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

Prince Xuan suddenly realized that it was her.

When he fell in love with the eldest daughter of the Qin family, Qin Ruolan was also very beautiful. In his impulsiveness, he looked down on all other women.

He remembered that when he first glanced at Ning Shuyan from afar, her appearance wasn't particularly stunning. But looking at her now, she was far more beautiful than Qin Ruolan, especially her aura.

Prince Xuan's face flushed red and then paled, and he lowered his eyes to face Xiao Yu, saying, "It's been too long, I've forgotten."

He paused for a moment, then added, "The Emperor is truly blessed, surrounded by beauties and concubines, each one more exquisite than the last."

Ning Shuyan knew perfectly well that the Prince Xuan hadn't taken a liking to her back then, but she felt no disappointment or resentment, because that matter wasn't worth keeping in her heart.

Similarly, she doesn't even fancy the Emperor, so how could she possibly fancy this prince who has his eye on someone else?

Ning Shuyan walked straight towards Xiao Yu without even glancing at Prince Xuan.

Xiao Yu's face was warm and gentle, and his tone was as tender as a spring breeze: "It seems I'm in for a treat. Did Shuyan bring me something delicious?" He smiled and took her hand, his face full of tenderness.

Ning Shuyan seemed to understand something. Her gaze was tender and gentle, and she said in a soft, sweet voice, "It's lily, lotus seed, and longan porridge. It's very good for nourishing the heart and calming the mind, as well as strengthening the spleen and stomach." As she spoke, she pulled her hand out of Xiao Yu's hand and opened the food box.

Prince Xuan took a deep breath, a complex expression on his face, and walked out of Zhaochen Palace.

Xiao Yu watched Ning Shuyan with her eyes lowered, gently stirring the porridge with a silver spoon. He reached out and lifted Ning Shuyan's smooth chin, examining her closely.

This face is indeed exquisitely beautiful, unforgettable at first glance. He used to think she was just pretty, but now he would add the word "stunning".

"What's wrong with His Majesty?" Ning Shuyan roughly understood in her heart, but her face still looked blank.

Xiao Yu lowered his hand and glanced at the hairpin in her hair. It was this hairpin that had caught the attention of Prince Xuan.

"Don't wear this hairpin out again." His tone was indifferent, and his expression was unreadable.

Ning Shuyan's heart skipped a beat. She put down the porridge, lowered her eyes, and said softly, "Did I do something wrong that made Your Majesty dislike me? If Your Majesty feels that I am not worthy of wearing this hairpin, then I will return it to Your Majesty. Don't let such a precious thing go to waste."

As she spoke, she removed the hairpin from her hair bun with her bare hands and presented it to Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu looked at the pair of fair and jade-like hands that were trembling slightly. He then turned his gaze to the woman's face, where her long eyelashes were also trembling gently, and her lips were tightly pursed. She looked extremely aggrieved.

Xiao Yu's heart softened suddenly, and he pulled her into his arms.

For a moment, the hall was silent; neither Ning Shuyan nor Xiao Yu spoke.

Xiao Yu didn't know why he felt so choked up. But when he thought about it carefully, what had she done wrong? He was very displeased when his third brother looked at Ning Shuyan with that kind of gaze. This was his woman!

He once blinded himself to choose Lady Qin as his queen, and even claimed that he would not take any concubines. But he was just boasting about his deep affection. However, he still took a concubine two years later.

Now, looking at a woman you once looked down on, you're attracted to her beauty again. Are you dumbfounded?

Unfortunately, this woman belonged to him, and he couldn't bear to look at her for long.

"That's not what I meant," Xiao Yu said softly.

Ning Shuyan bit her lip tightly, and when she loosened her grip, the spot where she had bitten was slightly white. Her long, fan-like eyelashes, which partially veiled her eyes, seemed to be misty with tears. She desperately tried to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes, her voice low and hoarse: "Your Majesty knows that Your Majesty is bothered by the fact that I almost became Prince Xuan's concubine, but this was not something I could have controlled. I didn't want it to happen, and I wish the late Emperor hadn't said those words back then. If only he had simply bestowed me upon Your Majesty."

Xiao Yu stroked her back, feeling a warm sensation: "I promise you I won't mind this matter in the future. In fact, I should thank my third brother. If he had taken you as a concubine back then, how could I have met Shuyan?"

Hearing this, Ning Shuyan, who had been holding back her tears, let large drops fall, soaking Xiao Yu's clothes and leaving mottled tear stains. She looked up at Xiao Yu with her tear-filled eyes, a hint of disbelief in her expression: "Really? Your Majesty truly doesn't regret meeting me, doesn't dislike me?"

Xiao Yu gently wiped away the tears on her face and said in a tender tone, "Of course, I am the Son of Heaven, and my word is my bond."

He watched her smile through her tears, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "How could I possibly dislike you? I am so glad that my father bestowed you upon me."

Upon careful consideration, the woman before him was one of his favorites among the imperial concubines. Her personality was exactly what he liked, and she had brought him much joy. If he had known her from the beginning, he would have definitely brought her into the palace after ascending the throne.

Because he didn't want to participate in the talent show, he proposed a three-year mourning period, but he neglected her, leaving her to wait in her boudoir for three years. Thinking about this, he felt somewhat guilty.

Ning Shuyan nestled against his chest, inhaling the scent of ambergris on him, and said with a smile, "Whether Your Majesty believes it or not, I want to say that I didn't fancy Prince Xuan back then. I suppose it's just that people are destined to be apart, so there was no initial attraction between us. I'm also very fortunate to have met Your Majesty. In fact, I should thank Prince Xuan for not accepting me back then, so that I could meet such a wonderful man as Your Majesty."

Xiao Yu suddenly felt that he was being petty compared to the little woman in front of him. He actually cared about and fussed over these things, and his heart ached for Ning Shuyan even more.

Xiao Yu took the hairpin from her hand and, while inserting it into her hair, said gently, "How can I take back something I gave you? My Shuyan is beautiful, and only you are worthy of this hairpin. Wearing this hairpin and outshining all the other beauties is also a matter of my dignity, isn't it?"

After he put the hairpin in, he smiled and touched the hair at her temple. He stared blankly at her smooth forehead, then leaned closer and gently kissed it.

Xiao Yu rarely kissed her, something Ning Shuyan knew all too well. She didn't know if Xiao Yu also rarely kissed the concubines beside him, but he had never kissed her forehead or lips, such intimate and affectionate places as that.

Xiao Yu smiled faintly: "I'm hungry. I want to try the porridge that Shuyan cooked."

Ning Shuyan replied, "This wasn't made by me personally; it was made by a palace maid who serves me. I found it extremely delicious the first time I tasted it. So I wanted Your Majesty to try it as well."

While drinking his porridge, Xiao Yu said, "You are quite honest. If it were any other concubine, she would definitely say that she made it herself."

Ning Shuyan smiled charmingly and said, "I will cook for Your Majesty myself next time. However, my cooking skills are not very good, so Your Majesty must not complain."

Xiao Yu laughed and said, "How could that be? The dessert that Shuyan made last time was quite good. I don't usually like sweets, but that dessert was delicious."

In an instant, the two were smiling again...