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Fortunately, Consort Shu quickly chided Consort Tian with a smile, "Sister, you’ve been in the palace for so many years, yet your nature is still so impatient. Today is Zhenzhen’s big day; how can we let Ah Zheng steal his thunder?"

Consort Tian was indeed naive. Without the secret help of Princess Anle and Consort Shu over the years, I fear her two children would not have even been born.

"Right, today is indeed Zhenzhen’s big day. If Zhenzhen knew that I, as his aunt, was actually concerned about Ah Zheng’s matter, he would surely blame me." Consort Tian smoothly diverted the conversation with a laugh and a hand covering her lips.

Seeing that they no longer discussed the matter, everyone who was there for the gossip dropped their eyelids in disappointment. Lady Meng and Lady Han, though let down, heaved a great sigh of relief.

Princess Anle secretly glared at Consort Tian, who responded with a sheepish smile and a scratch of her head.

Consort Shu held Lin Yuan’s hand, lavishing praise on Lady Liu for having such a good daughter.

As she spoke, Consort Shu’s eyes suddenly brightened, and she said with a smile, "I’ve taken such a liking to Yuanyuan from the moment I saw her.

I even mentioned to the Emperor the other day that I wanted to take her as my adopted daughter!

Guess what, the Emperor said he also very much likes Yuanyuan’s cleverness, and since Yuanyuan is already the Imperial Son’s adopted sister, it seems I cannot escape being her adopted mother. "

Lin Yuan blinked, unsure if Consort Shu was joking.

The hearts of Lady Meng and Lady Han had just calmed down, but now they were raised again.

Adopted daughter? Becoming the Imperial Concubine’s adopted daughter was not something that could be taken lightly.

If Consort Shu were willing, she could easily bestow a rank upon Lin Yuan.

At the very least, she would become a County Master.

Even if she were to become a County Master, it would still be far more prestigious than the status of their daughters.

Lady Liu was clearly stunned by Consort Shu’s words and had not yet reacted.

However, Princess Anle raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Imperial Brother of course likes Yuanyuan; our Yuanyuan is very clever indeed. After all, it was she who came up with the idea for movable type printing in the Capital city. But if Consort Shu wants to adopt our Yuanyuan, she’ll have to offer something good, or I won’t agree. "

Princess Anle pursed her lips and smiled. When she looked at Lin Yuan again, she had the look of a mother-in-law gazing at her future daughter-in-law.

Consort Shu was momentarily taken aback by her words, then glared back at her and huffed, "Humph, no wonder Ah Zheng has such a black heart; he learned it all from you. Don’t worry, the gift I’ll offer as a token of our meeting will surely satisfy you."

Whatever gift that could satisfy Princess Anle must be something extraordinary. For a rare moment, Lady Meng and Lady Han were united, wishing they could just pull that vile Lin Yuan away from Consort Shu’s side. However, neither had the courage to do so.

The topic of the adoption was soon overtaken by other matters. Consort Tian looked anxiously outside, becoming restless.

Lin Yuan looked at her, puzzled, when she heard Princess Anle tenderly scold her, "Stop looking; Xiao Liuliu is almost ten years old. It’s time you let him go out and make his own way."

Consort Shu also heartily agreed, saying, "Indeed, if you ask me, Xiao Liuliu is even more reliable than you, his mother. Just relax, you’re worrying needlessly.

This is the General Mansion, and the guests today are either court officials or prominent figures from the Capital city.

Surely no one is foolish enough to lay a hand on him? "

Consort Tian certainly understood this logic, but her heart could not be at ease, since there had been many complications during Xiao Liuliu’s birth. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been raising him like a bird in a cage.

Consort Shu and Princess Anle were certain no one would dare confront Zhao Hongyan, yet someone did dare to make a move.

In the back kitchen of the General Mansion, the Kitchen Ladies were busily working away, each bustling and robust in figure.

"Hey, one of my just-out-the-pot lotus leaf chickens is missing; did anyone see it? I was just about to chop it!" A Kitchen Lady, holding a cleaver high, called out to a group of her colleagues by the large stove.

Another Kitchen Lady was about to ask if a stray cat had taken it, but she was promptly pulled back by the sleeve and given a slow shake of the head by another.

"If one is missing, then one is missing. You must have miscounted! Here, luckily we have one extra cooked up; quickly chop it up and arrange the dish!"

Another plump-faced Kitchen Lady deftly brought over another lotus leaf chicken to the Chopper Kitchen Lady, and after setting it down, whispered a few words into her ear.