You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

In the dead of night, a faint smell of medicine wafted from the side hall of Tangdi Palace.

Shen Lanbing slowly opened her eyes and glanced at the chaise lounge on the side... Hongying was already fast asleep.

Consort Jia's symptoms were mild, and she had already been carried back.

Her symptoms were too severe, and the imperial physician said it was not advisable to move her, so she stayed there for treatment and recuperation...

I feel better than the previous two days; I'm no longer so drowsy and nauseous.

However, I still experience waves of tingling, numbness, and stinging pain all over my body.

Hongying sleeps with proper posture, unlike Chu Nianci, who always tosses and turns when she's with her at night, changing positions countless times throughout the night.

She must be exhausted tonight; she probably stayed in the west wing to rest.

Physician Zhang said she had been suffering for several days... Shen Lanbing's heart stirred, and she suddenly wanted to go see her.

The thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately rolled over and slowly got up.

Having been in the palace for only three months, she had already witnessed what it meant to be a deep, dark palace, teeming with evil spirits.

Fortunately, a ray of light still remained in her heart... Hui'er, like a source of her own light, always made her feel incredibly warm and at ease whenever she thought that she was still there.

After lying still for a moment, she finally forced herself to get up, threw off the covers, put on a fox fur cloak, and went out the door.

The eunuch on night duty at the gate was asleep.

Shen Lanbing didn't carry a lantern; instead, she walked alone towards the west wing, facing the cool night breeze.

Inside the room, Chu Nianci was watching the medicine she was preparing for Shen Lanbing while peeling a pear. Beside her was a collection of romance novels that her uncle had sent in... such as "Beating the Heartless Lover," "Reunion with the Pearl Shirt," and "The Secret History of Emperor Ming."

Although the story was old-fashioned, she was engrossed in it, sighing from time to time and wiping away a few tears every now and then.

Although she had basically stopped believing in love, it didn't stop her from believing that it still existed in storybooks.

People always yearn for beautiful things.

Duanmu Qingyu sat quietly on the chaise longue, with a thick stack of memorials piled up in front of him.

The room was warm and cozy, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire in the bronze cauldron.

A gentle breeze blew by, and his long, black, satin-like hair brushed against his cheeks, making his profile appear exceptionally handsome in the candlelight.

Chu Nianci found him particularly pleasing to the eye tonight... He had been here taking care of Shen Lanbing for several days.

Although this person can change his mind faster than turning the pages of a book, when he gets angry, he is as violent as a sudden storm at sea, capable of overturning everything.

But he does have compassion and principles, and he wouldn't beat or kill his servants without reason.

The last time we dealt with the Cold Food Powder incident with swift and decisive measures, it was also to eradicate that harmful substance.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to suppress it at all.

With his shrewdness and methods, as long as his health holds up, it shouldn't be difficult for him to secure his rule and even usher in a golden age.

Over the past few months, she has observed him closely, noting that he has paid close attention to state affairs and has implemented many benevolent policies that benefit the country and its people.

Based on this alone, she even felt that he might actually become a wise ruler.

Even if he's cunning, at least he's treated her well, and this time he's completely on her side.

Looking at his handsome profile in the candlelight.

He thought to himself that in the future, the women in the harem, not for favor or status, might fight to the death over his face.

She squinted, just as she was thinking of something that made her want to laugh...

Duanmu Qingyu glanced at her sideways and asked, "What book are you reading?"

Chu Nianci quickly smiled and handed him "The Secret History of Emperor Ming".

"These kinds of folk tales are just for entertainment; don't get hooked or take them as fact."

He was afraid that if he believed the stories in the book, he would end up like Consort Shu.

"Your Majesty, do you think Emperor Ming loved Consort Yang?"

She asked curiously.

Emperor Ming of the previous dynasty and Consort Yang made a promise to each other to be together for life, but in the end, during the mutiny, he abandoned Consort Yang at Mawei Slope. In the end, Emperor Ming died alone and depressed.

"Of course, but when Emperor Ming staged the coup, he cowered and hesitated. If it were me, I would lead my guards to negotiate with the rebel leader and seize the opportunity to kill him."

Chu Nianci quickly revealed an expression of admiration and said, "Your Majesty is so valiant, all the concubines in the palace want to be your Consort Yang."

Duanmu Qingyu glanced at her sideways, tapped her head with a memorial, and said, "If possible, I will choose only one principal wife, to save myself from having so many noisy people around me!"

Chu Nianci thought to himself.

Choose one wife? I don't believe you for a second.

She looked like she'd spoken out of turn, then quickly peeled a slice of pear and offered it to his lips in a flattering manner.

Duanmu Qingyu was taken aback. Her long, silky black hair brushed against her exquisitely handsome face, and she raised an eyebrow slightly: "What are you doing?"

Chu Nianci smiled sweetly: "Your Majesty's lips are chapped, have a slice of pear to moisten them."

She thought her smile was innocent and adorable, but in his eyes...

A touch of red between her brows, her thin lips curved, and a pair of smiling eyes that only shone with a sliver of bright light from between her thick, dark eyelashes. Paired with her long, slanted eyebrows, her whole face was bright and lively, yet it also revealed a cunning, making her seem like a fairy born from a pile of brocade.

