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

The Empress returned to Phoenix Palace, touching her face after removing her makeup. The weather was pleasant, yet a chill crept into her body. She murmured, lost in thought, "Du Ruo, do you think I'm getting old?"

Du Ruo quickly replied gently, "No, Your Majesty, you are of unparalleled beauty and in the prime of your life. You are far from old."

The Empress stroked her no longer full eyes: "The Emperor bestowed that hair ornament upon Consort Zhuang today, wasn't it because he thought Consort Zhuang was beautiful and it suited her?"

Du Ruo then realized that the Empress was grieving over the headdress. After all, when Consort Zhuang entered, her attire, except for not being bright red, was comparable to the Empress's. Her hair ornaments were even more exquisite than the Empress's.

"Your Majesty, please don't overthink it. It's just a hair ornament, though it may be a bit extravagant. But it's not a phoenix crown after all."

The dynasty had a rule that only the empress could wear a dragon and phoenix crown. Other concubines could only wear flower hairpin crowns, jeweled crowns, etc.

The Empress sighed deeply. Since ascending to the throne, the only intimacy between her and Xiao Yu had vanished, leaving only mutual respect and politeness. Whenever they visited Fengqi Palace, the Emperor rarely consummated their marriage. Instead, he doted on the concubines below him, one after another.

"I was not as good as Consort Zhuang or Consort Rong in the past, and now I am not as good as Consort Xi or Consort Ning. The Emperor has had enough of my face, so he has no interest in me whenever he comes to Fengqi Palace."

After all, she is a woman, and she also longs for a man's affection.

Du Ruo, feeling heartbroken, advised, "Every time the Emperor comes to Fengqi Palace, Your Highness, you always mention the six palaces. In the Emperor's eyes, you are just an Empress, the Mother of the Nation. But Your Highness, you are also the Emperor's woman, his wife. Why don't you learn from Consort Zhuang, be a little more affectionate and charming to the Emperor, and let him feel that you are also an ordinary woman who needs a husband?"

Flirting? Alluring? The Empress shook her head. The late Emperor valued her Feng family. From the moment her parents learned that the late Emperor intended to make her his future Empress, they had diligently cultivated her to be dignified, gentle, and virtuous…

She was only nine years old then! At the height of her life, she was bound by so many rules and regulations.

They all told her how to be an empress, but never how to please her husband.

She stammered, "I am the Empress. I can only endure my grievances. Even if the concubines have the slightest grievance, they can speak out, whine to the Emperor, and complain. But I cannot! Those frivolous acts in the bedroom are not the conduct of an Empress!"

The Empress still couldn't accept it and wanted her to act like a submissive woman in front of Xiao Yu.

Du Ruo said, "Your Majesty, what man likes a woman who's always so proper? Take Consort Ning for example. You look gentle and dignified, but who knows how alluring and seductive you are in bed. Otherwise, how could the Emperor have favored her more times than Consort Rong? Your Majesty, why are you still bound by those rules? The most important thing is to conceive an heir!"

Du Ruo spoke with some urgency. She had served the Empress for nearly twenty years, and if anyone wanted the Empress to be well the most, it would be her.

The Empress pondered for a moment, then rubbed her forehead and said, "The first day of the month is just one more day away. Let's talk about it then."

On the night of the first day of the month, the Empress bathed in fragrant water and changed her clothes to welcome Xiao Yu's arrival.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Xiao Yu nodded, speaking calmly as always.

Xiao Yu opened her arms, letting the Empress undress her. But she noticed the Empress didn't say a word, her head bowed low. She couldn't help but feel a little strange.

"What's wrong with the Empress today?"

The Empress lowered her eyes and smiled gently, saying softly, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment."

As she spoke, she walked out of the inner hall, and Xiao Yu looked at her with a puzzled expression. He simply took off his shoes, rubbed his temples wearily, and lay down on the bed to rest.

A moment later, the Empress entered gracefully. She wore a long, apricot-colored dress with a low neckline that subtly revealed her figure. Her dark hair was loosely styled, with the rest cascading over her shoulders. A faint smile played on her red lips, adding a touch of allure. This contrasted sharply with her usual dignified and elegant demeanor.

She looked up and saw Xiao Yu lying on the bed, his eyes closed, the smile slowly fading from his lips. She walked to his side and whispered, "Your Majesty..."

Xiao Yu remained motionless on the bed, clearly asleep.

The Empress sat down beside him, her eyes misting over with a bittersweet feeling, which gradually welled up with a crystalline luster. She sat quietly, gazing intently at Xiao Yu, at this man who had been by her side for nine years, a man who felt both strange and familiar.

When the Empress woke up the next day, her eyes were covered in dark circles.

After seeing Xiao Yu off, she sat in front of the bronze mirror and murmured, "What's the point of dressing up so exquisitely if he won't even look at you?"

Just like yesterday when he came, he didn't even notice he was wearing perfume. And today when he left, he didn't even notice the bruise under his eyes.

Du Ruo's brows furrowed with deep worry: "Your Majesty, I'm sure I can do it next time."

The Empress shook her head and smiled sadly: "I am the Empress, the mother of the nation, not one of those concubines. Why should I use those to please the Emperor? Even if he doesn't love me, I am still his only Empress. When we die, I will still be the one buried with him." As she said this, a dark glint appeared in the Empress's eyes.

After getting ready, she had to deal with that group of beautiful women again, forcing a smile.

Outside the palace, Consort Zhuang happened to run into Consort Rong who was coming towards her.

Consort Zhuang smiled faintly, "I heard that the First Prince fell ill again last night? Why didn't you go to invite the Emperor, sister?"

Consort Rong's face stiffened and she was speechless for a moment. The Emperor was in the Empress's palace. After what happened last time, did she dare to go and invite him?

Consort Zhuang glanced at Consort Xi, who was walking slowly towards them from a distance, being carefully supported by palace servants.

Consort Zhuang smiled meaningfully: "It won't be long before a prince or princess is born. At that time, I'm afraid the eldest prince's importance in the emperor's heart will be..." As she spoke, Consort Zhuang picked up a handkerchief and covered her mouth with a smile.

Consort Rong's expression darkened slightly: "What do you mean?"

Consort Zhuang raised an eyebrow: "The Emperor favors Consort Xi, so... her child will naturally be valued as well."

As she spoke, she tilted her head back and walked forward leisurely, the pearls and jade swaying slightly, making a crisp and melodious sound when they collided, as if striking Consort Rong's heart.

She murmured to herself: Is she valued too...?

She looked at Consort Xi who had walked up to her, her gaze suddenly turning sharp. She said coldly, "Consort Xi is really being pretentious. She's not even that pregnant yet, and she's already clutching her stomach while walking."

Consort Xi, still clutching her lower abdomen, sneered, "I heard that when Your Majesty was pregnant, you were constantly feeling unwell and had the Emperor leave. Compared to me, you're nothing."

Consort Rong snorted coldly, her face as if covered in frost: "What rank do you have? How dare you compare yourself to me?" With that, she flicked her sleeve and walked towards Phoenix Palace.

Xi Jieyu chuckled as she watched her retreating figure: "Sooner or later, I will be your equal."