"Girls, the lotus flowers in our vase have bloomed two more today. Ill take you to see them while the mistress and madam are chatting."

  Chao Sheng hurriedly followed him out as well.

  The two Miss Chens were both quiet, but the younger sister looked more curious, glancing left and right. The older sister looked about two years older, much more steady, obediently holding hands with her mother as they walked.

  In the Yanyu Palace, there is no pond, but two large vats are planted with lotus flowers and goldfish. The leaves are round and as big as a palm, dark green and shiny like they have been coated with oil. The small fish lightly touch the edge of the leaves, as if tasting whether the leaves are delicious or not.

  The jar was taller than the two Miss Chens, and at the end of the year, she carried her sister on her back, while in the spring, she held her younger sister in her arms. Fortunately, she was not very tall, but had considerable strength - all from doing chores without exception.

  "This flower is really beautiful..."

  "Sister, little fish!"

  The two of them were watching with great interest, but Tides arm was getting a bit tired and his face was flushed red. Although Miss Chen wasnt too fat, carrying her like this for so long was taking its toll. Seeing that the two of them still didnt seem to have had enough, Tide was secretly suffering.

  At the end of the year, Tiexiong said, "Lets go back and take a look, there are bamboo shoots in the back."

  Miss Da Chen hesitated for a moment, and Miss Xiao Chen said directly: "Look at the fish, dont look at the bamboo."

  Tidal birth leg one soft, almost threw Miss Chen down.

  No way, if you keep holding it like this, you might really drop the ancestor into the vat.

  "The tide was born with a clever idea: Why dont I tell two ladies a story? Its related to this vase."

  "This time Miss Chen nodded first: Really? Then you say it."

  Chao Sheng hurriedly put down the one in his arms, and both of his arms ached unbearably.

  She was moving her arm unobtrusively while saying: "This story is about a vat, a group of kids playing hide-and-seek in the courtyard..."

  Chao Sheng briefly told the story of Sima Guang breaking the vat, without mentioning names. Both Chen sisters listened very seriously. However, after finishing listening, their reactions were vastly different. Big Sister Chen pulled her younger sister two steps aside, as if afraid they would also fall into the vat. Little Sister Chen, on the other hand, carefully examined the vat from left to right, seemingly searching for the most suitable spot to break it.

  But anyway, these two are no longer looking at the fish, and Chao Sheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As for whether these two will develop aquaphobia or not... cough, this is not Chao Shengs responsibility. The elementary school textbook has the glorious story of Sima Xiaodi breaking the vase, but I havent seen any classmates develop a fear of vases... although vases are quite rare in modern times and dont have universality.

  Suddenly someone behind him said: "This child is indeed quick-witted and decisive, I wonder when and where this matter occurred?"

  Chao Sheng and Sui Mu both jumped in surprise, turning their heads to look. They hadnt heard anyone come at all. But most importantly, it was a mans voice!

  Good grief!

  Man!

  Inside ** there are only women and eunuchs, men are too scarce!

  Its been so long since I entered the palace...I havent seen a single man.

  Chao Sheng was still stunned when Sui Mu had already knelt down and said: "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty."

  Huh? Is this the Emperor?

  Chao Sheng and the two Miss Chens knelt down a beat late, and also said a few words of their own in an uneven tone.

  Deceive people! Arent emperors all dressed in bright yellow with many dragons embroidered on their bodies?

  The man in front of him was only wearing a sky-blue shirt, standing there with his hands behind his back. He looked like he was over thirty or maybe even over forty, but his face wasnt clear.

  However, Chao Sheng didnt have a good grasp of the age of men in this era. Before entering the palace, she had seen some elderly men who looked like they were fifty or sixty years old, but were actually only forty. Children also matured early, and it was common for thirteen- or fourteen-year-olds to get married. Walking on the street, she saw big children holding little ones, thinking they were brothers, but it turned out they were grandfather and grandson.

  Someone beside the emperor reminded him: "Your Majesty is asking you a question."

