Ci'an Palace, Shengyang Temple of Empress Dowager Cixi.

  Looking at her little daughter who had cried herself to sleep, Princess Anlang gently took her hand and looked at the two rows of teeth marks on it. She was so angry that she said: "That little girl from the Lin family is a beast, biting Ningyu's hand like this. A girl's skin is precious, if scars are left, what can be done?"

  "Anyway, I must go before the Emperor to seek justice for this. My child cannot be wronged in vain."

  Duan Taifei looked at her daughter and said: "I'm telling you to be more careful, the one sitting on the dragon throne is not your real father."

  A half-brother who had been looked down upon since childhood could have a deep affection for her.

  Duan Taifei continued: "Look at the emperor's favor and affection towards the Lin family, yesterday he conferred a 'Zhēnrén Fūrén' (Virtuous and Benevolent Lady), today he conferred a 'County Mistress', as if he wants to give all good things to the Lin family."

  The Empress Dowager An spoke discontentedly: "Your Majesty is really something, granting her the title of 'Diligent and Benevolent Lady' would have been enough, but you even gave that Lin girl a noble title within the imperial clan. She's just a seven-year-old child, what merits does she have? And aren't you afraid she can't handle such great fortune?"

  Duan Taifei said, "Don't be jealous, who let the Lin family become officials? The national treasury is empty, and the Duke of Xuan controls the Ministry of Revenue, proposing to increase land taxes. The Emperor doesn't want to tax farmers too heavily, only wants to increase commercial taxes. But the Wu family is the largest merchant in the world, and they secretly unite with other merchants to oppose this policy. Do you think the small actions taken by the Wu family are unknown to the Emperor? But look at the Wang family of the Wuguo Gongfu, who are also merchants, yet they were the first to respond to the Emperor's policy. If I were the Emperor, I would like the Lin family too."

  Jing'an Chang Gongzhu said, "You say the Wu family is really something. Why must they oppose the Emperor? If he wants to impose taxes, then so be it. Following the Emperor's will is doing things with a clear conscience. Today, it's not the turn of the Zhuang and Lin families to take this credit, their families aren't lacking in silver."

  "It's not that easy, the Wu family is a big and powerful clan, increasing taxes means tens or hundreds of millions of taels of silver. It's easy for them to advise the emperor to increase land taxes and tax others, but when it comes to their own interests, can they be persuaded to give up their wealth to the court? Moreover, this matter will offend other merchants, and the Zhuang family is taking a risk by trying to please the emperor at the expense of offending other merchants. It's uncertain whether it's worth it."

  Jing'an Chang Gongzhu sighed and said: "I should have known better. When the emperor was young, I should have been kinder to him."

  But who would have known, in the end it was this unknown imperial brother who ascended to the throne. She had previously favored the Crown Prince, Qi Wang and Wei Wang, but they all ended up in the underworld. In the past when the Crown Prince and Qi Wang bullied the Emperor, she just coldly watched from the side, making the current Emperor not particularly pleased with this imperial sister either.

  Jing'an Princess complained to Empress Dowager Sheng, "You said you're clever, but I think you're not as good as Empress Dowager Liang. Just look at how venomous her eyes are." She had long since taken the Emperor's side.

  Duan Taifei looked at her daughter, her face cold and angry, saying: "If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not being born as a boy. Otherwise, you could have gone to fight for the throne yourself."

  Jing'an Princess was choked by her and couldn't speak.

  When she was young, she knew that Empress Dowager Sheng was somewhat displeased with her for being a daughter. She had always wanted to give birth to a son, but unfortunately did not succeed.

  Duan Taifei also had a grievance in her heart. She had previously disliked Qi Xianfei because she occupied the emperor's heart. In the harem, there were many women who hated her so much that they wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible. Unfortunately, after losing two children, she was protected by the emperor, and they dared not take action against her due to fear of imperial power.

  But the previous emperor loved Empress Qi deeply, and Empress Qi's family was not powerful. The emperor was neither the eldest son nor the crown prince, so even if the previous emperor had passed the throne to him, it wouldn't have been that easy. Everyone doubted whether the emperor could inherit the throne.

  But as a result, relying on the Lin, Wu and Cui families, the emperor ascended to the throne.

  If she had guessed this ending, she would have treated the emperor like her own son. But now it's too late to say anything.

  The Princess of Jing'an didn't stay in the Cining Palace for too long and returned to her own residence with her daughter.

  On the other hand, the Wu Guo Gong Fu.

  Zhuang heard that the Emperor wanted to make Lin Xiang a county lord, and asked Li with some trepidation: "Mother, don't you think this is too much of an honor?"

  Yesterday she was granted a title for her mother, today another title was granted for her daughter, making her heart flutter with anxiety.

  Zhuang Shi said: "I think it's better to decline the title of County Master after all." His daughter, Lin's family, can still live a good life even without the title of County Master.

  Li said calmly, "Since it was bestowed by the Emperor, what can't we bear? It's not like we forced the Emperor to give it to us."

  "But..."

  "There's nothing to be polite about."

  Zhuang sighed and didn't say anything more about it.

  She said: "Youyu lives in the palace, I am always worried, it's better to let someone bring her back."

  "Besides, her own sister is in the palace, what's there to worry about? Even if she had a few words with Wu's fifth daughter and Ning Yu, it's no big deal. What household with kids doesn't have some squabbles?"

  Mr. Li suddenly remembered and said, "Right, I heard that Ning Yu has followed Jing'an Princess back to the princess's mansion. Let someone send some medicinal materials over there and make a good apology."

  Lin Xiang bit Ning Yu, and she didn't think it was a big deal. This is what girls from the Lin family are like, they should have the demeanor of a girl from a martial arts family, if she can't even fight back when bullied, then she's a disappointment.

  But superficial courtesy still needs to be done thoroughly.

  Zhuang said in a low voice, "Yes."

  "Is your packing all right?" asked Li, changing the subject.

  Zhuang said: "It's all set, it's all set. With Shi's help, everything is almost ready."

  "Also, prepare more small clothes, shoes and hats. It's hard to find good fabric in the northwest. And for the wet nurse, once you've found one, she can go with you. By the time you arrive in the northwest, it won't be long before the baby is born. If these things are prepared ahead of time, then there won't be a last-minute rush."

  Zhuang said: "Yes, thank you for reminding me, Mother."

  Mr. Li still didn't feel at ease and said: "Forget it, I'll let Fu Miao follow you on this trip."

  Zhuang said: "How can this be, Fumu is someone you usually order around, she followed us here, what about mother?"

  "Let her go with you and serve you until the full moon, then let her come back. When she comes back, she can tell me what the child looks like."