After removing the jewelry from her head, Yan Nangui felt much more relaxed.

He leaned comfortably against the stone table: "No matter what, the Empress's arrogance has dimmed this time."

"You spoke up for her just now... Won't that anger His Majesty?" Chanyi asked.

"Why are you angry? If he tramples on the Empress in front of us, how will the Empress stand in the future?" Yan Nangui smiled.

It's just a way out; give it to him and let him come down. Getting angry isn't being dramatic.

At this moment, the unpretentious emperor sat down, blocking the people kneeling below.

"Empress, you and I were husband and wife when we were young. We have been together for many years. I believe I have treated you well."

"Your Majesty, I am innocent! I really did not do it..." The Empress's heart was pounding.

"If you say you didn't do it, I will naturally believe you," Shu Chengfeng said calmly.

The Empress dared not relax: "Your Majesty, it is my incompetence... I failed to manage my people well. I suppose there are some entanglements involved." The Empress did not even dare to say more.

"The Ye family is my maternal clan. I am not unaware that you have repeatedly defied the Ye family. I believe you will know when to stop." Shu Chengfeng remained calm.

"Your Majesty, I..."

"Alright, since you claim to be innocent and say you are involved, I hereby order you to resolve the matter of Fengxiang Palace today."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly handle it properly," the Empress replied hastily.

"Empress, you have done a very good job from your residence to the palace, and I am very satisfied. I hope that you will continue to do what you are supposed to do in the future." Shu Chengfeng stood up: "Have someone pack the Crown Prince's things. Let his birth mother raise him."

The Empress's body went limp, but she dared not plead for mercy: "Yes."

Shu Chengfeng strode out.

As soon as she left, she sent word that Ning Jieyu was promoted to Ning Wanrong.

"Tell her to switch places with Ms. Xiao."

Yun Ji responded and ordered someone to take care of it.

Upon returning to the Beichen Palace, he said again, "Issue another decree: Consort Ye is granted the title 'Jing'. Consort Yan is granted the title '..."

He paused, then said, "Consort Jiang is to be given the title 'Rong'. Consort Qu is to be given the title 'Yi'. Lady Xia is to be given the title 'Wen'. As for Consort Cheng, let's just give her the title 'Mei'."

"As for Consort Yan..." Shu Chengfeng thought for a moment and then asked, "I'd like to give her the title 'Shu' (姝)." What do you think?

After Yunji asked which character it was, he chuckled and said, "I don't know, but I'm afraid this character will anger Consort Yan."

"Tsk, praising a woman's appearance, and she's still not satisfied?"

“Well, don’t you know Consort Yan’s temperament? She’s not so easily pleased,” Yun Ji said.

"Hmm, let me think about it." Shu Chengfeng himself felt that this word was not good enough.

Shu Chengfeng thought for a while, then picked up his brush and wrote a single character on the Xuan paper: Chen.

“This character is good. The sun, moon, and stars follow their course, and beautiful days and scenery bring joy. Consort Yan will surely like this character,” Yun Ji said with a smile.

"I have thought about her for so long, now issue the decree."

"Yes." Yun Ji smiled and went to carry out his task.

The harem quickly remembered the imperial decree.

Ning Jieyu became Ning Wanrong and lived in Feihongxuan.

Xiao Liangren moved to Zhishuang Pavilion.

The others, including Consort Gui, Consort Yan, Consort Jiang, Consort Qu, and Consort Xia, all received titles.

The eldest prince was to return the child to Ning Wanrong to raise.

In the inner palace, how could anyone not know what kind of person the Empress was?

By evening, the Empress had finally figured out how to explain herself.

Wu Yong was executed. The people working in the imperial kitchen were also identified.

The Empress was still worried that it wasn't thorough enough, so she also handed over Suzhen.

Shu Chengfeng then issued another decree, stating that He Bao had slandered his master and implicated the Empress and Consort, a crime that was unforgivable, and ordered him to be beaten to death in court.

All the servants involved were punished; some died, and others were driven away.

As for the Empress, she only felt unwell and needed to recuperate for a period of time, so she was exempted from paying respects to the emperor in the inner palace for a month.

Not requiring the empress to pay her respects is a way of weakening her authority.

This time, the Empress Dowager was probably satisfied with the Emperor's handling of the matter, so she did not intervene.

In Zhaochun Palace, Shuanzi came to report: "His Majesty has gone to Feiluan Palace."

“Going to Feiluan Palace today is the proper thing to do; we should at least try to appease the Imperial Concubine,” Yan Nangui said.

"Yes, they say the Imperial Concubine has received a title, and they're overjoyed," Shuanzi said with a smile.

"That's good, but she needs to understand the meaning of the word 'quiet' herself," Yan Nangui said.

"Whether it's good or not, this servant doesn't know. But I heard from Eunuch Yunji that His Majesty just said the other words casually. Only your title, His Majesty thought of several before finally settling on this one. Saying it's about the sun, moon, and stars is excellent, I'm sure you like it."

"I really do like it, I genuinely like it." Yan Nangui smiled.

For her, Chen represents time.

She was here in time, and she felt the presence of time.

She lived through countless years, without any concept of time.

Now, she enjoys the passage of time.

“In the end, it is His Majesty who understands you best,” Shuanzi said.

"Yes, I'm happy to receive such a fine title. Let's reward everyone in Zhaochun Palace. First-class maids: ten taels; second-class: eight taels; third-class: five taels; low-ranking maids: two taels. The eunuchs will receive the same." Yan Nangui said.

"This servant thanks Your Highness!" Shuanzi knelt down and said with a smile.

"Okay, go ahead." Yan Nangui waved his hand.

Throughout the palace, those who received titles were customarily required to bestow them upon their own palace staff, but none were as generous as Consort Yan.

Two or three hundred taels of silver were casually given away as a reward.

The next day, the kitchen staff delivered the meal and also gave them a reward.

Anyway, Shu Chengfeng's statement that the wild geese returning south loosened their grip is not wrong.

Zhao Chun Palace was naturally delighted, but the Empress was extremely frustrated.

Even knowing they were being schemed against, they couldn't argue back. They had too many weaknesses to exploit.

The Empress could only investigate in private.

Although Consort Mu and Ning Wanrong were unrelated, they unintentionally began to cooperate.

Consort Mu's goal was to gradually weaken the Empress. Ning Wanrong, however, truly got what she wanted, not only taking back her child but also climbing to the position of the Third Consort.

However, matters within the palace are not so easily judged in terms of victory or defeat.

In the long course of time, this is nothing more than an interlude.

After dealing with the Imperial Concubine for three days, Shu Chengfeng finally arrived at Zhaochun Palace.

He was in a good mood as he watched the newly appointed Consort Chen painting.

As she walked over, she saw that Consort Chen had painted Mei Xiaoyi instead, and was speechless: "You really haven't changed your ways. Now you think Mei Xiaoyi is prettier?"

"Why did you go to see it if it's not good?" Yan Nangui rolled her eyes at him and put down her pen.

"How dare you!"

"Oh, then I won't say anything," Yan Nangui snorted.

"I bestowed a title upon you, yet you showed no gratitude?" Shu Chengfeng raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I like this title." Yan Nangui said with a smile.

"You really like it?" Shu Chengfeng was still happy to hear that.

"I like it, but I'm really afraid you'll give me something like Consort Tang, then there'll be no way to explain it," Yan Nangui said.

"How could that be? A nickname is a nickname, but a formal title must be proper and dignified." Shu Chengfeng chuckled.