The 63-year-old lady has returned home

  "Hua Yuexi returned to Empress Hu: 'Your Majesty, I, a humble woman, have not won any merits, and do not deserve to receive rewards. I cannot accept Your Majesty's gifts.'"

  Three thousand pieces of gold beside me, each with a different expression.

  Empress Hu's gaze swept from Hua Yuexian's face to the three misses, and she nodded heavily: "Prime Minister Yan, I have said it before - only winning is rewarded. However, a draw does not count as losing either. Therefore, all four of you will be rewarded."

  The Empress Dowager probably thought that if she didn't reward people with things, her heart would be uncomfortable.

  Huayexiang accepted it: "The commoner thanks Empress Dowager Cixi for her gift."

  "What do you want?"

  "I've heard that there's a Tian Shan Snow Lotus in the palace. I wonder if Her Majesty the Empress would be willing to bestow one on a humble woman like me?"

  Don't want gold and silver treasures, do you want medicinal materials? Of course, the Tianshan Snow Lotus is expensive, but it's not inferior to gold and silver treasures. However, if you really want gold and silver treasures, wouldn't it be better to ask for them directly?

  Empress Hu's eyes narrowed slightly: "Is there someone in Yan Shangshu's household who needs the Tian Shan Snow Lotus?"

  "Yes, Your Majesty."

  "Where is your home?"

  "After returning to the palace, if the empress asked which family member of the commoner's wife needed the Tian Shan Snow Lotus, I would be the one."

  With a clever smile, she lightly pushed the question away. Empress Hu furrowed her brow for a moment, but didn't ask again, probably thinking that even if she asked more questions, she wouldn't get an answer, so it was better not to ask. She then turned to Sun Gu Gu beside her and said: "Get one branch of Tian Shan Snow Lotus, I want to reward it to Yan Shangshu."

  "Yes, milord." The old lady curtsied slightly.

  "What about you three? What would you like me to reward you with?" Empress Hu scanned the other three misses.

  Several young ladies looked at each other. Lin Murong naturally didn't like to be in the forefront, which would damage her usual demeanor of being detached from worldly disputes. Just as Sun Ruyue was about to speak, unexpectedly, today's Seasonal Jade County Mistress suddenly snatched the opportunity from her and spoke first: "Empress Dowager, Seasonal Jade also wants the Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus."

  "Oh." Empress Hu raised an eyebrow, "Isn't there one in the Princess's residence?"

  "The Empress Dowager and the Princess's residence have them, but my mother is very strict, I don't even dare to take one out to play." said Li Jiuyao.

  "What's wrong with playing something else? What's the point of playing with medicine?" Empress Hu shook her head and sighed.

  "The Empress Dowager does not know. Ji Yao is interested in this flower. The Tianshan Snow Lotus, I've heard, is a beautiful flower."

  Empress Hu smiled and said, "Alright, I'll give it to you. Just take good care of it yourself and don't let your mother find out. Otherwise, she'll say that I'm spoiling you. Also, remember not to wear the herbs on your head like a flower."

  Li Ji Yao stuck out her small tongue: "How did Empress Dowager know what Ji Yao was thinking?"

  Empress Hu burst out laughing, and her mood seemed to improve a lot all of a sudden.

  Sun Ruyu scratched Lei Jiyao's face.

  "What does Ruyi want to ask for as a reward?" Empress Hu would never be neglectful of such matters, especially when it came to her own beloved children.

  Sun Ruyu bowed to Empress Hu: "Your Majesty, I remember that there is a pen holder on your desk, and I want it."

  Empress Hu narrowed her eyes as if recalling something in her room: "Are you referring to the small gift that His Majesty brought back for me during his last outing?"

  "My daughter doesn't know if it was the emperor who gave it to the empress dowager. My daughter just thought it looked good, and since it's not made of rare stones or woods, it shouldn't be expensive." Sun Ruyue lowered her head, biting her lip as if embarrassed.

  "That thing is not expensive. The Emperor said that when he was traveling incognito, he saw something made by a craftsman on the side of the road and bought it to give to me. You all know that the Emperor is a very frugal person, and I am of the same mind as him." Empress Hu looked at Sun Ruyue with a faint smile, "Ruyue, you have this kind of heart, so I will give you what the Emperor gave me, to encourage you."

  Sun Ruyu looked like she was in a state of panic and gratitude, kneeling down to thank him.

  In the end, Lin Muyong asked for a piece of calligraphy written by Empress Hu herself, saying that she wanted to hang it in her own room to encourage herself to cultivate virtue and study.

  Sun Auntie couldn't bear to part, and had all the gifts ready, sending them over. Empress Hu bestowed them one by one on everyone. Seeing that the time was almost up, except for Sun Ruyu who stayed behind to accompany the empress, everyone else took their leave and returned home.

  Out of the empress's palace, each person's sedan chair and carriage were waiting at the door. Lin Muyang bowed to Seasoned Princess, got on the carriage from Lin's mansion, and left with a flourish.

