After the four members of the Yan family finished their breakfast, Yan An returned to Zi'an Courtyard to pick some fresh buds to prepare for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

"It seems like the tooth tip hasn't aged much these past few days, which is perfect for leaving for the old man. I wonder how the old man and Granny Qi are doing, and where they went?" Unforgettable memories flashed through my mind.

Yan An had been busy in the space all day, and it was almost time for dinner.

"Miss, Master and Madam want you to have your meal in the dining room." Bai Lan knocked on the door from outside.

"I understand, I'll be there in a moment." Yan An washed his face with water from Tianshan Mountain, changed his clothes, and went to the dining hall.

After dinner, Yan An digested her food in the backyard before returning to Zi An Courtyard.

creak...

"Why did you come here today? Aren't you busy?" Yan An yawned, feeling a little sleepy.

"Tomorrow is the Empress Dowager's birthday, I've come to bring you some clothes." Yue Xiyuan placed the box containing the clothes on the tea table.

Yan An got up and opened the box. "It's like silk and brocade, smooth and delicate. Is it Sanli Brocade?"

"Yes, it was a tribute from the Yan Kingdom not long ago. I thought it would be a good match for An'an, so I brought it back. Does An'an like it?"

"I like it, I'll wear this tomorrow."

"By the way, how is Yue Zhixiao doing? Didn't they say there was something going on a few days ago?"

“That day, a masked man went to Yue Zhixiao’s mansion, but Yue Zhixiao had heavily guarded it, so he couldn’t get in and we couldn’t know what they were talking about. The man stayed inside all night before coming out. The next morning, he went to Yuelai Guesthouse and didn’t come out until evening. The guards noticed something was wrong and went to check the guest rooms but didn’t find him. They also didn’t see him leave. I guess he was disguised.”

"Do you remember the record in the Gu book, the Illusion Gu? It can cause illusions to be created by eating it once a month. The pain of illusion is like being devoured by the marrow, and the pain of restoration is also like being devoured by the marrow. Yue Xiyuan, do you think it might be that Gu person?" Yan An had a flash of inspiration and thought of this.

"My An'an is so smart." Yue Xiyuan gave Yan An a big kiss on the forehead.

"Come on, did you already think of this? Are you trying to prove it to me?" Gu Shuyan had already given the book to Yue Xiyuan after reading it, so he must have guessed it too.

"If that's really the case, then this person is truly extraordinary. The pain of being devoured by the marrow, yet the secret guards didn't notice a thing. Tsk tsk tsk..." This kind of person is just so vicious and ruthless.

"An'an, you must be extra careful at the banquet tomorrow. After all, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. Get some rest, see you tomorrow."

Yue Xiyuan looked at Yan An, who kept yawning, with a doting expression, picked her up and put her on the bed before leaving.

The next day, Yan An got up early again and had breakfast at Zi An Courtyard. It was quite rare for him to have breakfast for two consecutive days.

"Bai Lan, wear the clothes on the table today."

"Yes, Miss."

Yan An was dressed in a purple brocade robe, with layers of thin gauze. Her skin was fair and flawless, like solidified cream. She wore a purple jade hairpin and a gold tassel hair ornament that Yue Xiyuan had brought her yesterday. She had lightly drawn willow eyebrows and a touch of red on her lips. Her eyes were sparkling. Every gesture she made showed the elegance of a lady from a prominent family.

"Miss, you are simply a goddess descended to earth today." Bai Lan stared at Yan An with a dazed look, her mouth almost watering.

"Bai Lan, are you saying that Miss isn't beautiful on ordinary days?" Yan An also thought she was very beautiful today.

"Ah? No, no, no, my young lady is a fairy descended from heaven, every single day!" Bai Lan immediately changed her tune.

"Let's go, Bai Tao. Don't keep Father, Mother, and Elder Brother waiting." Bai Tao is steady and reliable, making her suitable to accompany her to the palace banquet.

"Father, Mother, and Elder Brother," Yan An called out when he saw the three of them waiting for him at the door.

"My daughter is the most beautiful woman in the world!"

"That's right, General Yan's daughter is definitely the best!" Yan An said with a smug look on his face.

