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

Xiao Yan's rewards flowed into the Pillow Star Pavilion like water.

Song Shuangning opened each brocade box, as if rediscovering the joy of opening blind boxes. There were delicate jade hairpins, pearl butterfly hairpins, twin begonia hair ornaments, and two pairs of Lantian jade bracelets...

What made Song Shuangning linger the longest was a thin, red-gold chain with three small bells strung on it, the bells ringing crisply.

"hiss--"

"My lady, what's wrong?"

Since it has three bells strung on it, it's definitely not something worn on the wrist...

Wow, the Emperor is such a closet pervert!

Xiao Yan arrived that evening.

Looking at Song Shuangning's simple attire, Xiao Yan casually asked, "Why aren't you wearing the jewelry I sent you?"

Song Shuangning gently stroked Xiao Yan's palm, her voice soft and shy: "It was given to me by His Majesty, and I am reluctant to wear it."

Xiao Yan flicked her forehead, somewhat speechless, and said, "It's not like we won't see you off anymore."

"Bring the jewelry box."

Tingyu brought over the jewelry box.

Xiao Yan picked up the pearl butterfly hairpin and the twin begonia hair ornament and inserted them into her hair bun. His gaze lingered on her hair for a moment, and he nodded in satisfaction.

A beautiful woman is not lonely if she wears a gorgeous hairpin.

"This concubine has not yet thanked Your Majesty."

"Just a verbal thank you?" Xiao Yan's words carried a hint of teasing.

Song Shuangning playfully punched his chest shyly: "There are other people here, Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan looked at her with a half-smile: "Ningning, what are you thinking? I was talking about the sachet."

"Others frequently present sachets to the Emperor; will Ningning embroider one for me too?"

Song Shuangning lowered her head shyly: "Alright, Your Majesty, please wait for me for two days."

After dismissing the servants from the palace, Xiao Yan sat Song Shuangning on his lap. "Are you scared today?"

Xiao Yan watched as her eyes slowly reddened, and then she buried her face in his chest like a child and began to sob softly.

During the day, although she seemed fearless, Xiao Yan noticed her aggrieved expression.

"I'm afraid, I'm scared."

"At that time, I was truly angry and frightened. I had clearly saved Consort Qiao, yet she still dared to turn around and bite me!"

"Then why were you so tough back then?" Xiao Yan teased her with a smile hidden in his eyes, intending to stop her from crying, but she cried even harder.

After a long pause, she sobbed, "I was faking it."

Xiao Yan was amused by these two words.

"If I hadn't acted tough, they would have already pinned all the blame on me, and I would have become the scapegoat."

"Scapegoat?" Xiao Yan's smile deepened; this was a novel and interesting way to put it.

Song Shuangning bit his neck, and when she heard him hiss in pain, she immediately let go and turned the tables, saying, "Your Majesty is still laughing! Your concubine is so heartbroken, Your Majesty is so wicked."

Xiao Yan pinched her buttocks. "You've got some nerve?"

"Then why did you cry when you saw me? Did you stop being so assertive?"

Song Shuangning gazed at Xiao Yan, speaking each word earnestly and with genuine affection.

"Because Your Majesty is my support, when I see you, all the grievances in my heart come rushing up. In front of others, I pretend to be strong, but in front of you, I take off all my pretense and just want to be my truest self."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's smiling eyes softened, and he gently patted the top of her head, his voice low and gentle: "I know, Ningning has been wronged."

Song Shuangning choked back a sob and gave a soft "Mmm".

Xiao Yan stroked her still slightly trembling back: "It's alright now."

"I will take you boating in a few days."

Song Shuangning raised her teary eyes: "Really?"

"nature."

After offering her a few more words of comfort, Xiao Yan told her to go take a bath first.

When Song Shuangning came out of the bathhouse, she saw Xiao Yan holding the anklet in his hand. She immediately felt a chill run down her spine. Could it be that the Emperor wanted her to wear this anklet and then...

How embarrassing it would be if the sound of that bell got out!

Xiao Yanmo's eyes darkened slightly, revealing an intense, unyielding lust within them, along with a dangerous glint of passion.

His voice was deep and magnetic: "Ningning, come here."

Song Shuangning: Is it too late to escape now?

Under his gaze, Song Shuangning moved closer to him: "Your Majesty..."

Xiao Yan grabbed her wrist and pressed her down onto the couch, his gaze deep and unyielding: "Put it on, okay?"

"But they will hear it."

"They dare not listen."

Song Shuangning wore a bitter expression, while Xiao Yan squatted down and put the anklet on her porcelain-white ankle. The red gold chain wrapped around her slender ankle, and the chain moved and the pearls sparkled. However, Xiao Yan felt that it was not enough and that pigeon blood rubies should be added.

……

The bells rang until dawn before finally stopping.

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), when Xiao Yan stood up, the collar of his dragon robe brushed against the unhealed wound on his neck.

Xiao Yan gasped in shock, his fingertips pressing sharply against the side of his neck.

Li Fuquan glanced at it and immediately fell silent, because it was a bite mark.

Xiao Yan's eyes darkened slightly as he glanced back at the woman who was still fast asleep.

Fine, I'll let it go this time.

Song Shuangning was awakened by hunger. When she opened her eyes, she felt the tent ceiling was still shaking, and her whole body ached as soon as she moved.

The sound of the bell last night completely let Xiao Yan go...

Listening to the rain, she lifted the curtain. "My lady, you've finally woken up."

"How long has His Majesty been gone?" I asked, my voice already hoarse.

Tingyu poured her a cup of tea. "His Majesty woke up at Chenshi (7-9 AM) and instructed me not to wake you."

After lunch, Song Shuangning took out colorful threads and plain satin and began to embroider a sachet that she would present to the Emperor.

She also had a little trick up her sleeve; she embroidered the character "宁" (Ning) under the sachet, so if asked, she would say, "When the heart is at peace, everything goes smoothly; when the mind is at ease, blessings come naturally."

Four or five days passed, but the Emperor still hadn't taken her boating. Song Shuangning looked at the embroidered sachets already in the sewing basket, her eyes narrowing slightly. Had the Emperor forgotten?

She didn't actually want to go boating, but she wanted to make her presence felt more.

"How is Qiao Meiren?"

Tingyu said, "I heard that Consort Qiao is becoming increasingly abnormal. Sometimes she talks nonsense, and her temper is getting worse. Sometimes she even beats and scolds her personal maid, Huaxi."

Song Shuangning smiled and said, "Since that's the case, then I'll give her a chance to be free."

"Your Highness, do you mean...?"

"Okay." Song Shuangning smiled innocently. "Let Quanlu in; I have something to tell him."

Celestial Maiden – Consuming it can cause one to become wildly unrestrained and even bewildered, seeing ghosts.