  "What about you?" Li Ji Yao turned back to ask Hua Xi Yan, "Didn't Official Yan send a sedan chair to pick you up?"

  "Returning to the county master's residence, as a commoner's wife, it is still not enough to ride in a sedan chair." said Hua Xiyan.

  Who would have thought that this naive and mischievous princess suddenly grabbed her hand, saying: "It's still far from my imperial brother's Yongning Hall. This princess will see you off."

  Huā Yùyán didn't even have time to refuse, and was pulled into the sedan chair by the county master. Once in the sedan chair, Lí Jìyáo picked up her own box of Tiān Shān Xuě Lián and stuffed it into Huā's bosom: "For you."

  "Junzhu?" Hua Yu Yan was startled.

  "You just heard what the empress said, my house is full of such things, they're useless to me. But if I go back to get them, I'm afraid it will delay your family's illness, so I'll ask the empress together." As she spoke, Li Ji Yao playfully winked at her, "Won't Yan Shangshu blame this county master for meddling in other people's business?"

  "No, I'm grateful for your kindness, young mistress." Hua Yu's expression softened as she looked at the childlike young mistress, feeling no aversion towards her, just like she would towards her own son.

  But she still underestimated this county lord. Li Ji Yao suddenly stretched out a finger and touched the scar on her left cheek.

  Huā Yùyán subconsciously dodged and asked in doubt: "Junzhu?"

  "How did you get such a scary scar? I'm getting scared just by looking at it." Li Ji-yao shrank her neck in fear.

  "When I was young, I accidentally got burned by fire." Hua Xiyan's voice was cautious.

  "With this scar, you must have been uncomfortable," said Li Ji-yao. "But not only did you not get stuck with this scar, but your chess skills are so good that even someone like me who plays terrible chess can end up in a draw with you. I don't know if you're being considerate of the young lady's face, but looking at you, it doesn't seem like you're trying to curry favor with me either. The only thing I can think of is that you have a kind heart and are sympathizing with me."

  Hua Yu Yan quietly listened, looking at this noble young lady. As a princess, she should be able to do as she pleased due to her high status, but now Li Ji Yao's face showed a hint of annoyance and melancholy, seemingly unimaginable for ordinary people.

  Every family has its own difficulties, and this carefree young mistress is no exception.

  "I study and do things, not like my mother or father, who didn't do well. I know they praise me on the surface but laugh at me behind my back and are intimidated by my status. So, someone like you who is willing to listen to me and chat with me is rare. I only remember that the one person who was willing to play chess with me, this rotten chess player, and patiently finish a game with me, was my late imperial sister-in-law. And now it's just you." Li Jiuyao spoke with a belly full of bitter water, as if pouring it all out.

  Should I say that the county master is naive and innocent, or has she been holding it in for too long, so she grabs someone to vent her frustrations.

  She herself had also taken steps to achieve success, and Hua Xiyuan felt: "The princess, the heavens are fair to everyone, no one is perfect. Like the princess, in the eyes of the common people, she is already a blessing for the people, with a good heart, sympathizing with the poor, and able to do things for the people."

  Li Ji Yao's sparkling eyes seemed to be staring at her in surprise, and then two small dimples appeared as she smiled shyly: "From now on, I'll come visit you often. You seem just like my imperial sister-in-law. In the past, only she was patient with me, better than even my parents. Unfortunately, she passed away too early. And if I were to cling to my imperial sister-in-law for too long, my imperial brother would be unhappy. Ah, I get it - my imperial brother kept you by his side because you resemble my imperial sister-in-law."

  Hua Yuexuan was shocked upon hearing this: Was she like that deceased Empress Wang?

  It can't be. Not only is she ugly, but I've also heard that the Empress Dowager is kind and virtuous, yet her temper doesn't seem like that of a gentle lady.

  The sedan chair suddenly stopped. Liu Gugu, who was accompanying the sedan chair, nervously said to the two people inside: "Young Mistress, Yan Niang, there are people ahead."

  "Who? Who dares to block this young lady's way? Even the empress dowager wouldn't dare."

  "Return to the county master, it's an imperial order." Liu aunt was so nervous that her eyes were on fire.

  Just now Li Ji Yao who was saying she wasn't afraid of heaven or earth almost fell off the couch: "Imperial brother?!"

  The county lord's daughter was actually afraid of the dragon's face, and she hastily tidied up her clothes and got out of the sedan chair. Huajiu followed behind her and walked out of the sedan chair.

  The sunlight on a summer day shines on the dragon robe's golden embroidery, with thousands of intricate patterns that are awe-inspiring and piercing to the eyes. A group of palace maids kneel in the corridor. This corridor connects Yongning Hall and Yongsu Palace.

  "Ji Yao greets Your Majesty." Li Ji Yao walked forward and bowed before the dragon's face.

