The scorching summer sun beat down on the road, and the flowers in the Imperial Garden all looked wilted.

Feeling the sweltering heat, Mingxiu almost regretted coming out to look for someone; it was just too hot.

The Imperial Garden wasn't particularly large, and with the two princes having many servants around them, Mingxiu easily found them. She saw two small figures squatting in the pavilion, facing each other, seemingly doing something. She quietly walked over.

He gestured to the servants nearby to keep quiet.

Those who served the Crown Prince were naturally familiar with Mingxiu, so they wouldn't stop her. The people around Yinzhi also knew this girl because the First Prince and the Crown Prince were on good terms. Recently, she had become the focus of discussion in the entire palace and was a favorite of the Emperor and the Crown Prince, so they naturally wouldn't interfere either.

Mingxiu quietly walked over and heard the two children chattering. As soon as she got closer, she saw a wisp of steam rising from the jar in front of the two children.

Mingxiu was somewhat shocked; what was going on?

At this moment, Yinreng and Yinzhi also noticed Mingxiu coming over and happily greeted her.

"Aunt Mingxiu, you're here! Look, this is the ice I made with my older brother. It's almost done!" Yinreng saw Mingxiu and happily pulled her to sit down on a chair to show off their achievement.

Yinzhi smiled and nodded foolishly. In the palace, he and the Crown Prince were the only two playmates of the right age, so they naturally played together a lot and had a lot of contact with Mingxiu. Therefore, although his mother said a lot of bad things about Aunt Mingxiu, Yinzhi still liked this gentle person who liked to cook delicious food and have fun for them.

Mingxiu sat in the chair, stretched her hand forward, and felt a slight chill. She was shocked. Have children these days progressed to this level? They can do physics research at such a young age.

But as shocking as it may be, praise is still due.

"Wow, you two are amazing! How did you do that?" Mingxiu looked up at the two little faces in front of her with a look of surprise.

Sure enough, right after I praised them, their already radiant faces became even more radiant.

As Mingxiu was laughing, she noticed that the little prince's face wrinkled up again.

"But it still hasn't turned into ice."

Upon hearing this, Yinzhi's expression changed.

Mingxiu found it somewhat amusing. "Just try again, take your time. Where did you get all this stuff? Go get some more!"

In the end, they didn't go looking for materials because Yinreng suddenly mentioned that saltpeter could be decomposed, and that pouring it out and drying it in the sun would yield new saltpeter.

Then the two children happily directed the palace servants to continue doing it, while Mingxiu watched with a smile, giving a meaningful look to the little panda floating beside her. Although she couldn't hear it speak, Mingxiu was 100% certain that it was the little panda that was saying it.

The infant system flying next to Yinreng's head suddenly sensed someone watching it. It turned around and saw Mingxiu still smiling. It tilted its head, not quite understanding, and then happily watched Yinreng make ice again.

Mingxiu had already looked away when it turned around, but ended up looking directly at someone she hadn't seen in a long time.

Looking at the figure in the distance, Mingxiu was a little dazed, realizing that so much time had passed. After thinking for a moment, she got up and walked towards the figure in the distance.

"Greetings, Consort Xilin Jue Luo," Mingxiu bowed slightly. Indeed, this was Qingyin Xilin Jue Luo, who had served with Mingxiu in Empress Hesheli's palace before and was later made a consort.

After the Empress's death, they all stayed in the palace for a while, meeting a few times but not having much contact. After all, everyone was in danger at that time. After the Emperor punished a group of people, Mingxiu went to serve the Crown Prince, and the rest were either sent out of the palace or assigned to other palaces. Qingyin was also assigned to another palace, and Mingxiu never saw her again after that.

I never expected to see her again at this time. The woman in front of me was still beautiful, wearing a light pink satin palace dress, which added to her charming appearance, but her eyes were no longer clear.

The palace is so grueling, Mingxiu thought to herself, looking down.

Xilin Jueluo Qingyin also looked at Mingxiu with a complicated expression. This was the person the emperor favored the most recently. As Mingxiu grew up, her facial features gradually opened up, and she lost a lot of her baby fat. Her short and stocky figure also grew taller and became more curvaceous. She had a clear and beautiful appearance.

But no one is as pretty as me. I don't know why the Emperor likes her so much. She lives a better life than me. I am in Chengqian Palace now. Consort Tong is petty and can't stand seeing others see the Emperor. She hasn't seen the Emperor for a long time.

She did try to see the Emperor, but whenever she served him, Consort Tong would use the excuse of teaching her manners to reprimand her.

Thinking of this, Qingyin's bright face gradually darkened.

Looking at the woman in front of him, they were all of the same background and were now both the emperor's women, so why were they treated so differently?

"How about we meet, Myung-soo?"

Mingxiu looked up and said, "Yes, it's been a long time. This servant will not disturb Consort Xilin Jueluo's enjoyment any longer. I will take my leave now." After saying that, she bowed and prepared to leave.

Why did she come over to say hello? Mingxiu thought that she probably just wanted to see how her first friend who came here was doing, and how difficult it was to survive in the harem.

Watching Mingxiu walk into the pavilion, Qingyin's face turned somewhat unpleasant. Why? Because their family backgrounds were similar, and she was no better than Mingxiu in terms of looks. Why did Mingxiu live such a good life, with the Crown Prince's favor and the Emperor's affection, while she had nothing?

Mingxiu didn't care at all about what she thought. She knew from the time she designed Pinzhu and Lanxin to rise to power that they were never on the same path and had long since drifted apart. If she hadn't met her today, she might not have remembered her at all.

Upon reaching the pavilion, Mingxiu felt somewhat heavy-hearted, but seeing Yin's still happy face, she smiled. Her original purpose was simply to take good care of the Crown Prince, nurture him, and cultivate a good relationship with him. As long as the Crown Prince wasn't deposed, her life wouldn't be a problem, so she shouldn't overthink it.

As for the Emperor's favor, with the Crown Prince around, things won't be too bad. As long as I'm careful, there won't be any problems.

Thinking this, and hearing the two children's joyful cheers and the palace servants' exclamations of surprise, Mingxiu quickly walked over and joined them.

Looking at the formed ice blocks, Mingxiu gently fanned herself with a fan, feeling the coolness, and smiled at Yinreng and Yinzhi.

The three of them instructed Yinreng's palace servants to take some ice to the Emperor to cool him off, and then prepared to go back. It was too hot outside. They hadn't felt it when they were having fun, but now that they had to rest, they felt really hot.

So Mingxiu took the two of them to Yinreng's residence.