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

After paying her respects, Song Shuangning suddenly became interested and returned to Hexiang Pavilion with Qiu Cairen.

As soon as she entered, she discovered that Zhang Cairen had not only given her the incense box, but had also prepared one for Qiu Cairen as well.

She immediately began to have doubts.

How could Zhang Cai Ren know that the incense she and Qiu Cai Ren often used contained patchouli?

What grudge did Zhang Cai Ren and Qiu Cai Ren have formed?

Qiu Cairen didn't think much of it and casually said, "Zhang Cairen came to visit me a while ago, and I was burning this incense at the time. A few days later, Zhang Cairen gave me this box of incense powder and said that she made it herself."

That makes sense.

Zhang Cairen's aunt was in the perfume and fragrance business, and under her influence, Zhang Cairen also knew a little about fragrances. It was not surprising that she could smell the patchouli component in incense.

As they were talking, Qiu Cairen had already picked up the incense that Zhang Cairen had given her and was about to add it to the incense burner.

Seeing this, Song Shuangning quickly reached out to stop her, her face darkening. "Don't use this incense for now."

Qiu Cairen was stunned for a moment, blinking her eyes in confusion. "Why do you say that, sister? Zhang Cairen seems quite kind, and she even specially brought us incense. Is there something wrong with this incense?"

Song Shuangning lowered her voice, her tone serious, but she did not reveal the truth.

"Looking at the scent and color of this incense, I feel there's something wrong with it. To be on the safe side, I'd better put it aside for now."

Although Qiu Cairen was full of doubts, she didn't ask any more questions. She simply nodded obediently and replied, "Okay."

She paused.

Then she looked up at Song Shuangning with a very serious expression, "Sister Song, you are very thoughtful. Since you say it's not appropriate, then I will listen to you and will not touch this incense."

Song Shuangning nodded slightly, patted her hand, and instructed, "Don't tell anyone about this for now, and don't let others know. Let me take another look, and then I'll explain it to you."

Qiu Cai Ren nodded emphatically, "Sister Song, I understand!"

Song Shuangning took out a box of pearl powder and handed it to Qiu Cairen: "I noticed you don't look well. This is the pearl powder I usually use. Please take it and use it."

Qiu Cai Ren quickly waved her hand and declined, saying, "How could I accept this? Your things must be very precious..."

"There's no need for formalities between us," Song Shuangning said with a smile, placing the box into her hand.

"Be more careful in the future, and don't accept things from others so easily again."

Song Shuangning patted her head and couldn't help but give her a few more words of advice.

Qiu Cairen said earnestly, "Yes, I've got it. From now on, I'll only trust Sister Song."

Song Shuangning sat in Hexiang Pavilion for a while longer, talking with Consort Qiu for quite some time, before getting up to take her leave.

Upon returning to Yaohua Palace, they saw the imperial carriage parked outside Cangdong Pavilion.

Song Shuangning then knew that the Emperor had arrived.

She composed herself, concealing her emotions.

His eyes suddenly dimmed.

Her smiling lips slowly relaxed, and a hint of listlessness and sorrow crept into her eyes.

She exuded a lingering melancholy.

Regardless of the emperor's reasons, breaking a promise is breaking a promise.

Yesterday was her birthday, and Xiao Yan had personally promised half a month ago that he would definitely be with her.

But the Emperor still hadn't returned by late last night.

She waited outside the Hall of Diligent Governance until midnight.

She made sure that all the servants in the Diligent Governance Hall could see her tearful appearance.

For Song Shuangning, this might not be a bad thing.

Perfect timing! I'll take advantage of the Emperor's guilt to secure some real benefits for myself.

She stepped into the hall, and Li Fuquan breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her, quickly stepping forward to greet her: "My lady, you've finally returned."

Song Shuangning's voice was low and her tone unreadable: "Has His Majesty been here long?"

"His Majesty has been waiting for you for an hour."

"I understand," Song Shuangning replied indifferently.

Li Fuquan sighed inwardly, thinking to himself, "Please, please don't let anything happen."