  Li Zimo glanced at her faintly, his eyes sweeping over her lowered head as if it had shrunk into a hole, without making a sound. His deep and silent gaze turned to Hua Xiyan behind him.

  Huā Yùyán held two boxes of Tian Shan Snow Lotus in her arms and followed behind the princess, paying respects: "A humble woman pays homage to Your Majesty."

  "Where did he go?" Long Yan asked indifferently with his hands behind his back, without any emotion.

  Ke Liu's aunt was already a quick wit, kneeling on the ground: "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is the fault of this servant for not being able to manage things properly, allowing Yan Niang to be invited by Sun Niang to play chess with the Empress Dowager in Yongshou Palace."

  "Is the chess game over?" Her ink-like eyes fell on the thing in Huayu's arms.

  Liu Aunt did not dare to lie at all, and replied: "Yan Niangzi played a game of Go with the Empress Dowager, Sun Er Xiaojie, Lin Fu Qianjin, and Junzhu, each losing one game, so the Empress Dowager rewarded all four people."

  "What's the reward?"

  "Tianshan Snow Lotus."

  A trace of what seemed like a cold smile flashed across his face: "Chosen by the Empress Dowager? Or chosen by her?"

  Perhaps sensing that he was asking too much, with a hint of malice, Li Jiuyao raised her head and said in surprise: "Imperial Brother?"

  "Did I tell you to dispense with the formalities?"

  Li Ji-yao quickly lowered her little head, but didn't forget to secretly stick out her tongue after lowering it.

  Li Zimo noticed her little action, and his eyes seemed to flash with a hint of helplessness. He turned to Yi Feng behind him and said, "Send the princess back to the Princess's mansion, and prohibit the princess from entering the palace for three days."

  "Ah?" Li Ji Yao didn't care about anything else this time, raised her head and asked, "Why did the Emperor prohibit me from entering the palace? What have I done wrong?"

  Her majestic eyes swept across her angry face: "You didn't do anything wrong, but you need to reflect."

  "This is a miscarriage of justice!" she stamped her foot, but what could she do when it was the Emperor's family?

  Yi Feng walked up to her: "Young Mistress, please get on the sedan."

  The mischievous eyes stared at the emperor, and Li Jiuyao walked back to the sedan chair. As she passed by Hua Xiyuan's side, she stopped for a moment and boldly leaned in close to her ear, saying: "The emperor won't let me enter the palace to find you, so you come out of the palace to find me."

  Hua Yu Cai did not dare respond in front of Long Yan.

  Yi Feng had no choice but to urge her: "Princess, later on the Emperor will get angry."

  Li Ji-yao stepped back into the sedan chair step by step, and before getting in, she waved goodbye to Hua Xi-yan.

  Hua Yu Yan didn't know what to say about this naive and unguarded princess. The sedan chair was carried out of the palace. Hua Yu Yan hugged the two Tian Shan Snow Lilies in her arms, carefully making sure that the emperor wouldn't take a dislike to them and try to snatch them away.

  As expected, her eyes fell on the Tian Shan Snow Lotus: "Want to take it away and sell it for money?"

  "Your Majesty—"

  "My calligraphy you cannot sell, so why discuss with the Empress Dowager about selling this thing? Why not discuss a bracelet or gold instead?"

  Huā Yùyán sighed in her heart: "Your Majesty, since the commoner's wife has already obtained the medicine, she must be using it to treat an illness."

  This made him pause for a moment, and then his eyes fell on her shoulder, asking Li Shunde: "Did the palace master enter the palace today?"

  "Your Majesty, no, Palace Master should be in the Ministry of Punishment." Li Shunde replied.

  "Let Duke Gong finish his business and then go to Yongning Hall to take her pulse."

  Huā Yùyán was thinking of asking Gōng Xiāngrú a few things in her heart, so she didn't speak up.

  He withdrew his gaze and sighed: "Let's go, accompany me for a walk in the garden."

  Huā Yùyán handed over the two boxes of Tian Shan Snow Lotus to Liu Aunt, who held them in her arms and quickened her pace to catch up with the people ahead.

  "Just now, I went to the Crown Prince's school and saw your son."

  When mentioning the children of the two, Hua Xiyue knew what he suspected and her heart skipped a beat: "Will letting Minfu's son accompany the Crown Prince to study trouble the Crown Prince?"

  Is he getting into trouble for his son? Yun Mei's eyebrows flew up, thinking of the sunny smile on her own son Xiao Yan's face, something she had never seen before as a father.

  "Your son is very good and has great potential for studying."

  Hua Yu Yan thought she had gone deaf: her son was college material? She taught him for several years, but he only knew how to recite one sentence like a pig.

  A glance at her, a flash of surprise, a low, muffled laugh escaped his face.

  Li Shunde and others followed him, seeing this, immediately slowed down their pace.

  Gradually, the crowd fell behind, leaving only the two of them, walking into the Imperial Garden.

