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Xiao Jinyan’s eyes turned cold, "Who is so bold as to curse Lady Shen and the crown prince’s daughter?"

Xu Chenghui tossed her handkerchief towards Concubine Xu and Snow Concubine, "Your Highness, just look, it was these two, I just heard them say it."

Snow Concubine turned her head towards Xu Chenghui and said softly, "Concubine Xu, you must have heard wrong. How could I ever curse Lady Shen? Aren’t we sisters, all hoping for each other’s well-being?"

Xu Chenghui, seeing Concubine Snow dismiss it so cleanly, followed suit.

"Your Highness, I did not curse Lady Shen, and I dare not. I was merely curious why Lady Shen has been away from the palace for so long."

She had heard it from others, after all, and with Lady Shen gone for so long, and the children out of sight, anyone would assume that the children are lost, and Lady Shen has gone mad. That’s not her fault.

Xu Chenghui was beyond furious, "Each and every one of you, you were cursing just a moment ago, and now you deny it? How shameless."

Snow Concubine glanced at Xu Chenghui, not taking her seriously at all, and turned to Xiao Jinyan with a look of grievance, "Your Highness, I do not have such thoughts."

But she did hope that the child was gone, and Lady Shen had gone mad.

Xiao Jinyan glanced at Snow Concubine and Xu Chenghui. Even if Xu Chenghui hadn’t mentioned it, he could tell from their inner thoughts just how malicious their tongues were.

"So, what you’re saying is that Concubine Xu has wronged you?"

Before Snow Concubine and Xu Chenghui could defend themselves, Xiao Jinyan said coldly, "Daring to curse the crown heir, I punish you to recite scriptures in the Buddha Hall for an hour and copy the Diamond Sutra."

After speaking, he took Shen Chuwei’s hand and left directly.

Xu Chenghui felt immense satisfaction, waving her handkerchief merrily as she followed to Hehuan Hall. She hadn’t seen Taotao and Susu in a long time, and missed the siblings dearly.

Only the irate Snow Concubine and Xu Chenghui were left behind.

Back in Hehuan Hall, there were not many changes.

As soon as Xu Chenghui entered, she went to hold Taotao and Susu.

"Susu, two months without seeing you, and you’ve become even prettier, with more cheeks to pinch," Xu Chenghui held Susu, chatting and playing with her.

Susu was very cooperative and energetic, grinning and occasionally letting out "giggles," making Xu Chenghui overjoyed.

At that moment, Shen Chuwei began to feel sleepy, lying on the couch, intending to rest.

Xiao Jinyan sat on the couch, watching her lazy demeanor, noting how his daughter didn’t quite resemble Xiao Jiu in this aspect.

Xiao Jinyan hadn’t been sitting long when he was called to the Imperial Study Room by Eunuch Li.

After the Empress was found, the Emperor felt a weight lifted from his heart. Although he was displeased with Ye Chu, at least he could not entangle with the Empress in the future, which gave him some comfort.

Xiao Jinyan stepped into the Imperial Study Room and saluted, "Father, you summoned me, do you have instructions?"

The Emperor set down his teacup, raising his eyes to the Crown Prince. Knowing the situation now, he wished he had made Shen a Crown Princess at the Full Moon Banquet, then the Empress wouldn’t have left the palace.

He wouldn’t have spent two months without seeing the Empress or Taotao and Susu.

"I plan to make Shen Chuwei the Crown Princess. To make her status more fitting, I will bestow upon her the title of Princess Jiahe."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan was overjoyed, finally able to marry Xiao Jiu with full honors.

He quickly knelt down to express his gratitude.

"Thank you, Father, for your grace."

The Emperor, seeing how happy the Crown Prince was, suddenly remembered how thrilled he himself had been when he was about to marry the Crown Princess back when he was the Crown Prince.

"Go back and prepare well. Have Lu Aiqing pick out an auspicious date for the Crown Princess’s Grand Ceremony."

"Your son obeys the decree." Xiao Jinyan happily returned to Hehuan Hall.

Not long after returning to Hehuan Hall, the Imperial Edict arrived.

A throng followed Shen Chuwei to receive the Imperial Edict.

Eunuch Li was still the one to announce the Imperial Edict.

When Shen Chuwei heard the proclamation of her as a Princess, she was stunned for quite some time.

It wasn’t until she heard Eunuch Li continue with, "And appointing her Crown Princess, with a date to be set for the proclamation ceremony," that she felt somewhat dazed.

Eunuch Li, with a chuckle, reminded her, "Lady Shen, are you so happy you’ve lost your wits? Quickly accept the decree and give thanks."

At his words, Shen Chuwei hurriedly gave verbal thanks, "I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness."

Receiving the decree, Shen Chuwei felt as if she were dreaming, having gone from a mere concubine to becoming the Crown Princess.

Holding the proclamation ceremony for the Crown Princess would legitimize her position.

As the saying goes, one man’s rise to heaven elevates all his relations.

The servants of Hehuan Hall and those from Xiyun Pavilion and Xiaoxiang Pavilion all rose with her.

"Congratulations to our lady, best wishes to our young mistress."

Shen Chuwei was pulled back to reality by a series of congratulatory voices; she was indeed going to become the Crown Princess.

No one was more thrilled than Chun Xi, who had loyally followed Shen Chuwei since the times she was out of favor.

Witnessing Shen Chuwei’s rise from being out of favor to gradually becoming favored, with all its twists and turns, was quite the story for Chun Xi to recount for a lifetime.

"Miss, we’ve finally reached the pinnacle as the Crown Princess. See, my foresight was good, wasn’t it?"

Shen Chuwei responded, "My foresight is good too, I chose you to be my personal maid. Tonight, let’s celebrate with a full braised feast."

Chun Xi: "... The last sentence is the key point, right?"

Xiao Jinyan couldn’t wait to summon Lu Zhaoyan to calculate an auspicious date.

"Calculate the soonest possible date."

Lu Zhaoyan replied, "Your Highness, I will need until tomorrow to provide you with an answer."

Xiao Jinyan, uncharacteristically patient, explained, "I mean, the sooner we can hold the Crown Princess’s proclamation ceremony the better."

He feared that if they waited too long, someone might deliberately cause trouble and complications.

"I understand," nodded Lu Zhaoyan, who then added, "I had initially discerned that Lady Shen was destined to be a phoenix among birds. Now it seems that I was not mistaken."

At this, Xiao Jinyan, slightly displeased, asked, "You foresaw that Shen Chuwei would become the Crown Princess? Then why did you not tell me in the first place?"

ps: One more Chapter.