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

The Emperor had not forgotten about taking her boating, and the next afternoon he sent Li Fuquan to fetch her.

Song Shuangning thought to herself: Fortunately, the Emperor has not forgotten.

The sunlight was hidden behind layers of clouds, the sky was soft, and the clouds drifted leisurely, creating a sense of tranquility.

Several boats floated on the vast lake, the thin shade blocking the sun, and the wind blowing across the water brought a slight coolness, not hot at all, but rather comfortable.

Xiao Yan and the King of Chu sat facing each other. On the table, a jar of wine, aged for several years, had just been opened, its rich aroma filling the air. On the boat beside them, singers sang softly, and dancers twirled gracefully, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The King of Chu glanced at the empty seat next to Xiao Yan, raised his wine cup, looked at the Emperor, and casually asked, "Brother, this seat is still empty. Is someone else coming?"

Xiao Yan nodded.

A small, covered boat quietly approached, with a woman standing at its bow. She wore a moon-white silk dress, the hem embroidered with delicate begonia patterns, which fluttered lightly in the wind like flowing clouds. Her dark hair was loosely styled into a high bun, adorned with a twin begonia hairpin, and two fresh pink begonia blossoms were tucked into her temples, their dangling tassels swaying with the boat. Her every glance exuded a refined elegance and a lively charm, like a fairy descended to earth.

The King of Chu gently placed his wine cup on the table, propped his forehead up with his hand, and stared intently at the woman at the bow of the boat. A hint of amazement flashed in his eyes, and he sighed softly, "There is such a stunningly beautiful woman in the world."

But this is a temporary palace.

The woman who appeared in the palace could only be a concubine, but her attire was not that of a dancer or singer.

The King of Chu awkwardly withdrew his gaze, only to be met with his elder brother's sinister gaze. He instantly sobered up considerably. "Could this be one of the concubines in the palace? I have never seen her before. I misspoke earlier and was very offensive. I will punish myself with a cup of wine."

Xiao Yan glanced at him indifferently, then looked at Song Shuangning. Despite not being dressed up much, she was still dazzling.

Song Shuangning boarded the painted boat with a bright smile on her face. Her gaze remained fixed on Xiao Yan the entire time. Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, a look of satisfaction on his face.

As she approached, Song Shuangning caught a glimpse of the King of Chu standing to the side. Just as she was slightly taken aback, Xiao Yan said, "This is the King of Chu."

Song Shuangning had long heard of the Prince of Chu. He was the Empress Dowager and the late Emperor's most beloved youngest son, spoiled rotten since childhood. He didn't even have to go to his fiefdom, remaining in the capital as a carefree prince. Rumors about his romantic escapades were rampant in the capital, and she had heard quite a few of them before.

Furthermore, she heard that the Emperor and the Prince of Chu were born of the same mother and had a deep friendship.

Song Shuangning gave a slight curtsy: "Greetings, Your Highness."

The King of Chu couldn't help but sigh, "Such beauty is truly breathtaking."

Xiao Yan raised his right hand, and Song Shuangning gently placed her delicate hand in his palm. Xiao Yan gripped her hand slightly and pulled her to sit beside him, then turned to the Prince of Chu opposite him and said, "This is Consort Song."

She nodded slightly to the Chu Dynasty.

Tingyu placed the ice cream from the food box onto the table. Song Shuangning was very capable and had figured out an ancient version of "ice cream" back in the mansion. She used fresh milk or goat milk as a base, added fruit, and mixed it with chilled ice shavings. It was smooth and creamy, and in no way inferior to modern ice cream.

"This was made by me, Your Majesty. Please try it."

Xiao Yan was surprised: "Ningning made this herself?"

"Hmm, I haven't made this in a long time, so it might not look very appealing. Would Your Majesty like to try it?" Song Shuangning's words were tinged with anticipation.

Xiao Yan scooped a small spoonful with a jade spoon and put it in his mouth, raising an eyebrow slightly and nodding affirmatively: "Not bad!"

It has a smooth, creamy texture and a perfectly sweet taste that isn't cloying.

Upon hearing this, Song Shuangning's eyes instantly lit up with a smile, her gaze filled with undisguised joy and shyness.

"As long as His Majesty is pleased!"

