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

The next day, Xiao Yan summoned Song Shuangning to the emperor's presence to serve him with writing materials.

As soon as Song Shuangning arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance, she saw Li Fuquan supporting his buttocks as he slowly moved towards her.

Li Fuquan said with a fawning smile, "My lord, you've arrived!"

"Steward Li, what's wrong?"

Li Fuquan sighed with a bitter face, "Your Majesty, this servant has angered the Emperor. Last night, the Emperor told this servant, 'If you don't want your eyes, gouge them out.' The Emperor punished this servant with twenty strokes of the cane, and this servant still doesn't understand why."

Song Shuangning smiled secretly. It seemed the Emperor had discovered her presence and was here today to interrogate her.

Li Fuquan winced in pain, "My beauty, please go inside quickly."

"Hmm." Song Shuangning entered the hall guiltily, hoping to give Li Fuquan a bigger reward next time.

She gracefully entered the hall, secretly glancing at Xiao Yan, whose face was as cold as ice, and then curved her lips into a smile: "This concubine greets Your Majesty."

One second, two seconds... a long while passed, but the Emperor still didn't call her to get up.

She had no choice but to repeat herself in a clear voice: "This concubine greets Your Majesty."

This time, Xiao Yan finally responded, but he didn't even lift his eyelids, and said in an icy tone, "Get up."

"come over."

Song Shuangning walked over with a smile.

Xiao Yan raised his eyelids and pointed to the corner on the left, "Go there and reflect on your mistakes."

"what?"

Standing as punishment? She hasn't been punished by standing in the corner in years; she looks like a pitiful elementary school student.

Song Shuangning tugged at his sleeve, looking aggrieved: "Your Majesty."

"It seems that Lady Song still prefers to slap the palm of the hand." Xiao Yan coldly pulled back his sleeve.

Slapping his hand? The thought is terrifying. Standing as punishment is better.

Song Shuangning walked to a corner, looking aggrieved, and sat facing the wall to reflect on her actions.

Xiao Yan glanced at the obedient woman standing in the corner, his lips curving into an almost imperceptible smile, before he lowered his head and continued to concentrate on reviewing the memorials.

After standing for a long time as punishment, Song Shuangning lifted her feet because her back and legs ached.

"Stand still."

Song Shuangning turned to Xiao Yan listlessly, "Your Majesty, my legs hurt."

Xiao Yan snorted, "Then come over here."

Song Shuangning pretended that her legs were weak and threw herself into Xiao Yan's arms, saying with a wronged expression, "I didn't mean to, my legs are weak."

Xiao Yan didn't expose her, but rubbed her knee: "Do you know you were wrong?"

"I really didn't mean it..."

"Stop pretending?" Xiao Yan slapped her hard on the butt.

With a "snap".

No one has ever spanked her in her entire life.

Song Shuangning lowered her head in shame: "When I wanted to remind you, you had already left. I thought Chief Eunuch Li could see it..."

Xiao Yan lifted her chin. "Do you think I can't see through your little schemes?"

Song Shuangning muttered, "Your Highness Consort Rongxian, please leave. I am not happy."

"So you want her to be unhappy?"

"Are you stupid? If you do this, Consort Rong will only resent you more." Xiao Yan's tone turned serious.

It's not that we really want to blame her, it's just that she's too naive. Her little thoughts are laid bare and can be seen through at a glance. Being so unguarded will only lead to her suffering.

Song Shuangning seemed to be frightened by his tone and sniffled, her nose turning red and making her look particularly pitiful.

She choked back tears: "I know I was wrong, I won't do it again."

Xiao Yan rubbed her head helplessly: "Ningning, I'm doing this for your own good. Have you remembered what I said today?"

"I've remembered it."

"Alright, go wash your face."

The sky outside had already changed; heavy dark clouds pressed down on the horizon, obscuring the day as if it were night. Suddenly, a thunderclap boomed, making the windowpanes tremble slightly.

Startled by the thunder, Song Shuangning shuddered, shrinking back and burying her head in the crook of his neck, timidly saying, "Your Majesty, this concubine is afraid..."

Xiao Yan's eyes suddenly darkened.

She trembled and nestled into his arms like a small, burning flame. The sweet fragrance lingered around his nose. Xiao Yan lowered his eyes and stared at her reddened eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed as he picked her up and carried her toward the side hall.

There was a warm pavilion in the side hall, which was where he would rest when he was tired from reviewing memorials.

He tossed Song Shuangning onto the bed without much pity.

Song Shuangning reminded him, "Your Majesty, it's still daytime."

Xiao Yan pointed out the window: "Look, it's getting dark outside."

Perhaps as revenge for her deliberately leaving lipstick on his face last night, Song Shuangning was bullied so badly that he almost couldn't get up for dinner.

Perhaps Xiao Yan also felt that he had gone too far, so he made an exception and allowed her to stay overnight in Zichen Palace.

The palace maid told her that she was the first concubine to stay overnight in the Zichen Palace.

Upon hearing that she was the first one, Song Shuangning panicked. Wouldn't she be chopped into mincemeat when she went to pay her respects tomorrow?

Xiao Yan lifted the quilt and lay down, seeing her blank expression, he couldn't help but ask, "What are you thinking about?"

Song Shuangning said, "Your Majesty, I should go back."

She didn't want to be chopped into mincemeat.

"It's pouring rain outside, what are you doing?" Xiao Yan pulled her into his arms, his hands gripping her waist, his chin brushing against her smooth forehead, and murmured, "Aren't you afraid of thunder?"

A moment of emotion welled up in Song Shuangning's heart.

So that's how it is. Although Scumbag Dragon sometimes does inhuman things, he can also be quite considerate at times.

I slept soundly until dawn.

Song Shuangning and Xiao Yan woke up at the same time. Xiao Yan smiled and joked, "Since you're awake, then get up and help me get dressed."

This was the first time she had helped him dress in the palace in the three months since he entered the palace.

Song Shuangning took the court robe from Li Fuquan and personally helped Xiao Yan put it on. Xiao Yan looked more dignified and had a more imperial aura than usual after changing into the court robe.

Her little brain has been conjuring up some more shameful ideas.

For example, what would it be like to be with the emperor in his court robes...?

"I have gone to court. Wait for me to return for breakfast."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off."

Since she couldn't sleep anyway, Song Shuangning packed up and went to Fengyi Palace to pay her respects. On the way, everyone looked at her as if they wanted to cut her into a bloody mist.

Especially Consort Rongxian.

S to Pu, S to Pu.

Today, during the morning greetings, the Empress announced the list of those who would be going to the summer palace for a summer retreat.

Consorts Rongxian, Shufei, Defei, and Shaofei were naturally going, and Consort Yun and Consort Xu, as the birth mothers of the second and third princes, were naturally going along as well.

Among the newcomers, only Qiao Pin, Song Shuangning, and Qiu Baolin are on the list.

The Empress said, "Sisters on the list, go back and pack your things. We'll depart in ten days."

"I've been quite busy lately, so I'll leave the ice supply to Consort Rongxian. I'll leave the meal coordination to Consort De. Thank you both for your hard work."

Consort Rong and Consort De rose and acknowledged.

Consort Rong was still somewhat confused. Why was the Empress so kind as to share some of the power over the six palaces?

Looking at the several disappointed concubines below, the Empress said, "This is the Emperor's and my decision. Sisters who cannot go should not be sad, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Zhang Cai Ren concealed her disappointment and looked at Song Shuang Ning and Qiu Bao Lin with envy.