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

It was Song Shuangning, it was Song Shuangning who harmed her!

All the anger was instantly consumed by panic.

Did Song Shuangning realize there was something wrong with the incense?

Before she could think any further, Zhang Cairen noticed that the red spots on her face in the mirror had become even more numerous.

The imperial physician arrived and said that her face was in danger of being disfigured, and the ointment he prescribed could only temporarily relieve the discomfort and might not be able to completely restore it.

Zhang Cairen was struck dumb and collapsed instantly.

She was so excited that she couldn't speak coherently.

I just want to go to the Emperor's palace and file a complaint against Song Shuangning!

As she stumbled and rushed out, she unexpectedly bumped into Song Shuangning, who had come running after hearing the commotion.

"It's you!"

"Song Shuangning, it's you! I'm going to tell the Empress, so the Emperor and Empress can see your venomous heart!"

Upon hearing the sound, Song Shuangning slowly approached.

Her face was full of just the right amount of astonishment, and her almond-shaped eyes were wide open.

"Wanxuan, what are you saying? Why are you dragging me into this?" Her tone was full of grievance, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

Zhang Cairen covered her face, thinking, "Shouldn't I be the one feeling wronged?"

Song Shuangning frowned slightly, her voice soft as cotton, yet carrying a hint of doubt, "Oh? Wanxuan suspects there's something wrong with the box of pearl powder I gave you?"

"This pearl powder was mixed with the incense you personally sent me a few days ago. Have you forgotten? That incense was a birthday gift from you."

Her tone shifted abruptly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, "Could it be... there's something wrong with that incense?"

"Wanxuan, are you trying to harm me?"

Zhang Cai was completely dumbfounded.

How could Song Shuangning feign such innocence! So perfectly!

Song Shuangning, however, seemed oblivious to her lapse in composure, continuing to speak softly, "If you feel wronged and want to seek justice from Her Majesty the Empress, then go ahead and do so. But..."

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on Zhang Cairen's flushed face, a faint smile on her face.

"Why don't we go together? After all, that pearl powder was made from the incense you gave me. Now that this has happened, I also want to ask Her Majesty the Empress to uphold justice for me. If I had known there was something wrong with that incense, I certainly wouldn't have used it to mix the pearl powder."

Zhang Cairen froze, her mind buzzing.

She used to think that Song Shuangning was gentle and kind.

But I never imagined that such a delicate and frail appearance could conceal such a deep and cunning mind.

She seemed to have never truly understood Song Shuangning.

"You're so vicious!" Zhang Cai Ren couldn't help but accuse.

"Wanxuan said I have a vicious heart, but I'd like to ask you, Wanxuan, if you hadn't sent that incense, how would I have been able to mix that box of pearl powder?"

Song Shuangning wasn't asking her a question; she was clearly giving her a warning!

He never mentioned that he had harmed her, but every word he said was a reminder to her.

The incense was indeed a gift from her, and it's true that there was something wrong with it.

In the end, the Empress will only feel that she has shot herself in the foot, and may even charge her with "framing a concubine".

Not only will her face be ruined, but she will also be demoted, banished to the cold palace, and even her family will be implicated.

I couldn't believe it; a chill instantly ran through me.

Song Shuangning raised an eyebrow and chuckled as she watched her distraught reaction.

"Is Wanxuan still going to see the Empress? If so, let's go together."

Zhang Cairen's legs went weak, and she slowly sat back down in her chair.

Song Shuangning knew Zhang Wanxuan all too well; she was inherently insecure and timid, and would never dare to actually complain.

She glanced at Zhang Cai Ren indifferently, a cold smile playing on her lips.

You reap what you sow; this is the consequence of her own actions.

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.

After Song Shuangning returned, she had Tinglu light the incense that Zhang Cairen had given her.

He listened for a moment, then hesitated.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Song Shuangning said.

Her skin was already delicate, and after the incense had been burning for only half an hour, her face broke out in a dense rash of red rashes that were both itchy and painful, burning her skin almost unbearably.

We dared not delay listening to the rain and the dew.

Tinglu deftly extinguished the incense, while Tingyu turned and hurriedly ran towards the Imperial Hospital. The two were orderly and composed, without losing their composure in the slightest.

The commotion inside the Hidden Winter Pavilion had just subsided when the atmosphere in the Hall of Diligent Governance plummeted to freezing point.

The eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department carried the green plaque into the hall.

Xiao Yan glanced at the list and still couldn't find Song Shuangning's nameplate. His expression instantly darkened.

"Is Consort Yuan still ill?"

Li Fuquan bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Consort Yuan's palace did indeed summon an imperial physician."

Xiao Yan said coldly, "That's enough."

She's faking illness; she's clearly pretending to be sick to avoid him and deliberately distancing herself from him!

One reason is that Song Shuangning, after hearing his explanation, still wanted to distance herself from him.

Secondly, he was even more annoyed that he was being led by the emotions of a woman.

Xiao Yan suddenly raised his hand and swept the green plaque in front of him to the ground.

The green-headed signs scattered all over the ground with a crackling sound.

"Go, tie her up and bring her here!"

Li Fuquan was so frightened that he trembled and froze on the spot.

"What are you standing there for? Go now!" Xiao Yan shouted angrily.

Li Fuquan replied with a bitter face, "Yes," and hurriedly withdrew.

Why is it Consort Yuan again?

Why does Consort Yuan always anger the Emperor?

Oh, God help me, please don't let Consort Yuan hold a grudge against the Emperor anymore.

Upon arriving at Cangdong Pavilion, Tinglu stopped Li Fuquan at the door, saying, "Steward Li, the master is truly ill and cannot see anyone."

"Get out of here! The Emperor says he wants to see Consort Yuan. How dare you disobey His Majesty's will?" Li Fuquan said urgently.

Tinglu refused to budge an inch, saying, "Steward Li, it is truly inconvenient for the master to see anyone."

The palace doors were slowly pushed open, and Li Fuquan glanced up and saw Song Shuangning's face. He was so frightened that his legs trembled.

Good heavens, what happened to Consort Yuan's face?

"Please trouble Chief Steward Li to go back and tell the Emperor that I really cannot see anyone." Song Shuangning's voice was choked with emotion.

Li Fuquan dared not delay any longer and immediately turned back to report.

When Xiao Yan heard Li Fuquan say that she had developed many red rashes on her face, he realized that she was really sick and immediately ordered that Li Yuanpan be summoned to Cangdong Pavilion.

But Song Shuangning also couldn't see Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan said through the door, "Let me see you."

"No!" Song Shuangning's cries came through the door. "My face is ruined! Don't let the Emperor see it!"

In his haste, Xiao Yan kicked open the palace door.

Song Shuangning hurriedly buried her face in the brocade quilt, choking back tears, "Your Majesty, please, leave..."

"If you won't let me see, at least let Imperial Physician Li see." Xiao Yan strode forward and turned her body around.

Song Shuangning covered her face tightly with both hands.

Helpless, Xiao Yan could only hold her in his arms and gently comfort her.

"Not ugly, not ugly at all."

Once she calmed down, Xiao Yan slowly removed her hand.

Imperial Physician Li quickly stepped forward to take her pulse and carefully examined her face. He bowed and replied, "The rash on your face is not serious. With both internal and external medication, it will heal in less than two days."

"Really?" Song Shuangning looked up, her eyes reddening, her voice choked with emotion.

Xiao Yan said softly, "Then you can rest assured."

He immediately turned and ordered, "Take the items from Consort Yuan's palace and examine them carefully."