Zhao Shu also practiced morning exercises every day in modern times, a habit she had maintained for more than ten years. Picking it up again now would be no problem at all.

The concubines complained bitterly, but dared not refuse to go. They could only follow Zhao Shu closely and slowly, running at an angle.

Two hours later, Zhao Shu was finally satisfied. After taking a bath, she went to the palace with Prince Yong.

While she was bathing, Prince Yong received complaints from his concubines at different times and in different places. They all complained about how the princess bullied and abused them, and how they wanted the prince to take charge.

Unfortunately, Prince Yong wouldn't listen.

Walking along the palace path, Prince Yong asked curiously, "Ah Jun, are you so sure that running in the morning is good for your health?"

"What the doctors say must be true. Lord Wei also said that those who practice martial arts are much stronger."

Prince Yong nodded, completely convinced.

Upon arriving at Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager took Zhao Shu's hand and said, "Let your grandmother see how much A-Jun has grown up."

Moved, Zhao Shu nestled in the Empress Dowager's arms, saying, "Grandmother is right."

The Empress happened to enter and, upon hearing Zhao Shu's words, chuckled, "Ah Jun's little mouth is getting more and more clever."

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Prince Yong immediately bowed.

Zhao Shu also climbed up from the Empress Dowager's arms to pay her respects, "A-Jun greets the Imperial Aunt, may the Imperial Aunt be blessed with ten thousand years of good fortune." She then curtsied to the Crown Prince, "Greetings, Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince followed the Empress in. When he saw Zhao Shu bow to him, he hurriedly returned the bow and then bowed to the Empress Dowager and Prince Yong to greet them.

"The Crown Prince acquired a bow a few days ago and was thinking of showing it to his nineteenth uncle," the Empress said to the Crown Prince, as if she had only remembered this matter after seeing Prince Yong. "Crown Prince, your nineteenth uncle has come to the palace today. Why don't you quickly invite him to your Eastern Palace?"

The prince was taken aback. He had indeed acquired a bow, but he hadn't thought of asking his nineteenth uncle to take a look at it. It would be more appropriate to ask him to play with crickets, but he didn't like playing with crickets.

However, since his mother had said so, he would respectfully comply.

He immediately said to Prince Yong, "Please, Nineteenth Uncle."

"Then, Mother, sister-in-law, I will go to Yi'er's East Palace for a visit."

Only Prince Yong dared to say something like "I'll go visit the Eastern Palace." If it were anyone else, they would definitely try to curry favor with the future monarch.

After the Empress Dowager nodded, Crown Prince Zhao Yi led Prince Yong out of Cining Palace.

After Prince Yong left, the Empress asked Zhao Shu, "I heard that your friend, Miss Lin, is going to hold a tea party on Qixi Festival? Has the date been set?"

There are still some days until Qixi Festival, and Lin Xiuxue has not yet sent out invitations. Everyone is just hearing rumors.

Zhao Shu had never understood why Lin Xiuxue chose to hold the tea party on Qixi Festival. Later, she realized that people didn't go out much during the day on Qixi Festival because it was too hot.

But after holding a tea party, everyone played together, and in the evening they released river lanterns. There was enough time in one day to do many things.

"I haven't received the invitation yet," Zhao Shu said.

"What should we do? I also want to hold an ice banquet on Qixi Festival, but I'm afraid the date will clash with your friend's tea party."

Ever since Zhao Shu heard from Granny Zhong that the Empress Dowager was going to hold an ice appreciation party, she began to wonder why the Empress Dowager would suddenly hold an ice appreciation party, since she generally disliked noise and would not hold any banquets unless it was an important day.

She thought of a possibility: to choose a new wife for her father.

In her previous life, her grandmother had tried many times to find a successor for her father, but she had never succeeded. Would she succeed this time?

"Why does Grandmother want to hold an ice banquet? It's so hot in the summer, and you have to deal with all those people. It must be exhausting." Zhao Shu didn't want the Empress Dowager to be upset.