Anyone with eyes could see that Consort Yuan was in a bad mood.

His heart had been pounding non-stop all day, and he felt like something was about to happen.

Song Shuangning slowly entered the hall, glanced at Xiao Yan sitting on the couch, and then lowered her eyes.

Long eyelashes cast a light shadow under her eyes.

"This concubine greets Your Majesty." She performed the ceremony meticulously, following the proper etiquette.

Xiao Yan frowned imperceptibly.

He was already used to her unruly and charming demeanor, so seeing her bow so properly now, his first reaction was a strange sense of unease.

"Where did Ningning go just now?" he asked.

Song Shuangning lowered her head and replied, "Your Majesty, after paying my respects, I went to Lady Qiu's Lotus Fragrance Pavilion for a short while, which delayed you and made Your Majesty wait. It was my oversight that caused you to wait. I know I was wrong."

Xiao Yan's face instantly darkened.

"Your Majesty."

"I have kept His Majesty waiting."

"I know I was wrong."

The aloofness and indifference in her words were obvious.

Xiao Yan had long been accustomed to her soft, gentle words and coquettish charm.

This deliberate attempt to distance himself not only made him feel extremely awkward, but also stirred up a deep-seated displeasure within him.

"Last night, Shu'er bumped her forehead..." Xiao Yan reached out and held her hand, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible guilt as he explained in a low voice.

Song Shuangning kept her head down, her voice gentle, "This concubine understands. The Second Princess has been delicate since childhood, and it is only natural for His Majesty to keep her in Zhaoyang Palace. This concubine understands."

She said "I understand," but her expression and demeanor were full of aloofness, keeping people at arm's length.

"How is the Second Princess's forehead now?"

Song Shuangning forced a smile, a smile that looked even worse than a grimace.

"Shu'er is fine now. But Ningning," Xiao Yan gazed at her slightly pale profile, "is she still upset about what happened yesterday?"

After saying that, he reached out to pinch her cheek.

Song Shuangning turned her face away as if it were an accident.

Xiao Yan's hand landed on empty air.

"I am not unhappy."

Her voice was soft, yet tinged with detachment.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, but the frustration in his heart did not dissipate in the slightest.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed her chin, lifting it slightly to force her to look up and meet his gaze.

"Didn't Ningning say that she would be considerate of me?" His eyes were deep.

His voice carried a hint of suppressed anger.

"Then why do you still give me such a hard time? Hmm?"

He would rather she whine and question him than see her being so polite and distant.

This deliberate estrangement acts like a thin layer of ice separating the two.

The cold made his chest feel stuffy, and his irritability surged uncontrollably upwards.

Her eyes quickly filled with tears, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her lips moved a few times, as if a thousand words were stuck in her throat.

Xiao Yan didn't urge her, but simply gazed at her quietly, patiently waiting for her to speak.

Just as she opened her mouth to speak, and the word "I" had just escaped her lips, Li Fuquan's urgent report suddenly came from outside the hall.

This instantly broke the tense atmosphere in the hall and interrupted the words she was about to say.

Xiao Yan's expression suddenly turned sinister.

"Speak!" he shouted in a deep voice.

Li Fuquan, his face full of bitterness, forced himself to report: "Your Majesty, the Second Princess is crying incessantly, and Consort Rong has sent someone to invite you to come and see her."

Song Shuangning quickly lowered her eyes and softly advised, "Your Majesty, please go and see the princess."

Xiao Yan abruptly released her chin, turned and walked out without a word, his face ashen.

Song Shuangning raised her hand, took a handkerchief, and gently wiped away the tears that had flowed from the corners of her eyes as she was acting.

Tears are the cheapest thing.

In the past, she pretended to be docile and understanding in order to arouse the emperor's protective instincts and secure a place for herself.

From now on, she will change her strategy.

No longer would she yield in everything or be considerate in every situation; she wanted to personally win over the emperor's heart.

Whether near or far, whether intimate or distant, it should all be up to her to decide.