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

Xiao Yan was furious. "She is already frail, and it's freezing cold outside. Li Fuquan, you are doing things more and more to my liking these days. Why don't you call her in now?"

"Yes." After being scolded, Li Fuquan went out to fetch someone, looking aggrieved.

A moment later, a figure stumbled in, and a soft, warm body threw itself into his arms.

Song Shuangning hugged his neck tightly, her voice trembling as she cried, "Thank goodness, Your Majesty, you're alright now, sob sob sob."

Xiao Yan swallowed back the reprimand that was on the tip of his tongue, feeling a softening in his heart. "Alright, I'm fine now, don't cry."

Song Shuangning cried for nearly fifteen minutes.

Outside, she truly believed she was going to be buried with him.

Xiao Yan put his arm around her waist. Her heart, barren for many years, suddenly sprouted tiny green shoots, radiating a long-lost vitality.

In the dense forest, the image of her standing in front of him, and the figure trying to suck out the toxins for him, are now clearly visible before my eyes.

At this critical moment of life and death, her slender figure resolutely stood in front of him.

She was timid; she was so frightened that her body trembled, but she didn't have the slightest thought of backing down.

A person's subconscious reaction is what truly reveals their heart.

So, there really is someone in this world who is so deeply in love with him. Xiao Yan lifted her head; her eyelashes were wet with tears, and her usually refined appearance was now somewhat disheveled.

Xiao Yan gently brushed his fingertips across the corners of her reddened eyes. Gazing into those eyes shimmering with moisture, he felt that she was more captivating than ever before.

Xiao Yan couldn't help but kiss her soft yet cold lips, saying, "I'm alright."

Xiao Yan lifted the brocade quilt. "Come in and lie down for a while."

Song Shuangning didn't hesitate, took off her outer robe and boots, and lay down beside him.

Xiao Yan put his arm around her shoulder with his uninjured hand and whispered, "Sleep, I'm here."

"Mmm." Song Shuangning leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and slowly closed her eyes.

After a whole day of worry and fear, I'm actually quite sleepy.

Xiao Yan rested his chin on her forehead, silently pondering:

From now on, we should treat her better.

She had not had a happy life for more than ten years before entering the palace, so in the days to come, we should try our best to make her life more comfortable.

He looked down at the sleeping woman, a tender expression on his face, and placed a kiss on her forehead: "Sleep."

He wasn't sleepy anymore, so he gently lifted Song Shuangning's head and placed it on the pillow beside him.

He put on an outer robe, walked quietly to the outer room, sat on a chair for a while, tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, and said in a deep voice, "Summon the Empress."

A moment later, the Empress rushed over, "Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan shushed her.

The Empress immediately fell silent.

Then, the Emperor quickly glanced into the inner room.

The Empress realized that Consort Song might be resting inside, and she couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Your Majesty, I have heard there are assassins in the hunting grounds. Your injury..."

"She is out of danger, Your Majesty, please rest assured."

The Empress breathed a sigh of relief. "His Majesty is a divine being, blessed by the gods, and his good fortune will surely continue."

Xiao Yan listened to these words in a nonchalant manner.

"I have summoned the Empress for two matters—"

"Firstly, I intend to promote Consort Song to the rank of Noble Consort and give her a title."

The empress froze, momentarily speechless.

She hadn't expected the Emperor to summon her for this matter, and her heart was filled with bitterness.

Her husband was injured, and she prayed anxiously to the gods and Buddha for protection, but the first thing her husband said was to promote other women to higher positions.

How ridiculous! But she was the legal wife and the empress, so she had to be magnanimous.

She forced a smile: "Consort Song saved the Third Prince and should be promoted. After returning to the palace, I will have the Imperial Household Department draft a title for her."

It wasn't just because she saved Hongcheng, but also because she risked her life to save the emperor today. Xiao Yan thought to himself.

"No need," Xiao Yan said calmly. "I have already decided on the title."

The Emperor actually intends to personally determine Consort Song's title? The titles of Consort Su and Consort Shao were originally decided by the Imperial Household Department…

"A new year begins. The decree will be announced upon our return to the palace."

A new beginning: a fresh start, full of vitality.

"Yuan?" the Empress asked with some uncertainty.

Xiao Yan took a sip of tea and nodded.

The character "元" signifies that the person is the "first" and "most important" in the emperor's heart, a symbol of being favored and highly recognized, and also demonstrates the emperor's extreme regard for his concubines.

The Emperor actually bestowed this character as a title upon Consort Song! The Emperor truly cares deeply for Consort Song.

The Empress clenched her hand hidden in her sleeve and forced a smile, saying, "The character 'Yuan' is truly excellent."

"Secondly, I wish to register Hongtai's imperial edict in your name as soon as possible. Hongtai's birth mother is wicked; the sooner she changes her ways, the sooner I will be at peace."

This was perhaps the only thing that had brought her joy recently. A hint of happiness instantly appeared in the Empress's eyes, and she replied gently, "Your Majesty, I will certainly teach Hongtai well."

Xiao Yan rubbed his temples wearily, and the Empress said, "Then I will not disturb Your Majesty any longer."

"Um."

As soon as the Empress left, the sound of footsteps came from the inner room. Song Shuangning ran barefoot to Xiao Yan's side and snuggled into his lap.

"Where is Your Majesty going?" Her arms and legs were wrapped tightly around Xiao Yan.

"Did I wake you up?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile.

Song Shuangning nuzzled her face against Xiao Yan's neck, pouting, "This concubine opens her eyes but sees no sign of the Emperor, this concubine is afraid."

"When did you become so timid?"

Song Shuangning remained silent.

Xiao Yan guessed that she was still shaken by the assassination attempt earlier that day, and gently patted her back: "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Song Shuangning nestled in his arms, a slow smile spreading across her face.

She had never seen the Emperor so gentle before; this risky move today had ultimately been the right one.

For emperors, nothing is more precious than sincerity, especially in times of crisis.

She heard the Emperor and Empress's conversation clearly, and her lips curled up slightly, her smile as faint as a thin mist.

Imperial Concubine, title.

great.

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.

[More readers like the character "元"! So we finally settled on "元". The character "元" is a bit heavy, and I did hesitate a bit, but then I thought about it, and this book is essentially a sweet (and satisfying) story, so as long as I enjoy reading it, that's fine. The book isn't long either, about 200,000 to 300,000 words. |(￣3￣)|]