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The embroidered pattern was a smiling face, slightly different from the little face on last year’s sachet, and this smiling face looked noticeably pleasant.

Suddenly, Xiao Jinyan remembered that last year, Shen Chuwei’s wish had been signed off with such a smiling face.

After a year had passed, Shen Chuwei’s needlework skills still had not improved much, with rough and sparse stitches, and occasional skipped stitches.

One look and you could tell she was a beginner.

Shen Chuwei leaned in and reminded, "Jinyan, take out the old sachet and compare."

Only by highlighting the goodness of the new sachet could the uselessness of the old one be shown, and then be discarded!

Xiao Jinyan lifted his head to her, "How did you know I carried the sachet with me?"

Shen Chuwei’s attractive large eyes blinked guiltily, "...I guessed."

Xiao Jinyan did not confirm or deny it.

He took out the sachet from last year and placed it in front of the new one. Although the old sachet had been used for a year, it still looked as if it were new.

In comparison, the smiling face on the new sachet not only looked agreeable but also carried a hint of mischief.

Shen Chuwei looked up at Xiao Jinyan, "Jinyan, isn’t this sachet much prettier than last year’s?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded, "Hmm."

Shen Chuwei chuckled silently in her heart, her sense of pride evident in her expression.

But the next second, she saw Xiao Jinyan stacking the two sachets together and placing them beside the pillow.

It was completely different from what she had imagined.

Shen Chuwei kindly reminded him, "Jinyan, don’t throw away the old sachet."

Xiao Jinyan asked in return, "Why throw it away?"

Shen Chuwei said, "Because there’s a new sachet, what’s the use for the old one?"

Xiao Jinyan uttered two words, "Keep it."

Shen Chuwei: "..." Then what was the point of her embroidering the new one?

It’s not a talisman, carrying it around doesn’t save lives either!

Shen Chuwei went to sleep with frustration.

When Xiao Jinyan left in the morning, he took both sachets with him.

A white jade pendant carved into a Qi sewn onto his belt by a black silk ribbon, round and translucent; the new sachet and the jade pendant Qi are tied together.

The other sachet was tucked into his sleeve pocket.

Shen Chuwei had just finished her breakfast when the Empress arrived.

The Empress, in charge of the entire palace, seldom set foot in the East Palace due to her daily trivial duties; her visit today was certainly for a matter of importance.

Chun Xi hurriedly came in to remind Shen Chuwei to receive her.

When the Empress entered, she saw Shen Chuwei half-kneeling. After motioning for her to stand up, the Empress walked to the couch and sat down.

Her gaze was quickly drawn to the lotus flowers on the low table.

Turning her head, the Empress realized that these were the twin lotuses Princess Xueyan had mentioned yesterday.

She hadn’t expected them to be bicolored twin lotuses, a rare spectacle that comes once in a thousand years, and Shen Chuwei had plucked them...

Shen Chuwei stood up and waited by the side.

After the Empress had finished examining them, she withdrew her gaze and looked towards Shen Chuwei, "Did you pick this twin lotus?"

Shen Chuwei replied softly, "Responding to Her Majesty the Empress, it was indeed picked by me."

Upon hearing this, the Empress’s voice deepened, "You are quite bold, to have plucked the bicolor twin lotus."

Shen Chuwei bowed her head, "I was greedy for a moment and didn’t think too much."

The Empress, her fingertips painted with red rouge, caressed the purple petals of the twin lotus, "Indeed, you were greedy, to want the Crown Prince’s twin lotus for yourself."

Shen Chuwei remained silent.

"This palace understands that the Crown Prince likes you and favors you, but he is the Crown Prince, the future heir to the throne, and the most important thing for him is not personal affections, but the state and the people.

Do you understand?" The Empress’s gaze moved from the twin lotus to Shen Chuwei.

Shen Chuwei said, "Concubine is but a simple woman, far inferior to the Empress, not understanding so much of the profound principles."

Hearing this, the Empress did not get angry but instead laughed, "One cannot fathom the meaning of this sentence until they are in my position. You really are someone who dares to speak the truth."

Shen Chuwei curtseyed, "The Empress overpraises."

The Empress was momentarily startled, then burst out laughing. This child...

Shen Chuwei raised her eyes to look at the Empress but did not dare to ask.

Chun Xi entered, offering tea with both hands.

The Empress took the teacup, sipped the tea, and said leisurely, "You must have heard that Princess Xueyan has come to Daxia for a marriage alliance.

Xueyan is the legitimate princess of Xueyue Country, bringing a generous dowry to Daxia.

Although Daxia won against Xueyue this time, in reality, it did not gain much advantage, and even suffered heavy losses. "

"A few days ago, I also inquired about Princess Xueyan’s intentions. She took a liking to the Crown Prince, and both the Emperor and I are happy to see it happen. We have already asked Master Lu to observe the night sky and choose an auspicious time."

Having said this, the Empress looked up at Shen Chuwei, "I came here today to tell you that even if Princess Xueyan does not enter the East Palace, there will be other women in the future."

These past days, the Empress had chatted with Princess Xueyan quite a bit.

It was Princess Xueyan who accidentally revealed that the lotus for pair bonding had been plucked by Shen Chuwei.

After drinking a cup of tea, the Empress went back.

Before leaving, she patted Shen Chuwei’s shoulder, "In a few years, you’ll get used to it."

Passing by the Imperial Garden, she saw the Emperor strolling with Concubine Ning.

Concubine Ning’s belly was already seven or eight months along, and the Imperial Doctor had declared it to be a young Prince, pleasing the Emperor greatly.

Qing Ying reminded, "The selection of new beauties has been completed, and the Green Top Cards are already prepared."

There were a total of four newly selected beauties, each as beautiful as a flower, around fifteen or sixteen years old.

The Empress couldn’t help but curse inwardly, "Dog Emperor, an old bull feeding on tender grass!"

That very night, Eunuch Hai from the office of respect brought the Green Top Cards, inviting the Emperor to flip them.

The Emperor had just looked at a pile of memorials still needed reviewing, then at the pile of Green Top Cards, waved his hand grandly, "Tonight, to the Empress’s palace."

"Yes." Eunuch Hai carefully carried the Green Top Cards away.

After finishing the memorials at hand, the Emperor stretched lazily and went to Fengyi Palace.

The Empress, having bathed, intended to go to sleep early, only to receive word that the Emperor was coming to stay the night at Fengyi Palace.

What on earth does this dog Emperor mean?

The Empress did not plan to wait for the Emperor, flipped the covers, and climbed into bed.

Thinking the Emperor would be reviewing memorials until late into the night, she had just laid down and not yet fallen asleep when the dog Emperor arrived.

So the Empress simply pretended to be asleep.

Seeing that the Empress had lain down, the Emperor had his attendants serve him as he undressed.

Once everyone had left, the Emperor sat by the bed, examined the Empress in the candlelight, his long fingers gently touching that exquisitely beautiful face, his gaze landing on the fine lines at the corner of her eyes.

He couldn’t help but sigh, "Time passes so quickly, you even have crow’s feet now."

The Empress heard, and couldn’t help but curse inside, Dog Emperor, if you don’t speak, no one would mistake you for a mute!

Do you think you’re still young?

Really, bringing up exactly what shouldn’t be mentioned!

The Emperor added, "Far from when you were fifteen."

The Empress struggled against the urge to leap up and hit someone.

Aren’t those selected beauties just fifteen?

Get out, old mother’s Emperor!!!

If the Empress were fifteen or sixteen herself, she would have turned over and beaten him long ago.