Chapter 26

Ning Yuran, the eldest daughter of the Ningguo Duke's family, was like a precious orchid that was carefully nurtured. She was delicate on the outside, but had a strong inner strength.

"No one is born to please others, and if such behavior easily wins favor, I would be suspicious."

Consort Ning sat at the head of the table, gently stroking the dance costume made of ice silkworm silk that Consort Ning had just given to Qi Nian'an.

"See? People who have received favor are much easier to deal with if they get carried away."

She painted her newly moist lips with a light pink hue, her cheeks glowing with a seductive peach color, leaning casually against the back of the chair, her fragrant shoulders half-exposed.

She turned around and fiddled with the satin like a cat, smiling slightly.

The hall was deserted. Blood stained the lifeless palace maids and eunuchs lying on the ground. The satin was tossed down lightly, and blood spread up the silk, permeating the air with an atmosphere of despair.

"My lord, be careful, the ground is slippery."

Her maid, Qi Nan, carefully helped her up. Consort Ning, barefoot on the pool of blood, stretched languidly, satisfied with her meal, and gradually walked out of the hall, her brows no longer showing any anger.

Her initial setback in the talent competition did not discourage her; instead, it fueled her even greater competitive spirit.

Confronting Consort Chen, Qi Nian'an, head-on is not the best strategy. That woman may seem carefree, but she is actually cunning and shrewd.

So she quickly changed her strategy, hiding her outward talents and beginning to play the role of an innocent and naive young lady from a noble family.

She refused to believe that she couldn't leave a mark on the emperor's heart in another way, even if that mark wasn't hers, it would still be an irreparable rift between the two of them.

Qi Nian'an noticed that Ning Guiren's chance encounters were becoming more frequent and coincidental.

After reviewing memorials, Shao Sizhi would often stroll along the winding corridor of the Imperial Garden, where Ning Yuran would always be catching butterflies or sitting in the pavilion, playing a small and exquisite pipa. She wouldn't play anything profound, but rather refreshing and melodious Jiangnan tunes.

Upon seeing the Emperor, she would immediately stop, stand up like a startled deer, her cheeks flushed with just the right amount of red, and gracefully bow, her voice sweet and clear: "Your Majesty, I was unaware of Your Majesty's presence and have disturbed Your Majesty. Please forgive me."

Her posture and expression perfectly matched the shyness and adoration a sixteen-year-old girl should have when facing an emperor she admires.

Having seen the dignified, charming, or aloof demeanor of the imperial concubines, Shao Sizhi found this undisguised display of innocence and admiration characteristic of aristocratic women quite refreshing. He would usually nod slightly to let her rise.

Consort Ning then glanced furtively at Qi Nian'an's stiffened expression and forced a smile, as if startled.

...

Qi Nian'an was genuinely taken aback by the tea.

"Greetings, Consort Chen." She bowed respectfully, then looked at Shao Sizhi and Qi Nian'an with her clear, innocent eyes, her tone tinged with just the right amount of envy, "His Majesty and Consort Chen have such a good relationship, it's truly enviable."

"Ah, yes, yes, yes."

Qi Nian'an looked at her smile and felt a surge of irritation. She didn't believe that Shao Sizhi couldn't see what the person in front of him was thinking.

Although it was a feudal dynasty, her understanding of the environment did not mean she could accept it.

Especially since love is exclusive, she was a little annoyed with Shao Sizhi.

I absolutely won't let him in tonight. If you like girls, go ahead and look for yourself. Look for as long as you want, and find as many as you want.

Shao Sizhi watched in bewilderment as Qi Nian'an's expression darkened, gradually revealing a murderous intent. Qi Nian'an squinted at him with hostility, scanning him from head to toe.

Um?

"Does Your Majesty remember? When you and the Grand Tutor came to our residence when we were children, you praised the purple-gold inkstone in Grandfather's study." She covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes filled with affection.

"Speaking of which, it seems that the ink His Majesty uses to review memorials is still from that Huizhou ink-making family that my grandfather recommended?"

“My grandfather always said that good ink is worthy of His Majesty’s calligraphy, so that they can complement each other perfectly.”

The invisible boundary between them and Qi Nian'an, that "she," is cleverly outlined.

Qi Nian'an's expression was rather unpleasant.

The more she looked at Shao Sizhi, the more she disliked him. She turned to leave, but was grabbed by a hand.

"What's wrong?" Shao Sizhi asked softly, lowering his eyelashes and fluttering them affectionately against Qi Nian'an's cheek.

