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

The pulse diagnosis is performed every three days, and today it just so happens that Physician Zhang has come to request a pulse diagnosis.

After taking your pulse, Physician Zhang withdrew his hand and said with a smile, "Your Highness's pent-up heat has subsided, and your pulse has returned to normal. You no longer need to take the previous prescription for nourishing yin, reducing fire, and clearing pent-up heat. Next, I will prescribe a mild and tonifying formula for you to gradually regulate your qi and blood and stabilize your body."

Song Shuangning nodded slightly: "Thank you for your hard work, Physician Zhang."

Physician Zhang bowed and said, "Your Highness is too kind. I am deeply grateful for His Majesty's trust in allowing me to take care of your health. This is my duty. Rest assured, Your Highness, your health will be well taken care of, and you will surely enjoy great fortune and good health in the future."

The flattery in those words was so obvious that Song Shuangning naturally noticed it.

This Physician Zhang was nearly forty years old and had always held a mediocre position in the Imperial Medical Academy, while Physician Li, who was the same age, had long been promoted to the position of Dean.

Is his deliberate flattery motivated by a desire for personal gain? Or has he accepted bribes from others?

But then he thought again that he was indeed acting on the Emperor's orders to recuperate her, and given the fate of Physician Zeng, he probably wouldn't dare to have any other thoughts.

She smiled faintly and said in a calm tone, "Thank you for your kind words, Physician Zhang. If I can be healthy and live a peaceful life, I will be very satisfied."

"However," Song Shuangning probed tentatively, "how long will it take for my body to recover before I can conceive a royal heir?"

Physician Zhang's expression turned serious: "Your current condition requires you to replenish your qi and blood and strengthen your foundation."

The Emperor had specifically instructed that Consort Song must not know about the contraceptive medicine.

A knowing glint flashed in Song Shuangning's eyes. Since Physician Zhang said so, it meant that she wouldn't have an easy time conceiving a royal heir. This accidental turn of events had fulfilled her wish.

She sighed softly and continued, "This matter cannot be rushed. Consort Rongxian is deeply favored, yet there has been no progress in three years."

Upon hearing this, Physician Zhang's expression turned slightly somber. Although he wasn't in charge of Consort Rongxian's health, he had heard some inside information. However, this inside information was a top secret in the Imperial Hospital, known to everyone but kept to themselves, and absolutely not to be uttered a single word.

Physician Zhang bowed, not daring to reveal too much: "His Majesty once bestowed upon Consort Rong a fertility-enhancing medicine, which is said to be a unique formula... I have heard a saying that offspring are all preordained by Heaven, so Your Highness should not be anxious."

A unique fertility-enhancing drug? What a wonderful "unique" claim.

Song Shuangning gave Tingyu a wink, and Tingyu handed a purse to Physician Zhang.

"I understand. Thank you for your hard work today. You can go now."

Physician Zhang accepted it with a smile: "Thank you, Your Highness. This humble servant takes his leave."

When Tingyu saw Physician Zhang off, she turned back into the house and saw Song Shuangning staring blankly out the window.

"What are you thinking about, my lady?"

Song Shuangning snapped out of her daze and gently shook her head.

She picked up her pen and wrote a letter.

"Have Quanlu find a way to deliver this letter to my aunt. Have her find out about Physician Zhang's family background, who else is in the household, and investigate carefully, without alerting anyone else."

Right now, she really needs a royal physician who can serve her. Finding a trustworthy royal physician in the harem is far more important than she imagined.

If she wasn't mistaken, the "pregnancy-enhancing medicine" that Consort Rongxian had was actually a contraceptive, which would explain why Consort Rongxian had been unable to conceive.

Your heart is hard to fathom.

To outsiders, Consort Rong was the most favored and the one the Emperor valued most. But in reality, she was also the one most feared.

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.

The crescent moon, bright as a silver plate, hangs in the dark blue sky, stars dot the night sky, and the night breeze makes the night scene exceptionally serene.

Xiao Yan, aboard the imperial carriage, reeked of alcohol, his face flushed, and his head spinning; he was already quite drunk. The King of Chu had come to the palace that evening, and the two had drunk a few extra cups.

Li Fuquan looked up: "Your Majesty, where shall we rest tonight?"

Xiao Yan waved his hand.

Li Fuquan tentatively asked, "Shall we go to Consort Rongxian's Ningxiang Garden?"

"I'm not going."

"Then let's go to Consort Shu's place?" Li Fuquan asked again.

Xiao Yan said impatiently, "I'm not going."

After a moment's thought, Li Fuquan suggested, "How about we go to Consort Song's Pillow Star Pavilion?"

"Hmm." Xiao Yan opened his eyes and responded in a muffled voice.

I haven't seen her for a few days.

Li Fuquan let out a soft breath, "Prepare the carriage for the Pillow Star Pavilion."

Just as Song Shuangning had settled down to rest, a report came from outside that the Emperor had arrived. She sighed softly, casually put on her outer robe, and got up to go out and greet him.

As soon as I got closer, I could smell the alcohol.

Well, even when she's drunk, I still have to bother her.

Song Shuangning supported Xiao Yan's swaying body, "This concubine greets Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan placed his hand on her shoulder, his entire weight pressing down on her. Song Shuangning let out a soft sigh and turned her head with difficulty: "Chief Eunuch Li, please help His Majesty."

Li Fuquan responded with an "Eh."

After helping Xiao Yan into the house, Song Shuangning painstakingly took off Xiao Yan's clothes and boots. Then she called someone to bring a basin of water, wrung out a cloth, and carefully wiped Xiao Yan's face.

After doing all that, she was exhausted. She lay down next to Xiao Yan, and as soon as she closed her eyes, she was overcome with sleepiness. She had only one thought: to sleep until the world went dark.

In her half-asleep state, a large hand was groping her body.

She was so tired that she instinctively slapped it down hard.

Xiao Yan winced in pain; how could this little girl hit him so hard?

He leaned close to her ear again, his voice deep and magnetic as he called, "Ningning."

Song Shuangning assumed he was talking nonsense while drunk, turned around and patted his back: "Go to sleep, Your Majesty."

……

Song Shuangning's eyes widened.

Perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, Xiao Yan whispered many incoherent words in her ear.

Looking at the man who only cared about himself, Song Shuangning felt a surge of grievance and anger.

She didn't know where she got the courage, but she kicked Xiao Yan hard.

Xiao Yan was stunned by the kick. Looking at her red eyes and bleeding lips, he felt a pang of heartache and was about to wipe away her tears.

However, upon further reflection, he realized that he was the emperor and could not tolerate her being so presumptuous.

Where did she throw all sense of hierarchy? How dare she kick me? She's truly spoiled. A surge of anger immediately rose within me.

Song Shuangning pulled the blanket over herself, her body still trembling slightly from sobbing.

He put on his undergarments and shouted outside, "Li Fuquan!"

Li Fuquan was startled and rushed in, saying, "This servant is here."

"Walk."

The emperor's clothes were disheveled, his outer robe hanging loosely on his body. Even though the candles had been extinguished, why was he suddenly angry?

"Ah. Oh." Li Fuquan hurriedly followed Xiao Yan away.

Tingyu lifted the curtain and entered the palace, finding Song Shuangning still sobbing softly. Her heart ached terribly, and she rushed over, crying, "My lady, what's wrong?"

Song Shuangning turned over: "Tingyu, go get the plaster."

Tingyu immediately understood, "My lady, please wait for me a moment."