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

The five-day autumn hunt concluded, and they set off to return to the palace.

Upon returning to Cangdong Pavilion, Song Shuangning immediately summoned Tinglu.

"How is it? Has Xiaohe made any moves?"

Tinglu held a neatly folded white paper package in both hands.

"Your Highness's guess was indeed correct. While we were not paying attention, Xiaohe secretly slipped into your bedchamber and placed this in the bottom corner of your jewelry box on your dressing table."

Song Shuangning took it; the paper package was folded neatly, and she could vaguely feel the fine powder inside.

She raised an eyebrow slightly: "So soon, you can't wait to make your move?"

Tinglu asked, "My lady, shall we take Xiaohe?"

Song Shuangning rested her chin on her hand, gazing at her flawless face in the bronze mirror, and slowly said, "No rush. Go to the Imperial Hospital and invite Physician Zhang over. Tell him I'm feeling unwell due to the long journey."

"Yes." After hearing this, he saw Xiao He looking up and peering out, a flash of disgust crossed his eyes, and then he said, "Your Highness has been traveling for too long and is feeling unwell. Please ask Physician Zhang to come over."

"Yes, I'll go right away."

When Physician Zhang arrived, Song Shuangning stopped hiding anything and handed him the packet of powder, saying, "Take a look at this."

Physician Zhang smelled it and said, "This smells like ginkgo."

What is a ginkgo nut?

"Ginkgo seeds are the seeds of the ginkgo tree. They are neutral in nature but poisonous. If consumed in excess, they can cause nausea, vomiting, and convulsions."

"I see."

Song Shuangning smiled gently. "Song Luowei, since you are so heartless and eager to take action, then I have no choice but to play this game to the end."

I'll go with the flow and give you a ride.

"I still have to put on a show, so I'll trouble the imperial physician to prescribe some calming medicine for me."

The night was cool and still, and the moon's shadow spread across the steps like a thin layer of frost.

Xiao He tiptoed back; she had just come out of Song Luowei's Tingzhu Pavilion. As she rounded the corner of the corridor, a dark shadow suddenly flashed past behind her.

Her heart tightened, and she turned around abruptly. Under the moonlight, there were only dappled shadows of trees, and not a single person in sight.

Xiaohe suppressed her unease and quickened her pace, when suddenly a pair of well-defined hands reached out from the side and tightly covered her mouth and nose.

Xiaohe struggled desperately, kicking her limbs a few times, but gradually lost her strength and collapsed to the ground.

Quanlu placed a small packet of ginkgo powder and a bracelet on her body, then dragged it to an abandoned well deep inside the Summer Palace and tossed it aside.

The muffled sound was swallowed up by the night.

After finishing all this, Quanlu straightened up, dusted off his hands, and curled a cold smile at the corner of his mouth: "Who can you blame for this? It's just that you were blind to choose the wrong master, and you deserved to lose your life."

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 several days of calm, Song Shuangning kept wondering when Song Luowei would make her move.

Just as she was pondering this, Li Fuquan arrived at Cangdong Pavilion, his face beaming with smiles, and told her that the Emperor had summoned her to the Qinzheng Hall to serve him with writing materials.

Song Shuangning suddenly smiled. The sky outside was gloomy and oppressive, and the wind was swirling fallen leaves around.

This is definitely a sign that a storm is brewing.

Before going to the Hall of Diligent Governance, she told Tinglu, "Keep a close eye on the movements of Tingzhu Pavilion."

Based on her understanding of Song Luowei, she knew that the Emperor's favor towards her was growing stronger, and Song Luowei, who was known for her jealousy and impulsiveness, would definitely not sit still and would surely take action in the next few days.

But who exactly is Song Luowei trying to harm?

Qinzheng Hall.

The memorials on the table were piled high. Xiao Yan was staring intently at the memorial in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed. He didn't even notice when Song Shuangning came in.

Only when she approached quietly and called out "Your Majesty" in a low voice did he look up, his tense brows relaxing. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"It's because Your Majesty is too focused."

Today she wore an apricot-red silk skirt, a hairpin dangling from her hair, and two small red-gold beads adorning her temples, their subtle shimmer pleasing to the eye. She was a pleasing sight to behold.

Xiao Yan reached out and pulled her onto his lap. Song Shuangning casually asked, "Why did Your Majesty suddenly summon a concubine to serve you with writing materials?"