In my previous life, when my grandmother held a banquet to find a suitable consort for my father, all the eligible unmarried ladies would refuse to attend for various reasons. Those who did attend were either already engaged or married.

The Empress Dowager was furious about this, but there was nothing she could do.

"My dear daughter is so filial, but this time it must be done." The Empress Dowager affectionately patted Zhao Shu's head.

"Grandmother, really, it's so tiring. If you want to see the excitement, just go to the Lin family on Qixi Festival. Anyway, you can see the excitement without having to do anything. What do you say? If you're worried that not many people will attend the Lin family's tea party, that's easy. Just have someone spread the word that you will be attending the Lin family's tea party."

The Empress Dowager and the Empress exchanged a glance and both thought this was a good idea, catching them off guard.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's unusual behavior, Zhao Shu hurriedly said, "Grandmother, do you think A-Jun is clever? She came up with such a good idea."

"How clever." The Empress Dowager embraced Zhao Shu, already having made up her mind.

When they came out of the palace, it was already evening. Bi Qiao had prepared several gifts, all of which she would take to the Jiang family the next day.

After looking at the gift list, she asked, "Is Auntie still unmarried?"

"Yes, the official explanation is that she cannot have children." Bi Qiao is not as reserved when speaking to Zhao Shu as before. After all, wouldn't it seem pretentious for someone who is even shameless enough to look at the Spring Grace Book to be so cautious?

Moreover, the Prince's mansion always needs a person in charge. She couldn't persuade the Prince, but since the Princess was finally willing to take charge, she supported her wholeheartedly.

Unable to have children? That's indeed a difficult situation.

"It's been a long time since I visited my maternal grandfather, uncle, and aunt. I need to give them generous gifts."

Although the Marquis of Yiguang's mansion was a prestigious one, it was merely an empty shell, relying on two estates for sustenance. She wanted to give the best things in the mansion to her relatives, rather than waiting for some unscrupulous people to come and take advantage of it.

"The Empress Dowager recently bestowed some Shu brocade. We should select a few bolts to make clothes for my aunt, and also a few bolts for my uncle. We can't forget my aunt, cousins, and other cousins ​​either. Anyway, there's plenty in the treasury, so it doesn't matter if we give more."

Bi Qiao bowed her head and agreed, then went back to draft a new gift list and had the gifts prepared in advance before returning to report.

Zhao Shu nodded after looking at the generous gift list.

Nothing happened that night.

The next day, Zhao Shu forced the concubines to continue their morning exercises. After practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard, she went to the residence of the Marquis of Yiguang with Prince Yong.

The Jiang family of Yiguang Marquis's Mansion, although also a Jiang family, has no relation whatsoever to the Jiang family of Ningguo Marquis.

The Marquis's residence received Zhao Shu's invitation and sent someone to pick them up early this morning. The person who came was Jiang Ping, Jiang Suiji's personal attendant.

"Uncle Ping, what brings you here?" When Zhao Shu saw Jiang Ping, she remembered her past life. When her maternal grandfather's family moved back to their hometown, they left Jiang Ping with her. Later, Jiang Ping died inexplicably outside. Now, thinking back, it was precisely after Jiang Ping said that Gu Chongxuan had ill intentions that he died.

Although Jiang Ping hadn't been with her for long, he might very well have died for her. Seeing him again, she was moved and incredibly grateful that he was back. In this life, she was determined to protect these people.

"Master instructed me to come and fetch the Prince and the Princess. If I hadn't stopped him, Master would have come himself." Jiang Ping spoke frankly, genuinely caring about Prince Yong and Zhao Shu. There wasn't a trace of him trying to curry favor with the Prince's mansion.

Zhao Shu was moved. "A-Jun and Father also miss Grandfather very much. Let's go quickly and not keep Grandfather waiting."