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Susu heard the Empress Dowager getting excited beyond measure, "Nana."

Grandma’s pronunciation wasn’t as easy as Grandpa’s, and the one-year-old Susu, with unclear enunciation, was left to her own devices by the Emperor, who then carried her toward Fengyi Palace.

Little White immediately followed on all fours.

Xuetuan, however, turned back to the East Palace.

At this time, in Hehuan Hall

Shen Chuwei and her entourage had turned Hehuan Hall upside down but failed to find any trace of Susu, eventually expanding the search to the entire East Palace.

The guards and palace maids of the East Palace searched one by one, simultaneously alarming the young masters and mistresses in the other halls.

Lady Chang was taking a walk outside when she noticed the palace folks in a flurry of activity, and asked Huai Xiang, "What’s happening outside? What’s with all the commotion?"

Huai Xiang responded, "It’s said that the little Princess has gone missing, everyone is looking for her."

Upon hearing that the little Princess was lost, a smile crept into Lady Chang’s eyes, "Such a wild child at one year old, I wonder why the Emperor and Empress are so fond of her?"

"It is said that the Emperor has always been longing for a Princess, but the consorts’ wombs were not cooperative, and just so, the Crown Princess gave birth to the little Princess, naturally, the Emperor was delighted," Huai Xiang ventured a guess.

Hearing this, Lady Chang felt very dissatisfied in her heart; she had been in the palace for so long without being granted the bedchamber, and neither the Emperor nor Empress had inquired after her.

If she were granted the bedchamber, she would surely be able to bear a son and a daughter.

"The Crown Princess got lucky."

"Young lady, what’s most important for us now is to be granted the bedchamber, only by sleeping with the Emperor can we have a chance for our sons to bring us honor," Huai Xiang reminded her.

"Of course, I know the importance of being granted the bedchamber, but His Highness doesn’t come," Lady Chang said, considering her mother’s suggestion, which was totally useless against Xiao Jinyan, she could only think of another way.

After searching with her people for a while, Shen Chuwei did not find Susu, but she found Taotao in the Study Room.

Taotao stood on a chair, holding a Vermilion Brush, drawing and scribbling very earnestly.

Shen Chuwei watched him and couldn’t help but sigh; truly Xiao Jinyan’s son, being so diligent at just one year old.

When she reached the writing table and saw what Taotao had drawn, she thought to herself it’s over, Taotao had caused trouble.

Never mind the gibberish Taotao drew, what mattered was the paper.

The paper Taotao used for writing was a piece of calligraphy and painting, and it was a gift from someone else that Xiao Jinyan had complimented in front of her, showing he liked it very much.

Seeing Shen Chuwei arrive, Taotao raised the Vermilion Brush in his hand, smiling happily, "Mommy."

Shen Chuwei looked at her beloved son smiling so happily but still had to tell him a fact.

"Darling, you’re in trouble."

Taotao looked at Shen Chuwei with a puzzled stare, completely not understanding the meaning of her words.

Shen Chuwei took her son down from the chair, took the Vermilion Brush out of his hand, put it back in its place, and looked at the calligraphy again. Even with all the talents at her disposal, she couldn’t restore the painting to its original state.

As she rolled up the painting, she complained, "Such a grown person, after looking at the painting, didn’t put it away, hanging it on the wall so it wouldn’t be messed up by his son."

Taotao learned quickly, picking up a word from the sentence, "Mommy messed up."

Shen Chuwei laughed, amused, "Don’t worry, Mommy will protect you."

She also didn’t know how to calm Xiao Jinyan down—

After tidying up, Shen Chuwei took her son to wash his hands.

It was then that Chun Xi came running over, "Master, Xuetuan is back, but she didn’t see Susu or Little White."

Shen Chuwei knew that Xuetuan and Little White hardly ever left Susu’s side, not even for twelve hours straight. If they suddenly disappeared, it was always together.

