The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction and put down her teacup: "Rise, and bring a chair for the Crown Princess. She can sit right next to me."

The eunuch beside her obeyed the order and brought a chair to place next to the Empress Dowager. Song Tangxue thanked him calmly and sat down.

This natural and confident demeanor pleased the Empress Dowager even more.

"He's just a beast, yet he dares to slight the Empress Dowager? There are so many beasts in the world, is this the excuse you always use?" Song Tangli couldn't stand seeing Song Tangxue doing well, so she spoke up from the side.

In just a short while, he inexplicably gained the Empress Dowager's favor and sat next to her. How could she not be envious?

Song Tangxue looked at her speechlessly. Some people are so eager to court death that even the King of Hell can't stop them.

"It's only because the Empress Dowager is kind and benevolent that she didn't blame you." Song Tangli felt that her words had touched the Empress Dowager's heart.

Li Zhaoxian's expression was somewhat complicated, and he raised his hand to tug at her sleeve.

Li Zhaoxian knew that the Empress Dowager liked these small animals, and now Song Tangli's constant use of the word "beast" would probably displease the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager smiled, her expression unreadable: "This is a sacred Buddhist site, where monks are compassionate."

"The Crown Princess is kind-hearted, and I think this is a very good thing."

The little fox approached the Empress Dowager, its clear eyes reflecting her image, which the Empress Dowager found very pleasing.

Song Tangli felt a faint pain in her cheek, unsure whether it was from the slap Song Tangxue had given her or the Empress Dowager's subtle slap.

"It's all I should do. The animals live on this hilltop, and it's actually us who are taking their place. I'm just doing what I can," Song Tangxue said with a gentle smile, looking tenderly at the little fox.

The Empress Dowager gave her an approving look. She was a good girl, unlike some others, who, like those concubines, were full of scheming schemes.

The little fox grew bolder and gently scratched at the Empress Dowager's skirt. When the Empress Dowager reached out, the little fox placed its paw on her skirt and then withdrew it.

A pair of big, round eyes darted around, observing the person in front of them.

The Empress Dowager persisted and finally picked up the little fox. Its soft fur was like the finest silk, and the Empress Dowager was overjoyed.

Those eyes seemed to match those of the girl next to her, equally clear and bright.

“This little fox likes you,” Song Tangxue said, pretending to be eager to pet it.

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager was even more delighted: "You are, after all, its benefactor. Foxes are intelligent animals, and they will surely like you. Why don't you pet it?"

Song Tangxue boldly reached out and touched it. The little fox nestled obediently in the Empress Dowager's arms and affectionately rubbed against Song Tangxue's palm.

The Empress Dowager laughed: "See, I told you this little thing can tell people apart, he knows who is good and who is bad."

"It is all thanks to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's good fortune." Song Tangxue's hand lingered, reluctant to leave, and she stroked it a few more times before finally pulling it away with a heavy heart.

Song Tangli forced a smile, but her heart was filled with jealousy. Why was it always Song Tangxue who stole the spotlight, while her good intentions only resulted in her being sullied?

With her lips clenched tightly, Song Tangli tasted a hint of blood and forced herself to come back to her senses.

Lee So-hyeon is still by my side; I can't show that kind of attitude.

Li Zhaoxian didn't understand why his grandmother liked such animals. When he was a child, he was scratched by a cat in the Empress Dowager's palace when he went to pay his respects.

He didn't like this little gadget, and these little things didn't like him either.

"It's stuffy sitting in this room, let's go for a walk." The Empress Dowager became interested, picked up the little fox, and got up, clearly reluctant to part with the little thing.

The little fox was about to fall asleep in the Empress Dowager's arms. It glanced at her with droopy eyelids, and the Empress Dowager gently placed her hand on its little head, stroking its fur. The little fox then comfortably fell asleep again.

"The area where Huguo Temple was built has a serene and beautiful landscape with fresh air, making it a great place for a leisurely stroll," Song Tangxue said.

The Empress Dowager nodded, stood up and walked forward, the Crown Prince followed, Song Tangli lagged behind and stood with Song Tangxue, while the ladies and young women whose names she did not know stood silently behind them.

The peaks are verdant and shrouded in mist, the air is fresh and clear.

Huguo Temple is surrounded by mountains, with beautiful scenery. At the turn of spring and summer, the sun hangs behind the clouds, illuminating the world.

The Empress Dowager held the little fox in a happy mood.

Song Tangli glared resentfully at Song Tangxue, who was stealing the spotlight beside her. The crowd gradually loosened up and began to whisper about the spring scenery, about Song Tangxue's favor with the emperor, and how she, as a concubine's daughter, was inferior to her legitimate sister.

Song Tangli couldn't stand these things the most, but Song Tangxue genuinely appreciated the beautiful scenery; the spring was infinitely beautiful.

"Ouch." A soft moan brought Song Tangxue back to her senses. Song Tangli, who had approached her unnoticed, swayed against her and fell down like a kite with a broken string.

Her palm was cut by a pebble on the ground, and blood soaked her tender white palm. Despite the pain, Song Tangli looked up carefully at Song Tangxue: "Sister, why did you push me?"

This is another attempt to play the innocent, naive girl.

They keep using the same trick over and over again; it's incredibly boring and useless.

The crowd stopped to watch the spectacle, observing from both near and far.

"I was just blinded by the spring sunshine and accidentally bumped into you. It wasn't on purpose." Song Tangxue didn't want to embarrass Song Tangli in public.

At this point, it's neither entirely false nor entirely true.

There's no need to argue with Song Tangli here and ruin your image in the Empress Dowager's eyes.

Song Tangli persisted, "Sister, if you have a problem with me, you can say it openly. Why make me lose face in front of everyone like this?"

Song Tangli acted affectedly, her slender body swaying as she stood up. Her tear-filled eyes looked softly at Song Tangxue, her snow-white skirt stained with mud and sand.

Li Zhaoxian frowned and took a step forward. The Empress Dowager glanced at him casually, and Li Zhaoxian seemed to be nailed to the spot, lowering his head.

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes and gently stroked the little fox: "With so many people traveling together, it's inevitable that there will be bumps and bruises. The Crown Princess probably didn't do it on purpose. But such a small thing as a fall doesn't need to make everyone stop walking."

The Empress Dowager casually characterized the matter, subtly implying that Song Tangli had blown this small thing out of proportion.

But she wasn't punished, and Song Tangli felt extremely ashamed.

"That's so petty. She just tripped and fell and she's saying her elder sister has a problem with her."

"Even if she has objections, so what? The Crown Princess is the legitimate daughter and will be the Crown Princess in the future. Song Tangli has always been suppressed and has repeatedly provoked her own legitimate sister."

"Yes, Emerald Manor lost all face last time, and now they're doing this again."

"..."

Song Tangli lowered her head, suppressing her tears of frustration, and stared fiercely at Song Tangxue like a wolf cub hiding in the shadows.

Song Tangxue didn't care about her thoughts at all, and walked past her without even giving her a glance.