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

Song Shuangning took Xiao Yan's arm and walked inside. "I've prepared a pot."

Upon entering the room, Xiao Yan's gaze fell on the table, and he subconsciously raised an eyebrow.

Pork and rabbit meat are common in ordinary hot pots.

But these paper-thin meat rolls and fish balls coated in egg... he had never seen these dishes before, so he couldn't help but bend down to take a closer look.

Xiao Yan kept staring at the shrimp paste, so Song Shuangning introduced it to him, "This is shrimp paste."

"Shrimp paste?"

"Use live shrimp, peel them, and mince them."

Xiao Yan immediately became interested, "This is the first time I've ever seen this way of eating."

Song Shuangning smiled and said, "I also suddenly discovered this way of eating a while ago, and it's especially delicious."

Xiao Yan gently stroked the top of her head with his palm, his tone amused: "So Ningning has some knowledge about food."

"I am but a common woman, all I know is how to study food."

The pot was bubbling and steaming, and the aroma of meat and fresh vegetables wafted through the air.

Xiao Yan was clearly aroused by Shi Yu. He slowly sat down in the main seat and then took Song Shuangning's hand to make her sit down next to him.

"We'll dine together; you don't need to serve me anymore."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Song Shuangning sat down without ceremony, picked up a piece of shrimp paste and placed it on Xiao Yan's jade plate, "Your Majesty, please try it."

Xiao Yan picked up his silver chopsticks, dipped them in the sauce in the dish, and slowly put them into his mouth.

The moment it enters your mouth, the fresh and fragrant flavor spreads, and you are immediately amazed by this novel taste.

Xiao Yan paused for a moment.

He raised an eyebrow and asked, "This sauce is quite special."

Song Shuangning laughed, "That's right, this is a secret recipe she wrote down back in modern times, it's even delicious with shoe soles."

"This is a unique recipe that I devised; you will never find it anywhere else."

Xiao Yan smiled, "Then I'll have to come here often to enjoy this delicious food."

The hot pot meal lasted a full half hour, and both of them ate to their hearts' content. There was hardly any food left on the table, and Xiao Yan, for once, ate to his heart's content, completely forgetting his usual dietary rules.

The two took a walk in the courtyard to digest their food, and then returned to the palace to rest on the couch.

Song Shuangning inadvertently glanced at the sachet at Xiao Yan's waist. He hadn't been wearing it for some time, but he was wearing it today, and it wasn't the one she had given him.

A slight displeasure welled up in her heart; what did it mean that he came to see her wearing a sachet given to him by another woman?

She asked casually, "Your Majesty, where is the sachet I gave you? Is it dirty?"

Upon hearing Song Shuangning's question, Xiao Yan immediately felt guilty.

He remembered the last time Song Shuangning had thrown a tantrum at him, he had taken off the sachet in a fit of anger and casually tossed it onto the table in the Hall of Diligent Governance.

After that, he never saw it again.

Li Fuquan is also dead, shouldn't we remind him?

Song Shuangning noticed Xiao Yan's hesitation and chuckled inwardly.

He doesn't want to wear it, and he's not happy to do it either.

"emperor?"

Xiao Yan snapped out of his reverie: "Oh, the sachet you made, I've put it away."

We'll have Li Fuquan find him tomorrow.

Song Shuangning turned her face slightly away, avoiding Xiao Yan's gaze, her tone carrying a hint of feigned indifference and disappointment.

"If Your Majesty does not like it, then let it be thrown away. I have never intended to force Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan grew anxious. "I don't dislike it; I've put it away."

"Mm." Song Shuangning forced a smile.

Xiao Yan sighed softly, "That sachet is worn out, Ningning, why don't you make another one for me?"

"Stitching and sewing is bad for my eyes, I don't want to do it anymore."

Xiao Yan followed her gaze downwards, landing on the sachet at his waist. He had never worn a sachet before, but he had been having trouble sleeping these past two days, so he found a herbal sachet to help him relax and sleep and carried it with him. These two sachets were not gifts from the concubines in the harem, but were carefully prepared and specially supervised by the Imperial Hospital.

Song Shuangning pouted slightly, her voice soft but tinged with sourness: "Anyway, the Emperor doesn't lack anything."

So she was jealous.

For some reason, Xiao Yan particularly enjoyed seeing her jealous; it was incredibly cute.

"This sachet was sent by the Imperial Medical Academy."

After saying that, Xiao Yan leaned closer.

A warm breath brushed past her ear.

Song Shuangning shrank back and tried to hide, but Xiao Yan grabbed her shoulders and wouldn't let her.

His voice was low and husky, tinged with amusement: "Ningning, can you smell the scent of vinegar in the palace?"

Xiao Yan leaned against the couch, watching her with a leisurely air, a playful smile in his eyes.

Song Shuangning gave a soft hum and turned away, refusing to look at him.

"I'm not jealous at all!"

"Hmm, Ningning isn't jealous." Xiao Yan's tone was slightly teasing.

"I want to make another one, Your Majesty, you mustn't lose it!" Song Shuangning lay on top of him, hooking her arms around his neck, glaring at him with a hint of petulance, trying her best to look serious.

However, in Xiao Yan's eyes, it seemed as if she was inviting him to do something.

Xiao Yan rolled over and pinned her beneath him, coughing awkwardly. "How did Ningning know I lost the sachet?"

Song Shuangning lowered her eyes, "It has been a long time since I have seen Your Majesty wear one."

Xiao Yan suddenly felt a sense of guilt, but he was clearly an emperor. Whether it was making decisions or discarding things, it was all up to his own will, and no one could interfere.

The woman had a greater influence on him than he had imagined.

Why is this?

When he couldn't think of an answer, he suddenly heard a woman's voice.

"It's okay!"

Song Shuangning smiled and cupped his face in her hands. "This is a new piece I made, Your Majesty mustn't lose it again."

Xiao Yan found the answer.

Because she is so sensible, she always wants to be cherished and pampered.

He gently stroked her cherry-red lips with his thumb, his gaze lingering, and slowly lowered his head to kiss her, his movements as tender as if he were handling a rare treasure.

After a long while, Xiao Yan finally released her, looking at her swollen lips and tearful eyes, and breathed a sigh of satisfaction: "Silly."

After all this time, I still haven't learned how to breathe properly.

Song Shuangning gasped for air, her eyes glazed over as she clutched his collar.

"Ningning, do you remember the storybook we read last time?"

Song Shuangning stared at him with wide almond-shaped eyes, looking at him with some fear.

"We haven't tried that position yet, would you like to?"

Which posture, could it be...? Song Shuangning felt utterly hopeless.

He picked her up horizontally, strode into the inner room, and just as he put her down...

Song Shuangning then took the initiative and pushed Xiao Yan down, saying, "Then, Your Majesty, you must listen to me."

A flicker of excitement crossed Xiao Yan's eyes. "I'll listen to you."

... (Fill in the blanks yourself, 10086 words omitted.)

His initial excitement slowly faded, leaving him feeling awkward and unsatisfied. Xiao Yan regained control and kissed her fiercely. "I take back what I said."

"Ningning, this is just the beginning. Tomorrow I will take a break."

The moon hangs high in the sky, its clear light like water, bathing the flowers and trees in the courtyard in a soft, frosty glow, creating a tranquil and tender atmosphere.