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

Xiao Yan's expression remained unchanged. "What are you doing here?"

Consort Rong couldn't help but smile wryly, "Is Your Majesty blaming me for ruining your plans?"

Consort Rong's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating only a ripple before returning to stillness.

Xiao Yan casually twirled the jade thumb ring with his slender fingers.

He slowly raised his eyes, his deep black eyes devoid of any emotion, yet more oppressive than any thunderous rage.

He spoke softly, "Xian Ning."

This sound is a warning, but also a silent deterrent.

Consort Rong could easily understand. Her whole body stiffened, as if all her strength had been drained away, and she staggered backward.

She bit her lower lip hard until she tasted a trace of blood, then squeezed out four words through her teeth, "Your Majesty... knows your mistake."

Xiao Yan walked down the steps and said to her, "I will escort you back."

His gaze swept indifferently over Li Fuquan.

Li Fuquan immediately understood; all he needed to do was wait there to escort Consort Yuan back.

Song Shuangning stood by the window, quietly watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance.

She slowly, very slowly, broke into a smile.

She knew that given Consort Rong's personality, she would definitely come back.

Therefore, she calculated the angle and timing of what happened just now, deliberately letting Consort Rong see it.

To kill, one need not use a knife; to destroy the spirit is the most thorough revenge.

The Emperor's parting words, "It won't be long," were a promise he made to her.

Before that, she needed to take another drastic measure to completely erode the Emperor's remaining affection and patience for Consort Rong.

Li Fuquan: "My lord, this servant will escort you back."

"Okay," Song Shuangning said in a good mood.

On their way back to Zhaoyang Palace, Xiao Yan and Consort Rong remained silent.

Consort Rong couldn't help but turn her head and secretly glance at Xiao Yan out of the corner of her eye.

Xiao Yan's profile stood out sharply against the white snow.

He looked ahead, his steps steady, as if everything that had just happened at Wangmei Pavilion was just an insignificant dream.

The image of Consort Yuan leaning weakly and helplessly in the Emperor's arms kept replaying in her mind.

It was like a fine needle pricking her heart, causing her pain.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Consort Rong stopped and broke the silence, "Your Majesty, do you... really like Consort Yuan?"

Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Yan slowly turned his head, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"What nonsense are you thinking?"

The Emperor's nonchalant reply only made Consort Rong feel more aggrieved.

Consort Rong stubbornly asked, "In your heart, is Consort Yuan the most important person, while I am insignificant?"

"You sent me away to see Consort Yuan?"

This question caused Xiao Yan's expression to darken.

Xiao Yan felt that she was being unreasonable, even foolish.

To speculate about him with such shallow, womanly views is utterly foolish.

Consort Rong weakly grabbed the hem of his clothes.

"I just happened to run into her; there was no special reason on my part."

He sighed, his voice low and powerful, "Xianning, the friendship between us over the years is something no one else can compare to. You shouldn't question that."

The panic in Consort Rong's heart was gradually calmed down.

She stepped into the sedan chair, but then became certain of something else.

Consort Yuan, you cannot stay any longer.

She would never allow Consort Yuan to leave too deep a mark on the Emperor's heart.

Since Consort Jiang dared to propose joining forces with her, she must have already devised a plan to deal with Consort Yuan.

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.

Another day has passed.

After paying her respects, Consort Rong stopped Consort Jiang on the long palace road and returned to Zhaoyang Palace with her.

Consort Rong cut to the chase: "I would like to hear your plan."

Consort Jiang raised an eyebrow. That day, when she proposed to join forces, Consort Rong did not openly refuse, but her disdain for her superiority was evident in every gesture.

She thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly, only a few days later, Consort Rong couldn't hold back anymore.

Consort Jiang hit the nail on the head, "Your Majesty, your worries are very simple, nothing more than two things: first, Consort Yuan, and second, you have no children, so you have no one to rely on in the deep palace."

"My plan is very simple."

"Killing two birds with one stone, resolving both of your worries at once."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Consort Jiang's eyes. "The target is Consort Yuan, and the knife belongs to the Third Prince. If Consort Yuan were to inadvertently harm the Third Prince..."

She didn't continue speaking, but the sinister tone in her unfinished words sent a chill down Consort Rong's spine.

"you…"

Consort Jiang continued, "We devised a plan to have Consort Yuan personally 'harm' the Third Prince. Once something happens to the Third Prince, the entire harem will be thrown into turmoil. At that time, no matter how much the Emperor favors Consort Yuan, in order to give an explanation to Consort Shao and all the officials, he will have no choice but to order her to commit suicide to quell public anger."

Consort Rong's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she was so shocked that she almost stood up from her chair.

"This...this is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!"

"What is Your Highness afraid of?"

Consort Jiang smiled dismissively. "What's with the word 'scheming'? Who can prove it was us? All the evidence points to Consort Yuan."

She then changed the subject, saying, "The Third Prince's misfortune is a sign of the Empress's incompetence as the Empress. You can then speak to the Emperor and request that he register the Second Prince under your care and raise him properly. The Emperor will surely grant your request if he considers this."

Consort Rong was completely stunned.

The Third Prince got into trouble, and Consort Yuan fell from power.

At the same time, she could also naturally register the second prince under her name. With the prince as her support, her position would be as stable as Mount Tai.

This plan can indeed solve all her problems at once.

A tremendous temptation lay before them, but with it came an even deeper fear.

Looking at Consort Jiang, who was all smiles and seemed to have everything under control, she realized for the first time that her methods were nothing compared to theirs.

Consort Rong picked up her teacup. "What do you want me to do?"

Consort Jiang smiled and lowered her voice to explain her plan.

Half an hour later.

As Consort Jiang stepped out of Zhaoyang Palace, the winter wind stung her face like a knife.

She looked up at the gray sky.

"Amu (Yun Shi),"

She silently thought to herself: You wait, I will make everyone who has wronged you pay a hundredfold.

Wait for me, I will definitely come to get you.