Now that Xuetuan was back, it meant that Susu had found who she was looking for, and that could put her mind at ease.

Last time, Susu went on her own to find Xiao Jinyan.

Who knows who Susu went to find today.

Shen Chuwei, holding her son, returned to Hehuan Hall. No sooner had they entered than Xiao Jinyan returned from outside the palace, and upon seeing her with her son, he said, "Taotao is already one year old, don’t always carry him."

Although Shen Chuwei didn’t like holding her son, who was already a year old and had a considerable weight, carrying him all the way back was quite tiring.

But regarding Xiao Jinyan’s words, she expressed skepticism.

"He’s only one year old, how can he not be held?"

Xiao Jinyan felt that constantly holding a boy would make him appear delicate and overly dependent on Shen Chuwei, wondering when he could stand on his own.

Of course, he couldn’t say that to Shen Chuwei.

"Taotao is one year old now, over twenty pounds, aren’t you tired of always holding him?"

Shen Chuwei felt a warmth in her heart, her husband was still considerate of her after all.

"Your Highness speaks sense," she agreed.

Xiao Jinyan took Taotao from her arms, turned around, and placed him on the ground.

Taotao looked up at Xiao Jinyan with a puzzled face.

Xiao Jinyan glanced around the room and didn’t see Susu, "Where’s Susu? The first birthday celebration is about to start."

Shen Chuwei shrugged, "Susu ran out on her own. I don’t know if she went to find the Emperor or the Empress, or maybe she went to find her little imperial uncle."

Xiao Jinyan had witnessed Susu’s ability to find people; she could find him in the Conference Hall, bringing along little Bai and Xuetuan too.

"Who does Susu take after, with her love for running around?"

Shen Chuwei responded, "As a concubine, I definitely don’t like running around; isn’t it nice to just lie down after eating and drinking my fill?"

Xiao Jinyan looked at Shen Chuwei, "In this regard, she doesn’t seem to take after you either."

Just then, Qingying entered and bowed to them, "Your Highness, Crown Princess."

Shen Chuwei asked, "Is there a reason Mammy Qingying is here?"

Qingying spoke gently, "The Empress sent this servant to fetch Susu’s new clothes."

Shen Chuwei was somewhat surprised, "So Susu went to find the Empress."

Qingying shook her head with a smile, "Susu went to Jinluan Hall to find the Emperor, and the Emperor was holding Susu when he went to the Empress."

Xiao Jinyan: "..."

Shen Chuwei: "..."

Considering the distance from the East Palace to Jinluan Hall, the fact that Susu walked all that way by herself to find her imperial grandfather also showed how much the Emperor doted on her, to let her take the initiative to seek him out.

After all, the Emperor had taken Susu several times to Jinluan Hall for court sessions–

Shen Chuwei instructed Chun Xi to bring Susu’s new clothes for Mammy Qingying.

After Qingying left, Shen Chuwei and Xiao Jinyan got dressed up, taking Taotao with them to join the first birthday celebration.

When they arrived, everything for the grabbing ceremony was already prepared.

The Emperor arrived early, holding Susu along with the Empress.

Seeing Shen Chuwei, the Empress waved happily, "Crown Princess, come quickly, bring Taotao over so he and Susu can grab items together."

Shen Chuwei stepped forward and bowed, "Empress."

Xiao Jinyan stepped up next to the Emperor, and together they placed the two babies on the table.

Shen Chuwei took a box of Strawberry Cake from Chun Xi and placed it in the middle of various items.

Xiao Jinyan, looking at the box of Strawberry Cake, asked Shen Chuwei, "Why put a Strawberry Cake?"

Shen Chuwei explained, "It signifies never worrying about food or clothes."

Xiao Jinyan: "..." As a future Princess, would she ever worry about having nothing to eat or wear?

The Empress watched the two little treasures with a relaxed gaze, "We can begin now."

The Emperor, however, said, "Wait, I also have something I’d like to add."