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

Ning Shuyan curtsied, watching Cheng Meiren burst into tears. She took off her handkerchief, her swollen face streaked with tears. She looked pitifully at Xiao Yu, but Xiao Yu did not pull her into his arms or wipe her tears. He simply held Cheng Meiren's hand and said, "I know you have been wronged."

After speaking, he looked at Ning Shuyan and said gently, "Consort Ning, you may dispense with the formalities."

After Ning Shuyan stood up, she saw Consort Cheng kneel down with a thud. She said sadly, "Your Majesty, I don't want to live in Qiulan Palace anymore. If I stay any longer, my face might be ruined. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy on me."

Xiao Yu helped her up, saying only, "Let's talk about it when we get back to the palace."

Cheng Meiren sobbed, a stark contrast to her usual aloof demeanor.

Xiao Yu turned his gaze to Ning Shuyan, a hint of gentleness appearing in his usually deep and calm eyes: "You were also frightened today, go back to the palace and rest well."

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

After watching Xiao Yu and Cheng Meiren leave, Ning Shuyan chuckled and shook her head.

Ziying pouted and said, "Miss, you kindly pleaded for Consort Cheng, but she didn't even say thank you."

Ning Shuyan's cheeks felt a little hot from the sun, and she couldn't help but touch them. "I didn't expect her to say thank you. What's important is what the Emperor thinks."

Ziying nodded as if she understood, but seeing that it wasn't the place to talk, she didn't ask any more questions.

Ning Shuyan knew from the beginning that Consort Cheng's maid had probably gone to invite Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu's high regard and doting affection for Consort Cheng was obvious to everyone.

But if I were to actually slap Consort Cheng today, it would not only intensify the hatred between the two of them, but it would also definitely lower the Emperor's favor towards me.

On the contrary, if he pleaded for Cheng Meiren, he could gain some favor.

After all, nothing in the palace can escape the eyes of this emperor.

But when she saw Xiao Yu arrive, she felt that he didn't really dote on Cheng Meiren. Even when Cheng Meiren threw herself into his arms, her face covered in tears, Xiao Yu barely lifted his hand, and even showed a hint of disgust.

Indeed, even the emperor's favor has its limits.

After Ning Shuyan returned to the palace, news arrived within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn: the Emperor had moved Consort Cheng to a new palace, promoted her to the rank of Jieyu, and bestowed upon her the title "Xi".

However, the Emperor did not blame or question Consort Rong. Perhaps the Emperor kept this matter in his heart but simply did not make a fuss about it on the surface.

Ning Shuyan rested her chin on her hand, stroking the teacup lid, and said softly, "The Emperor's thoughts are indeed unfathomable."

The Emperor clearly didn't favor Consort Cheng that much, so why did he promote her and bestow a title upon her just because he felt she had been wronged? Logically speaking, Consort Cheng currently has no family background, so the Emperor shouldn't have anything to fear.

The old flame is left unpunished, while the new love offers solace. The Emperor is truly amorous.

As night fell, Xiao Yu arrived.

The first thing Xiao Yu saw upon entering was a woman who had just finished bathing. She wore a thin, form-fitting long dress that perfectly accentuated her graceful and slender figure. Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, exuding a captivating charm.

Ning Shuyan was slightly taken aback, then stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

A faint fragrance of flowers and fruits filled the air. Xiao Yu helped her up and said gently, "What fragrance do you wear, my beloved concubine? I always feel refreshed and relaxed whenever I smell it."

Ning Shuyan raised her eyes and smiled, "It's made with jasmine, rose, lychee, peach, and winter plum. I brought it with me when I entered the palace."

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "It suits my beloved concubine very well."

Her face looked even more radiant after her bath, with a slight flush, exuding a captivating charm that was also adorable. Xiao Yu couldn't help but glance at her a few more times, then took her hand and led her into the inner hall.

"Today you pleaded for Consort Cheng...Aren't you afraid of offending Consort Rong?" Xiao Yu suddenly asked.

Ning Shuyan thought to herself: She had offended Consort Rong a long time ago, could it be that she only offended her now?

She smiled and said, "I didn't think that much about it. It's just that I have no grudge against Consort Xi, and I can't bring myself to slap her. As for Consort Rong, she's just a bit short-tempered, but she's not unreasonable. I hope she won't blame me."

Xiao Yu's expression darkened slightly as he looked at Ning Shuyan, a hint of inquiry in his eyes: "So, Consort Rong thinks this way, my beloved consort?"

Ning Shuyan raised her bright, clear eyes, which were even more lustrous in the candlelight. "Of course." She paused, then said softly, "After all, Consort Rong is an old servant of the Emperor and one of the Four Consorts. It is only right that she would reprimand me."

Xiao Yu rubbed his palms and said gently, "Today, Consort Rong acted inappropriately, and I felt that I had implicated you as well, so I came to see you. I didn't expect my beloved consort to be so understanding."

Ning Shuyan chuckled inwardly; these words were truly touching.

If you take it seriously, you've already lost.

Ning Shuyan pouted slightly, with a hint of coquettishness: "Your Majesty, didn't I tell you my name? Why is Your Majesty still calling me 'My Beloved Consort'?"

Xiao Yu wasn't annoyed; on the contrary, he found her rather endearing and smiled, "Alright, Shuyan."

He stroked her slender waist. "It's late and the dew is heavy. Let's get some rest."

Ning Shuyan smiled, and Xiao Yu felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he looked at the beauty's flushed face. He gently squeezed her slender waist, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

This time, Ning Shuyan did not dodge, but instead huddled in Xiao Yu's arms. Xiao Yu's eyes burned with passion, and he picked her up and held her in his arms.

"Your Majesty..." A gentle voice sounded beside him, and hot breath tickled his ear. Xiao Yu felt the scorching breath permeate his entire body.

The curtains hung low, dimly lit inside, as if a gentle breeze were blowing, or a light drizzle was falling, or at other times a torrential downpour was pouring down.

Xiao Yu had tasted all sorts of beauties. At first, he preferred those who were pretty and shy, but later he came to like those who were voluptuous and charming like Consort Rong. The woman before him, however, was charming, shy, alluring, and her uninhibited manner in bed was something he could savor.

For him, favoring concubines was merely a way to alleviate his fatigue, but rarely did it bring true satisfaction. Even fewer times had he experienced the storms of life with a woman as he had tonight, where both of them felt intense pleasure simultaneously.

Seeing Ning Shuyan's face glow with a rosy radiance, making her skin appear even more luminous, and noticing she wasn't using a pillow, she asked curiously, "You don't seem to like using a pillow?"

Ning Shuyan placed her hand under her head and laughed, "The pillow is too high, I'm not used to sleeping on it."

"How could that be? This pillow isn't very high."

Ning Shuyan lowered her eyes slightly: "I just don't really like sleeping with a pillow, so I simply don't use one. Perhaps I'm not fortunate enough to enjoy this carefree existence."

Xiao Yu laughed loudly, his gaze softening: "That's an interesting thing to say."

Ning Shuyan moved a little closer to him and said softly, "If Your Majesty doesn't mind, you can let me use your hand as a pillow." Her bright eyes looked at him.

Xiao Yu smiled and extended his hand. At this moment, the beauty was exactly what he wanted, so how could he refuse?

Ning Shuyan seemed to see a ray of light, and quickly moved over to lie on Xiao Yu's wrist, a sweet smile spreading across her face, as if honey were overflowing from her dimples.

Xiao Yu was quite pleased to see her. After all, she was a newcomer to the palace, and her emotions were easily read on her face, which made her pleasant to look at, and she was also beautiful. He was willing to put up with her a little.