression.

As for that woman, we'll punish her tomorrow.