[1]The Consort is Both Charming and Scheming, Rising Through Palace Intrigue

The next afternoon, Ning Shuyan had eaten a bit too much for lunch. She sat in the courtyard, sipping tea, but still felt discomfort in her chest.

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

Ning Shuyan took a deep breath, frowned, and said, "I feel a little sick to my stomach, a bit nauseous."

Nearby, Lü Rui was watering the flowers. She immediately looked up with excitement and said, "Could it be that the mistress is pregnant?"

Ning Shuyan's expression tightened slightly upon hearing this. Looking at Lü Rui's smiling face, she calmly asked, "Why do you say that?"

Lü Rui was momentarily stunned but then smiled again. "I've heard that pregnant women often feel nauseous and want to vomit."

Ning Shuyan curled her lips slightly. "I just ate too much at lunch and feel a little uncomfortable, that's all."

Lü Rui quickly curtsied. "Yes, I was overthinking it." Then, she obediently returned to watering the plants.

After drinking a few more sips of tea, Ning Shuyan finally felt better. When she entered the inner hall, Zi Ying quickly said, "When Qiu Le returns, should we have her check on you? You might really be pregnant."

Ning Shuyan no longer felt discomfort and shook her head. "I'm fine. Didn't Imperial Physician Ji just visit not long ago? Maybe the sudden drop in temperature and my overeating made me uncomfortable. If I were really pregnant, wouldn't I know it myself?"

Hearing this, Zi Ying didn't say anything further. Indeed, Imperial Physician Ji had examined her just a few days ago.

However, this reminded Ning Shuyan that she only had two of the medicine pills left. Xiao Yu would be coming over tonight, and if she took one, only one would remain. If she asked Imperial Physician Ji to prepare more now, there was no guarantee he would be willing, and besides, this kind of medicine couldn't be made in a short time.

It would be best to save the pills for when they were truly necessary—such as during ovulation or in special circumstances.

As for tonight... she would think of something.

—

That evening, when Xiao Yu arrived, Ning Shuyan had just finished her bath. Her long hair cascaded down her back, and her face was flushed with the residual heat from the bath, making her look exceptionally enchanting.

Xiao Yu spotted Ning Shuyan waiting for him at the door from a distance. He quickly stepped forward, took her hand, and said warmly, "It's a bit windy tonight. Standing here in such light clothing, aren't you afraid of catching a chill?"

Ning Shuyan smiled sweetly, holding Xiao Yu's hand as she spoke coyly, "I just wanted to see Your Majesty as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's face lit up with a deep smile. "Didn't you just see me yesterday? You miss me that much?"

He lifted her chin with his fingers. Ning Shuyan gazed at him with a dreamy, watery glow in her eyes, captivating enough to intoxicate.

"I just miss Your Majesty. Is that not allowed?" She turned her head and nestled into his embrace. Xiao Yu, hearing her soft and tender words, couldn't help but laugh heartily. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her into the inner hall.

As Ning Shuyan helped Xiao Yu remove his robe, she noticed the embroidered sachet she had made for him and laughed. "It's so ugly, yet Your Majesty still wears it often."

Xiao Yu's brows curved slightly as he smiled. "I like it."

It wasn't just the sachet he liked—it was also the words she had said that day and the "An" character she had embroidered.

Even though Ning Shuyan harbored no real feelings for him, hearing such words still made her smile. As she hung up his robe, she said, "Then I'll practice my embroidery more. When my skills improve, I'll make Your Majesty a finer one."

Xiao Yu took in the gentle, subtle fragrance from her body—a scent that, on her, felt particularly clean and soothing. He inhaled lightly and asked, "Shuyan, are you using the fragrance I gave you?"

He didn't say "bestowed" but instead used the word "gave," just as Ning Shuyan had.

She smiled. "Yes. Does Your Majesty like the scent?"

Looking at her charming, softly smiling face, Xiao Yu's eyes darkened slightly. His thick brows seemed to ripple with emotion as he said with amusement, "I need to take a good whiff."

With that, he placed his hands on her waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply. "It smells wonderful."

His deep voice resonated in her ears, carrying a warm breath. Then, she felt a warmth on her neck as his lips gently traced kisses along her skin.

Ning Shuyan wrapped her arms around his waist. Xiao Yu's gaze grew increasingly intense as he lifted her into his arms and gently laid her on the bed.

Ning Shuyan lay there, looking up at him with a knowing smile. She hooked her arms around his neck, her gaze teasing as she said, "Your Majesty has always done all the work. Why don't... I take care of you tonight?"

Xiao Yu's eyes darkened, a hint of surprise flickering in them. She looked up at him with alluring eyes, her red lips slightly parted, igniting his desire. His voice deepened as he asked, "How will you take care of me?"

Just as he expected, in the next moment, Ning Shuyan flipped him over onto the bed and slowly took the lead...

—

"Your Majesty... the palace maids from Yihe Palace said that Consort Zhuang is feeling unwell and asks you to visit her."

The palace maids dared not enter. Yang An certainly dared not enter either, but he had no choice but to announce the message loudly from outside the hall.

Xiao Yu's expression instantly darkened, his face freezing over with a thin layer of anger. Through gritted teeth, he spat out a single word: "Scram!"

Ning Shuyan's expression also changed, a flicker of anger flashing in her heart. She clenched her hands and pressed her lips together tightly.

Did Consort Zhuang really think she was so easy to bully? This wasn't the first or second time she had lured the emperor away from here! Did she truly believe Ning Shuyan was powerless?

Seeing her dazed look, Xiao Yu thought he had frightened her. His gaze softened, and he reassured her, "It's fine. I wasn't angry at you."

Ning Shuyan knew that once Xiao Yu made a decision, he wouldn't change it. Especially after seeing his barely contained rage, she was even more certain he wouldn't go.

She lowered her head and whispered, "Your Majesty, perhaps you should go check on her. Otherwise, Consort Zhuang will surely be heartbroken."

"I'm not going! She's pushing her luck!"

Xiao Yu had completely forgotten that he used to be frequently summoned away from the Empress's palace or Concubine Rong's chambers by Consort Zhuang—and he had 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 trailed off.

Xiao Yu looked at her long, fluttering lashes, which cast delicate shadows beneath her eyes. She appeared anxious and fragile. He reached out and stroked her head tenderly. "She won't. If she dares, I'll protect you."

Ning Shuyan's eyes lit up with surprise, and a sweet smile bloomed on her face. "Your Majesty is so kind."

Looking at her alluring smile, Xiao Yu momentarily forgot about everything else. He pulled her close again and murmured, "Now, about what you said earlier..."

Ning Shuyan laughed inwardly. He was still thinking about that?

"I lost my focus earlier... I don't know how to serve Your Majesty properly anymore."

Her mood had been completely ruined.

Fine... she would just let Xiao Yu take the lead again. At worst, she would take the last pill tomorrow and figure out the rest later.