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

Xiao Yan introduced her, "This is the Marquis of Zhenbei."

Song Shuangning raised her eyes.

The Marquis of Zhenbei bowed slightly, his gaze lingering briefly on her. "Consort Yuan."

Because the past events have not yet been investigated, the necessary documents and rituals for the family reunion have not been prepared.

Therefore, we will not acknowledge each other for the time being.

This was the first meeting between the father and daughter. The old lady, watching this scene, was already in tears.

They traveled in silence until they returned to the palace. Seeing her forlorn expression, Xiao Yan reached out and took her hand, asking gently, "What are you thinking about?"

Song Shuangning lowered her eyes and said softly, "Madam Zheng's excessive kindness towards me reminds me of my aunt."

Xiao Yan gazed at her intently, his eyes deep. "Besides these, there's nothing else."

She shook her head, unwilling to say more.

There are some things that cannot be told to Xiao Yan, and some doubts that can only be kept deep in one's heart.

For example, why did the Marquis of Zhenbei and Madam Zheng react so abnormally? Why did the Marquis of Zhenbei appear at Jiangxue Pavilion?

Xiao Yan sighed softly, his tone filled with heartache, "You were hurt by Consort Rong today, don't you feel wronged?"

Song Shuangning smiled faintly, "I understand. What happened that day has left Consort Rong with some resentment. It is understandable that she was angry for a moment."

She spoke with a faint blush on her face.

Xiao Yan chuckled softly.

He reached out and stroked Song Shuangning's head. "Ningning, I will seek justice for you."

Song Shuangning hummed in agreement and leaned against Xiao Yan's chest.

Today, Xiao Yan still did not stay overnight at Cangdong Pavilion.

Song Shuangning knew his intention and watched Xiao Yan leave with her deep and affectionate eyes.

Xiao Yan went directly to Consort Rong's Zhaoyang Palace.

Consort Rong was already extremely restless. The moment she smashed the hand warmer, she regretted it.

Her action was incredibly forceful, but it was too late for regrets.

She kept replaying the old lady's expression in her mind. Would the old lady harbor resentment upon seeing her like this? The Su family had finally managed to establish a connection with the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion; they absolutely couldn't let it all go to waste because of this!

Hearing this also alarmed the Emperor, who eventually went to Jiangxue Pavilion. Consort Rong was nervous and couldn't stop her wild thoughts:

Will the emperor be angry? Will he think he has been too domineering?

But at that time she couldn't contain her anger. She just hated Consort Yuan and wanted to humiliate her in public.

Upon hearing that the Emperor was about to arrive, her heart pounded with anxiety.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Consort Rong bowed respectfully, her movements trembling.

Xiao Yan entered the hall and glanced at the restless Consort Rong. "What are you standing there for?"

Consort Rong asked nervously, "Has His Majesty come to interrogate us?"

Xiao Yan picked up the teacup and gently skimmed off the foam.

"Xianning, your behavior today was indeed improper."

Consort Rong's face turned even paler.

"You must not be so willful in the future." After saying that, Xiao Yan took a sip of tea.

Consort Rong's heart skipped a beat, and her tense emotions suddenly relaxed. Did the Emperor not intend to pursue the matter?

The emperor remained calm and composed, speaking in a peaceful tone, as if he didn't care about the matter at all.

She thought that the Emperor still cared about her.

"Is Your Majesty not angry with me?" Consort Rong asked cautiously.

"Um."

Upon hearing this, Consort Rong finally felt relieved.

She was happy; the Emperor was ultimately protecting her.

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.

The people sent to investigate outside the palace finally returned with news.

Song Shuangning was pruning a newly opened red plum branch. "What medicine?"

Quan Lu bowed his head low, his voice trembling: "Your Highness, news has come from outside the palace. This is not a tonic, but... a mild contraceptive."

A soft "snap" sounded.

The red plum blossom in Song Shuangning's hand snapped in two, but her face showed no anger. Instead, a faint, playful smile bloomed on her lips.

"Contraceptive?"

Xiao Yan made her take a contraceptive.

She chuckled softly. "This is getting more and more interesting."

This was exactly what she wanted.

She didn't want to get pregnant at this time, which saved her a lot of trouble.

Song Shuangning put down the red plum blossom in her hand. "Please invite Physician Zhang over."

After an incense stick has burned.

Physician Zhang gently placed a silk handkerchief on her wrist, and then placed three fingers firmly on her cun, guan, and chi pulse points.

Song Shuangning went straight to the point, asking, "That time, I almost fainted because of my period, and I've been taking tonics ever since. Doctor Zhang, can you tell me what kind of medicine that is?"

Physician Zhang's heart skipped a beat, and he slightly opened his mouth.

Song Shuangning raised an eyebrow slightly at his reaction.

It really is a contraceptive.

Song Shuangning's face drained of color, her voice trembling, "It's a contraceptive, isn't it?"

Physician Zhang was shocked. "Your Highness, how...how did you find out?"

"How I know isn't important." Her eyes welled with tears as she pressed, "You just need to tell me, right?"

"Yes……"

Song Shuangning swayed, as if she could no longer hold on. She weakly clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls, her voice broken and faltering.

"So...the Emperor never wanted me to bear him a royal heir..."

"My lady, that's not the case!"

Physician Zhang was so frightened he almost fainted. He hurriedly explained to her, "Your body is weak, and it was not advisable for you to get pregnant at that time. If you were to become pregnant, there would be a risk of miscarriage or even a difficult delivery. Therefore, His Majesty instructed me to prescribe this mild contraceptive medicine, and to tell others that it was just for nourishing and conditioning. His Majesty also specifically instructed me to make sure that you do not know about it."

Song Shuangning was wiping away tears when she heard this and was stunned.

Ok?

Xiao Yan didn't not want her to conceive the imperial heir, but he was worried about her health.

Was Xiao Yan worried about her?

The royal family prioritizes the imperial heir, but Xiao Yan was willing to let her take contraceptives.

This caught Song Shuangning off guard, and the second half of her prepared line got stuck in her throat.

Physician Zhang said, "Your Highness, the Emperor has you in his heart..."

With tears blurring her vision, Song Shuangning asked after a long while, "Doctor Zhang, if I... if I want to conceive in the future, will it be... will it be as difficult as before?"

Physician Zhang carefully chose his words and truthfully reported, "Your Highness, although it is not as dangerous as before, your constitution is weak, and it will still be more difficult for you than for ordinary people. I humbly suggest that you wait a little longer..."

That's good.

She doesn't want to get pregnant so soon.

"Since the Emperor doesn't want me to know, then I'll pretend I don't. You don't need to report today's events to the Emperor either. If he knew I knew the truth, given his temperament, he would probably be furious, and then... he might take his anger out on you."

Physician Zhang's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I understand. I dare not say more."

Soon, only Song Shuangning, Tingyu, and Quanlu remained in the hall.

Song Shuangning picked up the teacup on the table and gently skimmed off the foam with the lid, her movements elegant and slow, as if she were thinking about a trivial matter.

After a long pause, she finally spoke slowly, "What do you think... if Consort Rong knew that I've been drinking contraceptive medicine, would she do?"

She put down her teacup, looked at Quanlu, and said with a hint of amusement in her eyes, "Go and do it. Go and remind Physician Zhao."

"Remember, just stop there."

Quan Lu should be correct.

She wanted to use this incident as a pawn to strengthen her position in Xiao Yan's heart, and to let him feel her 'disappointment' and 'heartache'.

She's going to make a scene.

Let Consort Rong taste the heart-wrenching pain again.

The higher you fly, the harder you fall.