  In the garden, a hundred flowers are in full bloom. The peonies that were planted have every color, and several of them cluster together, tender purple and lovely red. The gardener's meticulous care makes the beautiful scene seem like an immortal paradise.

  She only heard the sound of water coming from afar, and she followed him up the steps. The pavilions in this palace seemed to be all cast in the same mold, with jade stones paving the ground and glazed tiles on top.

  He gazed at the nearby scenery and asked, "Can Yan Shangshu play the zither? She should be able to, being the daughter of the White Changguo family."

  As a noble lady, playing the piano was a compulsory subject. Unfortunately, Hua Xiyuan, who had crossed over, was not a professional student of guqin, so how could she possibly know how to play it?

  Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she said: "I'm afraid my humble skills on the zither are not refined enough to perform in front of Your Majesty."

  Perhaps seeing the sweat on her forehead, he narrowed his eyes and turned to sit down in the pavilion, saying: "Play a tune for me at will. After all, I am also a person of limited learning."

  This dog emperor, not bothering her for a moment, must be feeling uncomfortable all over. Hua Xiyuan thought that the imperial secretary he bestowed upon her was just to let her do this kind of teasing work for him. Anyway, he used her, and she also used him.

  Li Shunde received the order and immediately went to fetch his zither.

  The dragon's face was faintly pale, saying: "You have made a move on the chessboard and the queen has rewarded you. How about this, as long as you finish playing one melody, I will also reward you, so that it won't be said that I am not close to human feelings."

  Also reward her with a calligraphy? Also don't let her sell it?

  Hua Yuanyan thought of this and saw Li Shunde having someone move the piano stool from the cool pavilion, feeling unenthusiastic.

  As she sat down on the stool, not knowing what to play, the person sitting opposite her opened his mouth and said faintly: "When the time comes, I will reward you. You can make a request to me, as long as it is something I can agree to."

  Although she knew that he would not let her go once he caught her back, it was still good to have a request that could make the emperor agree. Huayexi's fingers on the strings of the guqin had a hint of seriousness.

  What to play? This ancient body left her with only the memory of finger tips on the strings. With her limited understanding of classical music, she could only play a simple and easy-to-remember "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

  Her fingertips moved on the strings of the piano, finding the strings with a pitch similar to that of the Little Star music score, and plucking them one note at a time.

  Li Shunde waited under the pavilion, only to hear the sound of music coming, but it didn't sound like music, rather like a few children just starting to learn piano touching the strings. He thought she was tuning the instrument. So he tiptoed and poked his head out, wanting to remind her that the piano was already tuned. As a result, when he looked over, she wasn't tuning at all, but was concentrating on playing the piano.

  Unexpectedly, he was originally preparing to appreciate the beauty of music with a good intention, but it was a shock, his hand grasped the corridor pillar, lest he fell down from behind.

  Is she intentionally framing him? Like how she deliberately lost three games of Go to the Empress Dowager.

  When he heard that Liu Jiujiu had drawn with three people, he was shocked. Because of this, Lin Muyong's reputation as a chess player, he had already heard and understood. And the bad chess played by Li Jiuyao was even more famous far and wide. It can be said that it is not easy to win against Lin Muyong, but it is even harder to draw with Li Jiuyao, who plays bad chess.

  The Empress Dowager must have been shocked to a greater extent than he was.

  Her talent is like a shining pearl, which cannot be drowned by the deep sea.

  When he heard that she was suddenly summoned by the Empress Dowager to Yongshou Palace, he anxiously walked out and ended up on the road to Yongshou Palace. He had penalized Li Jiuyao, but he himself knew it was a case of misplaced anger.

  He couldn't bear to see her suffer the slightest grievance from the empress dowager, yet in reality, she hadn't suffered the slightest grievance from the empress dowager. This truly made a thread of anxiety float up inside his heart. It was as if he really couldn't grasp her.

  Single notes, accompanied by her unhurried fingertips, jumped out one by one. Listening to them individually, it was impossible to make sense of them. As she seemed to gradually become familiar with the strings, the notes could be gradually linked together, finally forming a melody.

  Li Shunde wiped the sweat from his forehead, listening with increasing astonishment.

  What's this tune? Never heard it before!

  The melody is quirky and unconventional, neither as gentle as a flowing stream nor as shocking as an ambush. It's like a flea jumping around in the grass. But strangely, it fits perfectly with this sunny summer day, making one feel the joy of the rhythm deep inside, and suddenly, their mood brightens up.

  Li Shunde narrowed his eyes, and the Holy One listening must have been in the same mood.

  Huā Yù Yán was sweating profusely as she played, as if she had never been so exhausted before. After playing the last note, she stopped her fingers and looked up. The man sitting in front of her sat like a wooden stake, seemingly more drenched in sweat than she was.

  She was startled and stood up: "The common woman had long said that her piano skills were not refined, and she had disturbed the emperor's ears."

  When he heard her say this, he seemed to have come back to his senses and uttered a sentence: "Li Shunde."

