Hua Yueying was the mantis who believed she could control any man, but what about the oriole? An idea sparked in Ning Xueyan’s mind as she recalled his words earlier…

“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.” She laughed. Her vibrant eyes blinked and she asked, “When will the news of the Annan rebellion reach the capital?”

“In about three days,” he replied lazily, giving her a sidelong glance.

“Three days is plenty of time. In three days, it’ll be the birthday banquet of the Madam Dowager of the Lord Guardian’s Manor. I have to prepare a gift for her.” She sat up in one smooth movement. She had yet to pick a suitable gift. She couldn’t afford to lose momentum as Heng Yuqing’s close friend and a representative of Prince Yi’s Manor.

She wasn’t planning to impress everyone, but her gift must be better than the rest.

“I have chosen the gift. Tell Xinmei to get it from Yu Jian later.” Ao Chenyi wasn’t going to let her go. He grabbed her hand on his chest and tugged with force. “It’s your nap time. Don’t bother. It’s not too late to get some rest and get the gift later.”

He caught her off guard, forcing her to fall and land on his body. Before she could react, she found herself in his arms with his slender but powerful hands wrapped around her.

“Hey, let me get up and tell Xinmei first.” She began to struggle but she could only do so weakly.

“What’s the rush? Sleep with me. I’m going to sleep now.” His words, as well his actions, left no room for compromise or negotiation. He closed his eyes, his long lashes fluttering, looking like he was already asleep. His stubborn, childish demeanor rendered her helpless. Was this really the so-called Demon King?

Honored Consort Xia’s residence, Qiongfeng Palace, was one of the biggest palaces in the imperial palace. It felt mysterious as it was home to the Emperor’s favorite consort of many years. However, the rumors that Honored Consort Xia’s possible connection with Hua Manor as well as her similar appearance to Third Young Lady Hua had prompted more palace maids and eunuchs than ever before to walk past the palace.

New imperial consorts were even more curious about the Emperor’s favorite consort of many years. They paid so much attention to Qiongfeng Palace that they even noticed that Third Young Lady Hua, who recently embarrassed herself at a banquet, entered the place! Chief Hua followed suit as well. No matter how they looked at it, they were sure that Honored Consort Xia was connected to the Hua family.

But why wouldn’t she show her face?

Honored Consort Xia was forced to make an appearance because of the maid incident, but only in the Empress’ palace. It was said that the Empress, Honored Consort Ya, and Honored Consort Shu, as well as their trusted maids, were the only ones there. The others never saw her, and this made everyone in the palace all that more curious about her.

The Emperor was keeping such a tight watch over Honored Consort Xia! How beautiful must she be for the Emperor to watch her so closely and not let anyone meet her?! Even the Empress had a hard time meeting her.

However, there was a rumor that Honored Consort Xia would attend the birthday banquet of the Madam Dowager of the Lord Guardian’s Manor.

This was one of the many rumors circulating, so no one knew if it was true. All it did was provoke more curiosity.

“You’re really going to the Lord Guardian’s Manor?” Inside the hall, Chief Hua looked at her daughter with a frown.

“Why not? I have been staying in the shadows for so many years, but what did I get? A reputation for being the Emperor’s favorite consort? Father, what I want isn’t a position behind the scenes. What does it matter how loved I am?” Honored Consort Xia’s expression carried a hint of malice. It was hard to believe that a woman as gentle and mild-mannered as she was would look this fierce.

Chief Hua stood up and paced back and forth the palace. He couldn’t help but stop and say, “The Emperor still treats you very well…”

“He treats me well? In what aspect? He made me live in the palace all by myself as his favorite consort all these years. Does that count as treating me well? If he dies, am I supposed to die with him when I’m still so young? Father, I’m still young. I still have a bright future in front of me.”

Honored Consort Xia interrupted her father with a hint of mockery in her voice.

“Silence! Do you want our whole family to die with you?” Chief Hua flew into a rage after hearing her blasphemous words and chided her in a low voice. There might not be many people at the rear palace hall but they were still in the palace. If anyone were to hear such words, their entire family would be exterminated.

“Relax, Father. I won’t say such words carelessly. When you sent me into the palace, you said this was the best opportunity for me. Not only could I bring our family wealth and honor, but my future child might become the next Emperor. What about now? Who can tell me what has gone wrong? I have stayed an invisible consort in the palace for so many years and the Emperor won’t even let me give birth to his children. What honor has this given to our family? Who has any idea that the current Honored Consort Xia is the second daughter of the Hua family?”

Honored Consort Xia became furious and her eyes were ice-cold. Her smile, however, was mocking as she looked firmly at Chief Hua. How could she not resent it when this was her own father’s fault?

