Qing'e Palace.

Huan Yue dressed up and met people in the Qing'e Palace.

Di Baose came to join in the fun, and dressed up even more dazzlingly than the Crown Princess.

Huan Yue looked at her and asked if she wanted to change seats.

It's nothing special. Di Baose sat to one side, looking at Qing'e Palace, and that was it.

She'll probably have it someday.

Chao Yun, a sixth-rank female official, looked very imposing after being dressed like this. She even brought out the Empress's aura.

He Shuiying led Chang Ziyan and Chang Zihan in, keeping her eyes straight ahead and not daring to look.

A female official gestured: Kneel.

He Shuiying was pulled back by Chaoyun before she could kneel down.

He Shuiying's heart skipped a beat. She finally understood: how could her daughter accept her parents kneeling so easily? Her daughter still acknowledged her. Enough.

Actually, it's fine to make her kneel before the Crown Princess, as long as she's alright.

Chang Ziyan and Chang Zihan were confused for a moment, then followed the female official and obediently kowtowed.

This etiquette, while not exceptionally refined, at least followed the proper rules. And it wasn't overly timid or hesitant.

Huan Yue looked at it and thought it was alright.

Perhaps because it's still considered a prequel in the book, and according to the story, the White Moonlight hasn't returned to the Pei family yet, the suppression of the Chang family isn't too severe. Once she returns to the Pei family, gets involved with the Crown Prince, and then uses up all the Chang family's resources before discarding them.

The Chang family's conditions weren't bad to begin with; the conditions in Baishi Village were quite good.

We can now consider it a time of peace and prosperity, and most ordinary people are able to make ends meet.

He Shuiying and Consort Shen were about the same age, but He Shuiying didn't have white hair.

Huan Yue stood up, then stepped down and bowed to He Shuiying.

Chaoyun helped He Shuiying accept the greeting.

He Shuiying was so excited that she cried.

Huan Yue nodded slightly: "Please sit down."

It's impossible for us to hug and cry together, not even if her own mother came.

Chang Ziyan and Chang Zihan were a little confused and dared not move.

Huan Yue came over and easily lifted Chang Ziyan up.

Chang Ziyan was completely dumbfounded!

The eunuch hurried over and pulled him aside, waiting to be offered a seat.

Huan Yue then lifted Chang Zihan up and carried her directly to the top.

Chang Zihan looked at her with some curiosity. This was her older sister? She really did look a bit like her.

Huan Yue sat down on the throne and then had her sit beside him.

Di Baose chuckled: "The two of you look more and more alike."

Huan Yue said, "It's not your turn to speak." Then he pulled Chang Zihan up and said, "Go and see Consort Di."

A female official led Chang Zihan over.

Di Baose found this little village girl amusing; although she could understand human speech, children are probably all like that.

Seeing that He was about to bow to her, how could Di Baose dare to? Although it was permissible according to her status, she was, after all, a junior, and besides, even the Crown Princess had not allowed it, so it would be strange if she accepted it.

Chaoyun pulled He Shi down to sit, telling her to cry if she wanted to.

Chang Ziyan and Chang Zihan did not receive this treatment; they respectfully kowtowed.

Di Baose laughed and said, "He's much more well-mannered than Chang Chenghui. There's no way to teach him. I should have kept him in the Chang family."

Huan Yue had Chang Zihan sit down next to her again, and continued Di Baose's words: "The Chang family is too small to support her big fish."

He Shuiying dared not speak ill of Chang Chenghui, but seeing the Empress's words, she felt utterly relieved.

Di Baose sent someone to ask, "What is Chang Chenghui doing so early in the morning?"

Chang Zihan blinked as she looked at Di Liangdi.

If Chang Chenghui were a daughter of the Chang family, this slap in the face would be quite embarrassing. But since the real Chang family daughter is the Crown Princess, watching Chang Chenghui make a fool of herself is very satisfying.

Even if he entered the palace under the name of Chang Chenghui, it doesn't mean he wasn't.