  Li Shunde hastily ran up from under the pavilion and asked anxiously: "What is it?"

  "Bring me a cup of tea, I need to calm down." The dragon robe wiped the sweat from his forehead.

  If she was trying to intimidate him, he conceded. Just watching her play the piano made his heart skip a beat, those strings cutting into her fingertips like they could slice off a piece at any moment.

  Li Shunde immediately brought a cup of ginseng tea over. He took the teacup and realized she was still standing, saying: "You sit."

  Anyway, it doesn't seem like he wants to punish her, she sat down.

  She took a sip and furrowed her brow, as if recalling the tune she had just played: "Yan Shangshu, what was that you were playing? I have never heard it before."

  "Return to the Emperor is a folk song sung by a peasant woman to her son, the peasant woman has little knowledge of music and can only hum this simple tune, called Little Star."

  It was indeed something he had never heard of.

  "Little Star? You came up with this song title yourself?" A hint of teasing sparkled in his eyes as he looked at her.

  It can't be reported that a substitute composer appeared. Huā Xīyán had no choice but to impersonate and replace him, saying: "Yes, the name of the tune was randomly chosen by my wife."

  "Yan Shangshu indeed has a talent of eight dou, and can compose qu pieces by himself."

  This dog emperor is teasing her. Huayexuan warned herself to calm down and not respond.

  He brushed off his robe and had Li Shunde withdraw from the qin platform, so as not to see that she had cut her hand. He said, "Alright, I'll grant you a wish, what do you want me to do for you?"

  Huayu had thought of this early on and weighed her words: "The common woman wants to go to the inner courtyard to see her own maidservant."

  Her eyelids flickered slightly, as if she had understood the ins and outs of the situation. Her gaze deepened as she looked at him: "You're a good master."

  "If the master does poorly, how can he expect his subordinates to be loyal and devoted?" Hua Xiuyan replied.

  He seemed to have a feeling about her words: "So to speak, it is this emperor who has not done well enough."

  "Your Majesty?"

  "Yan Shangshu, from now on, whoever wants to take you somewhere, don't follow them arbitrarily." He stood up and walked in front of her, his thick and severe voice brushing past her ear as he gazed at the bead of sweat on the tip of her nose, "I am your master, this life of yours is mine, remember that!"

  Huā Yùyán could feel a thud in her heart, as if a stone had fallen, stirring up waves.

  The dragon shadow on her head, like a mountain, pressed down on her. It brushed past her side: "Li Shun De, send Yan Shangshu back. Also, send the maid from the imperial harem to Yongning Palace and find a place for her to live."

  Her slender eyebrows furrowed slightly. This dog emperor, one moment he would douse her with cold water, the next he would give her sugar. It's hard to imagine what kind of person could accompany him. I wonder what the palace empress is really like. Thinking about how Li Jiuyao said she resembles the palace empress, my heart truly doesn't know how to describe it. However, the naive and lively young miss is quite likable. Perhaps tomorrow I can sneak out of the palace again to meet this young miss and understand some things. Isn't it said that her son has the bloodline of the Dongling royal family?

  She raised an eyebrow.

  Yongshou Palace

  A maid walked quickly a few steps and whispered something in Sun Aunt's ear. Sun Aunt nodded, then walked back to the pavilion.

  Sun Ruyu knelt beside Empress Hu's feet and served her, peeling open a pomegranate for Empress Hu.

  "Empress Dowager, it is said that His Majesty met with Yan Shangshu on the road."

  Sun Ruyu glanced at Sun Aunt: "Is that so? The Emperor came specifically to pick up Yan Shangshu and not just passing by?"

  "The emperor is just passing by, I don't know anything about it." Sun Aunt said cautiously.

  "It's better if you know that the Empress Dowager has summoned her, wanting to take her back, or if she doesn't know at all." The Empress Dowager spoke between the two of them, "In any case, this Yan Shangshu indeed has a talent worth eight dou. I know the Emperor loves talented people. Perhaps after some time, the Emperor will get tired of her."

  "It's also true." Sun Ruyu immediately picked up the conversation, "Empress Dowager, this Yan Shangshu is only good at playing chess. As for me, I think that as a woman, if one doesn't even have a good appearance, how can she win a man's favor?"

  "I've heard that heroes have a hard time passing by beautiful women, but I've never heard of heroes having a hard time passing by ugly women." Empress Hu patted the chair and took the pomegranate handed over by Sun Ruyue, with a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips.

  The Empress Dowager's words are extremely correct. If this girl were ugly, even beggars would be ashamed of her. A handsome man like Your Majesty must have the most beautiful woman in the world as his match; otherwise, it wouldn't be acceptable. Your Majesty also needs to save face.

  Empress Hu raised an eyebrow: "You say, which beauty in the world?"

  "Empress Dowager." Sun Ruyue turned around and faced Empress Hu, "Didn't you like Princess Suqin?"

