It was indeed painful. Xuan Ling closed his eyes and leaned lazily on the Arhat couch.

Thanks to the effect of the love Gu in Xue Qiong's body, Xuan Ling's pain from the backlash gradually subsided.

After an incense stick of time, he opened his eyes and saw Xue Qiong staring at him with a calculating look in her eyes.

The emperor became suspicious: Looking at her appearance, figure, posture, temperament, and temperament, why would I fall in love with such a woman?

Am I blind?

Xuan Ling began to have deep doubts about his own preferences.

I couldn't help but glance at the painting on the wall. It was obvious that the imperial concubine's appearance, figure, posture, and temperament were more to my liking. As for her temperament... a little arrogant, bright and lovely.

He remembered clearly that day when they went to Guanju Palace and Sheng Xiyan leaned on his shoulder, his heart skipped a beat.

He also smelled a scent on her that he really liked.

Xue Qiong took Xuan Ling's hand and teased her, saying delicately, "Your Majesty, when will you let me sleep with you? I have been in the palace for three months, and I haven't slept with you yet. The sisters in the palace are laughing at me in private."

This... Xuan Ling came back to his senses and pretended to be stern.

"I am busy with state affairs every day and have no time to think about anything else. If anyone in the harem dares to laugh at you, report it to me and I will punish her."

Xue Qiong smiled slightly. After all, she would be canonized as Concubine Qiong in five days. According to palace rules, she would definitely sleep with the emperor that night.

"Your Majesty, in five days, when I will be crowned a concubine, will you show me favor?"

This... Xuan Ling's brain expressed rejection, but his whole body, including his mouth, was not under his control, and he actually said "Hmm!" lightly.

It's really strange. He holds all the power and has never been bullied by anyone, but why does he have two conflicting voices in his heart now?

Why should I force myself?

"Why?"

Xue Qiong was shocked. "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

Xuan Ling pulled his hand back and said coldly, "It's getting dark. Princess, please go back quickly. I still have a few memorials to read."

"Your Majesty, I want to accompany you. Please don't chase me away, okay?" Xue Qiong said coquettishly.

Xuan Ling said ruthlessly: "Princess, you have overstepped your bounds again."

He got down from the couch and went to the throne to read the remaining memorials.

Xue Qiong cried aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, why do you always accuse me of overstepping the bounds? In the past, the Imperial Concubine did everything out of line, and you never said anything."

Xuan Ling narrowed his eyes slightly, Oh?

The emperor found another reasonable reason for Sheng Xiyan's rapid promotion to imperial concubine.

That's because people will feel pity for you. I don't like your poor skills.

Then why did you take her as your concubine?

Xuan Ling found that there were always two conflicting voices in his heart.

Could it be that he has some strange disease?

He had just sat down when Xue Qiong came over, tears streaming down her face, and gently stroked her veil. "Your Majesty, is it because I have a rash on my face that you dislike me? It's obvious that you love me the most."

She was certain that it was because of the rash on her face that the effect of the love poison on the emperor was weakened.

Xuan Ling opened the memorial, glanced at her with a sinister look, and said angrily:

"Xue Qiong, I'm going to tell you something. You must remember this: I'm an emperor. Emperors are inherently cold and ruthless. Don't expect me to be as caring and gentle as a common man. Leave."

Seeing that he was angry, Xue Qiong quickly bowed and said, "This humble servant knows that I am wrong. I will go back and reflect on it. Your Majesty, please rest early, don't stay up too late."

Walking out of the Yangxin Palace, Xue Qiong clenched her hands. She had clearly witnessed how Emperor Xuanwu treated Sheng Xiyan with great care and tenderness after entering the palace.

How come when it comes to her now, all that's left is the emperor's coldness and cruelty and repeated rebukes for 'overstepping the line'?

Return to Yupeng Palace.

Xue Qiong quickly wrote a letter, took a bird out of the cage in the yard, tied the letter around the bird's feet and let it fly away.

She took off her veil, revealing a sinister sneer.

"Noble Concubine Chen, if your family were dead and you had no worries, you would definitely not return to the palace, right? I will never allow you to appear before Emperor Xuanwu. His heart is mine and mine alone!"