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

The following afternoon, Ning Shuyan ate a bit too much for lunch and sat in the courtyard drinking several sips of tea, but still felt some discomfort in her chest.

Ziying noticed and asked, "Miss, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Ning Shuyan took a deep breath and frowned, saying, "I feel a bit nauseous and uncomfortable in my stomach."

Green Bud, who was watering the flowers nearby, quickly looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness, are you pregnant?"

Ning Shuyan's brow furrowed upon hearing this, and she looked at the smiling Green Bud and asked softly, "What makes you say that?"

Green Bud paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I've only heard that pregnant women often feel nauseous and want to vomit."

Ning Shuyan curled her lips into a smile: "I just ate too much for lunch today, so I'm feeling a little unwell."

Green Bud quickly curtsied and said, "Yes, I was overthinking it." Then she resumed watering the plants properly.

Ning Shuyan drank a few more sips of tea before feeling much better. Upon entering the inner hall, Ziying quickly said, "After Qiule returns, Miss, would you like her to take a look at you? Perhaps Miss really is pregnant?"

Ning Shuyan no longer felt uncomfortable and shook her head: "I'm fine. Didn't Imperial Physician Ji just come by a while ago? Maybe I ate too much for lunch these past few days because the weather suddenly turned cool. Do you think I wouldn't know if I'm pregnant?"

Upon hearing this, Ziying fell silent. Indeed, Physician Ji had just treated her two days prior.

However, this also reminded Ning Shuyan that there were only two pills left. Xiao Yu would be coming over that evening, and if he took one, there would only be one left. Even if she asked Imperial Physician Ji to make another one now, aside from whether he would be willing, this wasn't something that could be made in a short time.

Save these pills for when necessary, such as during ovulation or in special circumstances.

As for tonight... she'll think of something.

When Xiao Yu arrived that evening, Ning Shuyan had just finished bathing. Her long hair was loose, her face was still glowing from the steam of the bath, and her cheeks were slightly flushed, making her look incredibly charming and beautiful.

Xiao Yu saw Ning Shuyan greeting him at the door from afar, and quickly stepped forward to take her hand, saying gently, "It's a bit windy tonight, aren't you afraid of catching a cold standing here dressed so lightly?"

Ning Shuyan smiled and took Xiao Xiaoyu's hand, saying sweetly, "Your Majesty, I wish to see you soon."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's face instantly broke into a broad smile. "Didn't you just see me yesterday? You miss me that much already?"

Xiao Yu reached out and lifted her chin. Ning Shuyan looked at Xiao Yu with a deep gaze, her eyes shimmering with a captivating beauty.

"I just miss Your Majesty, is that not allowed?" She turned her head and nestled in Xiao Yu's arms. Hearing her sweet voice, Xiao Yu couldn't help but laugh loudly and led her into the inner palace.

As Ning Shuyan helped Xiao Yu undress, she looked at the sachet she had embroidered and laughed, "It's so ugly, yet the Emperor wears it all the time."

Xiao Yu's eyebrows curved slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "I like it."

It wasn't just the sachet that I liked, but also the things she said that day and the word "peace."

Even though Ning Shuyan had no feelings for him, she couldn't help but smile when she heard these words. While hanging up the clothes, she said, "Then I will practice my needlework more, and when my embroidery skills are better, I will make a more exquisite one for Your Majesty."

Xiao Yu smelled the quiet and sweet fragrance on Ning Shuyan's body, and felt a sense of cleanliness and comfort emanating from her.

He took a soft breath: "Is the incense I gave you today, Shuyan?"

Xiao Yu didn't say the word "reward," but instead said "gift" like Ning Shuyan did.

Ning Shuyan smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, does it smell pleasant?"

Looking at Ning Shuyan's charming and smiling face, Xiao Yu's eyes were deep and his thick eyebrows seemed to ripple slightly as he raised them slightly. His tone was amused: "I want to take a good sniff."

As he spoke, he placed his hand on her waist and took a deep breath on her neck: "Smells wonderful."

His deep voice entered Ning Shuyan's ear, accompanied by warm breath. Finally, a warm sensation spread across her neck. Xiao Yu tightened his grip on her waist, pressing Ning Shuyan's body tightly against him, and gently kissed the skin of her neck and behind her ears.

Ning Shuyan wrapped her arms around his waist. Xiao Yu's gaze grew increasingly intense. He picked Ning Shuyan up and gently placed her on the bed.

She lay on the bed, gazing wistfully at Xiao Yu on top of her, her arms around his neck, her eyes slightly upturned: "In the past, it was always Your Majesty who suffered; perhaps... tonight, your concubine will share the burden?"

Xiao Yu's eyes darkened as he looked at her with some confusion.

At this moment, her bright eyes sparkled with allure, and her red lips were slightly parted.

Every glance and smile captivated Xiao Yu's heart and soul. He swallowed hard and asked, "How can we share the burden?"

Just as Xiao Yu had expected. The next second, Ning Shuyan reached out and pressed Xiao Yu aside, then slowly stood up…

***

"Your Majesty... the palace maids of Yihe Palace say that Consort Zhuang is not feeling well and request your presence." The maids dared not enter, and Yang An naturally dared not enter either, but he still had to announce the news. He could only shout loudly at the palace gate.

Xiao Yu's face suddenly darkened, turning icy, a thin layer of anger flickering deep in his eyes. He coldly uttered a single word through clenched teeth: "Get out!"

Ning Shuyan's expression also changed, a hint of anger rising within her. Her hands clenched together, her lips pressed tightly together. Did this Consort Zhuang really think she was a pushover? Having invited the Emperor over from here once or twice, did she really think she was easy to bully?

Seeing Ning Shuyan's absent-minded appearance, Xiao Yu thought he had frightened her, and his gaze softened instantly: "It's alright, I wasn't angry with you."

Ning Shuyan knew that Xiao Yu had made a decision and that he would not go, especially after seeing the suppressed anger he had just witnessed.

She lowered her head and said softly, "Your Majesty should go and see her, otherwise Consort Zhuang will surely be heartbroken."

"I'm not going! That's giving her too much face!"

Xiao Yu had completely forgotten that it was common for Consort Zhuang to ask him to leave the Empress's palace and Consort Rong's palace, and he had almost always gone. But this time was different!

Ning Shuyan bit her lip slightly and said softly, "If Your Majesty doesn't go, and Consort Zhuang blames me..." She didn't finish her sentence.

Xiao Yu watched as her long, curled eyelashes fluttered gently, casting a small shadow beneath her eyelids, her face showing unease and vulnerability. Xiao Yu reached out and tenderly stroked her head: "No, if it were truly you, I would protect you."

Ning Shuyan raised her eyes in surprise, a sweet smile on her face, and said warmly, "Yes, Your Majesty is so kind."

Looking at that charming face, Xiao Yu instantly forgot everything that had just happened. He hooked his hand around Ning Shuyan's waist and asked, "Then... what Shuyan said just now..."

Ning Shuyan chuckled inwardly, still thinking about that!

"Your Majesty, my thoughts were just scattered, and I do not know how to serve you."

She truly had lost all interest! If this kind of thing were interrupted, even the ripples she had painstakingly created would now become nothing.

Forget it... let Xiao Yu be on top then. At worst, he can just take that pill tomorrow and figure out what to do next.