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

On this day, in the Imperial Garden, the sky was clear and the breeze was gentle. The sun hung high in the sky, casting its warm rays upon every corner.

The flowers and trees are lush and verdant, swaying gracefully in the breeze.

A young eunuch came to Cangdong Pavilion to deliver a message, saying that Consort Shao and Consort Xu had prepared tea at the Qushui Liuli Pavilion in the Imperial Garden and invited her to come over for a chat.

Song Shuangning changed her clothes, put on a silver fox fur cloak, and went to keep the appointment with Tingyu and Tinglu.

She was naturally quiet and got along best with Consort Shao and Consort Xu in the palace. There was no scheming or infighting between them, only a tacit understanding and peace.

The sunlight was clear and cool at the Qushui Liuli Pavilion, but it was deserted. A thin layer of ice covered the pond, reflecting the grayish-white sky.

Strange, haven't they arrived yet?

Just then, a noisy sound of children came from afar. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Second Prince chasing and playing with the Third Prince not far away.

She frowned slightly.

She has never liked children, especially energetic ones. She always felt they had amazing stamina and were incredibly noisy.

The second prince grabbed the third prince's hand and ran towards her.

Song Shuangning's smile was somewhat forced. She asked the Third Prince softly, "Where are Consort Shao and Consort Xu?"

The Third Prince said, "My mother is resting in the palace."

Not right.

Since Consort Shao and Consort Xu are in the palace, why are these two children here? And who used Consort Shao and Consort Xu's names to lure her out?

Song Shuangning's expression changed slightly, and she prepared to leave.

A small hand gripped her skirt tightly.

She looked down and saw it was the Second Prince.

"Mother Consort, will you play with us?" The Second Prince was surprisingly strong.

Song Shuangning said helplessly, "Your Highness, I have matters to attend to in my palace and cannot accompany you today. Perhaps another day?"

The second prince pouted.

"No, Mother Empress finally allowed me to come out and play, so Consort Yuan should play with us."

The second prince was like a piece of chewing gum that wouldn't budge, clinging tightly to the hem of her cloak, muttering incessantly:

"Play with us, Your Majesty. Just for a little while."

Song Shuangning's patience was almost exhausted, but she dared not make the slightest move, not even daring to pull away the brat's hand, for fear that if she made a move, the brat would deliberately cause trouble and fall to the ground.

The second prince kept pestering him.

Song Shuangning's gaze swept across the distance, and her doubts grew.

The second and third princes were accompanied by four or five wet nurses and more than ten palace maids and eunuchs. The second prince ignored all these readily available "playmates" and insisted on clinging to her.

The second prince suddenly loosened his grip on her clothes, turned to the third prince and shouted, "Third brother, you should also beg Mother Yuan."

The Third Prince whispered, "Second Brother, let's forget about it. Let Mother Consort Yuan go back."

"Oh dear, you really are something." The Second Prince stomped his foot in anger and continued to pester Song Shuangning.

Song Shuangning was absolutely furious.

Heavens above!

Please save her.

She didn't even dare to speak harshly, for fear that the second prince would complain to the emperor and empress that she had yelled at him.

What she feared most were not the concubines, but these princes and princesses.

Just as the stalemate was at hand, a palace maid who served the second prince arrived at the perfect moment, carrying a plate of pastries. The plate contained exquisite hibiscus cakes, topped with a layer of sauce.

Taking advantage of her distraction, the Second Prince suddenly pulled her forcefully with both hands.

Caught off guard, Song Shuangning was pulled so hard she stumbled.

The second prince pressed her down to sit on the stone chair.

He grabbed a piece of pastry and stuffed it into Song Shuangning's hand, then grabbed another piece and stuffed it into the Third Prince's hand.

"This cake is delicious, Mother Consort, eat it quickly, little brother, eat it quickly."

As he spoke, he grabbed two or three pieces and began to wolf them down.

Song Shuangning looked down at the pastry in her hand, her first thought was:

There's something wrong with this pastry.

The second prince's "persistent" behavior coincided with the appearance of a palace maid.

This all seems too deliberate.

She placed the pastries on the table and just then saw that the Third Prince had already taken a small bite.

Song Shuangning's eyelids twitched, and she gently patted the Third Prince's arm. "Didn't your mother say that you have a weak spleen and stomach and can't eat too many sweets? You should eat less."

The third prince, always obedient, dutifully placed the remaining pastries on the table upon hearing this.

Song Shuangning breathed a sigh of relief.

She got angry when she saw the Second Prince enjoying his pastries. What was he trying to do?

If there was something wrong with the pastries, why was he eating them so happily?

If there are no problems, then what is his purpose?

The Empress valued the Second Prince's studies. She had once saved the First Princess, and this kindness made the Empress always kind to her.

If it wasn't the Empress, then who could it be?

Song Shuangning stood up. "Your Highnesses, I'll be going back now."

The second prince stood up abruptly and blocked her way with his hands covered in debris.

"Mother Consort, you haven't agreed to play with us yet."

Looking at the bits of debris stuck to her cloak, Song Shuangning gritted her teeth and smiled, "Next time, definitely."

The second prince persisted, pulling the still-stunned third prince along, and the two of them blocked her way.

Song Shuangning felt a headache coming on.

Tingyu and Tinglu quickly knelt down to persuade the Second Prince.

Several wet nurses also came over to persuade them.

The unexpected still happened.

It's unclear who tripped whom, but the Third Prince leaned backward and fell heavily to the ground, hitting his head with a thud.

Song Shuangning immediately knelt down to check on the Third Prince's injuries.

However, before she could even touch the child, a shrill, tearful child's voice rang out above her head:

"It was you, you pushed your brother."

Song Shuangning froze; she hadn't even touched them.

She looked up abruptly and met the accusing gaze of the Second Prince.

Song Shuangning couldn't help but sneer.

She was right.

That really is a staged accident.

Chaos reigned as the wet nurses and palace maids frantically checked on the Third Prince's injuries.

There was a pool of blood under the third prince's head.

"Third Prince, Third Prince. Wake up!"

The second prince, seemingly wanting to escalate the situation further, cried out, "Mother Consort Yuan, you were going to push me, but you pushed my brother down too!"

A flustered wet nurse, a frightened palace maid, a mischievous second prince, and a broken Song Shuangning.

How did the Second Prince become like this? Just like his mother, so lowly.

Houses can be rebuilt if they're gone, but they've built them to the point where they can't build them anymore.

People can actually laugh when they're speechless; a few lines of doggerel even uncontrollably popped into her head:

"The weather was nice today, but I got bitten by a dog when I went out. You ask if I'm annoyed? I'm so annoyed my lungs are about to burst."

I used to have the energy to get angry, but now I can only manage a weary smile, followed by a bitter remark:

"I give up, it's me again."