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

Outside the palace, Song Mingyuan learned of the news two hours in advance. He was so frightened that he dared not be negligent in the slightest and ordered all the servants in the mansion to clean it spotless.

Select the best tea leaves and warm them on a stove.

Two hours later, Song Mingyuan greeted Li Fuquan as he entered the mansion.

Li Fuquan stood on the steps and said loudly:

"His Majesty's decree—"

"Aunt Su is of virtuous character and is now promoted to the rank of Lady Anhe. She is awarded one hundred taels of gold and a box of jewels."

These words startled everyone present. Song Mingyuan and Gong Yerong looked at each other, and Gong Yerong clenched her handkerchief tightly with jealousy.

Aunt Su was terrified, and even more worried about her daughter who was far away in the palace.

"Madam Gong of the Song family is of a violent and cruel nature. She has mistreated her concubines for many years, which is immoral and unbecoming of a woman. Considering this is her first offense, she is to be treated leniently and confined to the mansion for three months to reflect on her mistakes. Vice Minister Song Mingyuan, as the head of the household, has indulged the disorder in the inner quarters and stood by and watched his concubines being humiliated without doing anything. He has failed in his duty of discipline and has betrayed the trust of the court! He is to be fined half a year's salary. In the future, he must strictly manage the inner quarters. If he indulges or condones such behavior again, he will not be let off lightly."

Gong Yerong stared wide-eyed, gritted her teeth, and kowtowed.

Well, that bitch Song Shuangning is really something! Not only did she get an imperial title for her aunt, but she also got the Emperor to stand up for her like this!

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Song Mingyuan's forehead: "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command."

Li Fuquan said, "Lord Song, His Majesty has also sent an imperial physician to examine Consort Anhe's pulse. Where would be a convenient place?"

Song Mingyuan said, "Let's... let's use Aunt Su's room."

Song Mingyuan turned around and helped Aunt Su up, and they went to the room together. Gong Yerong, who was behind them, could only stomp her feet in anger.

The imperial physician examined Consort Su's pulse and said, "Consort Su did not have a proper postpartum period back then, and her constitution is severely weakened. How come she hasn't recovered after all these years?"

These words carried a hint of condemnation.

Song Mingyuan lowered his head awkwardly.

"Su Shuren's facial injuries are also quite serious, requiring both internal and external treatment."

After speaking, he picked up his pen and wrote out three prescriptions for mild tonics, instructing, "This medicine needs to be taken once a day, warm, morning and evening. Continue taking it for a month to replenish your vital energy."

Song Mingyuan quickly replied, "I've got it."

Li Fuquan took out an envelope from his sleeve and handed it to Consort Su. "Consort Su, this is from Consort Yuan, who asked me to pass it on. If you have any instructions or need anything back after reading it, please just tell me."

Aunt Su's eyes were brimming with tears. When she saw the familiar handwriting on the letter, she couldn't hold back anymore and began to sob softly.

Song Mingyuan secretly glanced at the words on the letter, but Aunt Su caught a glimpse of it and moved aside in displeasure, preventing Song Mingyuan from seeing it.

Aunt Su smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Steward. I have memorized every word Consort Yuan said. From now on, she doesn't need to worry about me in the palace. Just take good care of herself. She is always sensitive to the cold, and her hands and feet get cold every winter. She must wear more clothes and be well-covered. She must not be careless and catch a cold..."

Worried that Li Fuquan was getting anxious, Song Mingyuan whispered a reminder, "Alright, Shuang Ning already knows all this."

Aunt Su nodded in agreement, but then remembered what Shuang Ning had said in her heart, and straightened her back, "Master, please don't interrupt."

Li Fuquan smiled and said, "Please continue, Lady Anhe, I will write it all down."

Su Shuren lowered her eyes and sighed softly, continuing in a gentle voice, "She is weak, so she must eat very little raw or cold food and more warm and nourishing food. Thank you for your trouble, Steward Li."

Steward Li bowed slightly and said, "Lady Su, you flatter me."

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.

