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

On November 28th, with the frost still clinging to the eaves, Song Shuangning's birthday was fast approaching.

The concubines in the harem all sent birthday gifts. The Empress sent three bolts of brocade with gold embroidery and a pair of glass cups with grape patterns. Consort Shu sent a string of pearl necklaces...

Consort Rong gave her a pear-shaped jade carving. The word for pear is a homophone for "separation," so it symbolizes separation and scattering.

Listening to rain or dew feels unlucky.

"My lady, this item is too unlucky!" Tingyu was so angry that she reached out to put the jade carving into the brocade box.

"It's better to find a corner to put it away, out of sight, out of mind."

Song Shuangning, however, said, "Place it in the most conspicuous position."

"My lady..." Tingyu asked, puzzled.

Tinglu's eyes flickered slightly, and she patted Tingyu's shoulder, "Your Highness has a deeper meaning; just do as she says."

Song Shuangning smiled at them, it seemed that Tinglu had seen through her intentions.

Tingyu is too straightforward; she wears her heart on her sleeve and doesn't think things through. I need to teach her properly in the future.

Listening to the rain, it was placed on the shelf reluctantly.

Tinglu said, "What Consort Zhang sent was a box of incense cakes. Consort Zhang said that she made them herself and that they could help people calm their nerves and fall asleep."

Song Shuangning took the sachet. The fragrance of the powder was pleasant and soothing to the mind.

"Remember to take some of these sesame cakes to Physician Zhang for examination, to see if they have been adulterated with anything that shouldn't be there."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the room full of birthday gifts, and continued, "Not just this perfume powder, but every single birthday gift from the other concubines must be carefully inspected, including the one from Her Majesty the Empress."

It's always best to be careful; there's no guarantee that someone won't use the pretext of giving her a birthday gift to harm her.

Tingyu and Tinglu exchanged a glance. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Li Fuquan arrived with congratulatory gifts.

On the way, they happened to meet Consort Rong and Consort Ye returning from a stroll in the garden with the Second Princess.

Consort Rong stared at the group of people carrying several items covered in red cloth. Consort Rong's eyes flickered slightly, and she raised her hand to lift the cloth.

Seeing this, Li Fuquan quickly stepped in front of him, his tone respectful yet measured:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. This is a birthday gift bestowed upon Consort Yuan by His Majesty. This servant is on orders to deliver it to Cangdong Pavilion and dares not be negligent in the slightest."

Consort Rong slowly withdrew her hand, stepped aside, and said in a light tone, "It was originally a gift from the Emperor, so there's nothing special about it."

She comforted herself, thinking that the Emperor's birthday gift to her was an imperial edict restoring her title.

Some decorative objects are not as practical as an imperial edict. If the emperor really cares about Consort Yuan, he should promote her to a higher rank.

"This servant takes his leave."

As soon as Li Fuquan finished speaking, a gentle breeze swept by, lifting a corner of the red cloth to reveal the starry bottle.

Consort Rong's gaze narrowed slightly. With just one glance, she recognized it as a precious vase presented as tribute from Persia. She had seen it once at a palace banquet years ago and still remembered it vividly.

Just now, my heart was calm and still, but now waves are slowly rising.

"The Emperor gifted this precious vase to her..."

Consort Ye said, "Your Majesty, how can a mere glass bottle compare to the Emperor's great favor towards you? The rewards from Zhaoyang Palace are always the most generous. When tributes arrive at the palace, aren't you always the first to choose?"

Consort Rong took a deep breath, forcing down the bitterness in her heart.

Yes, it's just a bottle.

She suddenly remembered that last night in Zhaoyang Palace, the Emperor's fingertips brushed against her hair, and he affectionately called her "Ningning." The tenderness in his tone was genuine.

Thinking this, a gentle smile appeared on her face, and the gloom in her eyes dissipated considerably.

Consort Ye said, "Your Majesty, I dared not speak much in the past, for fear that if I spoke out, I would displease you or make you uncomfortable."

"Has Your Majesty not noticed? Consort Yuan's eyebrows and expressions are somewhat similar to yours. It seems that His Majesty only shows her more favor because she resembles you. She is just a pastime. In His Majesty's heart, only you are irreplaceable and of utmost importance."

Actually, they weren't really similar; it was just that Consort Ye exaggerated. Both Song Shuangning and Consort Rong had almond-shaped eyes and willow-leaf eyebrows.

However, Song Shuangning's eyes and brows were clear and gentle, while Consort Rong had a hidden sharpness.

Consort Rong raised her eyes. "Do I resemble her?"

"yes."

Consort Rong believed this, and her fear of Consort Yuan lessened considerably.

It turns out that the Emperor favored Consort Yuan because she resembled himself; Consort Yuan was a dispensable imitation.

Thinking of this, Consort Rong turned her gaze slightly and softly asked Xia Yun beside her, "What is Consort Yuan's maiden name?"

"Your Majesty, Consort Yuan's given name is Shuangning."

Look, even their names are so similar.

Xianning, Shuangning.

Their birthdays are only three days apart.

Consort Rong suddenly understood.

The Emperor simply treated Song Shuangning as a substitute for her, and his affection extended to her because of her.

Thinking about it this way, his fear of Song Shuangning dissipated by more than half.

Instead, a hidden sense of superiority prevailed.

*

A short while later, Li Fuquan arrived at Cangdong Pavilion with the birthday gifts prepared by Xiao Yan.

Song Shuangning did not expect that the Emperor had prepared other birthday gifts for her. The Emperor had mentioned taking her out of the palace, and she thought that leaving the palace was her birthday gift.

Xiao Yan knew she liked pretty things, so he picked out only pretty items.

Of all the treasures in the room, Song Shuangning's favorite was the Persian glass long-necked vase with gold decoration.

The bottle is as clear as crystal, with gold trim on the inner wall. When exposed to light, the gold patterns flow, as if filled with a galaxy.

Seeing that Song Shuangning was holding the long-necked vase, Li Fuquan stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness has excellent taste. This is a tribute from Persia, and there is only one of its kind."

He was also surprised when he learned that the Emperor was going to give the long-necked bottle to Consort Yuan as a birthday gift. This precious bottle was a unique tribute from the Western Regions, with unparalleled craftsmanship and extraordinary rarity.

Upon learning that it was unique, Song Shuangning liked it even more.