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

The winter wind swirled with snowflakes, sweeping across the carved railings of the covered walkway. A thin layer of frost covered the bluestone slabs beneath the walkway, making a rustling sound when stepped on.

Song Shuangning wrapped her plain brocade fox fur coat tighter around her, and walked slowly while holding onto her maid's hand. The white fox fur at the collar brushed against her chin, feeling warm and cozy.

Qiu Cairen walked half a step to her side, twisting a plain embroidered handkerchief out of shape with her fingertips, and pursing her slightly red lips again and again.

He glanced at Song Shuangning out of the corner of his eye several times, and his steps unconsciously slowed down.

As if sensing something, Song Shuangning turned her face to the side, and the fine snowflakes that had been falling from the gilded hairpin with pearls at her temple fluttered down.

"Speak your mind. There's no need for such beating around the bush between us."

Qiu Cai Ren bit her lip, looked up at her, and her breath steamed in front of her.

"Sister, everyone says you resemble Consort Rong, but to me, you've never been anyone's shadow. You are you, unique in your own right."

Her tone was exceptionally serious.

The wind rustled through the copper bells on the eaves, making them tinkle and startling the old plum branches outside the corridor, causing them to tremble and shed a few flakes of snow.

Song Shuangning's heart softened.

She turned to look at Qiu Cai Ren, a faint smile curving her lips: "Thank you."

As the two were about to continue walking forward, several concubines were huddled together whispering under the corridor ahead. When they saw them coming, their voices suddenly rose, clearly indicating that they were waiting for them on purpose.

Consort Ye leaned against a vermilion pillar, her gaze sweeping sideways across the room, her tone sharp and sarcastic.

"Oh, isn't this the 'stand-in'? Just a soulless shadow, yet he dares to flaunt himself like this in the palace. Who gave him the audacity to be so bold?"

As soon as he finished speaking, several concubines nearby immediately joined in with sneers, their mocking gazes piercing like shards of ice.

Song Shuangning's expression remained unchanged. She merely lifted her eyelids slightly, and without looking to the side, she took a step forward. The hem of her fox fur skirt swept across the thin frost on the ground without pausing for a moment.

Having received a secret instruction from Consort Rong, Consort Ye straightened her back even more and took another step forward, just blocking Song Shuangning's path. She shrieked, "You're nothing but a shadow who relies on others' influence. Do you really think you're something special?"

The moment those words left her lips, Song Shuangning stopped in her tracks.

She slowly turned around, the fur collar of her plain brocade fox fur brushing against her shoulder. The gentleness in her eyes vanished, leaving only a chilling coldness: "I think Consort Ye is becoming less and less aware of the difference between superiors and inferiors."

Before the words were finished, a sharp "snap" broke the silence under the corridor.

Song Shuangning raised her hand and slapped Consort Ye hard across the face.

Consort Ye was slapped so hard that her face turned to the side, and a red mark instantly appeared on half of her cheek.

She covered her face, her eyes filled with disbelief, her voice trembling: "You...you actually dared to hit me?!"

"I am a Jieyu, and you are a Pin."

Song Shuangning flicked her fingertips, her tone as indifferent as a frozen lake.

"You have acted insubordinately and spoken rudely; why can't I strike you?"

Having said that, she ignored Consort Ye, who was frozen in place, and turned to leave.

Tingyu quickly followed, taking her elbow and asking in a low voice, "My lady, where do we go next?"

Song Shuangning gazed intently toward the direction of Fengyi Palace, and said, word by word, "Go to Fengyi Palace and find Her Majesty the Empress."

The group walked on the thin frost and soon arrived at the main hall of Fengyi Palace.

Song Shuangning dismissed her attendants and entered alone.

Song Shuangning bowed respectfully to the Empress, who sat regally on the throne, and said in a humble tone, "This concubine has come to apologize. Today in the Imperial Garden, this concubine slapped Consort Ye."

The Empress looked at the obedient woman below the steps, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "Consort Yuan, you don't need to care about the rumors in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Song Shuangning lowered her eyelids slightly, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes.

When she looked up again, her expression was firm. "I know I have acted rashly, and I wish to request to be confined to my quarters."

The Empress looked at her, her gaze becoming increasingly complex.

In terms of rank, Song Shuangning was already a Jieyu, while Ye Pin was of lower rank and had spoken rudely first. It was in accordance with palace rules for Song Shuangning to punish her.

However, Song Shuangning had only recently been promoted from Consort to Lady, and was in the midst of a storm of controversy. Her public actions would inevitably give others grounds for criticism, who would say that she was arrogant and narrow-minded because of her favor with the emperor.

If no punishment is imposed, it may not be able to silence the gossip in the inner palace.

However, severely punishing her would be a betrayal of her forbearance and self-control.

After much deliberation, the Empress finally sighed softly and said in a calm tone, "Since you insist on this, I will punish you by confining you to your quarters for three days to reflect on your mistakes."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Song Shuangning curtsied.