It was raining.

Huan Yue invited Lü Wenhe and Jing Wei to sit in the waterside pavilion at the back.

There were lotus flowers in front of the waterside pavilion and water behind it. It was raining, and it was very beautiful.

Lu Wenhe's eyes were red, which made her look less than beautiful. However, she still looked quite pretty in her light green gauze dress.

Jing Wei and Di Baose went to admire the lotus flowers.

The lotus flowers in the East Palace have a unique flavor.

Just like the aroma wafting from the kitchen, it makes your mouth water.

Inside the waterside pavilion, no incense was burned; the natural scent was the best.

Lu Wen spoke, unable to hold back his sadness: "I never expected my aunt to treat me like that."

Huan Yue reassured her, "You have your dad. Just focus on being happy. Anyway, she's wasting her time."

Lu Wenhe was embarrassed to cry. She was sixteen years old, but she had no mother, and only Empress Huan could make her cry.

Huan Yue failed to fly white again this morning, but at least he can still show it for now.

Lu Wen said resentfully, "My aunt wanted to betroth me to her nephew when I was very young. My father disagreed. Later she thought about it again, but her nephew became more and more useless as he grew up. But I have a lot of dowry. My mother didn't leave me much, but my father had a lot, and she wanted it all. Last time, Pei Huanxu harassed me, and about that nephew, he wanted to be a hero and save the damsel in distress."

Huan Yue blinked: "Dare to hit Pei Huanxu? That's pretty good."

Lu Wen cried angrily, "What? You two are putting on an act! You think I'm easy to bully?"

Huan Yue said, "How could that be? Wasn't he beaten up by your brother? It's a pity one of them is missing."

Lu Wenhe twisted his handkerchief and snorted, "The Wen family proposed marriage too quickly, and my aunt is furious. But my father is already enraged."

Huan Yue asked, "Does your nephew usually hang around you too?"

Lu Wenhe snorted, "He wouldn't dare."

Huan Yue nodded: "Your father really protected you very well!"

Lu Wenhe said with shame, "My father said that it was actually my aunt who reminded me. She was afraid that I would be deceived by some shameless person and ruin my life. So he kept a very close eye on me."

Huan Yue nodded: "Of course! He's a great general, he can easily take care of such minor skirmishes with a mere breath."

Lu Wenhe said, "My father said that the Emperor found out yesterday. He will request a title in a couple of days. He used to want to remarry, but now he doesn't. He told me not to worry. I feel really sorry for my father."

Huan Yue smiled and said, "Actually, there's no need for that. A daughter is like a warm cotton-padded jacket, as long as you are filial, your father will be satisfied. Parents and children are different."

Lu Wen said in a low voice, "I want to pray for my father, to bless him and his brothers so that they may all be safe and sound."

Huan Yue nodded: "Peace throughout the world is everyone's wish."

Lu Wen was overjoyed.

She felt that her father might be going to war again, so it was a good thing that she could reassure him.

Huan Yue said, "General Lü is truly a man with the heart of a tiger yet the gentle touch of a rose."

Lu Wenhe said, "My father was very rough with my younger brother."

Huan Yue nodded: "For boys, as generals, it's better to sweat more in peacetime and bleed less on the battlefield. A little blood in peacetime can save their lives on the battlefield. It's the same for girls. If they are raised too pampered in their homes, they will mostly suffer when they go to their husband's family."

Lu Wenhe said shyly, "I'm not that delicate." Then she added sadly, "It was my aunt who did it on purpose."

Huan Yue nodded: "Easy to handle. You are General Lü's daughter, you can't let others handle you."

Lu Wen nodded solemnly, "She won't!"

I didn't realize it before, but suddenly it feels like I've grown up.

She was actually an orphan, but other children matured early.

It wasn't that she was being unreasonable, nor was it her fault that she blamed her father.

Lu Wenhe remembered something else: "My father said that he was taking a concubine so that I could have a few more brothers and sisters, in case he doesn't come back, I won't be alone."

