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

Consort Song, who had already retired for the night, was awakened by Tinglan.

"Your Majesty, the Second Princess is unwell. Consort Rongxian has asked the Emperor to leave, and Consort Song has been sent back."

Consort Song instantly regained her senses and sat up.

Consort Rongxian used the same trick again to get the Emperor to leave!

She gritted her teeth: "Consort Rongxian! She's far too domineering!"

Tinglan stood aside, not daring to speak.

After a long while, Consort Song took a deep breath: "She came back by herself?"

Tinglan said, "It was Steward Li who brought the lady back."

Consort Song calmed down. Since it was Li Fuquan who brought Song Shuangning back, it meant that it was the Emperor's will, and that the Emperor still cared for Song Shuangning to some extent.

As soon as Song Shuangning entered the Hidden Winter Pavilion, she noticed Tingyu's distressed gaze and Qiuhe's pitying expression.

"My lady..." Tingyu hesitated, her voice filled with worry.

Song Shuangning gently patted her head: "I'm fine."

"It's getting late, let's rest."

Here.

Xiao Yan stepped into Zhaoyang Palace expressionlessly, walked straight to the soft couch on the side, and his gaze fell heavily on the imperial physician who was taking the pulse of the second princess.

He picked up the teacup. Strangely, it was his favorite Longjing tea, but the taste was odd. He took a small sip and asked in a casual tone:

"Why does Shu'er have a fever again?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Rong felt aggrieved and asked in a dissatisfied tone, "Is Your Majesty blaming me?"

"Clatter"

Xiao Yan slammed the teacup heavily onto the table, breaking the silence in the hall.

Consort Rong's heart tightened, her grievances deepening. "Is Your Majesty blaming me for inviting you to Zhaoyang Palace and ruining your plans?"

The servants inside the hall knelt down in unison. Qiu Chan nervously tugged at Consort Rongxian's robe: "Your Majesty—"

Xiao Yan's face was now tinged with obvious displeasure.

Consort Rong's palms were sweaty, but she refused to bow her head and admit her mistake.

"I find you increasingly lacking in manners. I heard that you were disrespectful to the Empress when you paid your respects the other day?"

Consort Rong choked up. It wasn't the first time the Emperor had known she was opposing the Empress. He'd never reprimanded her before, so why today of all days…

Xiao Yan got up and wanted to leave.

She quickly grabbed Xiao Yan's sleeve: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please don't be angry with A Ning."

This time, Xiao Yan did not offer her a way out. "No matter what, the Empress is the head of the harem, and you should respect her. If it happens again, I will not let it go easily."

Tears welled up in Consort Rongxian's eyes instantly; she knew that the Emperor was truly enraged this time.

Her fingertips trembled, and then she bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong and it will not happen again. Please forgive me this time."

The second princess got off the bed and ran to Xiao Yan's side, saying with a pitiful expression, "Father."

For the sake of the child, Xiao Yan forgave Consort Rong. "Get up. There won't be a next time."

"Yes," Consort Rong replied softly, feeling a deep bitterness in her heart.

After the second princess fell asleep, Xiao Yan left Zhaoyang Palace.

The following day, Consort Rongxian submitted a notice requesting leave.

This surprised the Empress somewhat, as Consort Rong was usually very casual and would never ask for leave if she wasn't coming. She heard that the Emperor hadn't stayed overnight at Zhaoyang Palace last night, and his complexion wasn't good when he came out.

This put the Queen in a good mood.

Although she was thwarted in her attempt to serve the emperor last night, with her elder sister Consort Song around, no other concubine in the palace dared to openly mock Song Shuangning.

In the afternoon, Song Shuangning and Zhang Cairen went for a walk by the Weeping Willow Lake.

Throughout the journey, Zhang Cairen gently comforted Song Shuangning, afraid that she would be sad.

The two walked slowly to the Weeping Willow Lake. A gentle breeze rustled the willow branches, creating shimmering waves on the lake's surface.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Consort Rong, who looked haggard and had lingering resentment in her eyes.

Upon seeing Song Shuangning, Consort Rong's eyes flashed with resentment. How could she not see that the Emperor had been venting his dissatisfaction last night? So, the Emperor was blaming Song Shuangning for not being able to serve him in bed?

