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

Zhaoyang Palace.

Consort Rong sat there for most of the day, her eyes filled with barely suppressed anxiety.

"How is it? Did Consort Shu miscarry?"

Xia Yun shrank back in fright, stammering, "Your Majesty, Consort Shu did not miscarry."

Consort Rong's heart sank instantly. She sneered, "She's really lucky. After all that, she still managed to keep her child."

"That's enough."

If either Consort Shu or Consort Song could be eliminated, all her efforts would have been worthwhile.

"Is everything cleaned up?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Qiu Chan has burned the sachet and buried the ashes in the soil in the courtyard."

Consort Rong raised the corners of her lips: "That's good then."

Many concubines used the pretext of bringing gifts to visit Consort Shu, but their real intention was to inquire about the progress of her pregnancy. However, they were all turned away at the door and given the cold shoulder. After the incident of bleeding, Consort Shu is now very wary and doesn't trust anyone.

Song Shuangning also went to deliver the gift. Consort Shu was stunned for a moment, frowned and pondered for a while, then called her in.

After all, it was Song Shuangning who saved her last time, and Consort Shu's opinion of her changed a lot. She felt that she was different from those sycophantic concubines.

Song Shuangning gave her a ginseng, which was a gift from the Empress last time.

The important thing is not the etiquette, but to remind Consort Shu.

Song Shuangning curtsied: "Your Majesty, I have not only come to visit you today, but there is also something else I wish to say, though I am not sure if I should."

Consort Shu looked up at her and said, "Go ahead and speak."

Song Shuangning lowered her voice: "Your Majesty, have you noticed that Consort Rong has been wearing a sachet lately?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu remembered, "You mean, there's something wrong with that sachet?"

Song Shuangning added softly, "This is just something I came up with by chance. I thought I'd mention it to Your Majesty so you'd be on the safe side. In my memory, Consort Rongxian doesn't like wearing sachets, but this time she's been wearing one for half a month, which is unusual."

Consort Shu sneered, her eyes filled with hatred: "It must be her! I also remember that she never carries a sachet, and the imperial physician said that I came into contact with something that promotes blood circulation."

"That vile woman can't stand to see me doing well," Consort Shu said, growing angrier with each thought. She threw back the quilt and declared, "I'm going to tell the Emperor."

Song Shuangning pressed her hand down and said helplessly, "Your Majesty, Consort Rongxian must have already dealt with that sachet. Everything requires evidence. If you don't have evidence, the Emperor won't favor you."

Consort Shu's chest heaved with anger: "Am I supposed to suffer in silence?"

Song Shuangning said, "The truth will eventually come out. Consort Rong will eventually give herself away. Right now, the most important thing is for you to focus on your pregnancy."

Consort Shu gradually calmed down and stared at Song Shuangning for a while: "Why did you tell me all this?"

"Last time in the Imperial Garden, someone deliberately made things difficult for me, and it was Your Majesty who spoke up for me." Song Shuangning smiled. "I will always remember this kindness. If Your Majesty is careful enough to give birth to a prince smoothly, I will be happy too."

Consort Shu snorted: "Don't flatter yourself."

After a moment, her tone softened: "But then again, you helped me both this time and last time, and I will remember that kindness."

Song Shuangning smiled and said, "Then this concubine will not disturb Your Majesty's pregnancy."

After Song Shuangning left, Consort Shu's hatred never dissipated. She had to quickly have someone keep an eye on the movements in Zhaoyang Palace. That vile Consort Rongxian would find something to hold against her sooner or later!

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 next morning, Consort Shu hurriedly sent a maid to Fengyi Palace to convey a message, requesting the Empress to thoroughly investigate Zhaoyang Palace, where Consort Rong resided.

She said that there must be a fragrance in Consort Rongxian's palace that could cause miscarriage, and it was this fragrance that caused her to bleed and almost miscarry.

Consort Rongxian was startled: How did Consort Shu know? Did someone inform on her?