  "Suxi Niangniang is both beautiful and kind-hearted, wherever she goes, she is well-liked." Aunt Sun also chimed in.

  Empress Hu listened to them praising Jin Suo like crazy, suddenly her voice sank: "Nonsense. No matter how much I like it, what's the use? It depends on whether the Emperor himself likes it."

  Sun Ruyu and Sun Auntie listened to Empress Hu's words, which sounded like she was in a bad mood, and lowered their heads. However, there wasn't the slightest hint of sadness between their eyebrows and eyes. Who didn't know that masters usually liked to say things that were contradictory to what they really meant?

  Empress Hu peeled a pomegranate seed with her fingertips and put it in her mouth, asking Aunt Sun: "Has the letter to Princess Chang been sent?"

  "It's been sent over, Your Majesty. The Eldest Princess read the letter and didn't say anything was wrong." replied Sun Auntie.

  "The lantern festival will be held at the Long Princess's residence. Originally, I wanted to introduce everyone to the Yun Sect Master. Unfortunately, the Emperor sent someone that day to say that the Yun Sect Master had suddenly returned to the Yun clan. But this lantern festival cannot be cancelled, I know many people are looking forward to it." Empress Hu said.

  "Yes." The other two echoed in unison.

  "Like jade, who would you like to call?" Empress Hu's eyebrows and eyes were narrowed, looking at the girl she liked.

  Sun Ruyu suddenly blushed: "Empress Dowager, how can you let me say this?"

  "What's there to be shy about? Do you need to be shy in front of me?"

  When Empress Hu said this, Sun Ruyu took a deep breath, turned her face straight and softly asked: "I wonder if Palace Master will come to the lantern festival?"

  "Are you referring to Lord Miya?"

  When the empress dowager asked back, Sun Ruyu's heart skipped a beat, unsure whether it was good or bad, and she lowered her head.

  "It's also true." Empress Hu smiled softly and said, "I mentioned to the Emperor previously that if the Cloud Sect Master didn't come, we should let Palace Lord take his place. Palace Lord is the most favored man among women in this capital city, aside from the Emperor and the Cloud Sect Master."

  Sun Ruyu's face turned red as she listened to Empress Hu praising Gong Xiangyu.

  "But, like jade, you like the affairs of the palace, have you mentioned it to your parents?" Empress Hu narrowed her eyes.

  "Empress Dowager, such a shameful thing, it's the first time I've mentioned it to anyone." Sun Ruyue had a completely embarrassed expression.

  "Foolish child." Empress Hu chuckled twice, "So, I'm your benefactor now."

  Sun Ruyu covered her red face with a handkerchief and whispered, "I know that many people like Palace Master, I heard that Lin Qianjin is also one of them."

  "Alright." Empress Hu slapped her hand on the armrest, "I'll take charge of this matter for you."

  Sun Ruyu was shocked and immediately knelt down with joy: "Thank you, Empress Dowager!"

  Empress Hu smiled and watched her kowtow three times, then sent her away.

  Sun Auntie sent Sun Ruyu to the door and came back, seeing Empress Hu touching her chest and panting, she hurriedly went forward to help pat her back: "Your Majesty, how are you? I'll go let someone bring medicine over."

  "Gong family, Gong family!" Empress Hu repeated the phrase several times.

  Sun Auntie didn't dare look at her face.

  As expected, with a loud slap, Empress Hu slapped Sun Shu's face. After being slapped to the ground, Sun Shu knelt on the ground and didn't dare to raise her head, repeatedly saying: "This servant really didn't know about Ruyi liking Emperor Yongzheng."

  Empress Hu saw her on the verge of tears and immediately ordered: "Have someone investigate."

  "Is it an inspection of the palace?"

  Empress Hu glared: "Investigate Yan Shangshu."

  Sun Auntie's mind was turning, but she couldn't figure it out. Hadn't the Empress Dowager already taken a look at the visitor and deemed them not to be a threat?

  "Learned eight pecks." Empress Hu slowly recited these few words, "In those years, the palace maid seduced the emperor, also with this 'learned eight pecks'!"

  Her aunt's words were like a hurricane in her heart, shaking and on the verge of collapse.

  Empress Hu narrowed her eyes: "Who is she exactly? How did she enter the palace?"

  The eunuch's wife crawled over and whispered: "Why don't we catch a small eunuch and ask him?"

  "It's settled then. I'm afraid we'll have to stir up trouble in front of Sheng. Never mind, let's wait until Su Xiang comes and then we'll talk about it. Anyway, it's just a matter of these two days."

  "Empress Dowager, you said Princess Su is coming?"

  "She was in Baichang, which is close to Dongling anyway. This time for the Lantern Festival, Ah Lian's family sent a letter inviting her over. Coincidentally, she had been feeling unwell in Baichang, so coming here would also help her recover."

  "Sun Auntie furrowed her brow: 'If Consort Su comes over to stay—'"

  "She lives in the palace, the emperor will not agree. But, I have my own way." Empress Hu said and handed her hand to her, "Help me get back to the house, I'm tired too."

