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

Several days passed, but Ning Shuyan was not flustered at all. She even took out the needle and thread that she hated so much and embroidered a small bib.

"My lady, Lady Xue has arrived and is determined to come in. We servants couldn't stop her."

Just as Qiu Le finished speaking, Xue Yunu walked in gracefully. Her black hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with sparkling pearls and jade. Compared to her usual delicate and frail appearance, she looked incredibly energetic and refreshing.

"I hope my little sister didn't disturb Sister Ning?" she asked, her pink lips smiling sweetly.

Ning Shuyan had the needle and thread put away and said with a smile, "Why not? I have nothing to do right now."

"Are you embroidering, sister? I happen to have some Huanhua brocade that the Emperor bestowed upon me today. You can use it to make a dress." As she spoke, a palace maid behind her presented it to her.

After several months, Consort Xue finally regained the Emperor's favor through a chance encounter, and her purpose in coming here seemed to be to show off.

Ning Shuyan glanced at the brocade with a light, leisurely look, and said with a faint smile, "I still have a lot of unused fabric here, sister, you should keep it for yourself."

Lady Xue smiled gently: "His Majesty bestowed several bolts of silk upon me today, and I still have one left in my palace. I thought I'd give the rest to you, sister. You are so beautiful, you must look better in them than I do. You know I always prefer to wear light colors."

Ning Shuyan smiled faintly, like a fleeting cloud: "In that case, I'll accept it."

Lady Xue smiled and said, "I heard that you've been having severe morning sickness lately, sister? I happen to have some plums made by the palace maids here. You can try them and see if they can alleviate your morning sickness."

Ning Shuyan raised her hand and gently stroked the pearl earring around her neck, smiling sweetly: "What a coincidence today. This morning, the Emperor sent over tribute oranges, and now you've sent over plums."

Only then did Lady Xue notice the pile of tangerines on the tea table, about seven or eight in total.

These tribute oranges, also known as "Emperor's Oranges," were exclusively offered as tribute to the emperor. They were all of the highest quality, and just by looking at their glossy peel, you could tell they were incredibly sweet.

Lady Xue had only heard that only thirty or forty oranges were sent in each time, so those of her low rank had never tasted them. She had also heard that even the Empress could only receive a few each time. Did the Emperor really favor her so much? Lady Xue looked at the tribute oranges and was speechless for a moment.

Ning Shuyan's eyes were full of smiles as she took a tangerine and handed it to Xue Yunu: "It tastes very good, sister, you should try some too."

Xue Yunu never expected that not only would she fail to show off, but she would also make things difficult for herself. She smiled awkwardly and said, "My stomach is a little upset today, so I can't eat anything cold. I'm sorry to have wasted your kindness, sister."

Upon hearing this, Ning Shuyan said anxiously, "Sister, you have finally gained the Emperor's favor, so you must take good care of your health. Otherwise, you won't be able to serve the Emperor if you are not in good health."

Upon hearing this, Lady Xue blushed instantly, her handkerchief already twisted beyond recognition. She said softly, "It's just that my stomach is a little upset, it's nothing."

As she spoke, she slowly stood up: "I'll be leaving now, sister. The Emperor summons me to Zhaochen Palace tonight, so you should go back and tidy up."

It's still early, why bother getting ready so early?

Ning Shuyan smiled faintly and nodded, saying, "Okay, then I won't see you off, little sister."

As soon as Lady Xue left, Ziying could no longer contain her dissatisfaction and said angrily, "What's so special about her few pieces of cloth? She probably hasn't even heard of the flowing gold gauze and floating cloud brocade in our storeroom. She's just showing off her things like they're treasures."

Ning Shuyan said calmly, "It's enough that we know. She didn't manage to show off her power."

Qiu Le said, "This Lady Xue wanted to befriend you before, hoping you could recommend her to the Emperor. Now that she has regained the Emperor's favor on her own, she can't wait to show off. To be honest, she's not as composed as we thought."

Ning Shuyan picked up the tangerine and slowly peeled it, the fruit's luster making her hands appear even whiter and more lustrous. "Precisely because imperial favor is so rare for her, she naturally lost her composure in her excitement at finally receiving it."

Although Ning Shuyan couldn't say she understood Xiao Yu 100%, she understood him about halfway. Xiao Yu was a typical looks-obsessed person, the kind who only had a short attention span.

Lady Xue was gentle and spoke in a weak voice. Xiao Yu only noticed that she was a little different from the other concubines. He favored her a few times but then put her aside. She was not worth Ning Shuyan's attention.

A woman can be weak, but if you speak and act like a frail woman, that's too pretentious.

Just before dinner, Ning Shuyan was surprised to see Xiao Yu arrive. Wasn't he supposed to be summoning Consort Xue to his bedchamber? Ning Shuyan didn't have time to think and went to greet him.

Before Ning Shuyan could even bow, Xiao Yu stepped closer and took her hand.

Ning Shuyan was pulled inside by Xiao Yu: "Why did Your Majesty come? You didn't even inform me. I only prepared some simple dishes."

Xiao Yu said gently, "I heard that you have severe morning sickness, and I was a little worried about you, so I wanted to come and have dinner with you."

Ning Shuyan smiled brightly, nestled beside Xiao Yu, her voice filled with joy: "I'm fine. I vomited quite badly this morning, but I've stopped now."

I have to say, this medicine really does have the exact same symptoms as pregnancy. If I hadn't been taking birth control pills all along, I probably would have really thought I was pregnant.

Ning Shuyan ate more for dinner, and Xiao Yu, pleased, also ate more than usual.

After dinner, Ning Shuyan pulled Xiao Yu into the inner palace and said happily, "Your Majesty, I have something to show you."

Xiao Yu looked at her curiously. Ning Shuyan took out a very small bellyband, which she gently placed on her lower abdomen. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, do you think this size will fit our child?"

Her smile was extremely gentle and radiant, like frost melting in the winter sun, bright and soft, with dimples as clear as a spring.

It was a pure smile full of expectation that made Xiao Yu unable to look away.

"Your Majesty, I am speaking to you!"

Xiao Yu only snapped out of her reverie when she heard her urging voice. The small bib was even smaller than her flat stomach, and it was embroidered with a tiger head, which was extremely simple and even somewhat unrecognizable. But for the first time, Xiao Yu felt that tigers could be embroidered so cutely.

His eyes were filled with a gentle light, like a pool of clear water from a lotus garden, incredibly moist: "Did Shuyan embroider it herself?"

Ning Shuyan nodded with a smile, her eyes gazing dreamily at the bellyband on her lower abdomen, revealing a touch of maternal tenderness that appeared even more gentle in the dim candlelight.

"Although my embroidery is not very good, this is the first garment I have embroidered for my child."