She had been so happy when she got engaged with Ao Chenyi, so much so that she ignored the custom of an engaged couple not meeting before the wedding just because she missed him. She would find every excuse to visit him in his manor. She would dream about how blissful their lives would be after she married him.

However, a sudden scandal threw him into prison and it was even said that he wouldn’t be able to survive it. To break off her relationship with Ao Chenyi and her family’s connection to Prince Yi’s Manor, she obeyed her father and faked her death to get out of the situation. Later, she married Prince Qi, who was not yet the Emperor then.

Then, she entered the palace and became Honored Consort Xia. The mysterious Honored Consort Xia was the Emperor’s favorite consort but who would have considered why such a favored consort was still childless? The Empress was childless because of the Empress Dowager, but her? She was invisible in the palace, not because she was unwilling to meet people or unveil her identity as Second Young Lady Hua or tell people that her family was also relatives of the imperial family.

It was because of her shameful identity as Prince Yi’s fiancee. She shouldn’t have been in the Emperor’s harem at all.

But was this her will? Did she want this? Did she want to be the Emperor’s favorite consort who couldn’t meet anyone? No! What she wanted was a high status that everyone would look up to, not a shameful identity that forced her to hide in the shadows like a mouse.

She hated her situation so much.

“What if Prince Yi doesn’t want you back?” Chief Hua was moved by his daughter’s words. He had sent Hua Yueying into the palace out of hope that it would bring Hua Manor honor and wealth, but her embarrassing situation couldn’t bring their family any benefit at all.

Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to agree with his daughter’s thoughts at all. Prince Yi’s reputation for being cold and heartless didn’t come out of nowhere. None of the many beautiful women sent to him ended up with any benefit. He was able to behead such beautiful women without any protective feelings for the fairer sex.

“If he doesn’t want me back, who would he want? Third Sister? Father, Third Sister has lost all hope of entering Prince Yi’s Manor. Just give it up! Compared to her, I think I have the absolute advantage. Prince Yi stayed a bachelor for many years because of me. It’s obvious he still has feelings for me. How can I be compared to those women?”

Honored Consort Xia became impatient when she saw that her father was still hesitating. She knew very well what her father was planning. He wanted to send Hua Qiuying into Prince Yi’s Manor and use her to maintain the relationship between their family and Prince Yi’s Manor, achieving the effect of an alliance marriage. She hated his plan. It was all supposed to be hers; why should she give it to Hua Qiuying?

She was confident that Hua Qiuying couldn’t match up to her at all. Ao Chenyi was able to stay a bachelor for many years and turn a blind eye to other women because of her. This was enough to prove that he was sincere about her. She had visited him many times in the past, too. She was sure that they shared a mutual love.

If it wasn’t for that sudden scandal, she would be Princess Yi now. She wouldn’t have to spend time with that rotten old man and live a shameful, hidden life.

“Don’t mention Qiuying anymore. If… If he brings you to his manor, take her with you… She’s still your sister at the end of the day. You should help her when she needs it.” Sensing his daughter’s grievances, Chief Hua sighed. He understood himself well and knew that she saw through his plan. Both he and Hua Qiuying were unhappy about Hua Qiuying’s marriage.

How could such a man from such an ordinary household marry his beautiful daughter? He couldn’t accept it.

“All right, Father. I promise you. Once I enter Prince Yi’s Manor, I’ll take Third Sister with me. You don’t have to worry about her marriage. She’s my sister, after all. In the future, whether it’s my child or hers, I would take care of them like they’re first wife’s children.”

Honored Consort Xia smiled when she saw that her father wasn’t opposing her anymore. She gave her father a guarantee.

This was her plan all along, and for a good reason. The only reason she stayed childless after being in the palace for so many years was that the Emperor fed her a certain medicine. She didn’t know if the medicine would affect her health, so she couldn’t guarantee that she could give birth after entering Prince Yi’s Manor.

If she couldn’t give birth, she would be able to care for Hua Qiuying’s children as hers. On the one hand, she would be able to maintain her position, and on the other, she could maintain the relationship between her family and Prince Yi’s Manor. She took advantage of the situation to bring up this idea, and sure enough, her father was smiling again. The father-and-daughter pair was able to come up with the same goal after a happy discussion.

Honored Consort Xia was pleased with this outcome. The two of them talked for a while more before Chief Hua excused himself. She saw him off at the palace door and once he left, a smug smile appeared on her face. This wasn’t the only card up her sleeve to attract Ao Chenyi. If he was willing to take her back, she would send him an even bigger gift.

She believed that he wouldn’t be able to refuse such a big gift. Similarly, he wouldn’t be able to refuse to accept her…