Long Jingchen tossed the memorial in his hand onto the table after reading it for a while. He raised an eyebrow at Yang Qi, who seemed hesitant to speak, and said, "Speak."

Yang Qi knew that Long Jingchen was asking him a question, so he quickly knelt down in front of him and carefully said, "Just now, a little palace maid from the Empress's side came and accidentally knocked over the pastries that the Empress gave you. This servant told her that His Majesty had received them."

Long Jingchen raised an eyebrow but remained silent, meaning he needed an explanation.

Yang Qi hurriedly said, "This servant felt sorry for Xiao Xian. It is not in line with His Majesty's benevolent rule to start a fight over a plate of pastries. Moreover, if that little palace maid were to serve His Majesty, wouldn't that be a good thing for him?"

Yang Qi showered Long Jingchen with compliments, which made Long Jingchen relax his furrowed brows.

He could tell from Long Jingchen's relaxed expression that he had agreed to the matter. He had been with Long Jingchen since childhood, so he knew his emotions better than anyone else. Seeing that Long Jingchen was not angry, he boldly got up, walked to Long Jingchen, and poured him a glass of water.

"Then, will His Majesty proceed to Jingren Palace?"

Long Jingchen stared at him for a long time, then snorted, flicked his sleeves, and got up to leave.

...

Jingren Palace.

"Is that really what His Majesty said?" The Empress looked at her fingers, which were stained crimson.

Xiao Xian lowered her head guiltily, not daring to look her in the eye, but her tone was still firm as she spoke to Yang Qi: "Yes, Your Majesty, that's really what the Emperor said."

The Empress smiled and asked, "Has His Majesty said when he will come to visit me?"

Xiaoxian didn't know how to answer her for a moment. She lowered her head even further, her eyes darting around several times before she slowly said, "The Emperor said he would come to see Your Majesty after he finished his work. He asked Your Majesty to prepare in advance."

"Yes, I understand. You may leave."

After getting the answer she wanted, the Empress waved her hand with satisfaction. It seemed that the Emperor still cared about her. Otherwise, why would he say he wanted to come and see her as soon as she sent over some snacks?

"Lin Mama, please prepare. I need to dress up. Also, have the kitchen prepare a few more of His Majesty's favorite dishes tonight. Oh, and take the ginseng to stew as well."

Her tone was a little nervous and a little happy. Although the emperor did not favor other concubines, he also rarely came to her place. She had not seen the emperor for a long time.

"Yes, this old servant will go right away." Granny Lin was also somewhat pleased.

Xiao Xian breathed a silent sigh of relief after leaving the main hall.

"Sister Xiaoxian, what are you doing?" another palace maid who was on good terms with Xiaoxian called out to him softly.

"Ah!" Xiaoxian exclaimed in surprise, "Shiyi, you scared me to death!"

Shi Yi frowned and looked at Xiao Xian suspiciously: "You haven't done anything wrong, have you?"

Xiaoxian chuckled and pulled her outside, saying, "What could I possibly be doing wrong? Stop speculating and let's get to work."

Shi Yi smiled and followed Xiao Xian toward the back hall.

Both of them were lowly palace maids in the Empress's residence, and they usually did not serve in the front hall. But today, for some reason, Lin, the nanny by the Empress's side, actually went to call Xiao Xian to deliver pastries to the Emperor.

After delivering the goods, I'll naturally have to go back to work.

Long Jingchen walked unhurriedly towards the Empress's palace. Along the way, the maids who saw him heading in that direction all nervously went to report to their master.

"The Emperor has arrived!" Yang Qi announced from the Empress's door.

Immediately, a young palace maid came out to greet them.

The Empress had already washed and changed into new clothes. Standing at the door, watching Long Jingchen walk towards her step by step, she felt as if she had returned to the time when she first went to the Crown Prince's residence.

The Empress's eyes reddened slightly as she gazed at Long Jingchen with tender affection.