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

Inside the side hall, hearing footsteps approaching from outside, Song Shuangning quickly stood up.

The moment Xiao Yan stepped into the hall, Song Shuangning immediately knelt down on both knees, landing heavily on the gold bricks.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yan quickly stepped forward and reached out to help.

She gently shook her head, looked up at Xiao Yan and said, "I have a favor to ask of you."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she bit her lower lip to hold them back. Her voice trembled slightly, and her aggrieved appearance was pitiful to behold.

Xiao Yan reached out and helped her up. "What happened?"

This was the first time she had come to him crying. In the past, even when she was wronged, she would never come to him on her own initiative, but would just bear it quietly. This was the first time she had come to him with tears streaming down her face.

Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel sorry for her, and wondered to himself: Could it be that someone has been making things difficult for her lately?

He raised his hand to wipe away her tears, his voice gentle, "Don't rush, tell me slowly."

"This concubine wishes to ask Your Majesty to seek justice for my concubine."

"Your aunt?"

Song Shuangning nodded, her eyelashes trembling, and large tears rolled down her cheeks. "My concubine's maidservant brought me a message saying that my concubine was unjustly punished. Before I entered the palace, whenever the lady of the household was in a bad mood, she would take it out on me and my concubine. At best, she would scold us harshly; at worst, she would slap us and force us to kneel. My concubine was already frail, and giving birth to me further weakened her. She was gentle and kind, and never sought trouble. I thought that after I entered the palace, the lady of the household would treat my concubine better out of respect for me, but I never expected that my concubine would still suffer so often."

"Your Majesty, I truly feel sorry for my concubine. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for her."

Her voice choked with sobs, and her frail body trembled slightly, making her appear even more vulnerable and helpless.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression immediately darkened, his eyes flashing with anger and heartache.

I only knew that she had a hard life, but I didn't know that she was being tortured and tormented like this.

He said in a deep voice, "What's so difficult about that? Stop crying."

Xiao Yan turned slightly to the side and instructed Li Fuquan, "You personally take an imperial physician to the Song residence and convey my imperial decree to bestow upon Consort Su the title of Lady Anhe. Order the imperial physician to carefully examine and treat Consort Su and to recuperate her health. There must be no negligence whatsoever."

Upon hearing this, Song Shuangning stared blankly at Xiao Yan, her mouth slightly agape in shock, tears still clinging to her eyelashes.

She had originally pleaded with the Emperor to do justice for her concubine, never expecting that her concubine would be granted an imperial title.

Even more unexpectedly, she was a Lady of the Third Rank, a high-ranking title that many officials' wives could only dream of. The Emperor had made an exception for his concubine.

Not only Song Shuangning, but even Li Fuquan was surprised.

"emperor…"

Song Shuangning shook her head: "That's against the rules."

Xiao Yan wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said calmly, "What's wrong with this?"

"besides."

"Another imperial edict was issued, ordering Vice Minister Song to strictly manage the inner quarters."

"Is there anything else you want to tell your aunt? Let Li Fuquan take it with you."

Song Shuangning nodded: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"I have other matters to discuss. You may speak with Li Fuquan."

Xiao Yan rubbed her face and then returned to the main hall.

As Song Shuangning watched his retreating figure, her nose tingled and her eyes welled up with tears again.

The Emperor's two edicts served two purposes: first, they elevated the concubine's rank and provided her with protection; second, they were a clear warning to her scumbag father to strictly control the inner quarters. As a result, Gong Yerong dared not act recklessly anymore, and even if Song Mingyuan wanted to be a hands-off manager, he could no longer turn a blind eye.

The Emperor's two steps were arranged perfectly.

Li Fuquan ordered someone to bring paper and pen, and said to Song Shuangning, "My lady, you can also write a letter to your aunt."

Song Shuangning hummed in agreement, picked up her pen, and wrote two full pages.

Song Shuangning told her aunt that she was now a Lady Anhe, and that she no longer needed to be careful or watch other people's expressions. She also reassured her aunt that she was doing well in the palace and everything was going smoothly.

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.

Song Luowei covered her face and hurried back, muttering to herself, every word revolving around Song Shuangning. At one point, she said angrily, "How dare you hit me! You're getting bolder and bolder!"

Then, gritting his teeth, he said, "Pretending to be innocent will only lead to your downfall sooner or later."

As they approached the Summer Palace, they unexpectedly encountered Consort Su.

Song Luowei covered her face, not revealing a trace of her skin.

However, Consort Su felt that she was burying her head in the sand. Consort Su asked with a smile, "What happened to Consort Song's face? Who hit her?"

Song Luowei was naturally unwilling to admit that she had been beaten by Song Shuangning.

Six months have passed, and tremendous changes have taken place.

Six months ago, Song Shuangning was just a pretty girl, but now she has risen to the top and is a Noble Consort.

She, who was a noble Consort Song just half a year ago, has now become an insignificant beauty.

What was even harder for her to accept was that she was slapped in the face by Song Shuangning, whom she had once looked down upon.

How could she possibly live with herself after such humiliation if word got out?

Song Luowei said, "My face is fine, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Consort Su persisted, "Consort Song hasn't answered my question yet: who hit you?"

Song Luowei didn't want to talk about it, and Su Fei didn't force her. Instead, she asked Tinglan, who was standing to the side, "You tell her."

Song Luowei glanced at Tinglan sideways, but Tinglan could not disrespect her mistress, so she could only reply, "Replying to Consort Su, it is Consort Yuan."

"Oh?" Su Fei raised her eyebrows in surprise. No wonder Song Luowei had been unwilling to speak.

If it were her, she would also find it difficult to talk about.

Consort Su slowly approached and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Does Consort Song really intend to accept this?"

"I must say something fair. Consort Yuan is really outrageous. You are, after all, her elder sister, yet she has resorted to such cruelty, completely disregarding our past relationship."

Song Luowei agreed, but looked at Su Fei warily, wondering what Su Fei was up to now.

Consort Su smiled, "How about I show you the way?"

Song Luowei rolled her eyes, "I hope Your Majesty will speak frankly."

"There are people in the palace who can handle her, such as the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is a devout Buddhist and kind-hearted. She cannot tolerate such arrogant behavior and will not sit idly by."

Su Fei patted her on the shoulder, "Whether you can seize this opportunity or not depends on you."

Song Luowei was stunned for a long time, then suddenly laughed out loud, "Yeah, how come I didn't think of that?"

She covered her face and walked quickly toward Shou Kang Palace, a hint of ruthlessness on her face.

Song Shuangning, just you wait and see.