The next morning, Yi Hua woke up and heard Yu Xue running in excitedly: "Your Majesty, you're awake! I have some great news to tell you. This morning, all the daughters of officials in the Yuanmingyuan were sent out. The Emperor issued an edict saying that they should not disturb the Empress Dowager's recuperation. Now only Princess Huixia is still in the palace."

Yi Hua curled the corners of her mouth. Yesterday's embarrassment could be ignored. If this could be considered a honey trap, then the effect was not bad.

"Your Highness, if you are summoning Madam Zhu today, shall we hold it at Bitong Academy?" Yuling asked as she straightened Yihua's clothes.

"I've never seen this cheongsam before." Yi Hua touched the smooth, silky fabric, which was embroidered with exquisite begonia flowers; it was very beautiful.

"It was delivered by Eunuch Su early this morning. He said it was a pattern personally drawn by the Emperor, and the embroidery workshop rushed to make it over several days. Try it on and see if it fits." Yu Ling rarely showed such excitement.

"A complete set of headdress and jewelry was also sent along with the clothes. I will dress you up in a moment, and you will definitely look beautiful."

It really looks great, but it also takes a lot of time. Yi Hua spent almost half an hour combing her hair, and she lost a few more strands than usual.

"Empress Mother!" Liu Liu led the little wolf in, and Yi Hua turned around. The two children opened their mouths wide.

"Empress Dowager is so beautiful! Liu Liu wants the same outfit too, so we can wear mother-daughter clothes." Liu Liu immediately let go of the little wolf's hand, looked left and right, and was extremely fascinated.

Yi Hua nodded: "Okay, whatever pattern you like, Your Majesty will make it for you."

"What happened to the little wolf?" The snow-white ball of fur turned into a mud doll, with only its shiny black eyes still moving around, which looked rather frightening.

"He got into a fight with Hongkai's younger brother," Liu Liu blurted out. "My older brother told me to bring him back to bathe and change his clothes, so as not to hurt the master's eyes."

Yi Hua touched her forehead. Why was her youngest son always fighting with others? He had just had a conflict with Hong Zhao a couple of days ago, and now he was fighting with the fourteenth son.

Yi Hua instructed that hot water be prepared first, and with the help of the wet nurse, Guo Wei washed her thoroughly.

Before long, the steaming hot little wolf that Yi Hua was familiar with was ready.

"Tell me, what happened?" Yi Hua pushed the ginger soup that Xiao Lang had just made to him, afraid that he would catch a cold after taking a bath.

The little wolf, contrary to his usual self, shut his mouth and looked sullen. He leaned against Yi Hua and said, "Mother, I don't want to do it either, but he said that my elder brother is unfilial and hasn't paid his respects to the Empress Dowager in a long time."

"Mother, does the Empress Mother hate Big Brother and her grandson?" The little wolf looked hurt.

"How could that be? Empress Dowager likes Hongkai, and she likes you all too." Yihua patted the little wolf's head. She had mentioned it to Yinzhen last time, and it seemed that Honghui had a grudge against the Empress Dowager. Yinzhen had talked to Honghui later, and she thought the child had let it go.

“Little Wolf is not a child anymore, Mother doesn’t need to lie to Little Wolf.”

"Huang Mamu doesn't like Big Brother, but Little Wolf does!" Little Wolf waved his arms earnestly. "Guo Luo Mafa said that Little Wolf's power should not be used to hurt people, but to protect his family."

"Little Wolf protected Big Brother well today."

Yi Hua lowered her head and kissed his forehead: "Hmm, Mother thinks Little Wolf did a very good job. What reward does Little Wolf want?"

"Can the little wolf sleep with Mother?" The boy's eyes widened, and he looked very happy.

Yi Hua shook her head: "No."

"Hmph." The little wolf pouted in disdain. "Then the little wolf will go ask Father Emperor for a reward."

After saying that, she ran away. Yi Hua smiled and said, "Make it light for him tonight."

Seeing Yu Ling's puzzled look, Yi Hua thought to herself, although Yin Zhen wouldn't really think that Xiao Lang had done something wrong, he would definitely punish both of them equally, that's the balance.

Although he might not actually receive fifty strokes of the cane, he would likely suffer some physical pain. As his mother, she could only make sure he ate a light diet to prevent the wound from getting infected.

"Go tell Honghui that I made his favorite braised prawns for lunch, and ask him to come back and have lunch with me when he has time."

******

"How is the little wolf?"

"Father Emperor gave him and Hongkai ten strokes of the cane each, and they also have to recite the Analects fifty times." Honghui laughed gleefully, "That kid is crying in Guo Wei's arms right now."

"The shrimp we raise in the yard are much bigger than the ones you buy outside. Try some." Yi Hua put a piece of shrimp on Hong Hui's plate and was quite satisfied as she watched the child eat it bite by bite.

"Honghui, how long has it been since you last paid your respects to the Empress Dowager?" Yihua asked.

Honghui put down his chopsticks: "Mother, I go there every day."

"daily?"

“Yes, every morning I kowtow outside the Changchun Immortal Hall before going to school. It’s just that it’s too early, so I never disturb the Empress Dowager’s rest.”

Yi Hua touched Hong Hui's shoulder with heartache: "Changchun Immortal Hall and the school are completely different. Are you really going to torture yourself like this just to avoid meeting the Empress Dowager?"

Honghui walks 20,000 steps every morning; thankfully, he's in good health.

“Mother, I know that the Empress Dowager has always favored my fourteenth uncle over my father. I have never experienced this before, as I was the only one favored by you and my father.”

“My heart ached so much that day. Father said that the Empress Dowager loved me, but she loved Fourteenth Uncle even more.”

"This kind of affection has become her instinct."

“Mother, I can’t understand it, but I can accept it,” Honghui said frankly. “However, I no longer want to accept the Empress Dowager’s false favor.”

“Father is a man of deep affection and long-lasting love, while I am the opposite, a man of devoted love and yet ruthless love.” Honghui served Yihua a bowl of soup. “Don’t try to persuade me, it’s just that I’ll sleep a little less each day.”

Yi Hua stared blankly at Hong Hui: "You've grown up."

“Mother, your son has grown up and can protect you now.” Honghui held Yihua’s hand.

"Eat up, or the shrimp will get cold." Yi Hua wanted to say a lot, but couldn't say anything.

Afterwards, the two talked about many interesting things that happened at school. Yi Hua listened with a smile: "Take a nap here with your mother. Your mother will wake you when it's almost time."

Honghui did not object and went directly into the side hall to rest.

Yi Hua stared out the window for a long time before suddenly saying, "Granny Chen, send a message to the Ulanara family to keep an eye on the Uya family and make them commit a mistake that could be considered a big or small offense. Make sure they come to the Yuanmingyuan to plead for mercy."

"What does Your Majesty mean?"

"Give the Empress Dowager a reason that forces her to return to the capital!"

Yi Hua's face darkened. Since she didn't want to live a peaceful life as Empress Dowager and insisted on causing trouble, then she would do something big.

If given the choice between walking 20,000 steps every day at Honghui and driving the Empress Dowager out of the Yuanmingyuan, Yihua would not hesitate at all!