Su Peisheng also let out a long, but soft sigh, but quickly cheered up again: "It's better this way."

It is said that the imperial family is heartless, but who would have thought that there is such genuine family joy in the inner palace?

After a moment of silence, Su Peisheng remembered what Qingxue had told him before and couldn't help but lean closer to her and ask, "Is that Lan Yun really your master's person?"

"Shh!" Qingxue quickly gestured, looked around, and said with a stern look, "Didn't I tell you not to mention this again?"

"Oh, I just didn't expect it." Su Peisheng scratched his nose sheepishly. "Your master would make the first move."

"Otherwise what? Are we supposed to wait until they're at the door before we start defending?" Qingxue rolled her eyes, then gave Su Peisheng's shoulder a light, somewhat reluctant push. "Stand back a bit."

"Oh dear, still so heartless." Su Peisheng grumbled, but still stood on the other side of the door. Just as he stood there, he heard the Emperor calling for the meal. He quickly responded, but he didn't need to run around much. Soon, the clever little eunuch heard the Emperor's voice and rushed over: "Grandpa Su, does the Emperor have any instructions?"

"Go and call your brother Shunzi, let's go serve the meal together." Su Peisheng flicked his sleeve, and the little eunuch responded in a low voice, bowed to Grandpa Su, and then left.

Qingxue glanced at him with amusement: "Still calling yourself Grandpa Su? Aren't you afraid of shortening your lifespan?"

“The younger ones use respectful terms, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Su Peisheng said, a hint of smugness in his expression. He glanced sideways at Qingxue, “What, no one calls you Grandma?”

Qingxue jokingly scolded him, and just then the Imperial Noble Consort called for someone from inside the room, so she quickly went in.

Su Peisheng chuckled softly, and then, as if remembering something, he took out a hairpin from his pocket with a rare gentle expression. After hesitating, he put it away again.

I'm afraid she might not accept it, so... let's wait and see.

After the family finished their dinner together, Hongli and Foerguochun took their leave, taking Hongshan with them. The two little ones were already sleepy and about to fall asleep, so Qian Shengyan asked the wet nurse to take them back and feed them before letting them sleep, so they wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night and have an uncomfortable sleep.

Yinzhen had already laid out the paper and prepared the after-dinner activity—writing calligraphy. He also prepared a copy for Qian Shengyan, who did not refuse. She came over and stood to copy a page of the calligraphy model. After so many years of writing, she had gotten used to it.

"Your handwriting now has a certain elegance," Yinzhen praised. He didn't mention that the memorials she had written had been circulated and viewed in the Southern Study. Her small regular script, though still gentle and graceful, also carried a touch of elegance, which made the Minister of Revenue, who had always loved collecting calligraphy, look at them repeatedly. He was somewhat incredulous when he heard that it was written by the Imperial Noble Consort.

Qian Shengyan sighed. After hearing what Yinzhen said, she also recalled her miserable experience of writing memorials—first writing it on a blank sheet of paper, then revising it, then copying it again, then looking at it again, and perhaps needing to revise it again, and then copying it again into the designated memorial notebook.

A single text needs to be copied over and over again. What Qian Shengyan fears most now is writing memorials. She really doesn't understand why some people can write thousands of words just to greet the emperor. It's too difficult. If she accidentally misspells a word on the last line, she has to copy it all over again.

Just thinking about it makes me want to torture myself. Because of this, Qian Shengyan remembered writing self-criticisms in her previous life. Now, she has managed to suppress Fergu Chun's impulsive nature a bit through these self-criticisms, and she can use them to control Hong Shan in the future. It's pretty good.

Speaking of this, Qian Shengyan asked about Hongshan's studies.

Yinzhen was unusually troubled for a moment. After a while, he put down his brush, took the hot towel from Su Peisheng to wipe his hands, and sighed, "Teacher Zhang said that Hongshan could forget the characters he learned yesterday today. He can memorize them very quickly, but he will forget them again after going out to play... I didn't believe it at first, but I saw it with my own eyes twice a few days ago..."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but reveal a truly pitiful expression.

Even an emperor cannot save a poor student.

Qian Shengyan also felt a headache coming on: "When Hongli was a child, he loved to read. If he wasn't allowed to read and was allowed to play for a while, it was like he was going to be killed. How come Hongshan is completely the opposite..."

Why can brothers be so different?

Yinzhen also felt a headache coming on, but he did not give up: "Hongshan is still young. With strict guidance, he will surely achieve great things."

Qian Shengyan could only console herself with this thought at this point. After thinking for a moment, Yinzhen added three more teachers to Hongshan and Hongxiao from the Thirteenth Family.

Qian Shengyan: ...

Okay then, well, we can't really raise a prince who is illiterate.

Before she knew it, Qian Shengyan had no time to worry about Hongshan's studies. The Banjin Festival was approaching again. She was not pregnant and was in good health, so she could only busy herself with the festival feast. Fortunately, her subordinates were becoming more and more capable, which made things much easier for her. Soon, October 18th, the day of the Banjin Festival, arrived.

To prepare for this day, Aruhan ate bitter medicinal soup for half a month without missing a single meal, drinking three bowls a day until she almost got used to the taste. Now, even when she goes out, she can smell the medicine on herself.

Annoyed to no end, she couldn't hold back and smashed the medicine bowl, intending to beat the little palace maid. However, she was stopped by Geng Shi, who heard the noise and rushed over. She was severely reprimanded and forced to kneel for half an hour.

Aruhan was unwilling, but there was nothing she could do. Her only hope now was the Golden Banquet, where she could not only see the Emperor, but also Qiqige.

The former can win her favor, while the latter can help her gain favor. Both are Borjigit, but Qiqige, who married a prince, is out of the running, so the only option is to help her.

Aruhan planned to consult with her and think of a way to at least gain the Emperor's favor first.

The day of the Golden Offering Festival was lively, and a banquet was held in the palace in the evening.

Fucha was recovering well during her postpartum period. She was sitting behind Qian Shengyan with a rosy complexion. She would occasionally turn around to look at her little daughter being held by the wet nurse. Next to her were her two little brothers-in-law. All three babies were asleep at the moment.

Hongli and Hongzhou were now sitting at the very front of the row of princes, along with the thirteenth and sixteenth princes. Although they looked young, they already had a mature royal air about them.

As for the other concubines...

Qian Shengyan lowered her eyes, picked up the fruit syrup in front of her, and took a sip.

That Aruhan really knows how to cause trouble for people.

Because of today's grand festival, Qian Shengyan and Fuerguochun, as Imperial Noble Consort and Princess Gulun respectively, were both dressed in bright yellow robes. Geng and Guo, who held the rank of Consort, wore dark red court robes. There were no customary rules for those below the rank of Consort. Wu also wore a proper royal blue robe. However, Aruhan insisted on wearing a light yellow robe.

At first glance, it appears as pure white, but under the light, a subtle yellow tint becomes visible, almost glaringly reflective. Qian Shengyan was constantly blinded by the light whenever she glanced across the street, finding it incredibly annoying.