Seeing this, Consort Ning held up a small, exquisite plate of pastries and said, "This is a sweet osmanthus cake that I tried to make in my small kitchen. I don't know if it will suit Your Majesty's taste. When Your Majesty was a child, you loved the cakes made by Granny Wang in our household. Unfortunately, Granny Wang is old and has long since returned to her hometown. The taste... is still a bit lacking."

The tone carried a perfectly balanced hint of regret and a heartfelt effort to recreate the old flavor.

Shao Sizhi suddenly realized something.

His gaze lingered for a moment on the pastries held by Consort Ning, then quickly returned to Qi Nian'an. Looking at her tense profile and tightly pursed lips, the doubts he had felt about her inexplicable anger vanished instantly.

Instead, there was a clear understanding, and a hint of indescribable...pleasure.

She cares.

She became irritated and even angry because of him.

This realization strangely pleased him.

Instead of letting go of Qi Nian'an's hand, he tightened his grip, completely enveloping her slightly cool fingers in his palm.

Then, he raised his eyes and looked at Consort Ning, who was still trying to maintain her charming smile. His gaze was calm and unwavering, even carrying a hint of coldness that was hard to detect.

"Consort Ning is very thoughtful." His voice was devoid of emotion, as if he were commenting on an insignificant object. "However, my tastes have changed. What I found sweet as a child now just feels sticky and I don't like it anymore."

Consort Ning's smile froze slightly.

Shao Sizhi stopped looking at her and instead lowered his head to whisper in Qi Nian'an's ear.

He spoke in a doting voice, only the two of them could hear him clearly: "The pastries made by others, no matter how similar they are to those of the past, are ultimately just that—similar. How can they compare to the one and only person before me, who makes me feel so happy?"

A warm breath brushed against Qi Nian'an's earlobe, carrying an undeniable focus, "My appetite has long been spoiled by a certain illiterate little man. Others... I look down on them, and I can't stomach them."

Qi Nian'an's pent-up anger was punctured by his straightforward yet teasing words, and she almost couldn't hold back her anger.

She forced a smile, glared at him reproachfully, and tried to pull her hand away, but he held it even tighter.

Seeing that her expression had softened, Shao Sizhi's smile deepened.

He simply pulled her closer to him, his manner incredibly intimate, before finally raising his eyes to look at Consort Ning, whose face had turned somewhat pale.

"As for the matter between me and Consort Chen," he said, his gaze sweeping over Consort Ning with an invisible pressure, "it is my private matter, which is neither something for others to envy nor for others to comment on. Consort Ning, instead of having the leisure to dwell on the past, you should read more of the classics and be mindful of your duties."

Be mindful of your duties.

These four words were like ice water, poured over my head.

The color drained from Consort Ning's face instantly, and her feigned innocence and charm could barely be maintained. Her fingers gripped the edge of the food plate tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Shao Sizhi was too lazy to say anything more. He took Qi Nian'an's hand and walked straight past Consort Ning without giving her even a second glance.

Holding his hand tightly, Qi Nian'an walked along the palace path. Listening to his steady heartbeat and hearing his sweet words echoing in her mind, the slight resentment and irritation in her heart had long since vanished.

She quietly scratched his palm with her finger.

Shao Sizhi sensed her subtle movements, looked down at her, his eyes filled with undisguised tenderness and indulgence: "Are you still angry?"

Qi Nian'an snorted and turned her face away, but couldn't help but curl up her lips: "Who's angry? I just think... some old men are so annoying, attracting all sorts of women."

Shao Sizhi chuckled softly, stopped, cupped her face in his hands, and forced her to look into his eyes.

His deep eyes held an unprecedented seriousness and affection: "Nian'an, I will share my empire with you, and my pillow will be reserved only for your peaceful sleep."

As Qi Nian'an looked at him, the last trace of gloom in her heart completely dissipated.

She tiptoed and planted a light kiss on his lips, her voice tinged with laughter: "Remember what you said. If you dare to go back on your word..."

"If I break this oath, may my country be destroyed and my soul perish," he replied without hesitation.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two people, making them appear close together, with no gap between them.

The emperor's heart is as hard as iron, yet he only warms one person.

The warm spring passed in a flash, the bright sun hung high, and the height of summer slowly approached.

Shao Sizhi summoned Qi Nian'an to the Imperial Study and inquired about the compilation of border maps.

He slowly unfolded the old drawing, his gaze lingering for a moment on the colorful annotations, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Why is an annotation made here?

"The green one is Anhui cuisine, that one is Jiangxi cuisine, and then there's Sichuan cuisine and the hometown of hot pot."

Qi Nian'an was exceptionally sincere.

