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

At dinner, Ziying held her head with a pained expression and said to Lü Rui, "Lü Rui, I have a headache. The mistress has instructed you to go in and serve the dishes."

Lü Rui was stunned. "The mistress said for me to go in?" She looked at Ziying in disbelief.

Ziying replied, "Yes. If you're unwilling, I'll have Liuli go instead."

"No! I'm willing, I'm willing..."

Seeing Ziying about to turn away, Lü Rui blurted it out. How could she pass up such a rare opportunity to get close to the Emperor?

After Ziying left, Lü Rui quickly pulled out some fish oil and rubbed it on her hands. Her greatest pride was her hands—slender, pale, and delicate. She thought that if she weren't a palace maid doing rough chores, her hands, well-maintained, would be no less beautiful than those of Beauty Ning or Consort Zhuang.

Ning Shuyan looked at the jade-colored soft tofu on the table and smiled. "The tofu from the small kitchen is quite good today. Your Majesty, try it."

Just as she finished speaking, Lü Rui quickly picked up the chopsticks to serve a portion to Xiao Yu. As she lifted her sleeve with her other hand, her white wrist—like a stalk of lotus root—was exposed. It was the first time Ning Shuyan noticed that while Lü Rui's face was plain, her hands were quite beautiful.

Xiao Yu picked up the tofu and tasted it. "The flavor is quite good. Where is this chef from?"

As Ning Shuyan was sipping her soup and remained silent, Lü Rui quickly chimed in, "Replying to His Majesty, the chef is from Sichuan. The dishes are varied, with fresh and rich flavors. Our mistress is also very fond of them."

Her voice was particularly crisp and pleasant to the ear. Ning Shuyan remained calm as she drank her soup.

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Xiao Yu looked up at Lü Rui, who lowered her head with a shy smile.

"Even your palace maids are as eloquent as you."

Ning Shuyan's gaze lightly brushed over Lü Rui's face and, noticing her barely concealed joy, she turned to Xiao Yu and smiled. "Your Majesty is always teasing me."

Lü Rui served him a piece of braised pork. As Xiao Yu ate, he remarked, "This maid looks unfamiliar. I remember it's usually Ziying by your side."

Ning Shuyan gave a light smile. "Ziying wasn't feeling well, so I let her rest."

Xiao Yu said warmly, "You treat your maids quite kindly."

Ning Shuyan placed a piece of radish into her mouth. "They work hard every day. If they're unwell, they should rest properly."

Throughout the meal, Ning Shuyan noticed Lü Rui's hands lingering near the table, but her eyes seemed fixed on Xiao Yu.

⸻

At Yi He Palace, Consort Zhuang emerged from her bath, her cheeks still flushed—radiant and alluring.

She sipped on her health-preserving tea, her expression displeased. "Where's Lü Rui? Didn't she say she'd report on Beauty Ning's situation today?"

Yulan stepped forward. "Strangely enough, it's already dark and Lü Rui hasn't shown up."

Consort Zhuang set her teacup down with a loud clink, her brows furrowed. "What is that little wench up to? How dare she be so careless with the task I entrusted her?"

Yulan quickly responded, "Maybe she couldn't get away. What if Beauty Ning noticed something?"

Mention of Ning Shuyan irritated Consort Zhuang. The Emperor had been cold toward her recently, and she suspected it had something to do with Ning Shuyan.

She said angrily, "Looks like I'll have to act sooner rather than later. That wretch is still seducing the Emperor even though her body hasn't recovered from her miscarriage."

Yulan was surprised. "Your Highness, are you planning to make a move?"

Consort Zhuang rubbed her brow gently. "Why else would I go through all the trouble of planting Lü Rui by her side? That little 'something'—you've hidden it well, haven't you?"

Yulan whispered, "Rest assured, Your Highness. I've hidden it safely."

Consort Zhuang nodded slowly. "When Lü Rui returns, give it to her and have her place it in that wretch's inner chamber."

As she spoke, a cold smile spread across her face. She could hardly wait for that moment to come.

⸻

The next day, in Fengqi Palace:

Inside the intricately carved peacock incense burner, premium calming incense burned, its wisps of smoke drifting lazily through the air, bringing peace and calm.

The Empress flipped through the imperial record of nightly visits and realized that Consort Zhuang's attendance had dropped by half this month—from the usual six or seven nights down to only three.

She clearly remembered that Xiao Yu had stayed at Lanyue Pavilion several times this month, yet none of those visits were recorded.

Closing the book, the Empress smiled meaningfully. "I used to think the Emperor's interest in Beauty Ning was fleeting. But it seems... there's something different about her."

Duruo, her maid, looked puzzled. "This maid is dull. I can't really tell what's so different."

The Empress's lips curled into a faint smile, the light in her eyes deepening. "She hasn't fully recovered from her miscarriage, and yet she still manages to keep the Emperor by her side. He'd rather do nothing in her palace than return to Zhaocheng Hall. Isn't that telling enough? Plus, she's the only one among the nine consorts below the rank of Noble Consort who rarely goes to Zhaocheng Hall—it's always the Emperor visiting her."

After a pause, she continued, "And that day when Beauty Ning miscarried, I've never seen the Emperor so out of control and anxious in all our years together. He was truly heartbroken. Even though he tried to suppress it, I could see it clearly."

"Then since the Emperor is so fond of her now, shouldn't Your Majesty take precautions?" Duruo asked.

Supporting her forehead with one hand, the Empress's perfectly manicured nails gleamed faintly under the candlelight, cold and pearlescent. "I'm counting on her to draw away some of Consort Zhuang's favor. Why act hastily? She doesn't have Zhuang's background. She's just a concubine-born girl. Even with some favor, she can't make waves."

Duruo nodded. "That's true... and even if Consort Zhuang remains favored, without a child, she poses no real threat to Your Majesty."

"Exactly. Fortunately, I planned ahead. Otherwise, Zhuang..." The Empress trailed off, her gaze dazed as she stared at the flickering flame in front of her.

⸻

In the cool October night, Ning Shuyan sat on the couch with a small blanket over her lap, a book in one hand and her chin propped in the other, reading absentmindedly.

Just as she was absorbed in her book, she heard a soft clearing of a throat. Looking up, she saw Xiao Yu standing in front of her, smiling. His brows were gently raised, and his eyes were filled with a tender glow that seemed to sparkle like stars beneath the candlelight.

"Take this."

With those words, she noticed the wooden box in his hand for the first time. She quickly put down her book.

Xiao Yu took two steps forward and tossed the box into her hands. It was heavier than expected, and she nearly dropped it. Frowning, she asked, "It's so heavy! What is it, Your Majesty?"

Xiao Yu sat down beside her with a smile. "It's that thing you've been thinking about nonstop."