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The Empress Dowager spoke with deep affection and concern, "It was I who mentioned to the Emperor that Wanxin is now without any relatives by her side, and I consider her as a granddaughter to me, naturally, I have to plan for her."

Upon hearing this, Lady Liang felt even more unbalanced. Her aunt was good to Shen Chuwei, and the Empress Dowager was good to Wanxin – why did no one care about her?

Was the kindness she received before all fake?

The Empress Dowager noticed something amiss about Lady Liang and asked worriedly, "Lanlan girl, what’s wrong?"

Lady Liang suppressed her extreme imbalance, smiled at the Empress Dowager, and said, "Grand Empress, Lanlan is fine, I’m just worried that no one will be properly taking care of Your Highness during the autumn hunting expedition, Lanlan even wants to go in person to serve Your Highness."

The Empress Dowager smiled, "You, always thinking of the Crown Prince. Rest assured, this isn’t the Crown Prince’s first time going far from home, he will have professionals to attend to him."

Lady Liang couldn’t help but inwardly roll her eyes. She had hinted so clearly and it’s not like she was confused – yet she could not understand the meaning of her words.

In the end, Lady Liang left the Cining Palace huffily.

The day before the autumn hunting expedition, Xiao Jinyan brought Shen Chuwei and their son and daughter back to the East Palace.

Even though they were all in the palace, Xiao Jinyan felt as if Xiaojiu had returned to her family’s home, as the saying goes, "A single day apart seems like three seasons long," and it couldn’t be more true.

When Xiao Jinyan took Shen Chuwei and the babies with him, the Empress felt a hollow sensation in her heart, as if she was under the illusion that her daughter was being taken away by her son-in-law.

However, it was fortunate that they would be going to the autumn hunting expedition the next day.

The babies were carried by wet nurses, so Shen Chuwei didn’t have to worry. She looked at Xiao Jinyan with an expectant face, "Your Highness, have you prepared a riding outfit for your concubine?"

Having not seen her for two days, Xiao Jinyan noticed that her face had become a bit rounder – she probably hadn’t refrained from eating and drinking with the Empress Mother in recent days.

"It’s been prepared, you can try it out later"

Shen Chuwei, hearing his words, smiled with joy in her eyes, "Your concubine knew Your Highness would be so thoughtful and surely remember to prepare a riding outfit for your concubine."

"Dada... Dada... hold..."

Xiao Jinyan, hearing the call from behind, turned back and saw Susu reaching out her hands for a hug, her adorable eyes watery and seemingly capable of speech, with her round and tender little face that made one want to pinch it.

This gesture of asking for a hug, no matter how many times seen, always melted his heart into cotton candy.

"Susu’s mouth is completely like yours," he said as he strode over to pick up Susu.

Shen Chuwei turned around to look at the father and daughter, her gaze falling on her daughter, thinking what’s so bad about me? Look how adorable Susu is!

The whole entourage made their grand return to the East Palace.

After arriving back at Hehuan Hall, Shen Chuwei immediately noticed a red and black riding outfit laid out on the table, and she couldn’t wait to try it on.

Xiao Jinyan held Susu and followed her in, watching Shen Chuwei go behind the screen to change. He sat down on the couch with his daughter.

Susu played with the white jade accessory on Xiao Jinyan’s lapel, "Dada, dada..."

Xiao Jinyan chuckled lightly, "Isn’t your father right here?"

Shen Chuwei came out from behind the screen after changing into her riding outfit and deliberately turned around in front of Xiao Jinyan.

"Your Highness, how do I look?"

The riding outfit was quite fitted and convenient, fully displaying Xiaojiu’s figure.

The current Xiaojiu, compared with how she looked two years ago, dressed as a boy, was utterly different – her figure was curvy and more feminine.

Xiaojiu had fairer than snow skin, and no matter what color she wore, she always looked stunning.

He lavishly praised, "You look very beautiful."

Susu, seeing Shen Chuwei, clapped her hands and called out, "Momma, momma..."

Xiao Jinyan looked down at his daughter, seeing her wave her hands and feet joyfully, he chuckled softly, "Even Susu says you look pretty."

Shen Chuwei, overjoyed upon hearing this, looked at Susu in Xiao Jinyan’s arms and suddenly remembered an important issue.

"Your Highness, what about the babies during our trip to the autumn hunting expedition?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "The babies are too young to travel far; they’ll stay in the palace under the care of the wet nurses. Don’t worry, I will assign more people to ensure the babies are fine."

