Surrounded by beauties, one on each side, graceful and captivating.
Even Xue Zi Ning couldn't help but stare. Where did Snow Royal Consort find such earthly delights?
"What do you think, A Ning?" Snow Royal Consort asked, looking at Xue Zi Ning.
Xue Zi Ning smiled and said, "Very good. Yan Zhao is fortunate."
This time, Snow Royal Consort was taken aback. She had expected the Empress to be furious.
Now, seeing such compliance, she was unsure how to proceed.
"Then, A Ning will accept them on behalf of Jing Yun?" Snow Royal Consort asked.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Since it's a gift from an elder, as a junior, I dare not refuse."
Snow Royal Consort sneered inwardly. She had thought it would be difficult to manage, but it seemed she had worried for nothing.
"You must serve your master well, and preferably give birth to an heir for my son as soon as possible," Snow Royal Consort became increasingly audacious.
Xue Zi Ning merely smiled faintly.
After instructing the five women, Snow Royal Consort turned to her and said, "A Ning, take them and rest."
"Alright, Mother Consort. A Ning will take my leave!" Xue Zi Ning left with the women.
Xue Jing Yun returned to the sleeping chambers later. As soon as he stepped in, a woman adorned in grand attire walked over and reached out to take his clothes.
He paused and stepped back, coldly asking, "Who are you?"
The woman, blushing, replied, "Your Highness, from this day forth, this concubine is yours."
Xue Jing Yun frowned and said sternly, "Where is the Emperor?"
The woman replied, "Resting in the inner chamber."
"You may withdraw," Xue Jing Yun stated coldly.
His clear voice held no trace of tenderness.
The woman faltered slightly, but a hint of unwillingness crossed her face. "Your Highness, this concubine was permitted by the Emperor to serve Your Highness. Your High..."
"I told you to withdraw," Xue Jing Yun's voice was chilling, leaving no room for argument.
The woman shivered, not daring to linger. She quickly withdrew.
Xue Jing Yun's face was clouded with frost. He entered the outer chamber and saw that there was more than just the one woman; four others were present.
As they saw him appear, they were about to step forward, but his frost-covered face deterred them. No one dared to approach.
"Withdraw," he said coldly.
The remaining four did not dare to stay and retreated.
For some inexplicable reason, he felt a strange sensation. He entered the inner chamber and saw the person lying on the bed.
Xue Zi Ning heard the commotion outside. She looked up at Xue Jing Yun, got off the bed, and walked to him, saying, "You're back?"
Xue Jing Yun sighed softly, stepped forward, embraced her, and asked in a low voice, "Did Mother Consort trouble you?"
Xue Zi Ning shook her head. "No. Mother Consort and I get along quite well."
Xue Jing Yun chuckled in exasperation upon hearing this. "Very well. You've given me five concubines?"
Xue Zi Ning snorted. "To have one on each side, is that not good? You profit and then complain? Yan Zhao, you are not being honest."
Xue Jing Yun lowered his head and bit her shoulder lightly. She felt a slight pain.
"What would you do if I accepted them?" he suddenly wanted to tease her.
Xue Zi Ning bit him back in return, saying coldly, "You dare."
"How could I not dare? You accepted them on my behalf. How could I refuse the Emperor's good intentions?"
"If you dare, do you believe I won't take Prince Hua and Prince Han into my harem?" Xue Zi Ning was not to be bullied.
Xue Jing Yun's gaze darkened at her words. He scooped her up, placed her on the bed, and pinned her down, his eyes burning with fiery intensity. "You dare."
"If you dare, I dare," Xue Zi Ning stated calmly.
Xue Jing Yun kissed her lips, leaving her unable to utter another word.
"You..." Xue Zi Ning had not expected Yan Zhao to kiss her so abruptly.
She tried to push him away with all her might, but she was no match for him.
An hour later, Xue Jing Yun held her, his voice hoarse and low. "A Ning, don't be like this. You know that in this life and the next, I will never fall for anyone else but you."
Xue Zi Ning of course knew this, but the thought of Snow Royal Consort so shamelessly bestowing concubines upon Yan Zhao still bothered her.
Seeing her silence, Xue Jing Yun rested his head against hers. "A Ning, do whatever you wish. You don't need to fear offending anyone."
"Even your father and mother?" she asked, her heart stirring.
"Yes," he replied without a shred of hesitation.
His mother's actions had utterly hurt him.
Whatever A Ning did was not excessive, and besides, A Ning would never do anything truly outrageous. He believed in A Ning.
His A Ning had always been kind.
Xue Zi Ning's eyes curved into a smile upon hearing this. "Since that's the case, don't blame me for not respecting the elders later."
Looking at her mischievous expression, he couldn't help but smile. "No, go ahead and do as you please."
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "You rest first. I'm going out."
He nodded. "Alright."
Xue Zi Ning walked out of the sleeping chambers and summoned Xue Yan. Xue Yan was furious upon learning that Snow Royal Consort had provided concubines for her Emperor and His Highness. "How could Snow Royal Consort do such a thing? The Emperor and His Highness have been married for less than a month! Such actions would surely drive them apart!"
Xue Zi Ning patted Xue Yan's shoulder. "Why are you angry? She gave gifts, can't I return them?"
Xue Yan was taken aback. "Your Majesty, you mean..."
Xue Zi Ning's lips curved into a slight smile. "Exactly as I said."
For some reason, Xue Yan felt that the Emperor's smile was exceptionally sinister.
"Your Majesty, this servant feels you are brewing something ill-intentioned," Xue Yan said frankly.
"Don't overthink it. Go and invite the five beauties over," Xue Zi Ning instructed.
Xue Yan didn't know what she intended to do, but she obediently went and brought the five beauties.
The five beauties wondered why the Empress wanted to see them. When they walked in, they immediately saw the young woman sitting on the couch.
Before, they had not dared to look at the young woman's face. Now, when the young woman told them to look up, they finally saw her clearly.
It was a face of unparalleled beauty, with delicate and perfect features. Especially her eyes, they were as clear as crystal.
But, most importantly, the young woman exuded an aura of majesty.
Leaving no room for doubt.
The noble and cold young woman looked at them, her clear eyes radiating a frosty chill. She was scrutinizing them, the gaze of a superior looking down at mere ants.
The five beauties felt the air around them grow thin. The young woman's frost-filled eyes continuously emitted a chilling aura.
Finally, one of them could no longer bear it and knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
With one person rising to her feet, the other four could resist no longer and all knelt, begging for mercy.
They felt a pair of dragon-patterned boots appear in their sight. The pressure reached its peak, making it impossible for them to lift their heads.
"Snow Royal Consort bestowed you upon me. As a junior, I cannot refuse a gift from an elder. However, as you know, I cannot tolerate any impurities. You will likely not find solace by my side," Xue Zi Ning stated calmly.