  Her aunt hastily took her hand and only heard a long sigh as she stood up: When can the emperor let me rest in peace?

  Huā Yèyán saw Lǜ Cuì when Gōng Xiàng Rú came to give her a pulse diagnosis by imperial order. Thus, Huā Yèyán asked Gōng Xiàng Rú about the prescription for Lǜ Cuì.

  "Master Gong, I'd like to get some medicine for my maid. Would you take a look at this prescription?"

  She took the white paper handed over to her, with regular script written in brush and ink, elegant and beautiful. Several medicines were listed: raw land, lily, codonopsis, white atractylodes, and huai shan. It seemed to be composed of two prescriptions. She smiled and said, "Is the patient suffering from yin deficiency and fire hyperactivity as well as spleen and stomach weakness?"

  "Yes, the stomach is not good. I see that her mouth is dry, tongue red, pulse rapid, and feels empty." Hua Xiuyan actually wanted to ask a doctor to take a look at Green, but after buying that wound medicine in the city last time, she felt that these ancient doctors were not as good as her own skills. Someone like Gong Xiangru, who was highly respected, would certainly not be able to diagnose Green's illness. She could only use her own prescription to ask questions.

  "Yan Shangshu's prescription seems fine to me." Gong Xiangru pinched the prescription in his hand, and a flash of light flickered at the bottom of his eyes. "I heard that you were summoned by the Empress Dowager just now."

  News spreads quickly. Hua Yexi nodded: "After playing a few rounds of chess with the Empress Dowager, the commoner's wife returned."

  Seeing her relaxed expression, Gong Xiangru was slightly surprised, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up: "Yan Shangshu, how do you feel about this trip to Yongshou Palace?"

  Huā Yùyán didn't expect him to ask so directly and was somewhat surprised.

  Her gaze shifted from her face to the trees on that side, and her elegant profile became even more profound: "The Empress Dowager is a kind-hearted person."

  "The Empress Dowager is the master of Yongshou Palace and the mother of the Emperor, so she naturally has great virtues and a long way to go."

  One sentence made him turn his face back, looking at her eyes filled with tears, and he couldn't help but smile again: "Yan Shangshu, don't go to that place from now on."

  Huā Yùyán thought that both of them said the same thing to her, she didn't know if they were concerned about her or afraid that she would fall into the hands of the Empress Dowager and be used as a handle against them. Anyway, she nodded in agreement and thanked them.

  Gong Xiangru followed Li Shunde to a small courtyard, where Li Zimo stood under a willow tree, gazing at the horizon as a line of wild geese flew by.

  "Your Majesty. It is said that Your Majesty has summoned me, a humble subject."

  "Did you take her pulse?"

  "The wound is almost healed, and after some adjustments to Qi and blood in the later stage, there should be no major problem."

  After hearing his words, Li Zimo didn't turn back to look at him for a long time. After a while, he said: "I always thought that the feeling of liking someone wouldn't change, no matter what they become. The previous emperor once taught me that favoritism can only be used as an excuse by others, and that one should hide their fondness in their heart. The empress dowager said that the heart of an emperor is unpredictable, and having multiple palaces and pavilions is very common."

  "I am all ears," said Gong Xiangyu.

  "After all, whether people's hearts change or not is all forced out by external factors."

  The palace is like Zhou's body, all over the micro-cold.

  He plucked a willow leaf and played with it in his hand, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, as if smiling but not quite: "Just now I let her play the zither, I originally wanted to hear 'Zhu Sha' again, but she played a folk tune for me instead, which made me worry that she would cut her own hands with the strings. After thinking about it later, I suddenly felt my own ridiculousness."

  Gong Xiangru raised his head and met a cold, gloomy gaze shot at him, then lowered his head again.

  "Gong Qing, do you still remember? The place where she lies is a mausoleum that I personally designed and built. I personally saw her for the last time before the coffin was closed. That place is guarded day and night by my elite troops. Not even a mosquito can fly in. So they say I'm foolishly devoted, so foolishly devoted that I don't even believe myself. It's truly terrifying!"

  His eyebrows furrowed slightly, a faint worry floating in his eyes. It was precisely because what he said was all true. The dead, how could they return to their presence?

  "No matter who she is or what purpose she has come before me, with so many suspicious points on her body, I must be cautious for the sake of the crown prince. I must uncover her true face!"

  Snap! The willow branch in his hand broke into two pieces.

  The storm in his eyes flashed by, and he returned to calmness: "White Changguo said that the wise king is coming to see me, I agreed. You prepare the gifts for the wise king, when the time comes, I will give a big gift to the wise king and White Changguo."

  He knelt down: "Your servant obeys!"

  Baek Chang-guk

  Madam Huajia returned to the Huajia Manor after a long and arduous journey out of the pass.

  Liu and Hua Zhengke knelt down in front of her, bringing a group of children to kowtow.