"That is the only way, then." Shen Chuwei looked at Susu, took her little hand, and said, "Tomorrow, your father and mother will be away, you mustn’t keep gnawing on your brother’s face, and you shouldn’t disturb your brother’s sleep, understand?"

Susu looked at Shen Chuwei with a puzzled expression, pouting her mouth, "Momma, momma..."

Shen Chuwei added, "Your father and mother will be back very soon."

The next day, Shen Chuwei bid farewell to the babies and then followed Xiao Jinyan onto the horse carriage.

Concubine Xu and Lady Tao also boarded a carriage, but a different one.

The Empress only realized she had been tricked by the dog of an Emperor after getting on the horse carriage.

She had thought she would be sharing a carriage with the Crown Princess, but instead, she was with the dog of an Emperor.

Dissatisfied, she looked towards the Emperor inside the carriage, who at that moment, was leisurely sipping tea.

"Concubine wishes to share a carriage with the Crown Princess."

The Emperor spoke with deep meaning, "Empress, when a couple has been apart for a few days, and now that the opportunity arises when the babies are not around, don’t you think they should spend more time together?"

What the Emperor actually meant was, have we not been alone together in some time? Shouldn’t we take advantage of this occasion to spend some quality time together?

Upon hearing this, the Empress was stunned. Thinking of the eagerness of the Crown Prince when he came to pick up the Crown Princess the day before, along with the Crown Princess’s joyful demeanor, it did seem appropriate to give the young couple some space alone.

No matter, once they reached the hunting ground, she could share a tent with the Crown Princess just the same.

The Emperor passed a freshly brewed cup of tea to the Empress, "Empress, have some tea."

The Empress cast a cursory glance at the teacup in front of her and hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take it. She was actually thirsty and took a few sips to moisten her throat.

The Emperor, as though performing magic, took out a jar of candied fruit from the horse carriage and placed it in front of the Empress, then opened it one by one.

"These are candied fruits prepared by the Imperial Chef to prevent you from feeling nauseated."

The Empress looked at the several jars of candied fruit in front of her, all of which were her past favorites. She lifted her eyes to the Emperor, not expecting him to have such considerate moments.

"Your Majesty is thoughtful."

The Emperor could feel that the Empress was in a good mood at the moment, and he attempted to shift closer to her side.

"As I should, give them a try."

The Empress took a piece of the candied fruit and placed it in her mouth, eating slowly due to its sourness.

The Emperor looked down at her, feeling as if he had returned to the time before they were married.

Concubine Xu and Lady Tao were going on their first autumn hunt and were so excited they leaned against the carriage window from the moment they set off, watching as the carriage exited the palace gate and reached the bustling streets.

Concubine Xu couldn’t contain her excitement, "We finally left the palace, the air feels so fresh."

"Yes, it’s been so long since we’ve been out of the palace. It’s all thanks to the Crown Princess’s blessing that we got the chance to come out." Lady Tao stuck her head out, looking around, as several shops on the street belonged to her family.

Upon seeing the sign that read "Tao Family Grain Shop," Lady Tao waved her hands in excitement, "I see my family’s grain shop."

In contrast, Concubine Xu’s excitement was tinged with a hint of loss, "I won’t be able to see my family’s front door."

Lady Tao turned her head and consoled her, "You will once you leave the palace."

"That’s true." Concubine Xu’s mood immediately lifted, and as she looked at the various snacks on the street stalls, she suddenly felt peckish.

Another person was feeling peckish, and that was Shen Chuwei. She leaned against the window, salivating over the street food.

She turned to Xiao Jinyan, moving closer and looking at him with a pitiful expression,

"Your Highness, have you forgotten something very important?"

Xiao Jinyan pretended to be clueless, "Have I? What is it?"

Shen Chuwei hinted, "Your Highness, you once said that as long as Concubine desires, Your Highness will satisfy."

"Is that so?" Xiao Jinyan’s arm encircled her slender waist, pulling her into his arms and whispering close to her ear, "Does Xiaojiu want something now?"

Shen Chuwei felt her ears tickle and her whole body softening somewhat, focusing on the thought of delicious food, she tried to remain coherent.

"No, that’s not what Concubine means."

From the side, Xuetuan couldn’t bear to watch and buried her head in her arms, out of sight, out of mind.

Xiao Jinyan chuckled lowly, "Then what do you mean?"

Shen Chuwei replied with slight dissatisfaction, "We’ve been married for so long, how can Your Highness have no tacit understanding?"

ps: "One more update"