"This concubine greets Consort Rongxian and Consort Ye."

Consort Rong Xian moved closer and lifted Song Shuangning's chin.

She truly possesses a beauty that could topple kingdoms; no wonder the Emperor took his anger out on her last night.

Song Shuangning deliberately staggered, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Consort Ye stepped forward. "Consort Song, how did you learn such manners? Your Majesty, in my opinion, Consort Song is being disrespectful to you."

Consort Rong's face immediately darkened.

Song Shuangning blinked, revealing a hint of weakness and timidity: "Your Majesty, this concubine had no such intention."

Looking at her stunning beauty, Consort Rong couldn't help but wonder if she was just as weak and timid last night, and if any man could resist her like this.

"In my opinion, Consort Song's manners are only so-so. I hereby punish you to kneel under the willow tree by the lake for one hour."

After saying that, she led her people away from Song Shuangning.

Zhang Cairen looked at her with concern: "Shuang Ning..."

Song Shuangning gave her a reassuring look: "I'm fine, you can go back now. An hour will pass quickly. If Consort Rongxian finds out, she'll be furious with you."

Zhang Cairen also had her own selfish motives. She lacked the backbone to stay and kneel with Song Shuangning as punishment. She was pulled away by Wen Ye, looking back every few steps.

Song Shuangning turned to look at Tingyu, "Thank you for your hard work, kneeling with me as punishment."

Tingyu shook her head: "This servant is fine, but Your Highness... I'm afraid your knees are injured."

"fine."

I heard that His Majesty did not stay overnight at Zhaoyang Palace last night, and this morning there are rumors that His Majesty looked rather unwell when he came out of Zhaoyang Palace last night. Doesn't this just show that His Majesty was displeased?

Consort Rongxian's repeated attempts to use the Second Princess to thwart others' plans demonstrate her lack of concern as a mother. If she did care, why would the Second Princess always be ill?

Second, Consort Rong is arrogant and spoiled, and does not take the Emperor's favor to heart.

It's fine once or twice. But if it happens too often, it'll get annoying.

She deliberately stumbled and behaved improperly when she bowed, so that Consort Rong would mistakenly think that she was disrespectful.

As expected, Consort Rong was enraged and forced her to kneel, which played right into Consort Rong's hands. This incident would undoubtedly deepen the Emperor's impression of Consort Rong as arrogant and jealous.

A quarter of an hour later, Song Shuangning suddenly heard the laughter of two children not far away. From the wet nurse who accompanied her, she knew that they were the eldest princess and the second prince.

The eldest princess and the second prince were playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football). The second prince kicked the ball far away, and it landed on the slippery bluestone by the lake. The eldest princess went to pick up the ball, but she slipped on the wet bluestone and fell into the lake.

A sharp scream pierced the sky.

"The eldest princess has fallen into the water!"

Without a second thought, Song Shuangning ran to the lakeside. The eldest princess, who couldn't swim, splashed further and further away. Several of the wet nurses, who were also landlubbers, didn't dare to go into the water.

Without hesitation, Song Shuangning jumped into the lake and swam towards the eldest princess. She was just glad that she could swim!

It is still springtime, but the lake water is chillingly cold.

She grabbed the eldest princess's hand, then lifted the princess by the back of her head and steadily brought her to the shore.

My wet clothes clung to my body, and a gust of wind brought a chill.

Everyone surrounded the eldest princess, but only Tingyu rushed to her side, crying, "Your Highness, how are you?"

Song Shuangning hugged her knees, shivering from the cold: "I'm fine."

The Empress, Consort Shao, and Consort Yun rushed over.

The Empress, still shaken, collapsed to the ground, cradling the soaking wet eldest princess in her arms. Consort Yun, on the other hand, went to embrace the frightened second prince.

Consort Shao immediately took the cloak from the palace maid behind her and draped it over Song Shuangning.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Song Shuangning was frail, and the cold wind made her cough uncontrollably.

The Empress then noticed Song Shuangning, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "Take Consort Song and the First Princess back to Fengyi Palace."