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

Xiao Yan led her to a secluded pavilion.

On the plaque above the pavilion, three large, flamboyant characters appeared and disappeared in the wind and snow.

Viewing Clouds Terrace.

He didn't go in immediately, but looked up at the plaque, his voice distant and lonely, "When I was a child, I often came here because it was very quiet and no one ever bothered me."

Xiao Yan's lips curled into a very faint, almost self-deprecating smile.

"After Empress Dowager Dehui passed away, I returned to her side. She was not kind to me, so I searched everywhere for a place to hide and that's how I found this place."

Song Shuang listened quietly, feeling as if something had struck her heart hard.

Looking at the supreme emperor before her, she saw for the first time an inescapable loneliness in him.

She pinched her palm hard.

No, Song Shuangning, ptooey!

Feeling sorry for men means you'll be unlucky for life!

Xiao Yan led her through the door, and a warm, gentle breeze carrying a faint scent of ambergris greeted them.

The charcoal fire inside the hall was burning brightly, and the flickering candlelight cast long shadows of the two people on the wall.

Xiao Yan pulled her into his arms, lowered his head, and gently brushed his nose against hers.

"Ningning, on your birthday, I broke my promise."

His voice was deep and clear, "Therefore, I will stay with you all day, and no one else will disturb us."

It turned out to be to make up for her.

"Mmm." Song Shuangning buried her face in his chest, thinking to herself that he wasn't entirely hopeless.

Xiao Yan picked her up and carried her to the soft couch by the window, where he sat down and kissed her.

Song Shuangning placed her hands on his chest and tilted her head back to receive his domineering and fierce kiss.

A moment later, Song Shuangning bit Xiao Yan's neck while crying.

Xiao Yan laughed, "Your temper is getting worse and worse. You hurt my hand, and I haven't even blamed you yet."

He looked down at her; her cheeks flushed red with anger, like a little fox that had been provoked.

Song Shuangning turned her face away, holding back her anger.

"His Majesty did it on purpose."

"Yes," Xiao Yan readily admitted.

He just wanted to see her lose control.

Only at this moment can one truly see her vibrant self.

Xiao Yan kissed away the tears welling up in her eyes. "Ningning, don't be upset. The night is still long."

……

Afterwards, Xiao Yan patted the back of the woman in his arms with satisfaction.

Song Shuangning felt weak all over. "Your Majesty, there are no palace servants here. Who will serve us during our bath?"

Xiao Yan gave her a deep look, "I will personally serve you."

Song Shuangning immediately refused, glaring at him playfully, "This concubine will not trouble Your Majesty."

Each time, he would force her to endure it again, which she couldn't take. Xiao Yan's stamina was an unknown quantity.

Xiao Yan chuckled softly, "Don't worry, hot water has already been prepared in the bathroom."

Song Shuangning lay on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

The hall fell silent.

After a long silence, Xiao Yan finally spoke, "Ningning, I may be very busy in the coming days and will not be able to visit you as often as before."

"Oh," Song Shuangning replied disappointedly.

Xiao Yan cupped her face in his hands, his gaze intense. "It won't be long. If you've been wronged, either go to the Empress or send someone to the Hall of Diligent Governance to find me."

Song Shuangning nodded obediently, her eyes reddening, and asked in a choked voice, "Then, will His Majesty forget Ningning?"

"Of course not," Xiao Yan said.

"That's good. As long as Your Majesty has me in your heart and I have Your Majesty in my heart, even if we are not together, at least our hearts are connected."

After saying this, Song Shuangning pressed her face against his chest, and heard his strong but obviously disordered heartbeat in her ear.

Looking at my own heartbeat, it remained as steady as ever, without the slightest ripple.

Xiao Yan ran his hand through her hair, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

Her little schemes were practically transparent to him.

He hoped that Ningning could learn how to fight back against those hurts with minimal cost.

---

Without the Emperor's designation, the Empress arranged for Consort Shen to reside in Zhaochun Palace. However, since the palace still needed cleaning, Consort Shen could only temporarily stay in a side hall of Shou Kang Palace.

It was late at night.

After the Empress Dowager finished her Buddhist rituals, she went to the side hall where Consort Shen was and found her weeping alone.

She had admired the emperor since childhood, and her only wish was to one day enter the palace and serve him.

But upon seeing her today, she realized that the Emperor had no affection for her whatsoever, and that it was all just wishful thinking on her part.

Her rank was even lower than that of the lowest-ranking concubine, Chongrong, and she had no official title.

The Empress Dowager spoke slowly: "It seems to me that Yuan'er is not doing well?"

Consort Shen's heart skipped a beat. She quickly wiped away her tears and shook her head, saying, "Your Majesty, Yuan'er has not."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager simply smiled faintly.

"Yuan'er, you've only been in the palace for a day, why are you in such a hurry? The road in the palace is long, and temporary ups and downs are nothing. Who will have the last laugh is anyone's guess, and I will wait and see."

"Yuan'er understands, but... Yuan'er feels a little sad," Shen Jieyu said softly.

The Empress Dowager sat down on the couch, then beckoned to Consort Shen to come closer.

Consort Shen sat down next to the Empress Dowager as instructed, and the Empress Dowager reached out and gently patted her head.

"You are my favorite child. Now that you have entered the palace, I will naturally protect you. I will pave the way for you, so you don't need to rush."

Shen Jieyu was deeply moved. "Thank you, Aunt."

"The palace is not like the outside world; people's hearts are complicated. You must think things through carefully and be sure to tell me before making any decisions."

"Since you've just entered the palace, you must be feeling bored. If you have nothing to do, you can spend more time with Consort Yuan; it will keep you company."

Consort Yuan?

She had heard before entering the palace that Consort Yuan was deeply favored by the Emperor.

But her mother had privately hinted that the Empress Dowager didn't like Consort Yuan. Why was the Empress Dowager now asking her to get close to her?

Shen Jieyu was full of confusion, but dared not say anything, so she could only keep her doubts to herself.

With the help of her nanny, the Empress Dowager slowly walked back to her bedchamber.

The night breeze ruffled her temples, but her gaze remained calm and undisturbed.

The Emperor had a special relationship with Consort Yuan.

That's why Yuan'er was allowed to get close to Consort Yuan.

Even just showing your face in front of the emperor, so that he remembers that such a person exists, is a good start.