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

Lin Zhaorong was naturally flamboyant, and she sneered at Xi Jieyu, turning her head to mutter through gritted teeth, "No wonder she's just a pretty face, such a vixen!"

Xi Jieyu curled her lips: "Is this actor here for more than just acting?"

Lin Zhaorong rolled her eyes. "Anyone with eyes can see that, do you need to tell me?"

Xi Jieyu snorted coldly and turned her head away, not wanting to pay any attention to her.

After everyone dispersed, they all returned to their own palaces.

Consort Xi and Ning Shuyan were walking in the same direction. On the way, she said to Ning Shuyan, "Do you think the Emperor will summon that opera singer to his bedchamber tonight?"

Faced with Consort Xi's straightforward nature, Ning Shuyan didn't speak as indirectly as she did with Consort Xue. She simply said, "How would I know? The Emperor's thoughts are beyond my comprehension."

Xi Jieyu sighed softly and raised her chin: "Today I finally understand that saying, all the women in the world belong to the Emperor. But she was just an actress after all. Does she expect to be on equal footing with us in the future? Just thinking about it makes me feel disgusted."

Ning Shuyan smiled and said, "Just like you said, Consort Xi, all women in the world belong to the Emperor. No matter how low their status, if the Emperor likes them, they can become his mistress."

Xi Jieyu shook the fan in her hand, not knowing whether it was because she was angry or what, but she felt a bit hot today.

Chengguang Hall.

After Xiao Yu finished reading the folded book, he was holding a book in his hands when he noticed that the palace maid had put down the tea but had not left for a long time.

He looked up, somewhat surprised, then after a moment, asked with an air of nonchalance, "What brings you here?"

The woman curtsied and lowered her eyes, saying, "This humble woman, Yu Xiang, greets Your Majesty. It was Her Majesty the Empress who sent me to serve Your Majesty." After speaking, she lowered her head, a faint blush appearing on her face.

Upon seeing the woman's beautiful face, Xiao Yu lifted her chin with his hand and examined her closely, as if he were scrutinizing a decorative object.

Yu Xiang kept her eyes down, her face slightly shy as she dared not look up.

That afternoon glance, the woman's eyes were full of affection, which was worth looking at a few more times. But now, after taking off her costume, she is wearing a green dress, but she no longer has the elegant and ethereal demeanor she had on the stage.

Yu Xiang couldn't understand what the complex expression in the eyes of the emperor was thinking. She called out, "Your Majesty..." Her voice was so gentle that it seemed to melt into one's heart.

Xiao Yu released his grip, withdrew his gaze, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. Only then did he ask, "How many years have you been performing opera?"

"Your Majesty, it has been seven years."

Xiao Yu's gaze remained fixed on the book in his hands: "So you joined an opera troupe when you were very young?"

A faint sadness lingered in Yu Xiang's eyes: "I lost my parents at a young age and lived with my adoptive father, where I learned from him in his opera troupe."

Xiao Yu looked up at her and asked, "You just said your name is Yu Xiang?"

Yu Xiang's face immediately lit up with joy, and a beautiful smile appeared on her lips: "Yes, my name is Yu Xiang."

Xiao Yu closed the book and gently tapped the cover with his hand, saying, "Is it this jade?"

Yu Xiang glanced down and saw the book titled "The Tale of Yu Yu". Yu Xiang smiled and shook her head: "Neither of these two jades is Yu. My name is Yu Xiu."

Xiao Yu looked at her with some surprise, then chuckled and said, "Now that the play is over, let's leave the palace quickly."

Yu Xiang paled, staring in surprise at the strange-looking emperor before her: "Your Majesty, did I say something wrong?"

A hint of annoyance flashed in Xiao Yu's eyes, and he waved his hand, saying, "Step back!" His tone was as cold as snow.

Yu Xiang trembled slightly. Before she could react, Yang An stepped forward and pushed her off the stage, whispering, "Miss, you'd better leave quickly."

Yang An thought that Yu Xiang was too tactless, angering the emperor and still standing there stupidly.

No wonder there's a saying that distance makes the heart grow fonder. Someone with striking good looks but lacking self-awareness and shallow understanding is far less appealing than someone who simply turns and smiles from afar.

The Empress has excellent judgment and knows how to arrange things. Does she think the concubines in the harem aren't troublesome enough? Thinking about this, Xiao Yu threw the book aside, feeling inexplicably irritated.

After a long pause, he spoke: "Consort Xuan Ning, come here."

After seeing something unpleasant, you always need to look at something pleasing to the eye to feel comfortable.

Ning Shuyan was preparing to take a bath when she heard Xiao Yu summon her, which surprised her. It was already late, why did the Emperor summon her at this hour? Could it be that the Emperor hadn't favored that opera singer?

The Liuyin Palace was only a short distance from the Chengguang Palace. Upon arriving at the Chengguang Palace, Yang An was standing outside. He reminded her, "Princess Ning, the Emperor is not in a good mood."

Ning Shuyan nodded and said with a smile, "Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch."

After saying that, she went inside and saw Xiao Yu sitting at the head of the table, holding a teacup, seemingly lost in thought.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

A gentle, melodious voice reached his ears, and Xiao Yu looked up, his expression softening somewhat. He raised his hand and said, "You're here. Come and sit down."

After Ning Shuyan stood up and sat down, she asked softly, "Has Your Majesty had dinner?"

Xiao Yu nodded: "I used it, what about you?"

"I just used it myself, I didn't expect Your Majesty to summon me here."

Xiao Yu extended his hand, and Ning Shuyan understood and walked towards him, placing her hand in his palm.

"I'm feeling a bit troubled, but seeing you makes me feel a little better." Xiao Yu gently rubbed her soft, smooth hand.

Ning Shuyan smiled faintly: "Then why is Your Majesty troubled? You may tell me, and I will see if I can share your burden."

Xiao Yu remained silent for a moment, then said, "It's better not to mention troublesome things."

Ning Shuyan didn't press the matter further. Glancing at the book on the table, she smiled and said, "Your Majesty, have you been reading?" She picked up the book and smiled broadly, "I thought Your Majesty usually reads things like the Records of the Grand Historian, Sun Tzu's Art of War, and the Zizhi Tongjian."

A glint of cunning flashed in Xiao Yu's eyes as he pointed to the three characters "Yu Yu Zhuan" on the page and asked, "Do you recognize these three characters?"

Ning Shuyan chuckled upon hearing this, her eyes brimming with laughter: "Is Your Majesty testing me?"

She covered her grin with her fan and said sweetly, "If I answer incorrectly, will Your Majesty punish me?"

Xiao Yu stared blankly at her, her smile extremely happy. Her voice, however, contained a hint of coquettishness, just like the saying: "Holding a pipa, half-concealing her face."

His eyes were gentle, and a playful smile appeared on his lips: "If you answer incorrectly, I will definitely punish you."

Xiao Yu's mood improved at this moment.

The key was her excellent use of the word "punishment," which carried a flirtatious undertone, even if Ning Shuyan genuinely answered incorrectly and didn't recognize the word. Xiao Yu didn't think she was ignorant. On the contrary, her way of speaking was very pleasant to listen to.

That's the difference between people!