The eunuch was quite clever and reported to Consort Huan and Consort Di: "Chang Chenghui didn't eat yesterday and was hungry when he woke up this morning. The kitchen has everything, such as ten catties of pork, two catties of mutton, two chickens, two fish, and today they also gave us a duck, five catties of tofu, ten eggs, and plenty of rice, flour and oil."

He Shuiying was stunned.

The eunuch emphasized to her, "This is a daily allowance; Your Highness is kind-hearted, and it's given according to Your Highness's own rations."

Chang Ziyan muttered to herself, "Why am I being so nice to her?"

Huan Yue laughed and said, "A real man should be magnanimous! It's just some food."

Chang Ziyan felt ashamed.

Chang Zihan lowered her head.

Huan Yue asked her, "Are you craving it? I'll have your mother buy some and cook it for you later."

Chang Zihan wanted to say she wasn't craving meat, but she had to eat ten pounds of meat every day!

Di Baose thought to herself, if Chang Ziyu were to stop doing the job, then she wouldn't be given any more opportunities.

The eunuch continued, "Chang Chenghui probably had never seen so many before and didn't know how to proceed, so he picked up a kitchen knife and cut his own hand."

Chang Zihan burst out laughing.

Di Baose laughed even harder! Not knowing how to proceed, he cut his own hand? Hahaha, so funny!

The eunuch was very eloquent: "Chang Chenghui said she was injured. Liu Mama said, 'You got injured from a cut with a kitchen knife? Are all the villagers so delicate? Should we call an imperial physician? If we bring one from the Imperial Hospital to the village, the injury should be healed by then.'"

Chang Zihan was genuinely amused.

He Shuiying was both amused and exasperated.

Everyone understands that Chang Ziyu has not been with the Chang family since she was three years old and looks down on them, so how could she possibly have any feelings for them?

The eunuch continued, "Chang Chenghui was hungry, so he went to the vegetable garden and picked a few cucumbers to tide him over. Then he went to the kitchen to cook porridge. In the end, he cooked half a pot of porridge, and half of it burned. Fortunately, Liu Mama stopped him, otherwise the whole pot would have been charred. It's still drinkable if you add some water to it."

He Shuiying was helpless.

Chang Zihan said softly, "Is it really that difficult to cook porridge?"

Huan Yue asked her, "How old were you when you started learning to cook?"

Chang Zihan said shyly, "I help my mother with the fire, and I do it occasionally when we're busy in the fields."

Huan Yue asked, "So, what dishes can you cook?"

Di Baose laughed loudly: "You wouldn't let this genuine country girl teach that country girl who is ten years older, would you?"

Huan Yue said decisively, "She's dreaming."

He Shuiying breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the Crown Princess is in a stronger position than Chang Ziyu, it would be too much of a target of hatred to have Chang Zihan teach her to cook.

Chang Zihan belatedly realized that she thought her sister was pretty and treated her very well.

She speaks so sweetly and smells wonderful; Chang Ziyu has never been this kind to her before.

He Shuiying recovered and saw that although the Empress did not recognize her, she and Zihan were like sisters.

Chang Ziyan felt a sense of satisfaction listening to Chang Ziyu's tragic story. He secretly glanced around the main hall; his sister was truly formidable.

Huan Yue said, "There are no outsiders here now, so feel free to look around."

Chang Ziyan blushed.

Di Baose and He Shi praised, "Your child is just so good."

He Shuiying quickly replied, "I wouldn't dare. I'm just afraid they'll cause trouble for Your Highness."

Huan Yue said, "Be careful outside, you'll be fine here."

Chang Zihan was overjoyed. Her sister treated her like family.

Huan Yue didn't treat her like family. It's the same as doing rote memorization and endless practice problems.

But for those that catch my eye and are slightly better...

Chang Zihan was already very happy: "When we arrived this morning, He Yuexian even tried to climb onto the car to find Chang Ziyu."

Huan Yue asked, "And then?"

Chang Zihan said in a very soft voice, "I kicked her down." Then she quickly added, "There's also a Miss Chen who wants to go to the palace to see the Empress."

Di Baose was surprised: "Chen Zhi actually wants to come with you?"

Huan Yue asked, "Are you also looking for Chang Ziyu?"