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

Song Shuangning winked at Tingyu, who understood and said, "My lady, why did you save Consort Shu? Consort Shu doesn't seem to like you, and I'm afraid she won't be grateful to you."

Song Shuangning's voice was gentle and warm: "I never thought that Consort Shu would remember this kindness, nor does she need to thank me. What I did was simply an act of kindness within my power."

"Listening to the rain, have you ever heard this saying?"

"Love begets love, and blessings return to those who give them. The kindness you give will surely flow back to you someday."

Tingyu said, "Your Highness is too kind."

Song Shuangning glanced at the man who was still eavesdropping out of the corner of her eye and couldn't help but mutter softly, "How can the ruler of a country be eavesdropping like this?"

However, Song Shuangning really misunderstood Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan didn't intend to eavesdrop, and it just so happened that he overheard their conversation.

When Xiao Yan thought about how Song Shuangning saved Consort Shu today, he was initially alarmed, but later he was surprised. Back then, Consort Shu had deliberately made things difficult for her, yet she was able to completely forgive and forget.

What surprised Xiao Yan even more was Song Shuangning's selfless words and the saying, "Those who give love will receive love in return, and those who give blessings will receive blessings in return."

He had always thought that this sentence only existed in the ideal world of books, but he never expected that someone could actually put this purity into action.

Xiao Yan thought to himself: This silly girl is even kinder and purer than he had imagined. How could there truly be such purity and beauty in this world as "love begets love, and blessings return to those who give them"?

He pushed open the door and entered. Song Shuangning looked over in surprise, "Your Majesty?"

Seeing that she was about to get up and bow, Xiao Yan quickly went over and stopped her, saying, "There's no need for such formalities."

Tingyu and Li Fuquan quietly withdrew.

"Does the injury on your arm still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt much anymore."

Although the injury wasn't deep, how could it not hurt? Xiao Yan guessed that she was just putting on a brave face and didn't want him to worry.

Xiao Yan ruffled her hair and said sternly, "Ningning, you can't be so impulsive like today in the future. Do you understand?"

Song Shuangning's eyes were clear and bright. "I didn't think that much today. At that time, Consort Qiao rushed straight at Consort Shu, and Consort Shu was frightened. So I took the opportunity to pull Consort Shu back."

"Then remember this: from now on, just take good care of yourself," Xiao Yan said seriously.

He realized that this woman was too kind and too naive.

This time we got lucky, but what about next time? And the time after that?

Since he had promised to protect her, he would definitely keep his word.

Song Shuangning happily hugged Xiao Yan's shoulder and rested her head on it, "Is Your Majesty worried about me? I'm so happy."

Her voice is soft and gentle, which is very soothing.

Xiao Yan pulled her into his arms, sighed softly, and recalled the danger of the day, and couldn't help but curse her as "stupid".

Song Shuangning pouted: "Why is Your Majesty scolding your concubines again?"

"Again?" Xiao Yan chuckled in exasperation. "I'm always scolding you? Hmm?"

Song Shuangning gave a confident "hmm" and said, "Last time, His Majesty scolded me for being afraid that I was stupid."

Xiao Yan remembered. He had said, "Are you stupid? Doing this will only make Consort Rong resent you even more."

Is this considered an insult to her?

"You heartless little brat."

"All you can think about is how many times I've scolded you."

Song Shuangning's eyes sparkled, and her voice rose slightly at the end of her sentence: "I have always remembered how good Your Majesty has been to me, which is why I like Your Majesty more and more."

Xiao Yan coughed lightly and turned his face away.

Seeing Xiao Yan's reddened earlobes, Song Shuangning chuckled to herself. She was never shy about saying sweet nothings to people she didn't like. But it was definitely different with someone she liked.

Xiao Yan still has some affection and interest in her now, which is why he doesn't want anything to happen to her. If he no longer likes her in the future, he probably won't care whether she lives or dies.

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.

After ten days of rest, the injury on my arm finally healed.

When Qiu Baolin found out, he couldn't wait to ask Song Shuangning to go out for a stroll.

Upon arriving at the Lin Garden, they found the eldest princess, the second prince, and the third prince playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football). The eldest princess and the two princes were of similar age and had always enjoyed playing together.

Song Shuangning and Qiu Baolin stood there for a moment, and just as they were about to leave, a sound of crying came from inside.

The second prince and the third prince got into a fight. In a fit of anger, the second prince pushed the third prince to the ground. The third prince also fell hard to the ground, scraping his palm. Seeing the third prince fall, Consort Shao and Consort Xu could not sit still and immediately got up and rushed forward.

Yun Zhaorong was somewhat embarrassed and pulled the Second Prince aside to scold him: "How could you push your brother? Go and apologize to him."

The second prince refused, saying, "I don't want to. I hate him. I don't want to play with him."

"In that case, we won't stay with the Second Prince, lest we be bullied again," Consort Shao said calmly. Although the Third Prince was not Consort Shao's biological son, she had raised him for so many years and had developed feelings for him.

Consort Yun said awkwardly, "Sister Consort Shao, the child was ignorant. I apologize to you and the Third Prince on behalf of Hongtai."

Consort Shao's face showed no extra expression, and her tone was flat, "No need, I can't accept that."

After saying this, Consort Shao and Consort Xu took the Third Prince away.

The Empress sighed and said to the embarrassed Consort Yun, "You don't need to worry too much. Consort Shao and Consort Xu have always doted on Hongcheng, as you know. Another day, you can bring Hongtai to visit them in person to apologize, and this matter will be over."

Consort Yun nodded: "I know."

After watching the excitement, Song Shuangning tugged at Qiu Baolin's sleeve, who was engrossed in the spectacle, and whispered, "Let's go."

"Um."

Song Shuangning discovered that Qiu Baolin, like her, loved watching the excitement.

Qiu Baolin pondered, "Sister Song, the Second Prince has such a bad temper, why does the Eldest Princess still want to play with him?"

Song Shuangning subconsciously shushed her, "Let's not talk about these things in public."

"Oh. Look at me, I'm so silly." Qiu Baolin smiled innocently.

Song Shuangning seriously considered the question Qiu Baolin had just raised: Why was the eldest princess still willing to play with the second prince, who had such a bad temper?

The Empress dotes on the eldest princess and doesn't want her to suffer.

Could it be that he's using the friendship between the two children to get closer to Yun Zhaorong?

As night fell, Song Shuang was quietly leaning against the couch reading a storybook when Tingyu came in and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty first went to visit the Third Prince, and then reprimanded the Second Prince and Consort Yun."

Song Shuangning closed the storybook. Rumors were circulating in the palace that the Emperor loved and favored the Third Prince more, and it was indeed true. For example, the Emperor visited the Third Prince more often.

It is said that the second prince is mediocre and has a bad temper, while the third prince is intelligent and clever.

Song Shuangning stared at the flickering candlelight, lost in thought. She felt that this matter was not so simple.