Duanmu Qingyu closed his eyes and swallowed hard.

He reached out and gently pinched her chin: "Trying to provoke me again, aren't you afraid your back will hurt?"

A hint of a smile flickered in the sharp glint of his eyes.

Chu Nianci immediately recalled the lesson from the Tangquan Palace a few days ago, quickly composed herself, and obediently offered him a slice of pear.

Then she sat back down on the small stool, flipping through the storybook while continuing to feed him pears, occasionally stuffing a slice into her own mouth.

Who knew that in a moment of distraction, she put the pear flesh into her own mouth and stuffed a piece of pear peel into his mouth instead.

Duanmu Qingyu paused, then said, "..."

Chu Nianci handed it to him again, only to find that he wouldn't open his mouth.

Looking up, I saw that he had a small piece of pear peel between his delicate and beautiful lips.

Duanmu Qingyu: "..."

Seeing his slightly cold gaze, she shrank back while smiling, "Your Majesty is discerning and surely saw that I didn't do it on purpose, right?"

Duanmu Qingyu was so angry that he picked up the memorial to hit her.

Chu Nianci jumped up and ran out. Just as he was about to dash out of the palace gate, he called out from behind, "Chu Nianci!"

She abruptly stopped, one foot inside and one foot outside, slowly peeking out from behind the doorframe with her delicate features, and said in a sweet, alluring voice, "Does Your Majesty have any further orders?"

Duanmu Qingyu wanted to reprimand her, but then thought it would be pointless, so she suppressed her anger and said calmly, "The Empress Dowager is holding a New Year's Eve banquet in a few days. Be careful not to upset her."

"Come, I will tell you the Empress Dowager's taboo."

Chu Nianci hesitated for a moment, then, remembering that the New Year's Eve banquet was indeed an important matter, she tiptoed back.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she got close, he grabbed her and pressed her down to the edge of the couch.

"Your 'loyalty' is too much for me to fail to reward," Duanmu Qingyu said, pressing her down while tickling her side.

"Hahaha... Your Majesty, spare me!" Chu Nianci was most ticklish under her armpits, laughing and dodging as she went, and soon begged for mercy.

After a few dozen minutes of commotion, she finally sat back on the chaise lounge and started reading again.

Duanmu Qingyu reached out and gently brushed away a stray strand of hair from her ear.

Shen Lanbing stood quietly outside the door.

She didn't see the earlier playful fight, only this tender scene.

The moonlight softly bathed her face. From this angle, she couldn't see Nianci's expression clearly, but she could see Duanmu Qingyu's gaze clearly...

His gaze was calm yet conveyed love, admiration, and concern.

This scene is so familiar.

She suddenly realized that Duanmu Qingyu's affection for Chu Nianci had long exceeded ordinary favor.

Perhaps even he himself did not realize that it was no longer a liking for the favored concubine, but a genuine admiration.

This reminded her of when she used to live at home, her mother would sit by the bed doing needlework, and her father would read a book beside her, occasionally glancing up at her mother... that was the look in his eyes.

Shen Lanbing silently lowered her head, turned around and quietly left.

She already understood.

Yes, that must be it... An indescribable feeling, without anyone knowing when, quietly grew between them.

They themselves may not even be aware of it.

On her way back to the side hall, Shen Lanbing felt heavy-hearted.

She was happy for Chu Nianci, but also felt a pang of inexplicable melancholy.

It would be a lie to say I'm not jealous.

She desperately wished that even the slightest bit of that gaze would fall upon her.

But she was also proud; she never bothered to fight for or snatch things that she couldn't have.

After all, affection can be earned, but admiration comes from the bottom of one's heart. Even if you fight for it, it will only be a mirage and a fleeting dream.

Something you desire but cannot obtain.

Hui'er finally got it.

While she was happy for her, she was also worried that in this treacherous palace, it was so difficult to find someone who truly cared for you.

But behind this "difficulty" lies the watchful eyes and the calculating schemes of countless individuals...

She'll protect her from now on.

Shen Lanbing glanced at the crescent moon shrouded in thin dark clouds on the horizon, quietly took a breath, and gently clenched her hands as if she were holding a fragile porcelain bottle.

The night enveloped her beautiful figure, as graceful as a bamboo shoot.

Inside the hall, Duanmu Qingyu was in a good mood. He led Chu Nianci to the bedside and sat down, then pulled her into his arms.

All of this was exactly what Chu Nianci had anticipated.

What she wanted was for him to feel that only when she was by his side could he be so relaxed and at ease.

The more he cherished this ease, the deeper the bond between them became, and the closer their relationship grew.

By gradually drawing his emotions in, making him unable to forget the pleasure he gained there, her importance in his heart will naturally grow quietly.

Duanmu Qingyu herself found it somewhat unbelievable.

When facing Consort Hui, every move she made always drew his attention.

Yet it always made him feel exceptionally comfortable.

Realizing he couldn't continue indulging in this obsession, he quietly changed the subject.

"I've always been curious about the case of the Cold Food Powder. How did my beloved consort see through the scheme?" Duanmu Qingyu asked suddenly, her eyes narrowed...