Huan Yue asked, "Didn't your father ever consider that your eldest sister would have to raise a bunch of brothers and sisters?"

Lu Wen blinked.

Huan Yue blinked.

Lu Wen thought about it and felt a little scared.

Her father was a good warrior, so he received many rewards, and naturally, his family was under close surveillance. It's terrifying to think about!

Lu Wen tried to think positively: "My aunt is alright."

Huan Yue said, "Don't you know that sometimes my words don't carry enough weight?"

Lu Wen urged anxiously, "Quickly request the appointment!"

Huan Yue was worried for her: "You should go back and tell your father that you're not good enough and can't support this family. He has to come back no matter what."

Lu Wen blinked, as if he understood.

Of course, with such a good sky and earth, her father is there! She needs her father to protect her!

If it weren't for her father protecting her, her aunt would probably have devoured her! Some people are truly wicked!

Lu Wen thought about it and realized she had to become stronger, at least not let her aunt bully her!

If anyone bullies her again, she'll fight back just like her brother! How many people in Sheng'an dare to mess with her?

When Jing Wei and Di Baose returned from their stroll, did they see that the Empress had tricked Lü Wenhe?

The female official led Princess Yongqing over.

Huan Yue and Di Baose were both juniors, so they greeted him.

Princess Yongqing was in her forties, still young and beautiful, and had a good temper.

Di Baose accompanied Lü Wenhe on another stroll, as there was plenty of room to explore the back garden.

Even the princess's residence isn't this beautiful.

Princess Yongqing noticed that these girls got along very well, especially Di Baose, who had changed a lot.

Huan Yue invited the princess to have tea and try the freshly made lotus flower pastries.

Princess Yongqing picked one up; it was exquisitely made and tasted quite good.

Huan Yue likes to eat dragon beard candy.

The eldest princess controlled her food intake and smiled at Qing'e, saying, "You probably wouldn't guess, but the Meng family and my family have some connections. Miss Chen came to me asking for a favor."

Huan Yue blinked.

The eldest princess said gently, "I also find her strange. But I just wanted to invite you for tea, so I thought I'd let you know."

Huan Yue smiled and said, "The Eldest Princess is not an outsider. I have some guesses, and I wonder what the Eldest Princess thinks."

Princess Yongqing stated openly, "I don't want to get involved in the Crown Prince's affairs, and I certainly don't want to cause any trouble."

Huan Yue understood: "If Miss Chen really wants to enter the Eastern Palace, she's probably after someone. The Princess might as well test her a bit, and then she'll know for sure."

The eldest princess thought for a moment: "Could it be that person?"

Seeing that the rain had stopped, Huan Yue invited, "Princess, why don't you come with me to see the Eastern Palace?"

Princess Yongqing nodded: "Okay."

She wanted to see who it was that had stolen the Phoenix's life and was now trying to claim a life-saving favor.

She had seen many capable people, but she had never seen the Pei family play this game before.

Di Baose brought two young ladies over.

Huan Yue and Di Baose said, "Please, Aunt, take a look at the Eastern Palace and give us some pointers."

Di Baose understood that it was either to see Chang Ziyu or to see Chang Ziyu.

It's unlikely that the eldest princess would consider Luo Yaohui, and Zhang Shu certainly doesn't have that kind of influence.

Guo Bing came over and greeted the Princess.

Princess Yongqing was very polite, but inwardly sighed, thinking that Lady Dong was utterly inhuman. Miss Guo was certainly good, but not everyone wanted to enter the palace.

Princess Yongqing was very annoyed by Lady Dong, and only when the Empress Dowager was around could she keep her in check.

Now, something good has come up that can solve the Dong family's problem.

Even the eldest princess was not quite sure what kind of wife Dong Shi planned to find for the Prince of Qi.

There are plenty of young ladies in Sheng'an.

The Dong family's influence extends to the whole world, yet nothing satisfies them.

Everyone wandered around and arrived at the Shicui Hall.

Chang Chenghui was in the vegetable garden, lying down on the ground and knocking over a cucumber plant.

So, she wants to eat cucumber?