The King of Chu stared longingly at the ice cream; it looked delicious.

Song Shuangning looked at the King of Chu opposite her with some guilt: "I didn't know that the King of Chu was also here, and I only prepared one set."

Xiao Yan said, "Ignore him."

The King of Chu was speechless: "Brother... how can you be so stingy?"

It's just ice cream, who cares?

Before long, the small bowl of ice cream was empty. Xiao Yan hadn't expected it to be so delicious. Meeting the King of Chu's ambiguous gaze, Xiao Yan put down the jade spoon somewhat embarrassedly.

The King of Chu picked up his wine cup and suddenly realized that his elder brother, who was always calm and composed, had never introduced his concubines to him. It seemed that his elder brother valued her highly. Now that Consort Song had been seen by his elder brother, her future path would only be smooth sailing.

But can she compare to Consort Rongxian? That's hard to say.

The music softened, and a singer from a neighboring boat gently waved a fan, her voice tinged with melancholy as she slowly began to sing: "In the spring of yesteryear, brothers and I studied together, riding horses under the setting sun. We laughed and talked happily under the flowers in the courtyard, the years were bright and beautiful. But then family troubles arose, grudges and favors clashed, swords were drawn, and we each went our separate ways. Old affections could not withstand the turmoil of the world, and our initial hearts slowly faded. The wind passed through the quiet of our old home, the moonlight shone on the empty gate, one died on the battlefield, the other disappeared into a secluded village. Our fate in this life is over, we have no chance to meet again, but may we be neighbors again in the next life."

The song is called "The Tale of Two Heroes". It tells the story of two young men from noble families who studied and practiced martial arts together since childhood and were as close as brothers. However, they turned against each other due to a power struggle within their families. In the end, one of them died on the battlefield and the other went into seclusion in the mountains. They could not reconcile until their deaths.

A clear song drifted across the lake, and for a moment there was silence.

The King of Chu's tone was full of regret: "What a perfect pair! One died in battle and the other went into seclusion. They didn't even have a chance to reconcile. It's truly a cruel twist of fate."

Xiao Yan said calmly, "It's such a pity that such a talented couple didn't fall at the hands of the enemy on the battlefield, but were ruined by their own people's infighting."

Song Shuangning's voice was soft but full of contemplation: "The world laments that their relationship was ruined, but in my opinion, their greatest pity is that they never lived for themselves: their whole lives were tied down by family and fame, and they didn't even have the courage to choose not to turn against each other."

She looked up at the colorful butterflies fluttering on the lake, her tone tinged with melancholy and clarity: "The elder brother thought the younger brother coveted power, and the younger brother resented the elder brother for not understanding his grievances. In reality, they both harbored the thought of 'doing what's best for the other,' yet refused to let their guard down. What they were fighting for wasn't power, but the face of 'who would admit their mistake first.' They wanted to say it but didn't, and in the end, it was useless to say it. If the elder brother had been willing to say 'I know you don't want to fight,' and the younger brother had been willing to say 'I understand you had no choice,' why would they be separated by death? Many grudges in this world are not because of 'not loving,' but because of 'not daring to be honest.'"

Xiao Yan's smile deepened, adding a touch of appreciation and amazement. He said slowly, "Consort Song's insights have truly impressed me."

He paused, his tone now tinged with admiration, "Ordinary women listen to music and only understand joy and sorrow, but you can see through the depths of people's hearts and discern cowardice. You are truly extraordinary."

A faint blush rose on Song Shuangning's cheeks: "This concubine was merely moved by the music."

Xiao Yan held Rouyi in his palm.

"To have met such an enlightened ruler as Your Majesty in this life, to hear your teachings and to enjoy music together, is the greatest fortune for this concubine."

Upon seeing this, the King of Chu immediately put down his wine cup, laughed heartily, and teased, "Your Majesty is truly blessed! Just now, I heard Consort Song's words; they were logical, insightful, gentle, and empathetic. To meet a woman with such talent, beauty, and wisdom in this lifetime would be a life without regrets, truly a worthwhile experience!"

Xiao Yan, unable to bear it any longer, said: "Get out of here."

The King of Chu suppressed a laugh and said, "Then I will not disturb Your Majesty any longer."

He bowed and left.