Shao Sizhi sighed helplessly, unable to bear it any longer. He rolled up the scroll, determined not to let Qi Nian'an get involved in matters like military maps.

Afterwards, the two came out of the Imperial Study together.

Consort Ning, seizing the opportune moment, approached with a palace maid carrying a pot of freshly brewed pre-rain Longjing tea.

Upon seeing the Emperor and Consort Chen, she immediately stopped, bowed, and said in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty, are you well? Consort Chen, are you well?"

Qi Nian'an nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the pot of tea, without saying anything more.

Shao Sizhi simply waved his hand casually.

Just as they were about to pass each other, an accident happened—Consort Ning seemed to trip over something, cried out in surprise, and staggered forward. The tray in her hand tilted, and the pot of freshly brewed, scalding hot tea was splashed straight at Qi Nian'an!

Qi Nian'an reacted quickly, taking a step back, but her wide sleeves were still splashed with tea. The dark water stains spread rapidly, and a burning stinging sensation came from her arm.

"Ah!" Ning Yuran exclaimed, and the tray fell to the ground with a "clatter," scattering broken porcelain shards and tea leaves all over the floor.

She herself fell to the ground, her palm landing on a piece of broken porcelain, from which blood immediately seeped out.

"Sister Chenfei! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" She raised her face, her eyes instantly reddening, tears welling up in her eyes, a mixture of panic and helplessness, her gaze towards Qi Nian'an filled with guilt.

She then turned to Shao Sizhi, her voice trembling with tears, "Your Majesty, I...I don't know how I slipped...and burned my sister...I deserve to die!"

She opened her bleeding palm; the bright red blood beads contrasted sharply with her fair skin, making her appear even more pitiful and frail.

Shao Sizhi frowned instantly, glanced at Qi Nian'an's soaked sleeve, and asked in a deep voice, "Did you get burned?"

Qi Nian'an pressed his stinging arm, looked at Ning Yuran on the ground with superb acting skills, and sneered inwardly.

Did your foot slip?

The road outside the Imperial Study is so smooth that a horse could run on it!

I've certainly witnessed the female protagonist of a good novel tripping over flat ground.

But she only frowned slightly, her tone calm and even: "It's nothing, just a wet sleeve. You should get up quickly and take care of the injury on your hand."

She even stepped forward, making a gesture as if to help Consort Ning.

Consort Ning shrank back as if startled, tears rolling down her cheeks, and choked out, "I'm glad you don't blame me, sister... I'm really... really useless..." Her behavior made it seem as if Qi Nian'an was about to do something to her.

Shao Sizhi reached out and helped Ning Yuran up, then said to the eunuch behind him, "What are you all standing there for? Summon the imperial physician! Send Consort Ning back to the palace to treat her wounds."

Although the voice wasn't particularly gentle, it carried a clear sense of reassurance.

Then he looked at Qi Nian'an and said, "Go back and change your clothes. See if you've been burned. I'll come see you later."

Qi Nian'an lowered her eyes, concealing the fleeting coldness in them, and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The palace servants around her kept their heads down, but it was likely that within half a day, the news that "Consort Ning accidentally scalded Consort Chen, and His Majesty gently comforted the frightened consort" would spread throughout the harem.

Back at Zhengyang Palace, I rolled up my sleeve and saw a small red patch on my forearm, burning with pain.

While applying the medicine to her, Li Xiaoran said indignantly, "I told you that old man is easily swayed and has a weakness for good looks. You got burned today, and that Ning Yuran cried and left. We have to break up!"

Looking at her expressionless face in the mirror, Qi Nian'an said calmly, "She knows she did it on purpose, I know she did it on purpose, and even Shao Sizhi may not completely believe that it was an accident."

“But so what?” She paused, a mocking smile curving her lips. “She’s betting on this vulnerability, this unintentional mistake. Shao Sizhi can tolerate a naive and innocent noblewoman who occasionally makes small mistakes, but he won’t like a domineering concubine who will investigate even the smallest accident.”

“You see, he didn’t understand my petty calculations before. I don’t believe he doesn’t understand my feelings at all.”

"Exactly! Those rumors spread so widely, what else has he done besides talking?!"

Li Xiaoran became increasingly angry as she spoke.

"point!"

Qi Nian'an let out a long breath, perhaps she had been having a very, very long dream.

In her dream, she fell in love with a man in the real world.

That's ridiculous.

The rumors about her circulated relentlessly in Shao Sizhi's ears day and night, and she wanted to see how far they would eventually go.

The accusation of being a spy hit Shao Sizhi's biggest concern. One or two such rumors might not be a problem, but if they accumulate, they will become a serious issue.

Constant dripping wears away a stone.