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

Inside Zhaoyang Palace.

Xiao Yan's face was frighteningly gloomy, and Consort Rong couldn't help but shiver when she saw it.

"Your Majesty..." she began to explain.

Xiao Yan interrupted her, "You, as a mother, can't even soothe a child properly? If you're truly incompetent, then entrust the child to someone who knows how to raise a child!"

Consort Rong turned deathly pale with fright, her voice trembling as she explained, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Shu'er simply misses Your Majesty too much, I... I really have no choice!"

Even though Xiao Yan was burning with anger, he would never take it out on a child.

Looking at his daughter crying incessantly on the bed, his resolve grew stronger.

With a mother like that, Shu'er will be corrupted sooner or later. When the time is right, we must move Shu'er to another place to be raised.

There are too few kind-hearted and sensible concubines in this palace; it's time to promote a few reliable ones.

Consort Rong knelt on the ground, gazing at the Emperor's indifferent back beside the bed, her heart filled with grievance and resentment.

Why has the Emperor become increasingly impatient with her lately?

Could it be that Consort Yuan's importance in the Emperor's heart has surpassed that of her?

Or perhaps the Emperor felt that the woman who was merely a substitute or a pastime was more to his liking than her?

A mere stand-in dares to try and climb over her?

This is utterly absurd!

Her fingertips, placed at her sides, turned bluish-white from the force applied, and were icy cold.

No.

She absolutely cannot allow such an absurd thing to happen.

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.

Hidden Winter Pavilion.

Tinglu handed the pearl powder to Song Shuangning: "This servant has prepared it according to your instructions. Although there is not much of this powder, as long as you apply it to your face, you will develop a rash within half a day."

Song Shuangning took the rouge. "Thank you for your hard work."

"My lady, Steward Li has arrived," Tingyu's voice rang out from the outer room.

I have to pretend again.

Living is so tiring.

Song Shuangning immediately concealed the smile on her face, her lips pressed into a straight line, her expression calm.

"Please let him in."

Li Fuquan bowed and lifted the curtain to enter.

The eunuchs behind him lined up, each holding a brocade box and a tray.

Li Fuquan replied respectfully, "Your Highness, His Majesty has specially sent you a reward: several bolts of exquisite brocade, a box of snail-shell ink, and the imperial rose perfume."

Song Shuangning merely glanced at it indifferently, "Thank you for your trouble, Steward Li."

Li Fuquan bowed even lower and asked cautiously, "Your Highness, His Majesty also instructed me to inquire whether the promised gift to His Majesty has been prepared?"

Song Shuangning said slowly, "It's not ready yet, it will take a few more days."

Upon hearing this, Li Fuquan was filled with unease. He maintained a respectful demeanor on his face, but inwardly he was on the verge of tears.

Without receiving a reward, his mission was essentially unfinished; how would he explain himself to the Emperor upon returning?

"Is there anything else, Steward Li?" Song Shuangning asked, signaling him to leave.

"This servant is alright, this servant will take his leave."

After Li Fuquan left, Song Shuangning said to Tinglu, "Go and tell the Imperial Household Department that I am ill and cannot attend to the Emperor."

She's just being dramatic.

With this back-and-forth tug-of-war, Xiao Yan's expression naturally grew increasingly grim.

Li Fuquan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling that this task was becoming increasingly difficult.

Xiao Yan sat in the imperial study, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

He couldn't bring himself to explain in a humble manner.

He was an emperor, the supreme ruler, and should not have been troubled by matters of the heart.

He casually flipped open a memorial to the throne, but after reading only a few lines, his already unpleasant expression turned even more gloomy, and he slammed the memorial to the ground.

The anger hadn't subsided all night.

Early the next morning, many concubines gathered in front of Fengyi Palace to pay their respects.

Song Shuangning moved closer to Zhang Cairen and asked, "Wanxuan, you look tired. Did you not sleep well last night?"

Qiu Cairen originally did not want to associate with Zhang Cairen anymore, but when she saw Song Shuangning take the initiative to talk to her, she thought that Sister Song must have her reasons for doing things.

So she pretended not to know anything and followed along.

Zhang Cairen subconsciously touched her eyelids, asking nervously and uncertainly, "Is it that obvious?"

She has indeed been tossing and turning and has had trouble sleeping these past few days, constantly worrying about the incense, afraid of revealing any flaws, and unable to sleep soundly every night.

However, seeing that Song Shuangning took the initiative to talk to him today and was very enthusiastic, it seems that she did not suspect anything.

She couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Song Shuangning smiled and said, "After the greetings are over, shall I let you try my pearl powder? My complexion wasn't good before, and it was all thanks to this that I was able to cover it up completely."

Qiu Cairen immediately chimed in, pointing to the area around her eyes: "Yes, Sister Song just gave me a box a while ago. Look at me, there's not a trace of bad complexion left!"

Zhang Cairen's heart stirred upon hearing this.

She had long admired Song Shuangning's beauty, her delicate eyebrows and eyes, and even more so her fair, radiant skin without a single flaw.

I used to think it was a gift from heaven, but now I know it was because of the rouge.

She suddenly felt a little more at peace.

Zhang Cairen quickly replied, "That's wonderful, thank you Shuangning."

Shuang Ning's beautiful skin and radiant complexion are proof enough of the wonderful use of this rouge.

She couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.

But as soon as she finished speaking, a sour feeling of guilt welled up in her heart.

Shuangning treated her so well, yet she used incense to scheme against her.

Is doing this really the right thing to do?

After paying her respects, Consort Zhang went to Cangdong Pavilion with Song Shuangning.

Song Shuangning gave her the box of pearl powder.

Zhang Cai Ren casually inquired, "Shuang Ning, have you been using the incense I gave you lately?"

Song Shuangning said casually, "I used some yesterday. The fragrance is elegant, and I like it very much."

Zhang Cairen gripped the pearl powder tightly in her hand.

I'm sorry, but it's too late now, there's no going back.

Song Shuangning watched Zhang Cairen leave.

Once her figure had completely disappeared from sight, the smile on his face vanished instantly, and he coldly ordered, "Have Quanlu keep an eye on Consort Zhang's movements. If she summons the imperial physician, report back to me immediately."

Zhang Cairen returned to her residence and eagerly opened the rouge box.

All I could think of was Song Shuangning's stunningly beautiful face.

She couldn't wait to apply the pearl powder to her face.

She had only been applying the ointment for a short time when she noticed her complexion had improved significantly, and she couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

However, it didn't even take half a day.

Her face suddenly became unbearably itchy, as if countless tiny insects were crawling under her skin.

She stumbled to the bronze mirror, and upon seeing her reflection, she was terrified.

The person in the mirror had bright red cheeks covered with dense red spots, making them look frighteningly ugly.

"Quickly, quickly summon the imperial physician!" she shouted sharply, clutching her clothes tightly.

Upon seeing this, the palace maid turned pale and, not daring to delay for even a moment, scrambled out to fetch the imperial physician.

Zhang Cairen stared intently at the box of pearl powder on the dressing table, then suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs:

"There's something wrong with this box of pearl powder!"