The empress is both charming and seductive, rising through the ranks of palace intrigue.

Ning Shuyan said softly, "Your Majesty and I have never met before, so how could Your Majesty know for sure that it is not me?"

Xiao Yu's gaze fell on the hibiscus flower in her hair, and he simply pointed at it and said, "I think you are more suited to the crabapple blossom, which is delicate and charming. Wearing it on your head would suit you quite well, making you look more alluring."

After saying this, he turned around and took off his outer robe. He couldn't help but think that although the woman in front of him wasn't stupid, she was rather innocently cute. If it were any other concubine who was to serve him in bed, she would have already come forward to help him change. But she stood there looking completely bewildered. Hadn't the matron taught her manners?

Just as Xiao Yu was taking off his clothes, Ning Shuyan touched the pink hibiscus in her hair and suddenly remembered the scene in the Begonia Garden.

I said something about not wanting to compete for his favor, but it turns out that he actually heard it.

Yes, if a concubine who is not favored truly wants to win the emperor's favor, why would she do something like framing the imperial heir and cutting off her own escape route?

Or did Xiao Yu believe that since he had already given up on the path of gaining favor, there was even less reason for him to harm the imperial heir?

Regardless of his thoughts, Ning Shuyan suddenly felt a chill of fear. Thankfully, she hadn't said anything she shouldn't have, otherwise…

She stepped forward, took the clothes Xiao Yu had already taken off, and hung them aside. A shy yet gentle and captivating smile graced her face: "Then next time I see Your Majesty, I will bring crabapple blossoms."

Xiao Yu smiled slightly, admiring her slender figure and graceful posture, and walked towards the bed, with Ning Shuyan following behind.

The curtains were gently lowered, the flickering candlelight creating ripples like gentle waves on a lake. Ning Shuyan had her eyes closed, and could only smell the faint scent of ambergris.

Her clothes had been undone at some point. Ning Shuyan wrapped her arms around his body, silently repeating "Relax, relax..."

Just as Xiao Yu was getting ready, he felt the woman's hand gently roam over his back. Her hand was as smooth and delicate as brocade, lightly brushing against his skin. It tickled, it tingled...

Then the woman beneath him lifted her head and kissed his ear, her soft breath sending ripples of warmth and desire through his heart.

Xiao Yu was taken aback. Ning Shuyan felt his stiff body and looked up to see Xiao Yu staring at her with a deep, unfathomable gaze.

Ning Shuyan blushed slightly, like a lotus flower blooming in summer, shy and delicate. Her long, thick eyelashes lowered slowly, and she whispered, "Why is Your Majesty looking at me like that?"

Looking into her bright, slightly lowered eyes, a faint, delicate fragrance wafted into his nose. Suppressing the burning desire within him, Xiao Yu said in a deep voice, "Didn't your nanny teach you manners?"

Ning Shuyan seemed startled by his words, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. She bit her rosy lips and said, "Your Majesty... I was a little nervous. I was being disrespectful." After saying that, she withdrew her hand from his back and placed it obediently on the bed.

Even though Xiao Yu was usually cold and aloof, he was still a virile man in bed. With such a beautiful woman beside him, seeing her frightened appearance, and hearing her soft voice, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. He gently stroked her reddened lips and said softly, "Don't be afraid, I will be gentle."

Ning Shuyan nodded, but Xiao Yu felt uneasy at this moment, as if his back was empty and cold. He gently kissed the woman's collarbone and said, "Continue."

A subtle glint flashed in Ning Shuyan's eyes as she placed her hand on top...

The candlelight on the candlestick burned quietly, emitting a warm yellow glow, enveloping the night in tender affection.

After washing her up, he looked at Ning Shuyan's flushed cheeks, her heaving chest, and her disheveled hair, which made her even more charming and alluring.

Although her waist was slender, she was still very well-proportioned in all the right places. But... she was a little pretentious!

He could still feel a burning pain in his back. Among the concubines, he was considered gentle and tender towards the woman in front of him, but she seemed to be in great pain and even scratched herself with her fingernails.

Ning Shuyan tidied her hair. Seeing that it was almost time, she didn't want to linger and wanted to go back and sleep until dawn. She stood up and said, "Then I will return to the palace first, so as not to disturb Your Majesty's rest."

"Alright, if you can't get up tomorrow, you don't need to go to Fengqi Palace to pay your respects to the Empress."

Although Xiao Yu found her to be very sensible and was quite satisfied with her, he would not allow her to stay overnight in Zhaochen Palace. This was an unprecedented rule he had set in the three years since his ascension to the throne.

Ning Shuyan smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

After saying this, Qiu Le helped her out, walking very slowly. Xiao Yu withdrew his gaze; he didn't know why he had taken her twice tonight, no wonder she was having trouble walking.

The next day, Ning Shuyan naturally went to Fengqi Palace to pay her respects to the Empress.

However, after she came back last night, she lay in bed for quite a while before falling asleep. She inevitably looked somewhat tired, especially since her skin is fair and there were faint dark circles under her eyes.

Ziying prepared the clothes and said with concern, "Didn't the Emperor say that Miss doesn't have to go to pay her respects?"

Ning Shuyan took a white jade hairpin and placed it in her hair, saying gently, "How can we take the Emperor's words seriously? If he really granted me the honor of not having to pay my respects, he would have someone inform the Empress. Even if the Emperor did grant me this honor, so what? It's still the same honor of serving the Emperor; if I refuse to go, wouldn't that be considered taking advantage of his favor?"

Ning Shuyan looked at the lustrous crystals hanging from the hairpin and said, "It's not too late to be arrogant when you have the ability."

Ziying nodded. "Miss is right. It was this servant who was foolish."

For example, Consort Zhuang and Consort Rong, with their high ranks and constant favor, had every right to be arrogant and presumptuous. If someone acted like this so soon after entering the palace, it would be rather ungrateful.

Ning Shuyan's outfit was the same as usual, with no difference or anything particularly outstanding.

On the way, they encountered Consort Cheng, who always had an aloof attitude towards everyone, and rarely even smiled at Consort Zhuang and Consort Rong.

Cheng Meiren glanced at her with her beautiful eyes and said disdainfully, "It's finally your turn."

Among the new concubines, she received the most favor, though not as much as Consort Zhuang, but comparable to Consort Rong.

Ning Shuyan greeted her with a smile, saying, "My sister is naturally no match for my sister's favor."

Cheng Meiren curled the corners of her lips and walked forward, with Ning Shuyan following her into Fengqi Palace.

It's no wonder that Consort Cheng is not gentle; her father was a general, and her grandfather was the Grand Tutor and the Emperor's teacher. It's likely that the Emperor treats her with some special consideration.

Fortunately, she had only been in the palace for a little over a month before receiving the emperor's favor for the first time. The other concubines didn't make things too difficult for her. The empress, with a peaceful expression, still urged her to take good care of her health and to bear children for the royal family.