Kangxi pondered it carefully for a while.

"Your Highness, I'm giving you three days off. Spend these three days with He Xue!" Kangxi said generously.

"Thank you, Father Emperor!" The Crown Prince agreed, though he was not satisfied.

"Father, marriage is a major life event, it only happens once in a lifetime. Can't you give the Crown Prince a few more days off?" He Xue asked.

"How many days off do you want?" Kangxi asked, looking at Hexue.

"Ten days!" He Xue said, making a cross with her hand.

Emperor Kangxi was amused by He Xue's words. He only had three days off when he got married, so giving the Crown Prince three days was already quite generous. "You're really asking for the moon! Don't even think about it!"

"Eight days!" He Xue asked tentatively.

"No, four days!" Kangxi softened his stance slightly.

"Seven days?" He Xue continued to bargain with Kangxi.

"Five days, at most five days!" Kangxi said directly.

"Thank you, Father! Your son is going to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager!" He Xue said happily, then took the Crown Prince's hand and left.

Kangxi watched He Xue's retreating figure and said with a wry smile, "Liang Jiugong, have I been tricked by this girl?"

Liang Jiugong simply lowered his head and didn't say anything; it was quite obvious!

Emperor Kangxi smiled and ordered the Imperial Household Department to expedite preparations for the investiture ceremony of the Crown Princess!

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Liang Jiugong replied.

After leaving the Qianqing Palace, the Crown Prince led He Xue by the hand and walked towards the Cining Palace.

"You are the first person who dares to bargain with Father Emperor!" the Crown Prince said with a smile.

"I just want my Crown Prince brother to spend more time with me!" He Xue said.

"Alright, I'll definitely spend some quality time with you these next few days!" the Crown Prince said, tapping He Xue's nose.

He Xue felt that the Crown Prince's words had a hidden meaning!

"Are you tired?" the Crown Prince asked. He and He Xue could have been carried in sedan chairs, but He Xue didn't like it, so they walked to Cining Palace.

"Not tired!" He Xue replied.

"Can we continue tonight?" the prince whispered in Xue's ear.

He Xue glared at the Crown Prince with displeasure. Why did he have to say everything out loud? What if someone overheard him?

The prince smiled, letting everyone know that he was in a very good mood.

The Crown Prince and He Xue entered the Cining Palace. When the Empress Dowager saw them, she breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at He Xue, she felt that their wedding night must have been good, and she was at ease.

The Empress Dowager gave the Crown Prince and He Xue a few words of advice, gave them a gift, and then let them leave.

The Crown Prince and He Xue continued walking towards Cixi Palace.

When the Crown Prince and He Xue arrived at Cixi Palace, they happened to run into Xingchi, who was coming out of the palace.

He Xue opened her eyes wide, filled with curiosity. What was going on? How did Xing Chi end up coming out of Cixi Palace?

Xingchi could tell from Hexue's expression that she had misunderstood. He was puzzled as to how this girl could have so many bizarre ideas!

"This humble monk has come to discuss matters with the Empress Dowager!" Xingchi said.

"Oh, Master, you don't need to explain. Have you ever heard the saying, 'An explanation is a cover-up, and a cover-up is dishonesty'?" Actually, Xue didn't say the other half of what she meant: "Dishonesty deserves a beating." If Xingchi was truly dishonest, he certainly deserved a beating!

“Where have I been dishonest?” Xingchi asked, puffing out his beard and glaring at him.

"No, Master, you're the most honest one!" He Xue quickly said. "Master, my brother the Crown Prince and I are going to offer tea to the Empress Dowager. Would you like to join us?"

"Grandfather, let's go in together!" the Crown Prince said to Xingchi.

Since the Crown Prince had already spoken, Xingchi couldn't refuse. He would drink a cup of tea, which would be a way to make up for the regret of not being able to attend the Crown Prince's wedding.

When the Empress Dowager saw Xingchi return, she was about to make a mocking remark, but then she saw the Crown Prince and Hexue behind him, so she could only swallow her words.

When the Empress Dowager saw Xingchi sitting next to her, she thought to herself, "This is unbelievable! She actually sits with Fulin!"

After drinking He Xuejing's tea, the Empress Dowager immediately instructed Granny Duo to bring a box to He Xuejing, saying, "This is a gift from the Empress Dowager to you!"

"Grandmother, this is too much!" Even Xuejian, the old nanny, was struggling to carry the box.

"Not much, just a drop in the ocean!" the Empress Dowager said generously.

Over the years, the Empress Dowager had accumulated quite a bit of wealth, including gifts from Emperor Kangxi and the concubines in the harem, as well as gifts from court officials on her birthday.

She had already given a portion to the Fifth Prince, and initially she wanted to give the rest to the Ninth Princess. Unfortunately, the Ninth Princess was restless and looked down on Mongolia, saying that Mongolia was a godforsaken place. So she didn't want to give it to the Ninth Princess!

Now she has given some of it to He Xue, partly because she likes He Xue, and partly because she hopes that the Crown Prince and He Xue will take better care of the Fifth Prince in the future.