In her memory, the emperor did not seem to like his concubines stepping into the Hall of Diligent Governance.

There will most likely be thunder today.

Song Shuangning was stunned. She had casually made up a story about being afraid of thunder, and Xiao Yan had actually remembered it? So, he called her over today because she was afraid?

It has to be said, Xiao Yan is really considerate.

Seeing her stunned expression, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile and ask, "What are you thinking about?"

A glint of light shimmered in Song Shuangning's eyes: "I just didn't expect that Your Majesty would still remember my fear of thunder."

"I am so touched." Her expression revealed undisguised sincerity.

Xiao Yan smiled faintly: "Is such a small matter worth being so moved?"

"worth!"

"Perhaps it is a trivial matter in the Emperor's heart, but it is of utmost importance to the concubines."

Xiao Yan thought to himself: This woman is too easily moved.

Song Shuangning noticed Xiao Yan's slightly furrowed brows and gently placed her hand over his brows.

"Is something troubling Your Majesty?"

Xiao Yan gazed into deep thought and sighed, "A locust plague struck during the autumn harvest season, devouring all the crops in the fields. Very little grain was harvested, and the people are suffering terribly. If this continues, the national treasury will definitely see a significant reduction in grain production."

As he spoke, he placed the memorial in Song Shuangning's hand, indicating that she should read it herself.

After a moment's thought, Song Shuangning said, "How about I offer you a few suggestions?"

"Tell me," Xiao Yan said, a glint in his eyes, somewhat anticipating what suggestions she might offer.

"The locust plague is severe, the people are disheartened and fleeing in droves, and the officials are helpless and passing the buck. I think that since the locust plague has already started, it would be better to first go village by village to collect data on the disaster and draw up maps to identify the hardest-hit areas. Officials should organize the people into sections to take responsibility for digging deep ditches, setting traps to drive away and kill the locusts. At the same time, they should encourage the people to turn over the soil and expose the locust eggs to the sun. The government should provide subsidies so that farmers can use chickens and ducks to eat the locusts. They can also use mugwort and chili stalks to burn and drive away the locusts, and spread wood ash and lime powder to block the locusts from feeding and breeding. The collected locusts should be dried and used as relief food to distribute to the people who are fighting the locusts. Grain merchants should be prohibited from raising prices. After the disaster, buckwheat and millet and other fast-growing grains should be replanted. This way, we can solve the immediate problem and prevent future disasters. It is much more effective than praying to gods and Buddhas and fighting the disease on our own!"

Xiao Yan nodded approvingly, his previous anxiety completely gone, and even his voice was filled with satisfaction: "Not bad, this is a very good idea."

"How could a sheltered young woman like you come up with such a meticulous plan? Where did you learn all this?"

Xiao Yan became increasingly curious about her.

She is like a pearl buried in fine sand; only by putting in the effort and persisting in exploring can one glimpse her unknown brilliance.

Song Shuangning lowered her eyes, looking somewhat shy.

"Your Majesty flatters me. When I was still in the palace, I enjoyed reading miscellaneous books and agricultural treatises. Occasionally, I would overhear the servants and the common people talking about emergency methods in the fields."

In modern times, she had witnessed similar disasters, and she had seen those scientifically coordinated locust control measures and resource utilization methods in the news. Now, it was just a matter of using terms that were understandable in ancient times.

Back then, I could only watch the news with my grandfather. I found the news boring then, but now I'm glad I did.

"Ningning is so clever, she's truly a treasure," Xiao Yan praised her.

Xiao Yan picked up a pen and wrote a few words on the paper in a flowing, elegant style. Then he picked her up and carried her toward the Zichen Palace. Song Shuangning pounded his chest and said, "Your Majesty, it's still early."

"Yeah?"

"I thought it was very late."

……

Xiao Yan was unusually gentle, which made Song Shuangning suspect that he had been possessed.

It's raining tonight.

The instant lightning cleaved through the darkness, the rain burst into a white mist, and thunder crashed down, raindrops lashing against the window. Rain clung to the window frame, and the thunder rumbled from the clouds, first with a dull thud, making the copper bells on the eaves tremble slightly.

As the thunder roared, the rain intensified, pouring down onto the blue bricks. The last clap of thunder subsided, and the rain softened, dripping softly from the eaves.

After washing her up, Xiao Yan held her and lay down. "Go to sleep."

Song Shuangning nestled in his arms and murmured, "Your Majesty, with you here, I am not afraid at all."