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There’s no need for that now; there’s a better way. She believed that once the Emperor took action, the fate of these people would be even more tragic...

Lian Hua followed the Emperor’s gaze and couldn’t help becoming worried.

Just now, her entire focus was on how to frighten His Majesty, but now that her sister seemed amiss, she could sense it too.

She didn’t quite understand the words spoken earlier, but after her sister heard them, she seemed off. Could it be that something was wrong with what His Majesty had said earlier?

She looked at Consort Xu De with concern, then turned her questioning gaze to the Emperor, her eyes asking, "What’s wrong with my sister?"

She didn’t know if it was appropriate to speak up at this time, nor did she know what had happened or how to offer comfort. She wondered what she could do.

The Emperor touched her face and shook his head. All he could give Rong Ying was to avenge Shen Ming fairly, but the dead cannot be brought back to life. Rong Ying needed to get over the hurdle in her heart on her own, and no one else could help her.

Rong Ying would not want Little Concubine to know; at this moment, there was nothing to be done, no need for pity, sympathy, or comfort. This was the greatest consolation for Rong Ying.

Seeing her confusion and the worry that still filled her eyes, along with her uncertainty on what to do, the Emperor sighed in his heart.

He had no choice but to take her hand and walk behind Consort De, and with a manly pat on the shoulder, he comforted Xu Rongying, "Let go of your worries. I will keep the promise I made to you."

Consort Xu De, who had gradually calmed down, turned around upon hearing these words. Her expression had returned to normal, her eyes were resolute, and she sincerely said, "Thank you."

These words came from the depths of her soul.

She couldn’t help but laugh at herself and said, "Having been in the harem for so many years, it hasn’t been too bad."

She believed in the Emperor, believed that whatever he promised, he would surely accomplish. Over the years, the Emperor had securely held the empire, what task had he not taken on that was more challenging than this?

If even he couldn’t do it, then it truly must be fate, leaving no hope.

The Emperor nodded slightly, knowing that she was okay, and led Lian Hua past her, preparing to take their seats.

Lian Hua had been watching Consort De intently, without blinking. As she passed Consort Xu De, she couldn’t help but break away from the Emperor’s grasp and called out, "Sister, are you... are you alright?" She hesitated, and the last few words were left unasked.

How was it that she felt her sister was engulfed in sadness, just like when she had visited before? Her eyes were still slightly red—had she been crying?

Consort Xu De’s gaze fell upon Lian Hua, revealing a gentle smile, "Little girl, I’m fine, don’t worry about me."

"Oh..." Lian Hua sensed that Consort De wasn’t as nonchalant as she claimed, but it wouldn’t be right to pry, fearing it might rekindle unpleasant memories for Sister Consort De.

She was unsure how to offer comfort, but then she remembered how His Majesty had acted, how a pat on the shoulder seemed to make Sister Consort De feel much better.

So, she raised her hand, also wanting to emulate His Majesty by patting Consort De’s shoulder, as if a pat could impart strength and resilience.

But as she raised her hand, she realized it wasn’t quite right. Her sister was taller than her, and patting in that way seemed awkward, not like offering comfort, but rather comical.

She hesitated for a moment and withdrew her hand.

Consort Xu De looked at her with surprise, unable to understand the hesitation and indecision.

The Emperor had been watching her ever since she broke free of his grasp. Seeing this, he couldn’t help but find it amusing.

His Little Concubine likely wanted to imitate his earlier gesture, thinking that a pat on Xu Rongying’s shoulder could make things better, but alas, she was too short, endearingly earnest in her effort.

Lian Hua bowed her head and thought for a moment. Since her stature simply didn’t permit it, she decided to hug her sister instead. This was how she used to comfort His Majesty in the past, a hug was always good enough.

So she opened her arms and was just about to lean in when the Emperor, seeing her intention, immediately understood what she wanted to do. His sharp eyes and quick hands pulled her away and swiveled her into his embrace, commanding Consort Xu De, "Let’s start the meal, the dishes are getting cold."

As if he would allow his Little Concubine to hug Xu Rongying!

He wouldn’t even want her to touch Rongying, let alone hug her in such an intimate way.

His Little Concubine could only be held by him, and she could only hold him!

Xu Rongying was somewhat startled. She had just been focusing on her younger sister, watching her try to come closer to comfort her, which warmed her heart.

Yet she hadn’t expected that, as someone approached, the Emperor would act with such a series of quick movements that, before she could even react, her sister had ended up in the Emperor’s arms, while his face wore the look of someone vigilantly protecting their food.

By the time she realized what happened, she couldn’t help but snort with laughter, the more she thought about it, the funnier it became, and she couldn’t stop herself from sitting at the table, slapping it and laughing out loud.

Wow, she pondered, had she ever seen the Emperor like this over the years?

She was two years older than the Emperor, having met him when he was still a boy. Since he was mature beyond his years, good-looking, but with an imposing air and a stranger-keep-out demeanor, and mature speech, it always made people forget his age.

When they were young and the Emperor was still shorter than her, she had a chance to converse with him by coincidence. His mature and composed demeanour had once made her think he was older than her, just underdeveloped and thus shorter.

It was only much later that she realized the Emperor was younger than her, which made her feel quite embarrassed. After a long absence, when she saw him next, he had grown taller than her, so there was never a moment when she truly felt in her heart that the Emperor was younger than her.

Naturally, she had never seen the Emperor looking like this, knowing that he was possessive was one thing, but seeing it firsthand was another.

The contrast was so great, it made her laugh until her stomach hurt, unable to stop!

The Emperor had always been composed and dignified, reserved yet scheming, but now that dignified image was completely gone in front of her, leaving only this food-guarding Emperor, making him seem much more vivid and alive. For the first time, she felt a hint that the Emperor was younger than her.

It seemed he was indeed very protective of her sister, so she felt at ease.

Care brings chaos to the mind. She had vaguely worried that with so many concubines in the Emperor’s harem, his affection for her sister might be a fleeting favor. Although she knew the Emperor would likely not be so fickle, she still had her concerns.

Now seeing with her own eyes the Emperor’s unwillingness to even let her sister hug her, what about those who wished to harm her sister? Could the Emperor really let them off the hook?

She truly felt relieved.

Could she perhaps find some amusement in the future?

But then again, with the Emperor being so scheming, it was probably best not to provoke him. Her sister was much more adorable.

Lian Hua’s face was buried in the Emperor’s chest, utterly confused, spinning head to toe, suddenly finding herself in His Majesty’s familiar embrace; the person she aimed to hug had changed from Sister Consort De to His Majesty.

She then heard His Majesty say it was time to start the meal, followed immediately by Sister Consort De’s uncontrollable laughter.

Where was she?

What had happened?

Could everything that just happened be an illusion?

She couldn’t help but lift her head to look at His Majesty. He was aware of her and gave her a glare, his face not too pleased yet also somewhat helpless.

Assured that His Majesty seemed to be alright, she turned her head to look back at Sister Consort De.