By the time the meeting ended, the sun had already dipped two poles into the west.

Xiao Yan rubbed his throbbing temples, a hint of weariness flashing in his eyes, and asked indifferently, "Is Consort Yuan still in the side hall?"

"Your Majesty, Consort Yuan has been staying in the side hall."

Xiao Yan lifted his foot and walked towards the side hall.

The side hall was quiet. A slender figure was curled up on the soft couch. Song Shuangning had fallen into a deep sleep, covered with a blanket, which must have been put on her by the servants to keep her warm.

Xiao Yan approached quietly and sat down, gently stroking her slightly red and swollen eyes with his fingertips, his eyes full of pity.

For the past two weeks, Xiao Yan has tried his best to refrain from seeing her. At first, it was quite difficult, but he gradually got used to it and became calm. However, in the quiet of the night or during breaks after handling political affairs, her image would always flash through his mind and he couldn't shake it off.

The first time she came to me in a serious manner was for her aunt.

She is kind, innocent, and resilient, always considerate of others, sensible and understanding, just like a white velvet rabbit in the harem, never competing with anyone.

Her only weakness was her aunt; she would lose her composure when her aunt was involved.

Looking back now, she never felt that she had lost her composure.

A strange feeling arose in his heart, which even Xiao Yan himself found odd.

Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled, perhaps he was too tired.

The Empress Dowager once said that he knew best the consequences of favoring one woman, but what did it matter? He knew he could keep his distance.

The reason I deliberately avoided seeing her during this period was not because I felt I was being too kind to her, but because I was afraid that the Empress Dowager would find an excuse to make things difficult for her.

She has always been stubborn and prefers to shoulder everything on her own, never uttering a sound even when wronged.

Song Shuangning woke up with a start.

In the flickering candlelight, a soft shadow was cast over the profile of Xiao Yan, making him appear gentler than usual, rather than sharp.

"emperor."

"woke up?"

Song Shuangning sat up, slowly went over and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.

Xiao Yan hugged her and rested his chin on her head.

The candlelight flickered, the light was dim, and the ambergris incense surrounding Xiao Yan was rich and lingering.

Song Shuangning opened her eyes and suddenly remembered something.

On her way here, she seemed to have slapped Song Luowei.

I almost forgot.

I was angry at the time, so I just hit him without thinking.

Song Shuangning looked up at him, "Your Majesty, I...I made a mistake."

"On my way to the Qin Zheng Hall, I encountered Consort Song. Consort Song mocked me for falling out of favor, and I was so angry that I hit her. I know I was wrong."

Regardless of the consequences, she first admitted her mistake, using this preconceived notion to make the emperor subconsciously accept that she had acted out of desperation.

"What wrong have you done?"

Xiao Yan asked with his eyes closed, his tone becoming increasingly flat, revealing a hint of weariness.

Song Shuangning grabbed his collar and said softly, "This concubine hit someone."

Xiao Yan's thin lips curved slightly, and he chuckled softly, "That's what she deserves. You are a Noble Consort, she is a Beauty, and she has committed insubordination. You did nothing wrong."

"Then...won't His Majesty think I'm wicked?"

"If you were truly vicious, you wouldn't have been bullied so many times." His tone carried a slight sneer, as if he were laughing at her lack of backbone, but it didn't sound harsh.

Song Shuangning breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the Emperor didn't think she had become bad, that was fine.

"Your Majesty, Ningning misses you."

Song Shuangning knelt on the couch, her soft lips pressed against his, trying to kiss him as he usually did, her movements clumsy and tentative, her breath coming in uneven gasps.

Xiao Yan's thin lips curved into a smile, and a soft laugh escaped his lips.

"What is Your Majesty laughing at?!" Song Shuangning stepped back, her cheeks burning hot.

Xiao Yan rubbed her lips with his fingertips.

"Is this all Ningning has learned?"

"This concubine will not..."

Xiao Yan stared intently at her for a moment, then raised his hand to support the back of her neck and lowered his head to press his lips to hers.

As their lips brushed together, he said, "Then Ningning must study hard."