After returning to the palace, life seemed to have truly returned to normal.

After a long, cold winter, the city of Yong'an has finally welcomed the warmth and joy of spring.

People's faces gradually broke into smiles.

Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, in late spring, is the Shangsi Festival in the Northern Liang Dynasty. It is a beautiful day when all flowers are in full bloom.

With the national mourning period over, the Empress Dowager instructed the Imperial Household Department to meticulously prepare for this year's Shangsi Festival.

However, Zhou Tingyue had only recently ascended the throne, and his position was unstable. The Empress Dowager was also afraid that making a big show of it would give rise to gossip, so after thinking it over, she changed her mind and instructed her subordinates: "Make preparations carefully, but do not be extravagant."

This puts the people below in a difficult position.

Xiao Anzi returned to the palace three days before the Shangsi Festival.

That day, Tingyu Tower was filled with a lively atmosphere, because not only had Xiao Anzi returned, but his broken leg had actually been healed by Wen Yan.

Su Tiyue had heard of and witnessed Wen Yan's medical skills, but she was still quite shocked to see Xiao Anzi return unharmed.

That night, the four people from Tingyulou gathered together.

Su Tiyue did not go to Yelan Pavilion to accompany Xiao Heye.

Liu Wan and Qing Wu prepared a large table of fine wine and dishes to welcome Xiao Anzi back.

Having not seen Su Tiyue for quite some time, before dinner, Xiao Anzi straightened his clothes, then knelt down and earnestly kowtowed three times to Su Tiyue.

It is a gesture of respect, and also an expression of gratitude.

Xiao Anzi touched the ground with his forehead, his voice much more composed than before the incident: "This servant greets Your Majesty."

Su Tiyue was stunned, not expecting him to perform such a grand gesture: "Xiao Anzi... what are you doing? Get up quickly. You are a member of Tingyu Tower, you should know the rules here... none of you need to kneel before me."

Su Tiyue winked at Qingwu, who quickly bent down and pulled Xiao Anzi, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet.

After Xiao Anzi was settled, Qingwu poured some rice wine into everyone's cup.

Rice wine is slightly sweet, but drinking too much can still make you drunk.

Xiao Anzi picked up his wine cup and said to Su Tiyue, "I offended Consort Wan by accident in the past, and it was Your Highness who saved me... If it weren't for Your Highness sending me out of the palace this time and finding me a good doctor, I'm afraid I would have lost this leg."

As he spoke, his voice choked with emotion: "This cup of wine is offered by Xiao Anzi to Your Majesty, to thank you for saving me time and time again."

After speaking, Xiao Anzi tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

"Xiao Anzi, if you put it that way, I should thank you... If you hadn't pushed me away in time that day in the Great Buddha Hall, I'm afraid I would have been the one who got hurt."

"Your leg was injured because of me, and I will always remember that."

Su Tiyue raised her glass, her eyes curving like little crescent moons: "This glass is a toast to the brave and loyal Xiao Anzi..."

Su Tiyue had just finished her drink when Qingwu refilled it, saying playfully, "It's no fun drinking with just the two of you... It's more lively when everyone drinks together."

Qingwu stood up from the chair, cleared her throat, and said in a clear and loud voice: "May our Empress become more and more beautiful, loved and pampered... and forever carefree."

Then, Qingwu turned to look at Liuwan and Xiao Anzi beside her and asked them, "We've been a family for a long time, haven't we?"

Liu Wan and Xiao Anzi nodded in unison, indicating their agreement.

Qingwu narrowed her eyes and said loudly, "Then I wish us to love each other, take care of each other, and never be separated!"

"Never to be apart!"

"Never to be apart!"

"..."

Several people at the table raised their glasses and shouted in unison. The scene was both lively and heartwarming.

In the hearts of these servants, the former Jinxiu Palace was home, and the current Tingyu Tower is also home.

In short, wherever Su Tiyue is, that's their home.

In Beiliang, people were divided into different classes. Masters were masters, and servants were servants.

Most lackeys live the same lives, constantly oppressed and never able to hold their heads high and live with dignity.

...

How fortunate the three of them were to have met such an understanding master as Su Tiyue.

Su Tiyue was so fortunate to have met these loyal protectors.

In a life-or-death situation, Qingwu was willing to fight to the death for her, and Xiao Anzi lost a leg for her...

As darkness fell, night descended.

Su Tiyue's cheeks were flushed from drinking, and her speech became somewhat slurred.

Qingwu and Xiao Anzi had a better alcohol tolerance, and neither of them got very drunk.

Although Liu Wan had a good tolerance for alcohol, she always knew her limits in front of her master and made sure to stay sober at all times...

She was never as outspoken and capricious as Qingwu.

So, throughout the entire night, Liu Wan only took a few small sips.

Seeing that Su Tiyue was already drunk, Liu Wan took a thin cloak from the wooden shelf behind the door and draped it over her shoulders: "Your Highness, you are drunk... Liu Wan will help you upstairs to rest."

After a while, Liu Wan realized what was happening and asked again, "Does Your Highness want to go next door?"

Next door, that's Yelan Pavilion.

The people from Tingyu Tower had all witnessed this journey. The headmaster next door, Xiao, treated his mistress extremely well.

Therefore, the relationship between Xiao Heye and Su Tiyue was no secret to them for a long time.

Su Tiyue was indeed a little dizzy, and her eyelids were heavy. When she heard Liu Wan mention the next door, she glanced at Xiao Anzi and said, "Let Xiao Anzi take me there. I still have something to say to him."

Liu Wan nodded: "Yes."

Su Tiyue had already made plans for Xiao Anzi's future.

On their way from Tingyu Tower to Yelan Pavilion, Xiao Anzi bent down and carefully supported Su Tiyue with his arm.

Su Tiyue gently placed her fingers on his forearm and said earnestly, word by word, "Xiao Anzi, you are sincere and loyal, quick-witted and diligent, and also clever."

"I spoke with Manager Xiao before you came back and asked him to arrange a good job for you."

Xiao Anzi shook his head: "Your Majesty, Xiao Anzi only wants to serve you well, I don't want any good jobs."

“But you’re still young. You can’t stay in Tingyu Tower forever, can you? In the palace, without connections to help you, you’ll probably never get ahead in your life… I’m thinking that you’re clever and capable, and you’ll definitely achieve something in the future. You just need an opportunity.”

"Your Majesty, if Xiao Anzi leaves, he will no longer be able to protect you." He said, somewhat dejected. He understood the reasoning behind Her Majesty's words, but he couldn't bear to part with Xiao Anzi…

Su Tiyue smiled and replied, "Who said that? In this palace, as long as you have power and influence, you can protect the people you want to protect. Xiao Anzi... do you remember that?"

"Yes, this servant has noted it down."

He slightly raised his head and secretly glanced at the Empress's delicate features and fair complexion, his heart pounding with nervousness.

Xiao Anzi was still young and naive. He knew he shouldn't have such wild thoughts, but he couldn't help himself.

The empress is of noble birth and as beautiful as a flower; she is a celestial being.

What about him?

Being of lowly status is like a filthy, rotten patch of mud on the ground.