  The old lady drank a mouthful of tea and said to them, "Get up." Seeing that they got up one by one, but couldn't see the person she wanted to see, she exclaimed in surprise: "Chang Fu, didn't you say the young mistress was back?"

  Chang Fu, who was waiting on the side, came out and replied: "Reporting back to Your Ladyship, Eldest Miss she...she..."

  "What's going on with all this hemming and hawing? Is it that Xiyan is unwilling to come back from the countryside? If so, her father and mother will have to personally go to the countryside to fetch her."

  The old lady's tone of voice made Liu clench her teeth.

  "Mother, I heard it was you who told her to come back. Why wouldn't she want to come back?"

  "Where is he?"

  "This..." Hua Zheng Ke took a deep breath, seeing the old lady return, and knew that she couldn't hide it anymore. She then told the story of how Hua Xi Yan and her mother had gone missing in the imperial family's back mountain.

  Old Lady Hua's eyebrows jumped after listening, and she slapped the table fiercely, scaring the timid people to kneel down again: "The imperial family's rear mountain is missing? You, as a father, won't ask the imperial family for people? Yexi is still the crown prince's consort!"

  Liu's patience was wearing thin, she pushed Hua Zhengke aside and stepped forward: "Mother, it's not just Yu Yan who is missing, but also Shu Er and Gui Yuan. We have looked for them in the palace, but they are nowhere to be found. All I can say is that they might have been taken away together."

  "Abduct? Who dares to abduct someone from the Huas?" Old Lady Hua had practiced martial arts for many years, her vital energy was full, her eyebrows were stern and upright, and she exuded an aura of majesty. The entire Hua family relied on Old Lady Hua's reputation to maintain its standing. It wasn't strange at all that the imperial court showed this old lady three points of courtesy.

  Liu knelt down, wiping her eyes with her sleeve and sobbing: "Mother, Yuxuan is not my biological child, you can scold me. But Shu'er is my own, how could I deceive you about her disappearance?"

  She listened to her words and didn't pretend, Old Lady Hua asked in a deep voice: "So, how did you investigate this matter?"

  "I've asked Consort Shuqin in the palace to divine it, and the result is that Shu'er and the others might have been taken to Dongling."

  "Dongling?" Old Lady Hua seemed surprised, "How could it be Dongling?"

  The Liu family looked worried and anxious, precisely because Dongling was the first major power, they didn't dare to run to Dongling to demand people. Moreover, apart from the diviner's words, there was no evidence or proof.

  "The Emperor of Dongling has a way with governance, never heard of bandits or robbers. Moreover, who would dare to come to the imperial family's backyard to kidnap someone?" The more Old Lady Hua thought about it, the more suspicious and unbelievable it seemed.

  Down below, among the kneeling people, two of them who were in the know lowered their heads into the ground hole. They were only afraid that Grandma would shoot a glance over and expose their secret.

  "Only Old Lady Hua asked: 'At that time, who else was in our family's backyard?'"

  The flower jumped up in fright, suddenly lifted its head, and by the time it wanted to lower it again, it was too late.

  "Yuèyǔ, come out and talk to grandma."

  Huā Yì Yu gave him a desperate glance. Huā Yuè Yu, with a frightened heart, walked to her grandmother's side: "Grandma, I don't know anything."

  "I didn't ask you, but you said you don't know anything?"

  The old lady slapped another palm on the table. Hua Yue's butt fell to the ground, and she hugged her head with both hands: "Grandma, don't hit me. I really didn't know what kind of people they were, you should ask San Jie."

  Hua Yi Yu thought she might as well roll her eyes and die.

  "Yi Yu!" The look of shock on Liu's face was no less than that of the others.

  "Mother, I had no choice. If I had spoken out, wouldn't everyone have died?" Huaiyu exclaimed, "Those people are skilled in martial arts and dressed in luxurious attire, they look like wealthy and noble figures. What's more, they can come and go freely in the imperial palace's rear mountain, not putting our imperial family in their eyes at all."

  Liu covered her mouth with her hand and blinked: So, to say that her daughter was not taken away by the bandits but was kidnapped by a noble family. Is this good luck or bad luck?

  The old lady said in a cold voice: "If it's really like that, the old woman will risk her life to go to the Emperor of Dongling and ask for an explanation."

  The people below frowned one by one. Go to Dongling and ask Emperor Dongling for someone? Unimaginable.

  "Daughter." Hua Zhengke calculated in her heart, knelt down and spoke, "The wise king is going to Dongling State to pay respects. Why don't we join the wise king's diplomatic mission first?"

  "Ah, it's a good idea. You go and handle it quickly." Old Lady Hua agreed.

  Hua Zhengke quickly got up and walked out in big strides.

  After her son left, the old lady's gaze fell on her daughter-in-law again: "When I see Xiyan, I will ask for clarification."

  Liu was so angry that his teeth were bleeding from gritting them.