Since Huo Danlan was at home, Zhao Shu did not go to the palace with her. Instead, she stayed with Huo Danlan in the embroidery tower for two hours until dawn before they got up.

However, Zhao Shu sent Xiao Zhuzi and Prince Yong to the palace. After getting up, Huo Danlan had someone bring a sandalwood box with cloud patterns. The box was quite large and could easily fit her whole body inside.

"What is Auntie doing?" she asked curiously.

Huo Danlan waved, and Zhao Shu ran over. Huo Danlan handed her a key, saying, "This is a gift from your aunt. Open it and take a look."

Her loving gaze made Zhao Shu wonder several times if she was hallucinating. Apart from her grandmother and father, no one in the world had ever looked at her with such eyes. It really seemed as if she were looking at her own daughter.

However, she was absolutely certain that this was the first time she had met Huo Danlan in both her past and present lives. Shaking her head to clear her mind of doubt, she took the key and asked, "Auntie gave me jewelry and hairpins last time. What will you give me this time? Didn't you say you were in a hurry and didn't prepare anything? It seems like Auntie has prepared too much."

She asked, half-jokingly and half-probingly, feeling that Huo Danlan's attitude towards her was too enthusiastic... which made her feel flattered. It didn't seem like she had fallen in love with her father, nor did it seem like she was grateful that she could cure her.

That's strange.

"That was said for your cousin. How could she possibly have the right to look at her aunt's things?" His words were full of contempt for Zhao Nihong.

Zhao Shu was even more puzzled, looking at Huo Danlan suspiciously, and hesitated to make a move. "A-Jun, quickly open it and see if you like it."

Reminded, Zhao Shu quickly came to her senses and used the key in her hand to open the sandalwood box. Inside the box was a full suitcase of clothes.

"Auntie, are all these for me?" Zhao Shu rubbed her eyes, looked again, and saw that the box was still full. She asked in disbelief.

Huo Danlan took out a white gauze dress with gold embroidery from the box and held it up in front of Zhao Shu. "It's the perfect size. Ah Jun, wear this tomorrow."

After saying that, she took out a red dress with silver embroidery of butterflies and flowers. "This dress is perfect for hunting and spring outings. Does Ah Jun like spring outings? I'll have your Uncle Bai Chuan take you in a few days."

Zhao Shu was inexplicably moved, and her nose tingled. The clothes in the trunk included a white silk robe with scattered flowers, a light purple long skirt with a hundred flowers, a light green crepe robe with cloud patterns, and many other styles that were not available in the palace.

The workmanship is extremely fine, and even the loose threads and the hem are done very well.

She liked every single one of them. It was the first time she had received so many gifts, and how could she not be moved? Although she didn't know why Huo Danlan did this, she thought about it and realized that the Yongwang Mansion didn't seem to have anything that the eldest daughter of the Huo family could covet. That's why this gift seemed so precious.

"Aunt gave Ah Jun so many gifts, but Ah Jun has nothing to give back to Aunt," Zhao Shu said, feeling very apologetic.

Huo Danlan held the dress up against her and said, "The one you gave to your aunt is the most precious."

Soon, news of Huo Danlan sending Zhao Shu gifts spread throughout the entire Prince's mansion. The maids gossiped among themselves, "Is there something wrong with the Huo family's daughter's head? All the noble ladies in the capital look down on our Princess, but she treats her so well. She treats our Princess much better than Princess Nihong does."

“Miss Huo is beautiful and kind-hearted. I also think she’s better than Princess Neon.” Another maid, who was sweeping the floor, chimed in.

"Pah! You've never even seen Miss Huo's face, how do you know she's beautiful?" The maid who was fetching water glared at the sweeping maid and walked away.

"I haven't met him, but I have met Mr. Huo. Mr. Huo is so handsome. Miss Huo and Mr. Huo are siblings, so Miss Huo must be even more beautiful than flowers." She didn't know what words to use to describe her. After thinking for a while, she could only say that she was more beautiful than flowers to express her imagination of Huo Danlan's appearance.

The maid who was trimming the holly bushes nearby chimed in, "Mr. Huo is really handsome, and he doesn't have the airs of a young master from a noble family. He even smiled at me."

"Pah! Young Master Huo would smile at you? In your next life, maybe."

Ruyi, who had been hiding in the shadows, heard this and went back to report with a frosty expression. As soon as she entered Xiaoxiang Courtyard, Consort Zhang and Zhao Nihong were sitting on chairs waiting. When they saw her come in, they hurriedly looked over.

"Did you find out anything?" Zhao Nihong asked anxiously.

"Princess, the people of Qionghua Courtyard are very tight-lipped, and I dare not disturb the Huo family rashly. However, I heard from the maids in the manor that Miss Huo treats Princess Jun very well and has given her a box of clothes. The styles of the clothes are all excellent, and the workmanship and fabrics are even better than those in the palace." Ruyi then took the opportunity to recount the maids' infatuation with Huo Baichuan.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Nihong retorted playfully, "Mother, why! Why! Is it because I'm not the Empress Dowager's granddaughter? Mother!"

"Alright, what do you care about an old maid? She's over twenty and still unmarried, which means she's ugly. Everyone dislikes Ah Jun, and she's ugly, so it's a perfect match. What do you care about? It'll only lower your status. Alright, hurry up and go prepare to go to the Wei family with your mother."

When the Wei family was mentioned, Zhao Nihong put away the jealous and arrogant look on her face, put on a polite smile, and said, "Daughter is ready, Mother, let's go."

Consort Zhang glanced at Zhao Nihong, who was dressed in a plain Suzhou embroidered brocade dress with azalea patterns. Her hair was styled in a flying fairy bun, with a few white jade hairpins inlaid with rubies. Although it was simple, it was still polite. The red accents in the plain color made her young face even more beautiful.

"Ruyi, later take the soup and jewelry I asked you to prepare yesterday to Ajun. After all, our Duanwang Mansion belongs to her second uncle's family. This child lost her mother at a young age, she's quite pitiful. Show her as much love as you can." Ruyi remembered every word she said. A concubine's affection for the princess should not only be known to the princess, but also to everyone in and outside the mansion.

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