  Yes, the emperor just asked a question.

  "Ah... Your Majesty, I also heard this story from others, I dont know if its true or not, and I dont know when or where it happened."

  Emperor! This is the emperor! The biggest BOSS in this era and in this palace!

  The emperor grunted and said nothing more. At the end of the year, he came to his senses and became clever: "Slaves go in and report to the princess, please ask the princess to come out and welcome the holy carriage."

  Oh, how could the Emperor possibly appear in the Smoke and Cloud Palace?

  This should be the first time in several years, right?

  Madam Chen hastily came out to greet him, her eyes were red, and her voice was slightly trembling. Chao Sheng knelt beside her, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

  Chen Fei sat on a cold bench for years, fearing that the emperor would soon forget this person. But today, she suddenly appeared in the Yunxia Palace as if she had fallen from the sky, leaving Chen Fei shocked and sentimental.

  The emperors voice sounded quite amiable: "Relax, today is the birthday of my beloved concubine, I came to ask for a bowl of longevity noodles." After a pause, he heard him say: "Is this Chen Shaoyis wife? We are all family, no need to be formal."

  Madam Chen was also terrified, although the emperor said they were all family and didnt need to be too polite, who dared to pretend to be close?

  The two Miss Chens also came up to kowtow and pay their respects, small in stature but with movements that were sincere and meticulous, very neat.

  The emperor came to find Empress Chen, but Madame Chen had long since excused herself and was nowhere to be found. Although the eunuch wasnt qualified to enter the house, he didnt idle around either. The small kitchen quickly became busy. The longevity noodles had been prepared ahead of time, but with the emperors arrival, how could they be taken lightly? Everyone was like a wound-up spring, busily rushing about. The eunuch followed the old servant to wait for orders, transmitting messages inside and out, until it got dark. They presented the evening meal and longevity noodles, and after not too long, the dishes were cleared away. The old servant waited around, and the eunuch also strained his ears, not daring to be careless. His stomach had been hungry for a long time, so he hastily ate two mouthfuls.

  The lamp in the house has been on all the time, occasionally you can hear a word or two, and also Chen Feis laughter.

  Chao Sheng had never heard Chen Fei laugh like that before, it was crisp and pleasant to the ear, like the tinkling of wind chimes on a crystal bead curtain, revealing an indescribable joy and delight.

  Yes, indeed it is...

  Deep mountains and rivers repeat, doubt without a road; willow trees shade, flowers brighten, another village appears.

  I wonder how the emperor thought of Chen Fei again?

  The entire Yanxia Palace will probably have a sleepless night tonight.

  The emperor stayed overnight in the Yanyu Palace and also ordered a midnight snack. This made it difficult for the eunuchs to decide what food to prepare, as neither the Emperor nor Empress Chen had specified what they wanted to eat.

  "In the past when I was still favored, I remember one time the midnight snack was silver lotus sweet soup... but now where can we find silver lotus? Moreover, who knows if the Emperor still likes to eat that now?"

  The tide pointed to a eunuch not far away: "Sister, why dont you ask him?"

  End of the year, unexpectedly delighted: "Right, Im really stupid, now putting aside people dont know ask for advice."

  Unfortunately, the people around the emperor were too slick, and nothing substantial could be extracted from their mouths. The person only said: "The weather is hot, and its late at night, so something light and refreshing would be good."

  Its all the same whether you say it or not.

  The small kitchen had a lot of ingredients, it was said that the emperor would be here tonight and they were specially sent from the imperial kitchen.

  The kitchen maid asked diligently: "How did the young lady come at the end of the year? Is there any instruction from above?"

  Look, the emperor is indeed a magic medicine that turns stones into gold. The kitchen maid usually doesnt smile so charmingly and hasnt been so thoughtful. The stove fire has not gone out, and there are several sweet and savory pastries in the steamer.

  "Otherwise, shall we make another soup?" Xiè Mù bit her lip, and the kitchen maid hastily said: "Miss is right, what kind of soup would you like to make?"