"You two must stop joking around, or you'll miss the party." Jiang Luo looked at the father and son's narcissistic appearance with a helpless expression.

Under the azure sky, the golden glazed tile roof of the palace looked exceptionally magnificent.

"An'an".

"Yue Xiyuan? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your aunt?"

"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, elder brother, it's alright, Mother will be there in a moment." Even if the sky were to fall, he would still come here because his An'an was here.

“Father-in-law and mother-in-law, An’an may come with me today…” Yue Xiyuan pointed to his seat.

"Go ahead, go ahead." Before Yan Cheng could stop him, Jiang Luo agreed.

Yan An and Yue Xiyuan were already engaged. Now that Yan An is about to come of age, it is not a problem for her to sit with Yue Xiyuan. Moreover, Yue Xiyuan is handsome and brave, and Jiang Luo likes him very much.

The court officials and their families took their seats. "The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Consort Chen have arrived!"

"Your subject, your concubine, and your humble woman pay respects to Your Majesty, Your Majesty, and Consort Chen. Long live the Emperor! May Your Majesty and Consort Chen enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

"Rise and take a seat!"

"The Crown Prince Feng Yan of Feng Kingdom greets the Prince of Yue Kingdom, the Empress Dowager, and Consort Chen. Yan Kingdom presents sixty-nine items, wishing the Empress Dowager a lifetime of peace, good fortune, and auspicious stars shining upon her."

"Lu Liangrui, the second prince of Lu Kingdom, greets the prince, empress dowager, and concubine Chen of Yue Kingdom. Lu Kingdom presents ten thousand taels of gold, wishing the empress dowager happiness as long as the Eastern Sea and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountain pine."

"Crown Prince Yan Xu of Yan Kingdom greets the Prince, Empress Dowager, and Consort Chen of Yue Kingdom. Yan Kingdom presents a thousand bolts of brocade, a thousand pieces of gold, silver and jade artifacts, a thousand catties of spices, a thousand pieces of leather goods, and ten pairs of fine jade. May the Empress Dowager live a long and healthy life, and may her steps be graceful and enduring."

"Very well, very well. I will trouble the three princes to convey my gratitude. I wish that the four kingdoms will forever maintain harmonious relations." Today, the Empress Dowager was dressed in a long yellow Shu brocade dress that stretched to the ground, tied with a ribbon at the waist, and wearing a phoenix crown on her head, looking majestic and dignified.

"Mother, this is a jade pendant that I obtained from a master at Jinhua Temple after fasting for ten days. It is said to have the effect of calming the mind and refreshing the spirit." Although Yuexi was the daughter of Consort Chen, for some reason, the Empress Dowager disliked her very much and took her in to raise her.

"Good, good, our Xi'er has grown up and become sensible. I will wear it every day." Granny Rong took the jade pendant with both hands and tied it around the Empress Dowager's waist.

The Emperor also took the jade pendant and tied it around his waist. Yue Zhixiao, who was in the distance, flashed a cold smile, but because the banquet was too lively, no one noticed.

All the court officials presented their birthday gifts.

"The Empress Dowager treats Princess Yue'an as her own daughter. Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday, so why is Princess Yue'an not presenting any gifts? Could it be that she did not grow up in the capital and is unaware of etiquette?"

A mocking remark, neither too loud nor too soft, reached Yan An's ears. Yue Xiyuan, who was sitting next to her, couldn't sit still any longer. How dare he speak ill of his An'an? He would break her neck. Yan An pulled Yue Xiyuan back and shook her head.

"An'an wishes Auntie a life as enduring as the moon and as rising as the sun. May she live as long as the Southern Mountain, never waning or collapsing. This is fruit wine that An'an prepared for Auntie; it can stimulate the appetite and nourish the complexion."

Granny Rong took two jars of fruit wine brewed by Yan An and a glass cup from Bai Tao, and poured two cups for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

"Sweet and sour, with a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth, every sip is filled with the taste of hawthorn, which instantly whets my appetite. I have never tasted such delicious fruit wine before. An'an, this wine is exactly what your aunt wants."

The Empress Dowager's face was full of sincere smiles, kind and approachable, quite unlike the solemn empress dowager she usually was.