Five years later.

Quan Wufeng returned from military service, and Ren Xiaoxiao followed him.

Back then, Quan Wufeng joined the army, and Ren Xiaoxiao disguised herself as a man and followed him.

Because of her gentle appearance, she was easily recognized no matter what she disguised herself as, but she insisted on going along no matter what.

Seeing her determination, Mu Tiantian taught her some makeup techniques before she left, telling her to make herself look as rough as possible.

In addition, her voice is naturally androgynous, her temperament and behavior are more boyish, and she is stronger than the average man, so she is not easily discovered.

Now that they've returned, the atmosphere between them seems a little different.

...

Jinling teases Tang Xiu all the time, whether she has something to do or not.

Even Tang Xiu, who was usually serious, was amused by her and started laughing.

Mu Tiantian was very pleased to see the two chatting and laughing. They were getting on in years, and it would be nice to arrange a marriage for them someday.

The more she thought about it, the better it seemed. Seeing the two of them feeding the fish together by the pond, she didn't disturb them. The children were also having a great time playing football.

Nobody noticed her.

Just as she was about to sneak away, she turned around and was stopped by three little ones.

"Mother, where are you going?" The three little ones surrounded her.

Upon hearing this, Jin Ling and Tang Xiu rushed to her side.

"Where are you going, Your Majesty?" Jinling guessed immediately and said, "His Majesty said that you caught a cold recently and cannot go to the Imperial Kitchen."

"I...I'll just wander around..." Mu Tiantian chuckled awkwardly, "I'll go see if there's anything to eat in the imperial kitchen."

"What would you like to eat? I'll tell the imperial kitchen."

Mu Tiantian coughed lightly, pulled Jinhua aside, and quietly asked, "Were the dumplings I made last year delicious?"

"It's delicious! Everything Her Majesty the Empress makes is delicious." Jinling's round eyes were full of seriousness.

"I'll make another batch of 'perfect dumplings' for you all this year, and I'll teach you how to make them then, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Ling's mouth stretched from ear to ear, and she nodded her head like a drumbeat.

"Mother, I also want to eat the Ten Perfections Dumplings," the children said in their childish voices, clinging to her legs.

"Then Mother will go and make it for you right away." Mu Tiantian was overjoyed and headed towards the imperial kitchen.

Jinling suddenly realized something was wrong and quickly pulled her aside, saying, "Then you can't go to the imperial kitchen to cook for the next two days either."

I remember last time, the Empress accidentally cut her finger while cooking, which made the Emperor so worried that he didn't let her into the imperial kitchen for several months.

A few days ago, the Empress sneezed a few times while making desserts in the Imperial Kitchen. The Emperor was extremely worried and told her to rest well.

The Empress is truly cherished and pampered by the Emperor.

Mu Tiantian just had an itchy hand; she'd been idle for so long, it was practically moldy.

"Brother Quan and Xiaoxiao are back this year, so I'll make some dumplings for them. I'll also make extra for you, so you can take the dumplings home with Tang Xiu for the New Year."

After Mu Tiantian finished speaking, Jin Ling and Tang Xiu both turned their faces away shyly.

So, taking advantage of the moment when the two were distracted, she grabbed the three little ones and ran away.

"Big brother, second brother, does Father Emperor forbid Mother from going to the Imperial Kitchen?" the little sister asked, as if she had just remembered something.

"It seems so."

Mu Tiantian coaxed the children, saying, "You misheard. Father didn't say that."

"Your Majesty the Empress?" The imperial chefs were a little flustered when they saw Mu Tiantian arrive. Didn't the Emperor forbid the Empress from coming to the Imperial Kitchen?

Mu Tiantian made a shushing gesture, "Don't make a fuss, I... just came to take a look."

"My beloved concubine."

"Father!" The children ran to Feng Qianyan and hugged his legs.

Feng Qianyan smiled, gently patted the children's heads, and asked, "What are you and your mother doing here?"

"Mother said she's going to make us 'perfect dumplings'," the children said directly.

Mu Tiantian couldn't stop her in time.

It must have been Jin Ling and Tang Xiu who called him here.

"Okay, you all go somewhere else first, and I'll call you when Mother is done," Feng Qianyan coaxed.

"Okay." The children responded and left the imperial kitchen hand in hand.

Mu Tiantian smiled and took Feng Qianyan's arm, saying in a coquettish tone, "I'm all better now, don't you want to eat the dumplings I made?"

Feng Qianyan sighed, "I would like to, but you've caught a chill recently, so it's not advisable for you to come to a place like this."

"I just had an itchy nose and sneezed twice, it's not that serious." Mu Tiantian shook his sleeve, calling out sweetly, "Ayan... Yan Yan... Qian Yan... my husband..."

It has to be said that Feng Qianyan was very pleased; his heart melted when he heard her call out like that.

He affectionately ruffled her hair and said softly, "Then, whatever you want to make, I'll make it for you."

"How about I don't use the knife? That should be fine, right?"

Feng Qianyan nodded.

Mu Tiantian excitedly pulled him to choose ingredients.

Once Feng Qianyan got to work, the surrounding imperial chefs went about their business as usual. This happened frequently, and what was initially unbelievable had now become quite commonplace.

That day, the two of them made a lot of dumplings.

It felt like going back five years to when Mu Tiantian spent her first Chinese New Year here.

She bought a lot of ingredients from outside and took them to the Cold Palace to make dumplings.

She has very skillful hands and works very quickly.

He squatted to the side watching; his thin body looked malnourished.

As she wrapped the dumplings, she said, "Ayan, these are pure meat dumplings I wrapped for you. You should eat more, you're so thin."

That year was the happiest year of his life.

As he ate dumplings, he asked her, "Tian Tian, ​​from now on, will you spend every New Year with me?"

At that moment, he noticed she hesitated for a moment.

After a moment, she smiled sweetly and said, "Okay."

"Then you'd better keep your word."

"I always keep my word," Mu Tiantian smiled. "Are the dumplings delicious?"

"Um."

At that moment, he thought that he must protect her and his mother from now on...

now.

From now on, she will be by his side every year...

Although it was a bit late, she ultimately kept her word...

————

The Seventh World is over~

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Love you all~

(づ￣3￣)づ╭?～

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