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

Ning Shuyan looked at him and her gaze darkened, carrying a faint trace of sadness.

So, even a seemingly aloof and indifferent monarch can have unspeakable secrets.

Ning Shuyan hugged Xiao Yu tightly, "No matter how cold it is at the top, I will stay with Your Majesty and always be with you."

"Although I am very insignificant..." she added.

Xiao Yu was slightly taken aback, gazing at her intently. The candlelight flickered red, reflecting a warmth and a complex emotion between his brows.

Ning Shuyan looked at her own blurred face reflected in his eyes, her gaze becoming unfocused.

After a while, Xiao Yu reached out and gently stroked her head, his voice deep yet soft and gentle: "Promise me, always be like this, don't change."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will not change," Ning Shuyan said earnestly, her bright eyes fixed on him.

Xiao Yu has met all sorts of women in his life, all of whom were initially pure and kind, but over time their ugly and unsightly sides were revealed.

Right now, the woman before him seemed truly different. She could empathize with him, had many interesting ideas, and possessed a good temperament. He only hoped she wouldn't change. Although as the emperor he couldn't possibly fall in love with a woman, he was willing to cherish one woman forever.

Inside Yihe Palace, Consort Zhuang was reclining on a couch, applying a thin layer of peach blossom and pearl powder to her face. Upon hearing Yulan's words, she quickly sat up.

"What? You're saying the Emperor bestowed the pigeon blood stone upon that slut?" Even with skin-nourishing powder on her face, her anger was palpable.

Yulan also looked displeased: "It's absolutely true, the people in front of the Emperor told me."

Consort Zhuang slammed her hand heavily on the tea table beside her, causing the teacup to tremble and tea to splash everywhere. Her eyes flashed with murderous intent: "His Majesty truly favors that wretched woman this time! In all these years, His Majesty has never shown such favor to a concubine other than me. He actually bestowed such a precious gift upon her!"

She gritted her teeth: "She doesn't even deserve it!"

She recalled asking the Emperor for the pigeon blood stone before, but he had evaded the question. Her gaze fell on the screen Xiao Yu had sent that day, and she instantly felt it was worthless. She had asked for the screen herself, while the pigeon blood stone was something the Emperor truly wanted to give her—a truly precious item.

How can they be the same? The intentions are completely different!

Consort Zhuang picked up the teacup beside her and angrily threw it at the screen. However, she didn't dare to really use her strength. The teacup only hit the screen about three feet away, and it shattered instantly, spilling tea all over the floor.

Yulan was startled, but thankfully she didn't break the screen, which was a gift from the emperor!

"At first, she was treated well, granted the privilege of bathing in the Yaoqing Pool, and the Emperor often visited her palace to favor her. Last time, she spent an entire afternoon in the Zhaochen Palace, and when I said a few words to that slut, she dared to talk back to me. Now the Emperor has bestowed such good things upon her again, Yulan, do you think she won't steal my favor?" As she spoke, Consort Zhuang's anger turned into a hint of worry.

Yulan quickly comforted her, "How could that be? Your Majesty, you have enjoyed the Emperor's favor for so many years. I have truly witnessed the Emperor's affection for you. His feelings for Consort Ning are merely novelty."

Consort Zhuang pondered for a moment, then said in a daze, "I will never allow her to become a second Consort Rong."

Two days later, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival family dinner on the fifteenth of August.

Not only were there imperial concubines, but also princes and their wives. All the concubines were required to wear palace attire to the banquet.

Ning Shuyan wore a light blue palace dress today, her long black hair styled in a snake-shaped bun, adorned with two openwork gold hairpins and a pearl butterfly hairpin at the end of the bun. The look was exquisite yet not extravagant, perfectly befitting her status.

Xiao Yu picked up a cup of wine and said with a smile, "Fourth brother, you've always loved wine, how about trying this one?"

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince raised his wine cup in a salute, smiled, took a sip, and said, "The wine is mellow and rich, delicate and full-bodied, with a long finish. Your Majesty's wine is excellent!"

Xiao Yu smiled and put down his wine cup, glancing at the Third Prince Xuan beside him. He saw that the Third Prince was intently watching the dancers in the hall, his eyes unmoving.

Xiao Yu looked in the direction he was looking, which was also Ning Shuyan's direction. He was immediately displeased, but his face remained calm and composed, though his eyes held a hint of darkness.

However, Ning Shuyan was talking to Xu Meiren beside her, her every smile and frown exuding charm and beauty.

Xiao Yu frowned subtly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Stop!"

The singing and dancing in the hall came to an abrupt halt. Everyone lowered their eyes uneasily, wondering if the Emperor had ordered a stop because the dancing was not good.

Xiao Yu pointed to the dancer in the red and blue dress who was the main dancer in the center and said in a calm voice, "You, raise your head."

The concubines were all startled. They had just noticed the dancer's exceptional beauty and alluring charm. Could it be that the Emperor had taken a liking to this dancer?

Consort Zhuang's eyes flashed with a cold light as she pierced the dancer, while the Empress's eyes held a hint of a smile.

The dancers exchanged glances, then glanced up at the Emperor, only to lower their eyes again when they saw it wasn't them. The lead dancer, noticing the Emperor looking at her, quickly raised her head.

She truly possessed a beautiful face, comparable to the beauties of the imperial harem. Although not as stunning as Consort Rong or Ning Shuyan, she was still considered quite pretty.

The concubines couldn't help but gasp.

But the next sentence immediately put the concubines at ease:

"She's exceptionally beautiful; no wonder even Prince Xuan couldn't take his eyes off her."

Prince Xuan was greatly astonished, his face instantly turning ashen: "Your Majesty..."

"Well then, on this Mid-Autumn Festival, I will bestow her upon you." Xiao Yu's tone was indifferent, yet his manner was gentle, and his face was full of smiles.

Prince Xuan felt a chill run down his spine upon seeing Xiao Yu's smile; he must have been lost in thought and Xiao Yu had noticed. He regretted his momentary lapse in attention. Forcing a smile, he said, "Your Majesty, I have no interest in this dancer; I'm sorry to have troubled you."

Xiao Yu, however, looked unconvinced and smiled warmly, "Third brother, weren't you looking at this dancer just now? Did you take a fancy to one of the other dancers? Just tell me, and I'll grant your wish."

Xiao Yu's face was full of amusement, just like that of a kind older brother.

Prince Xuan's face turned pale and then red, and he was speechless for a moment. Could he say that what he had just seen was not a dancer, but the Emperor's woman?

Princess Xuan, standing beside her, also looked extremely displeased, struggling to suppress her dissatisfaction and anger. How could she not have noticed that her husband was completely captivated by the dancers in the hall, as if his soul had been stolen away? She tugged at her handkerchief, venting her rage.

The Fourth Prince also laughed and said, "I suppose Third Brother is interested in her." He glanced leisurely at the bewildered dancer in the hall.

Xiao Yu twirled the jade thumb ring on his thumb: "So, it seems that Third Brother is too embarrassed to speak up. How about this, Princess Consort Xuan is always magnanimous and generous, so you can make the decision for Third Brother. I suppose Third Brother is hesitant because he is mindful of the deep affection between you and your spouse."

Ning Shuyan looked up and examined Princess Xuan. She was truly an extremely beautiful woman, with a face like a peach blossom, delicate and charming. No wonder Prince Xuan was so eager to marry her and unwilling to take any concubines.