  "Why dont we make a eight-treasure fruit soup instead?" The end of the year is really troublesome.

  Chao Sheng thought to himself, "Todays weather is hot, the Emperor and Chen Fei were just in the house, hmm, they must have been intimate... Its hot and theyve worked up a sweat, their mouths are dry and thirsty, they probably dont want to drink that sweet and sticky dessert soup."

  Sometimes details are also important. The previous ninety-nine steps have been taken, and the last step is wrong, which is a waste of effort.

  Chao Sheng glanced around the room and quietly pulled on her sisters sleeve: "Sister, since that official said the weather is hot, why not make a cooling soup to quench our thirst? I remember Mother had a cold spring melon soup before, do you think that would be good?"

  Its still hard for her to make up her mind at the end of the year. This isnt because she lacks determination, but rather todays surprise was too great, leaving her torn in both directions.

  "The cold spring melon slices are fine... but the ingredients used are too cheap..."

  The kitchen maid was clever: "Why not, the two girls suggestions can be done, one in a bowl and one on a plate, one red and one green, looking good together, and paired with two salty and two sweet pastries, this will make everything complete."

  "Good, lets hurry up then."

  The kitchen maid smiled: "Dont worry, miss, everything is ready, itll be right out."

  Both were done, and that was double insurance, and Chao Sheng also breathed a sigh of relief.

  The dishes were finally brought out, and both Sui Mu and Chao Sheng had been anxiously waiting. After a while, they were served, the steamed buns had moved slightly, but the Eight Treasures Fruit Jelly hadnt budged, whereas the Cold Spring Melon Soup had gone down by half. Sui Mus eyes lit up as he smiled at Chao Sheng: "Thanks to you, otherwise this time we might have made a mess of things."

  Chao Sheng whispered: "Sister also taught me, this melon slice was originally crispy and sweet, and its slightly sour after being pickled. It makes a very refreshing soup. Today is so hot..."

  "Alright, Ill give you credit for todays matter. Tomorrow, let the empress reward you. Youre also tired, go back and rest early."

  Im really exhausted, got up before dawn and now its almost midnight. Im both tired and tense, only now do I feel the aching in my body, my legs are so weak that I can barely walk.

  She returned to the house and fell asleep as soon as she lay down. It wasnt until morning that she discovered her hair had become a messy birds nest, and let out a cry of surprise. After applying more water and hair oil, she was finally able to comb it back into order. When she emerged from the house, she found that everyone on Chen Feis side in the Smoke and Cloud Palace was beaming with joy and full of energy.

  At dinner time, Huan Xiang bumped into her and said, "Hey, I heard you met with the Emperor yesterday?"

  Chao nodded slightly.

  Todays breakfast is also rich, there is meat in the pancake, and half a salted egg with porridge.

  Chao Sheng asked somewhat strangely: "Is this a small kitchen patch?"

  "Where is it, this was given by the imperial kitchen." Huan Xun smiled and whispered: "Yesterday, the emperor came to celebrate the birthday with the empress, we also followed and had good food to eat, if we could eat like this every day, it would be great."

  This is called one person gets the Tao, and chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. The people in the imperial palace are best at watching the wind direction. Seeing that Chen Fei had been quiet for a few years and suddenly came out again, they naturally wanted to make some gestures. The people around Chen Fei were naturally happy, their master was favored, representing these people could also raise their eyebrows and show off.

  However, in this joyful atmosphere, there is one exception.

  It was Chen Fei, the heroine of the incident.

  Chao Sheng was slightly surprised, Chen Fei looked like she had a rosy complexion, her eyebrows relaxed, last night must have... hmm, been very harmonious. But why did Chen Fei frown when she sent the clothes in, obviously looking worried?

  ——————————————

  Today was dragged by friends to pour out their troubles, and the whole afternoon was gone just like that.

  When Da Ju Zi came home, someone gave him a cicada. At night, he found a gecko on the window at home... Fortunately, he was not afraid, but I am~~~