When they arrived at the palace, the Empress Dowager had just sat down and was about to have breakfast. Ji Yun reported this to her, and she said, "So early, you must have entered the palace without having breakfast. Go and prepare more."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Shu and Prince Yong often dined at Cining Palace, and Ji Yun, Jin Xi, and others all knew their tastes.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager, Zhao Shu immediately went over and clung to her arm, asking, "Grandmother, have you been practicing Tai Chi yet?"

"I've hit you, I've hit you, you little busybody." The Empress Dowager chuckled and poked Zhao Shu's forehead.

Zhao Shu touched her forehead and sniffed, "It smells so good. Aunt Jinxi's cooking is really good. I would be satisfied if the cooking of the people in the Prince's Mansion was even half as good as Aunt Jinxi's."

Jin Xi, who was serving nearby, was startled. The princess was still thinking about letting her take on a disciple. So she glanced at the Empress Dowager and saw the doting smile on the Empress Dowager's face. She then mustered up her courage and said, "It is not impossible for the princess to let me take on a disciple, as long as that girl can pass my test."

“It’s a deal! Grandmother, you must be my witness.” Zhao Shu immediately jumped up, her face beaming with excitement.

Cooking is simple, but making delicious food is not. Although she has eaten a lot of delicious food and knows the general ingredients of those foods, she can't make anything delicious without someone with culinary skills to practice with.

Just because someone can cook doesn't mean they have culinary skills.

That's why she was so eager for Jin Xi to teach Xing'er more. She had observed Xing'er for a while and felt that she could be trained, which is why she suggested that Jin Xi take her as a disciple.

"As long as you don't leave my Jinxi, you can go with me." The Empress Dowager was extremely kind to those around her, which was evident in her words and actions.

Having served the Empress Dowager her entire life, even turning down opportunities to leave the palace, Jin Xi was deeply moved upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words. "How could this servant dare to deceive the Princess?"

Having finally achieved her goal, Zhao Shule began to eat breakfast in a daze.

After breakfast, the Empress Dowager noticed that Prince Yong was still looking downcast, so she asked, "Nineteen, what's bothering you?"

Prince Yong shook his head, "Your subject is fine, but I didn't sleep well last night and am a little sleepy."

The Empress Dowager frowned. "Why didn't you sleep all night?"

Zhao Shu hadn't slept all night either, but she was still young, so she was naturally not as young as Prince Yong. Therefore, one of them looked a little haggard, while the other looked perfectly fine.

"I played chess with Ah Jun all night and didn't let my son win a single game." Prince Yong blushed as he spoke of his defeat.

The Empress Dowager strongly disapproved, and tapped Zhao Shu's nose, saying, "You, give way to your father, but don't do it again next time."

"Okay," Zhao Shu replied awkwardly, feigning reluctance.

Seeing Zhao Shu like this, the Empress Dowager sighed and made up her mind that she must find a concubine for her son as soon as possible. It would be so unpleasant to hear if word got out that the father and daughter could play chess all night.

She gave all the palace maids and eunuchs a stern look, and they quickly lowered their heads, already knowing what to do.

At the end of the Si hour (9-11 AM), Emperor Mingde had just finished court when Zhang Chu invited him to the Cining Palace.

Emperor Mingde was in a terrible mood today. Qiu Chengshi and Yang Zhong had been arguing in the court for several hours, and his ears were still ringing.

Liang Yunsi was much more careful than before when he was by his side.

Zhao Shu could tell at a glance that Emperor Mingde was very unhappy, so she said directly, "Uncle, Ajun has come to ask you for a favor."

Liang Yunsi secretly glanced at Zhao Shu. At this moment, only the princess dared to speak to the emperor like this. However, what he didn't know was that when people are in a bad mood, they hate it when others beat around the bush. If you have something to say, say it; if you don't, get lost. That's the mentality.

Before the Empress Dowager, Emperor Mingde patiently asked in a gentle tone, "What favor do you desire?"

"Get the Xie family a piece of calligraphy personally inscribed by Your Majesty, and write 'A family that accumulates good deeds will surely have abundant blessings.'"

Emperor Mingde felt something flash through his mind, but he couldn't quite grasp it. He asked again, "Why?"

Zhao Shu knew there was something going on, so she quickly chimed in, "Yesterday, the Xie family sent A-Jun ten brocade boxes. After A-Jun returned to the manor, the Xie family sent her many more nice things. Then, in the evening, a maid from the manor passed by the east gate and saw the Xie family's servants delivering food to Lord Wang. Such a kind family, Your Majesty, you can't be stingy."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Mingde's mind instantly cleared, and the gloom on his face vanished, replaced by a hearty and unrestrained smile. "Hahaha, my lord, you are truly my lucky star."

"Has the Emperor agreed?" Zhao Shuming asked knowingly.

“Of course I agree. Dayong also needs a role model like the Xie family.” Emperor Mingde also followed Zhao Shu’s lies.

As the two were talking, a young eunuch gestured to Liang Yunsi from the shade of a tree outside the door. Liang Yunsi hurriedly went out, and the young eunuch quickly handed him two pieces of paper.

He glanced quickly at the contents of the paper, his expression changed drastically. It seemed even the heavens were on the emperor's side.

After having his meal, Emperor Mingde hurriedly left Cining Palace and quickly returned to Taihe Hall. Liang Yunsi, with great shrewdness, took out two pieces of paper from his pocket and presented them to him.

Emperor Mingde opened the two pieces of paper, unable to hide the smile on his face. After reading them, he burst into laughter, "That old scoundrel Xie is going to cry now."

Liang Yunsi laughed along, but dared not reply.

"Bring me pen and ink." Emperor Mingde wanted to see Xie Yun come to see him with a green face as soon as possible.

Liang Yunsi hurriedly and quickly served him. His movements were light and quick. Having been the chief eunuch for a long time, apart from feeling tired of having to guard against both hidden and open attacks, he found life interesting for the first time today.

"Xie family, you brat!" Xie Yun pointed at his eldest son's nose and cursed, his hands trembling with anger.

"Father..." Xie Qiuliang, the old man Xie, was not convinced by Xie Yun's anger, but he was still afraid.

Xie Yun said with exasperation, "I'm not your father! You're my father!"

"Dad, please calm down. It's all my fault. Please don't say that." Xie Qiuliang looked aggrieved.

"Calm down? Look at yourself!" He angrily threw the two pieces of paper at Xie Qiuliang's face, turned around, and didn't want to look at his good-for-nothing son even once.

The second son, Xie Qiushan, quickly tried to calm him down, saying, "Father, eldest brother didn't mean it. Please calm down. Who would have thought that the Prince Yong's Mansion could retaliate like this? We underestimated the Prince Yong's Mansion. We can't blame eldest brother entirely."

Xie Yun shook off Xie Qiushan's hand. "Look at him like that, all for a woman..." He couldn't finish his sentence. The thought of what Yongwang Mansion might do next made his heart ache terribly. How could his son be so stupid!

It was no easy feat for the Xie family to get to where they are today. Every step required caution and care; one wrong move could have led to total defeat.

The saying goes, "When things reach their peak, they must decline." How come these good-for-nothings don't understand this principle?