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

The Empress, in a deep and slow voice, curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty to discipline Tai'er. Please punish me."

Xiao Yan stepped forward and personally helped the Empress up. "I know that the Empress has done her best for Tai'er. This matter is not your fault. The Empress need not blame herself."

"However, from now on, we must properly guide Tai'er and prevent him from going further astray."

"Your Majesty, I will obey your command. I will definitely pull Tai'er back from the wrong path."

The Empress changed the subject abruptly, saying solemnly, "This matter involves a wide range of issues. I believe that Jiang has no one to rely on in the palace, and she could not possibly have accomplished all this on her own. It seems that someone is secretly helping her behind the scenes."

The voice just fell.

Consort Rong, who had been standing quietly to the side, spoke first. Observing the Emperor's expression, she said softly, "In my opinion, it is not too late to deal with it after that palace maid confesses the mastermind."

The lives of that palace maid and her entire family were in her own hands; she wouldn't dare utter a single word even if she had a hundred lives.

Xiao Yan nodded slightly: "As Consort Rong says. Everyone may leave."

The Empress felt a surge of resentment.

Even now, the Emperor is still protecting Consort Rong!

Song Shuangning took a deep breath and Tingyu helped her leave, supporting her arm.

Song Shuangning's eyes were as cold as frost, and a faint sneer appeared on her lips.

What harm is there in not dealing with it today? Once the Su family is completely ruined, all the old and new debts will be settled together.

The Empress returned to Fengyi Palace filled with resentment and anger, and kicked over the three-legged incense burner.

The celadon incense burner fell to the ground, scattering incense ash everywhere, and the sparks were instantly extinguished on the blue bricks.

"Someone come here!"

She shouted sternly, "Lock the Second Prince inside. Without my order, he is not to come out even a step."

The palace maids and eunuchs fell silent, hastily responding and retreating.

The Empress leaned weakly against the window, the cold wind blowing the stray hairs at her temples and also disrupting her thoughts.

She said to Qingdai behind her, "Find an opportunity to go to the Cold Palace and deal with Yun Shi."

At first, she thought of the Jiang family as an insignificant ant and didn't take them seriously. Who knew they would stir up such a huge storm?

If Jiang was like this, what about Yun in the Cold Palace? Yun was a hundred times smarter and a thousand times more cunning than Jiang.

Such people must not be allowed to live.

The Empress closed her eyes, her chest heaving, her tone full of resentment and disappointment, "Why did I ever snatch such a useless piece of trash and keep her by my side?"

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.

As night fell, large snowflakes silently drifted down from the sky, instantly turning the rooftops and ground white.

A thick layer of snow had accumulated on the ground, and it made a "crunching" sound when you stepped on it, which was especially clear in the quiet night.

Xiao Yan appeared at the doorway.

Only a dim candle was lit in the bedroom.

Song Shuangning was nestled on the soft couch by the window, covered with a blanket, holding an open storybook in her hands. However, her gaze was not on the pages, but rather on the flickering candlelight. She looked listless, like a flower struck by frost, devoid of any vitality.

Xiao Yan's heart tightened, and he walked over quietly, calling out in a low voice:

"Ningning."

Upon hearing the sound, Song Shuangning seemed to be startled awake and abruptly looked up.

She wasn't as joyful and excited as usual. Her movements were slow, and with a lingering weariness, she lifted the blanket and prepared to go downstairs to pay her respects.

Xiao Yan quickly stepped forward and pressed down on her shoulder.

"This concubine greets Your Majesty." Her voice was soft and slightly hoarse.

Xiao Yan gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, placed his warm palm on her cold cheek, and asked softly, "Tired?"

Song Shuangning nodded stiffly at first.

Her eyes quickly reddened, but she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall.

"emperor…"

She only managed to utter one cry before she could say no more, and tears streamed down her face.

One drop after another.

It hit Xiao Yan's hand.

It's very hot.

"Your Majesty, I don't understand..." she choked, her voice broken, "What have I done wrong? Why... why is there always someone trying to harm me? I don't even know what I've done to offend them."

Xiao Yan held her tightly in his arms with heartache, resting his chin on her forehead and gently stroking her back again and again.

"I'm here, I'm here," he coaxed softly.

She cried for a long time before finally sobbing, "I just want to live a peaceful life. Why is it so difficult? Am I being too greedy?"

"I crave your favor, yet I also long for a peaceful life. You can't have your cake and eat it too; I'm just too greedy." She raised her tear-filled face.

Xiao Yan lowered his head and kissed away her tears, which were salty, and finally kissed her cool cherry lips.

"No, Ningning, it's my fault."

"It is my fault for failing to protect you."

Good to know, old Deng.

Song Shuangning rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Xiao Yan kissed her cheek and said, "Ningning, I promise you, just ten more days."

Ten days, that's almost it!

Song Shuangning trembled slightly as she lightly pecked his somewhat cold lips. Xiao Yan's broad, strong body enveloped her completely, sealing her lips with his.

Xiao Yan gave him a kiss.

My consciousness seemed to be ripped out.

A thin layer of moisture welled up in her eyes.

His kissing skills were already superb, so Song Shuangning could feel that he was pleasing her, and she was enjoying it.

moment.

Xiao Yan picked up the teacup on the table—

gargle.

He then realized that he was willing to "submit" to this woman in order to win her over.

Has he lost his mind?

With a "glug" sound.

He swallowed the tea.

Song Shuangning was speechless at first, then blushed: "Your Majesty..."

Xiao Yan also felt embarrassed.

He leaned down to kiss her, but Song Shuangning tried to dodge to the side. Xiao Yan grabbed her chin, not allowing her to escape.

Song Shuangning's eyelashes trembled rapidly as she refused: "."

Xiao Yan seemed amused. "Ningning dislikes herself?"

Song Shuangning: "..."

Springtime romance blossoms beneath the silken curtains, lovers embrace, their fair skin mingling with disheveled hair.

A room bathed in the warm spring sunshine.

********

The Winter Pavilion is a place of deep affection, but other places may not be so.

In Zhaoyang Palace, the long night was especially difficult for Consort Rong to endure.

At midnight, Consort Rong awoke from a nightmare, her inner robe soaked with cold sweat.

In her dream, her father stood in front of her, covered in blood.

She was still in shock and couldn't close her eyes again until dawn.

Early in the morning, she sat at her dressing table, her face reflected in the bronze mirror, looking haggard. She wearily rubbed her throbbing temples and asked in a hoarse voice, "Has there been any letter from home yet?"

"Your Majesty, not yet."

Strangely, she sent two letters home, both inquiring about her grandfather's health, but received no reply.

Consort Rong frowned, her unease growing stronger.

It's been a month; there's no way there hasn't been a reply.

Could it be that something has delayed Father and Mother?