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As I opened my eyes, I saw a plump little face seriously using her non-lethal little hands to pinch my nose, and it seemed she found my mouth very interesting as well.

And Susu, with her soft little body, was lying on my arm.

No wonder my hand was numb...

Shen Chuwei gave her daughter’s chubby face a "smack" with a kiss, "Good morning, Susu!"

Having been kissed, Susu grinned with absolute joy.

Long awakened by his sister’s thrashing, Taotao kicked his little legs and also turned over, attempting to draw his mother’s attention to himself.

Seeing that her son was also in bed, Shen Chuwei didn’t need to guess; it must have been Xiao Jinyan who had put the siblings on the bed.

She turned over and gave her son’s face a similar "smack" with a kiss, "Good morning, Taotao!"

Taotao happily waved his little hands and grinned, only his smile was more reserved than his sister’s.

Shen Chuwei, thinking about the etiquette training she still had to endure today with the instructing maids, wished she could be fixed to the bed and not get up.

Ever since the Imperial Edict was announced, making Shen Chuwei Princess Jiahe and establishing her as the Crown Princess, it had become the hot topic of discussion in the East Palace.

Even those not from the palace knew that the selected Crown Princess must match the Crown Prince in family background and status.

In their eyes, Shen Chuwei was just a beauty with nothing else to offer.

There were rumors just days ago about Shen Chuwei and the children having an accident, and now, overnight, the Emperor had made her a princess, raising her status to nearly that of a princess—who wouldn’t sigh at that?

Concubine Xueyue was so angry she hadn’t eaten or slept well for two days, and she even had to copy scripture.

She, a princess of Xueyue Country, had her Crown Princess position snatched away by a mere concubine.

The more she thought about it, the more she found it unbearable.

"Princess, your servant thinks that the Emperor of Daxia is dishonest," Shuiyao said indignantly. "He promised to make you Crown Princess after a year, but instead, he made Shen Lady the Crown Princess, clearly not taking Xueyue Country seriously."

Concubine Xueyue gripped the hairpin tightly in her hand, looking at herself in the mirror. She, a princess of a nation, was actually being ignored to this extent.

"Call Yingzi over, this princess wants to write a letter to my father."

"Your servant is on it," Shuiyao quickly left the room and returned with a very inconspicuous little Eunuch following her.

Concubine Xueyue handed the letter she had written beforehand to Yingzi, "Make sure you deliver it into my father’s hands personally."

"Princess, rest assured, your subordinate will definitely hand it to the king," Yingzi said, taking the letter before hurrying off.

"With the Crown Princess Grand Ceremony approaching, what does the princess plan to do next?" Shuiyao was anxious to no end.

Concubine Xueyue waved Shuiyao over.

Shuiyao immediately stepped closer.

After Concubine Xueyue whispered a few words in her ear and instructed, "Make it clean, don’t get caught."

"Your servant understands," Shuiyao said, accepting the order before leaving.

At that moment, within the secluded Pavilion, the sound of a teacup hitting the floor echoed.

"Bang!"

Chang Fengyi didn’t bother about the teacup, her gaze fixed on Huai Xiang, asking in disbelief, "Are you telling the truth? Shen Lady has been made a princess?"

"Truly, Young Mistress, not only was she made a princess, but the Crown Princess Grand Ceremony is also set for the eighth day of next month," Huai Xiang repeated again.

Chang Fengyi was now thoroughly panicked. She had originally intended to wait for the Empress Dowager to return and decide for her, counting on her family’s backing; she still had a chance to turn things around.

However, the Empress Dowager would only be able to rush back to the Capital on the tenth, by which time everything would have been decided, too late for any intervention.

"Young Mistress, if only the Empress Dowager could come back now, she would certainly not let a person like Shen Lady become the Crown Princess. You are the most suitable candidate for Crown Princess," Huai Xiang said, vexed.

"Even my aunt is siding with outsiders; I am her own niece," Chang Fengyi said, coughing twice in anger, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief.

Huai Xiang patted Chang Fengyi on the back, trying to comfort her, "Young Mistress, you must take care of your health. There were times when the Crown Princess was deposed; there’s still a chance for you."

Her words were a wake-up call. Chang Fengyi’s eyes suddenly sparkled with hope, "That’s right, if she makes a mistake, she could be deposed, and the Crown Prince wouldn’t be able to protect her."

Two days until the Crown Princess Grand Ceremony

Shen Chuwei had been learning etiquette for two hours, including the manners of kneeling, which she really wanted to curse at; even the posture for kneeling had to be so particular.

Moreover, even the meals several days before the auspicious day of the ceremony were regulated, forbidding spicy food and overeating, so as not to disrupt the Grand Ceremony’s proceedings.

Indeed, being a Crown Princess wasn’t so easy.

The Empress came with clothes she had personally made to see her precious grandchildren.

Seeing the Empress, Shen Chuwei prepared a warm welcome.

"Empress Mother."

The Empress immediately noticed Shen Lady’s aggrieved appearance, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing much, I just missed you."

The Empress was amused, "I come every few days, what’s there to miss?"

Having said that, she suddenly leaned in, curiously asking, "Has someone been bullying you?"

Shen Chuwei shook her head, "No, not at all."

The Empress thought for a moment and guessed, "The Grand Ceremony is in a couple of days; are you just too nervous?"

Shen Chuwei nodded slightly, "A little bit."

If only she could relieve her nerves with a hot pot meal.

"Nervousness is normal. I was very nervous back then too. Just get through that day and all will be well," the Empress said, her experience speaking volumes.

It really was an endurance test to get through that day～

What could Shen Chuwei say? Of course, she would endure.

"With summer approaching, I made a few outfits for the babies. They’re all one-piece with a special opening at the bottom, very convenient," the Empress said proudly, showing off the tiny clothes to Shen Chuwei.

Shen Chuwei looked at the style of the little clothes and found it similar to the designs she had drawn, but these were for summer.

"Empress Mother is amazing; the babies will definitely love them," Shen Chuwei praised.

The Empress, pleased with the compliment, laughed.

Just as she was about to go see the babies, Qing Ying came in with small, hurried steps, "Empress Mother, Huai Xiang says Chang Fengyi accidentally fell into the lake and is at death’s door."

ps: Second update