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

Zichen Palace.

In the morning light, the imperial kitchen's exquisite breakfast was laid out on a table. Xiao Yan picked up a lotus-shaped pastry and placed it on the jade plate in front of Song Shuangning.

"You should know about the trip to the summer palace."

Song Shuangning replied, "The Empress has already given me my greetings today."

Xiao Yan nodded: "Then you should get everything organized in the next few days."

As Song Shuangning was eating lotus-shaped pastries, a sudden, dull pain shot through her lower abdomen, making it hard for her to catch her breath.

Judging by the dates, my period should be in the next few days.

Her face instantly drained of all color, turning deathly pale, and fine beads of cold sweat quickly seeped from her forehead, sliding down her temples.

Tingyu was the first to notice Song Shuangning's unusual behavior, "My lady."

Xiao Yan looked at Song Shuangning and immediately pulled her into his arms. "What's wrong?"

"It hurts." Song Shuangning was in so much pain that she felt dizzy.

"Summon the imperial physician."

She bit her lip hard, drawing blood. Xiao Yan pried open her lips with his fingers, his eyes icy cold: "Check today's breakfast."

Song Shuangning quickly grasped his hand and said softly, "It's my period. I'm sorry to have disturbed Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan's expression froze slightly. Are all women in such pain during their menstrual period?

Xiao Yan carried the unconscious Song Shuangning to the bed.

Physician Zhang rushed over and, after taking her pulse, said, "Your constitution is weak, and your abdominal pain worsens during your menstrual period. This will require gradual conditioning and nourishment in the future to alleviate."

"Furthermore, Your Majesty, I have another matter to report. I am physically weak and have poor health. If I were to become pregnant, I fear it would be difficult to have a safe pregnancy. Even if I were to manage to preserve the imperial heir, I might face the risk of a difficult childbirth."

Xiao Yan twirled the jade ring on his finger, remained silent for a moment, and said, "Then let's prepare a mild contraceptive medicine for her first, and don't let her know."

"Yes."

Xiao Yan wasn't in a hurry to have children; what he cared about was Song Shuangning's health.

As for romantic love, it's really not a question. It's just that I saw that she was beautiful and gentle, and I thought I would take care of her a little more.

Very few people in the harem could catch his eye, so Song Shuangning was somewhat concerned about him.

When Song Shuangning woke up, it was already afternoon. Tingyu breathed a sigh of relief: "You frightened me."

Song Shuangning tugged at her pale lips.

Xiao Yan walked over; her face was still very pale. "Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore." Song Shuangning propped herself up, weak as she was. "This concubine has been impolite and has disturbed Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan stroked her back gently, his voice soft: "It's nothing to disturb you. Just rest and don't rush back."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Song Shuangning leaned against him, enjoying his gentle caresses.

Suddenly, a strong thought came to her: she wanted Xiao Yan to fall in love with her.

He only loves her, only likes her, and has only her in his heart and eyes.

She wanted more than just power and status; she also wanted the emperor's heart and his unique love.

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.

As early summer arrives, the sun is scorching, the wind carries a restless energy, and even the bricks and stones are burning hot.

The imperial entourage set off, with its procession stretching for miles, making its way towards the imperial palace. The imperial guards, clad in silver armor, stood in neat rows, their steps precise.

It takes a whole day to travel from the palace to the temporary palace.

Song Shuangning took Tingyu and Quanlu with her, leaving Tinglu in the palace to guard it. In the two or three months in the palace, someone might take the opportunity to reach into Cangdong Pavilion.

Song Shuangning wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief from time to time. There was only a small patch of ice in the carriage, and it wasn't cool at all.

Song Shuangning and Tingyu were both sweating profusely from the heat.

The Empress's decision to entrust the management of ice supplies to Consort Rongxian was clearly Consort Rongxian's way of settling personal scores.

The carriage was airtight, and the small patch of ice that remained quickly melted.

Song Shuangning asked, "How much longer until the mid-trip break?"

Listening to the rain, he said, "There's still half an hour left."

Then let's hold on for another half an hour.

……

During a rest stop in the carriage, a gasp came from the concubines' carriage behind, startling the entourage that followed.

The empress in the crimson carriage raised her lips slightly, then poked her head out: "What has happened?"

Qingdai said, "Your Majesty, Consort Song has fainted."

"Go quickly and tell the Emperor," the Empress said with a smile.

Hearing the commotion outside, Consort Rong had a bad feeling. She quickly asked the palace maid and learned that Consort Song had fainted from heatstroke.

She had been holding a grudge about what happened last time, so she deliberately skimped on Song Meiren's ice supply. Who knew Song Meiren's health was so poor!

She hurriedly ordered someone to send ice to Consort Song's carriage, and then went down to check on it herself.

A hint of a smile flashed across Consort Shu's eyes as she alighted from her carriage. Upon seeing Consort Rong, she deliberately raised her voice, "Hey, Sister Rong, really, why bother getting angry with a beauty like that? Anyone who doesn't know the situation would think the palace can't afford ice."

These words reached Consort Rongxian's ears without being missed. She glared fiercely at Consort Shu, "Consort Shu, watch your words. I was unaware of this either."

"You may not know, but Her Majesty the Empress has already entrusted you with the task of controlling the ice. Sister Rong, you're being far too petty."

It's the Empress!

Consort Rongxian waited for the vermilion palace carriage with angry eyes.

The Queen did it on purpose! She deliberately gave her the power to control the ice.

The news quickly reached Xiao Yan's ears. Xiao Yan was already irritable due to the sweltering heat, and when he heard that Consort Rong had been stingy with the amount of ice she used, causing Consort Song to faint from heatstroke, his face immediately darkened.

Li Fuquan rushed over, interrupting the two men who were about to draw their swords.

Consort Shu's smile widened: "What brings Steward Li here?"

Li Fuquan chuckled, "His Majesty instructed me to tell Consort Rongxian that since Your Highness cannot manage this matter, then you need not concern yourself with it anymore. Everything should be done in moderation."

Consort Rong's face turned pale and then red, filled with grievance and resentment. She was just a minor beauty, yet the Emperor had reprimanded her in public!

Consort Shu smiled and said, "Yes, everything should be done in moderation."

Consort Rong ignored Consort Shu, forcefully swung her skirt, and returned to the carriage with an air of arrogance.

Li Fuquan approached Song Shuangning's carriage and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor summons you to accompany him."

A faint "good" came from inside the carriage.

A moment later, Song Shuangning boarded the imperial carriage. She immediately widened her eyes; this wasn't a carriage at all, it was clearly a motorhome! The difference between people was infuriating.

Xiao Yan glanced at her, his eyes seeming to think she was stupid.

"He doesn't even tell the Empress when he's wronged."

Song Shuangning smiled, her lips pale: "I never expected my body to be so weak."

Xiao Yan arranged for Song Shuangning to rest on the couch inside. The imperial carriage was much cooler and more comfortable than her little horse-drawn carriage, and Song Shuangning ate chilled grapes with great pleasure.

The Empress slowly picked up the herbal tea and took a sip, feeling that the summer heat had dissipated considerably.

She knew that Consort Rongxian, that fool, would do such a thing.