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

Consort Rong's face suddenly darkened, and anger gathered between her brows: "How dare you! You dare to lecture me, and you dare to refer to yourself as 'I' in front of me!"

Xi Jieyu snorted coldly and rolled her eyes.

The concubines were all greatly surprised, and looked on with expressions of anticipation for a good show.

Consort Rong stared intently at her, as if she wanted to devour her, and she rose with a heart full of anger.

Ning Shuyan quickly stood up and said, "Consort Xi was only concerned about Your Highness and forgot her manners in her haste. Please do not blame her, Your Highness."

Consort Rong gritted her teeth and glared sharply at Ning Shuyan: "I'm speaking with Consort Xi, who gave you the right to interrupt?"

"What's all this commotion so early in the morning!" A deep male voice rang out. Consort Rong was slightly taken aback. Why was the Emperor at Fengqi Palace?

Could it be that His Majesty stayed at Fengqi Palace last night?

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects to the Emperor and the Empress," the concubines said in unison, bowing and greeting each other.

The Empress followed behind Xiao Yu and slowly sat down.

Xiao Yu glanced at him and said, "No need for formalities."

He glanced briefly at Ning Shuyan and Consort Xi, before finally fixing his gaze on Consort Rong's face: "What happened just now that made Consort Rong so angry so early in the morning?"

Consort Rong gently raised her beautiful eyes: "Just now, Consort Xi and Consort Ning spoke rudely, and I reprimanded them a couple of times."

Xiao Yu gave a surprised "Oh," then looked at Consort Rong with a meaningful gaze: "Insolent words? Is Consort Rong really referring to Consort Ning?"

Consort Rong's beautiful face stiffened slightly. Looking at Xiao Yu's unfathomable gaze, she felt a slight tremor in her heart. Indeed, Ning Shuyan had not spoken disrespectfully.

She whispered, "Yes, it was Consort Xi. She spoke rudely and broke the rules."

Xiao Yu smiled lazily: "Consort Xi is heartbroken over the loss of her child, why should Consort Rong bother with her at this time?"

When Xi Jieyu mentioned the child, she lowered her eyes sadly.

Consort Rong felt a chill run down her spine, but managed a weak smile: "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand. I was just saying it casually."

Consort Rong spoke gently, but her face was extremely ugly.

Anyone could see that the Emperor was protecting Consort Xi and Consort Ning.

When Ning Shuyan looked up, she met Xiao Yu's deep, unfathomable gaze. His eyes seemed to be telling her "Don't worry," and Ning Shuyan quickly smiled and lowered her eyes.

The Empress glanced at the seat below her and asked with a gentle smile, "Is Consort Zhuang feeling unwell today?"

Du Ruo bowed: "I have not received any leave requests from anyone at Yihe Palace today."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a woman's gentle, melodious voice rang out: "Your Majesty, I am late."

Everyone's attention shifted to the back.

Seeing Consort Zhuang approach with elegant steps, she gently bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress."

Ning Shuyan found it amusing; this must be the first time Consort Zhuang had greeted the Emperor with such proper decorum and such a gentle voice.

The Empress smiled and said, "Sister, please get up quickly. I thought you were not feeling well and wouldn't be coming today."

Consort Zhuang looked at Xiao Yu with her beautiful eyes sparkling, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I was cooking longan and lotus seed porridge just now, so I accidentally delayed the time."

Xiao Yu looked up: "Oh, longan and lotus seed porridge?"

Consort Zhuang smiled sweetly, her lips curving gracefully: "Yes, Your Majesty knows that this is the porridge Your Majesty loves, so I got up early this morning to cook it."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's clear face gradually softened into a smile: "Consort Zhuang has gone to great lengths."

Consort Zhuang smiled sweetly and said, "I was just saying I'd send it to His Majesty after I finished making it, but I forgot that His Majesty is on holiday today. Would His Majesty please accompany me to Yihe Palace for some porridge later?"

Consort Zhuang's phoenix eyes were charming and captivating as she stared intently at Xiao Yu.

Ning Shuyan unconsciously twitched the corners of her mouth. This Consort Zhuang really came to Fengqi Palace to snatch someone away. Her words and actions were gentle and charming, not at all like her usual arrogant and domineering self. She was really pretentious in front of men.

Looking at the Empress again, she still smiled faintly, her face dignified and generous.

Xiao Yu replied gently, "Okay."

Consort Zhuang's smile deepened. The Emperor hadn't visited her Yihe Palace for several days, so how could she not be happy that he was willing to go today?

Consort Lin, standing to the side, covered her mouth and chuckled, "Consort Zhuang's thoughts about the Emperor are truly delicate." There was a hint of teasing in her tone.

Consort Zhuang stroked the crimson gold peacock bracelet on her wrist, her gaze fixed on Xiao Yu: "I will certainly be devoted to Your Majesty."

Xiao Yu picked up his teacup and smiled, giving a soft "Mmm." "Consort Zhuang is always meticulous in her work."

Consort Zhuang smiled tenderly at Xiao Yu.

Consort Xi glanced at Consort Zhuang with disdain, placed her teacup on the tea tray beside her with a cold, sharp sound. Although it was not loud, everyone in the hall heard it.

Ning Shuyan looked at the emperor on the throne, but seemed not to have heard him, her expression indifferent.

But Ning Shuyan knew that Xi Jieyu was radiating anger, and she could read the word "disgusting" in her eyes.

She found Consort Zhuang disgusting!

The following evening, Xiao Yu had Yang An deliver a few small ornaments to Ning Shuyan for her to admire and play with, and that he would be coming over for dinner later.

When Xiao Yu arrived, Ning Shuyan was fiddling with the porcelain. The candlelight in the corner cast a soft glow. Under the lamplight, the beauty of a woman grew more and more captivating.

Ning Shuyan turned around and saw Xiao Yu standing not far from her, his sword-like eyebrows slightly raised, a faint smile on his face. Ning Shuyan pouted and said, "The Emperor comes but doesn't say anything, you always scare me."

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "The scene just now was like a painting of Jiangnan in March, with misty rain and breathtaking beauty. I was afraid of disturbing such a beautiful scene."

Ning Shuyan chuckled softly, the dimples at the corners of her mouth making her look charming and alluring: "Your Majesty always said that I have a sweet tongue, but it turns out that Your Majesty is quite adept at coaxing girls."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu pulled her into his arms and said in a deep voice, "Effortless? Ha... I rarely praise people. Are you mocking me?"

As he finished speaking, his tone became slightly displeased, his eyes narrowed, and his expression serious, yet there was a hint of a smile in his eyes. Ning Shuyan knew then that he was joking.

She said coquettishly, "That's not what I meant, Your Majesty. Please don't frighten me." As she spoke, she pouted her reddened lips.

Xiao Yu couldn't help but laugh out loud, and pinched her waist hard: "I still remember when we first met, you were terrified of me, but now you're not afraid of me at all, and you even dare to take advantage of me."

Ning Shuyan wrapped her arms around Xiao Yu's neck and looked at him with her almond-shaped eyes: "Because after spending time with Your Majesty, I find Your Majesty to be very approachable and gentle with me, not scary at all."

She bit her lower lip and whispered, "Besides, His Majesty is my husband, the one I share my bed with. Why should I be afraid?"

Xiao Yu was surprised that every time he asked her such a question, she could give him a long list of profound truths, and every sentence sounded exceptionally pleasant to listen to.