Xia Yun gave her a reassuring look.

The acacia fragrance has already been dealt with, so she doesn't need to worry.

Although the Empress disliked Consort Rong, she couldn't target her so openly.

Unexpectedly, Consort Rongxian stepped forward and said, "This matter concerns the imperial heir. I am willing to cooperate with a thorough investigation, but if you are going to investigate, you should investigate the entire six palaces. You can't just focus on my Zhaoyang Palace."

A hint of surprise flashed across the Empress's eyes, and a doubt arose in her heart. She looked up at Consort Rongxian.

The person who used to be most confrontational is now cooperating so readily with the thorough investigation.

The Empress first submitted a request to the Emperor to search the palace. After the Emperor approved it with his own cinnabar, he ordered Li Fuquan to lead a thorough search of the six palaces. The Empress immediately issued the order, and Li Fuquan led the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department to thoroughly search the six palaces, leaving no corner untouched, not even the side halls and storerooms.

The concubines sat quietly in their chairs, waiting.

A storm is brewing; the atmosphere in the imperial harem is about to change.

Half an hour later, the Emperor arrived, and soon after, Li Fuquan brought in a set of neatly folded clothes.

Song Shuangning looked up and showed a surprised expression.

Li Fuquan stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, these clothes are scented with acacia fragrance and were found in Consort Song's Winter Storage Pavilion."

Consort Rong's lips curled into a half-smile, her eyes conveying an indescribable sense of relaxation and smugness.

When Xiao Yan heard that the fragrance of acacia had come from Song Shuangning's clothes, he frowned almost imperceptibly and looked at Song Shuangning.

Song Shuangning's eyes widened slightly, and a layer of mist quickly filled her eyes, her expression full of confusion and fear.

She met Xiao Yan's gaze, and Xiao Yan stared at her, his emotions unreadable.

Her eyes were as clear as glass immersed in a spring, and a hint of timid gentleness was hidden in her gaze.

Song Shuangning gently shook her head: "This concubine has no knowledge of this matter..."

Yun Zhaorong added fuel to the fire, saying, "These clothes are yours, what's there to argue about?"

Consort Ye said, "That's right, Consort Song's clothes match this fragrance, the evidence is conclusive."

Song Shuangning's face was slightly pale: "That emerald green dress was a new one that was just sent by the Imperial Wardrobe. I didn't even have time to put it on."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a concubine scoffed and retorted, "It's one thing that you haven't worn the new clothes, but your other clothes in the palace are also tainted with the fragrance of acacia. How do you explain that?"

Xiao Yan naturally believed Song Shuangning, but with the evidence so conclusive, he couldn't so directly side with her.

Consort Rong sat upright in her chair, her fingertips casually stroking the jade bracelet on her wrist, a hint of certainty flashing in her eyes.

This time, Song Shuangning has no chance of escaping.

A faint smile played on her lips, her expression calm yet revealing an undeniable determination.

I can picture Song Shuangning falling into the abyss, never to recover, and just thinking about it makes me feel relieved.

Seeing this, the other concubines in the hall exchanged glances, their eyes filled with undisguised schadenfreude: some covered their lips with handkerchiefs, their eyebrows and eyes brimming with the smiles of watching a spectacle; others raised their eyebrows slightly, their eyes carrying a hint of amusement at watching a good show.

Others feigned regret with a light sigh, but their tone betrayed a secret smugness, as they waited to see how Consort Song would be utterly disgraced.

Song Shuangning suddenly covered her mouth and vomited, her face turning deathly pale, and collapsed to the ground in agony.

The concubines, who had just been gloating, instantly changed their expressions.

Consort Song, could you be pregnant?

The Empress hurriedly said, "Consort Song, please sit down. Summon a royal physician to take a look."

The happiest person was Song Chongyi, who quickly helped Song Shuangning sit down.

Consort Rong clenched her fists silently.