After Lanqin and the Second Princess entered the palace with the Fourth Prince, the Fourth Prince went to the South Fifth Palace as usual, while Lanqin and the Second Princess went to Yonghe Palace. Lanqin only brought Cui Niang with her, and the Second Princess only brought her personal maid Jin Chuan.

"Auntie, do you think the Empress Dowager intends to betroth me to someone in the grasslands?" the Second Princess asked.

“Well, your father has already arranged a marriage for you, so as long as you follow his advice, everything will be fine. The Empress Dowager can't very well ask your father to break off the engagement. It's said that Yilan, the daughter of Mao from the Eighth Prince's family, has probably already been chosen by the Empress Dowager and betrothed to someone from the grasslands. But until everything is finalized, we must remain vigilant,” Lanqin said.

"Does Aunt mean things might change?" the Second Princess asked in surprise.

“Nothing is ever 100% certain, especially since you’re not married yet. It’s always good to be cautious,” Lanqin said.

As the two arrived at the entrance of Yonghe Palace, Aunt An happened to be there instructing several young palace maids to collect dew from the bamboo leaves for Consort De.

"Listen carefully, both of you. Starting tomorrow, you must go to that bamboo grove to collect dew for the Empress before Chenshi (7-9 AM). It must be before Chenshi, otherwise the dew on the bamboo leaves will evaporate all at once after the sun rises," Aunt An said to the two maids.

"Aunt An!" Lanqin called out after hearing this.

Aunt An glanced to the side and saw Lanqin and the Second Princess. She quickly left the two maids behind and went to greet them.

"May the Consort be blessed, and may the Second Princess be blessed!" Aunt An said with a smile as she bowed.

"Aunt An, is Mother in the palace?" Lanqin suddenly grabbed Aunt An's hand and asked.

"Her Majesty is still in the small Buddhist hall at this hour! Consort and Second Princess, come with me to the side hall to rest," said Aunt An.

Lanqin and the Second Princess then followed Aunt An inside and rested in the side hall on the left, waiting for Consort De to return from her Buddhist worship.

"Are Consort Lanqin and Second Princess hungry? I'll go get you some pastries," Aunt An asked after personally serving tea to Lanqin and Second Princess.

"It's alright, Aunt An doesn't need to be busy. If you get hungry, you won't feel awkward," Lanqin said to Aunt An.

“Yes, I know the Consort’s temperament a bit. I still have to go make osmanthus honey from the osmanthus flowers that Her Highness picked yesterday, so I can’t stay here and talk to the Consort and the Second Princess,” said Aunt An.

"Go ahead and get busy," Lanqin nodded.

After Aunt An left, another young palace maid was sent in to serve her. Lanqin then chatted with the young palace maid casually.

"What has Your Highness been up to lately? I just heard Aunt An say that she's been sending people to collect dew from bamboo leaves and making honey from osmanthus flowers," Lanqin asked.

"Yes, these are all Lady Uya's suggestions. We're using dew to brew tea, and the honey made with osmanthus flowers is especially sweet. Her Majesty likes it very much and has ordered people to pick flowers." The young palace maid was only a teenager and had only been in the palace for a few years.

"Lady Wuya?" Lanqin heard these words keenly and couldn't help but tremble.

"Yes, she is indeed Your Majesty's niece. She came to pay her respects to Your Majesty a while ago and shared some health and beauty tips with you," the young palace maid said with a smile.

"Is Lady Wuya the one who married into the Xiao family of Nanling?" Lanqin asked.

"This, this servant does not know. This servant only knows that she is Her Highness's niece." The young palace maid had not served Consort De for very long, so there were many things she did not know.

"How many times did this Lady Wuya come in total?" Lanqin asked again.

"Lady Uya has come many times, each time bringing something for Her Majesty, which pleases Her Majesty greatly. Right now, Lady Uya should be with Her Majesty, tending to the Buddha," said the young palace maid.

Lanqin frowned. She was now certain who this Lady Wuya was. It must be Sisi's first love—Wuya Wanru.

"Reporting to Consort, Second Princess, Her Majesty has returned and requests your presence in the main hall!" another palace maid reported as she entered.

Lanqin and the Second Princess responded and followed the palace maid out of the left side hall, walking along the corridor towards the main hall.

Upon entering the main hall, one sees Consort De sitting radiantly in the main seat, with Consort Cheng speaking to her.

"This humble servant greets Mother and Consort Cheng!" Lanqin stepped forward and bowed.

"Granddaughter greets her grandfather! Greetings to Consort Cheng!" The second princess quickly followed suit and bowed.

"Good, good, you're all here, please have a seat." Consort De's beaming smile made Lanqin feel a little uncomfortable.

"Mother seems to have something happy to tell me, so I can have some joy too!" Lanqin said with a smile as soon as she sat down.

“Look, doesn’t Your Highness look younger?” Consort Cheng said to Lanqin.

"Yes, I think Mother looks five years younger!" Lanqin indeed felt that Consort De seemed different from before.

"How cunning! That thing actually has such benefits? It even makes you five years younger!" Although Consort De was scolding Lanqin, she was clearly very happy.

"Granddaughter, you look several years younger than your father!" Second Princess flattered Lanqin.

"Hehe, Second Princess, come here!" Consort De beckoned to the Second Princess.

Lanqin gestured for the Second Princess to come over quickly. The Second Princess obediently stood up and walked towards Consort De, who then took her hand and led her to sit down beside her.

"Elinzhu, I heard from your father that he has already arranged a marriage for you. Now that he has said it, you must not say it again, understand?" Consort De said.

"Yes, Auntie also reminded Erlinzhu along the way," the Second Princess said obediently.

"Alright, here, this is for you from your father." Consort De glanced at Lanqin with satisfaction, then took a golden hairpin with South Sea pearls from her hair. It was clearly the finest jewelry from the Imperial Household Department, something only a consort could possess. She tucked it into the Second Princess's hair, saying, "This is for you. Your father couldn't quite pull it off; he's getting old and such bright jewelry isn't suitable for him anymore."

"Thank you for your generous gift, Father Fazu!" the Second Princess said immediately, flattered.

"Consort, come here too. I also have something to reward you!" Consort De suddenly said to Lanqin.

"Is there any reward for me?" Lanqin asked loudly on purpose.

"Yes, you've managed the household well for the Fourth Prince, so naturally you'll be rewarded!" Consort De gestured for the Second Princess to sit back down, then beckoned to Lanqin. Deep down, she liked Lanqin's personality. Perhaps she'd seen too many ingratiating and sycophantic people, and like the Fourth Prince, she preferred straightforward and clever individuals.