The next day, today is the Empress's birthday, which is September 10th. Since Sihuangzhou has just experienced a locust plague, the Emperor's birthday in June was not celebrated in a grand manner, so naturally the Empress's birthday cannot be celebrated in a grand manner.

“Your Majesty, it’s your birthday today. It’s a pity we can’t have a grand celebration. If we could, it would be so magnificent!” Bilian said.

"At that time, the master and the old lady, as well as the general and the young general, will be able to spend time with Your Majesty."

However, for Guan Zhiyue, this birthday is also the anniversary of her mother's death. Back when she lived in the Guan family, her father would drink alone all day long when he was in the capital.

Holding her mother's memorial tablet, she cried her heart out. Thinking of this, Guan Zhiyue felt a pang of sorrow, whether from her own emotions or something else.

Guan Zhiyue didn't know how to express or convey these feelings!

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Bilian asked, noticing that Guan Zhiyue's expression was somewhat off.

Guan Zhiyue shook her head and said, "It's alright! Are the concubines in the harem also coming to pay their respects today?"

Bilian nodded and then said, "Then Your Highness, you should get dressed now."

Guan Zhiyue nodded, "Let's wear the Empress's court dress!"

On such formal occasions, one usually wears the empress's court dress, so Guan Zhiyue was no exception and wore the empress's court dress today.

The weather is still very hot in September. Fortunately, Guan Zhiyue knows how to make ice, and there is ice in the Cold Palace, so you can't feel any heat!

After putting on those layers of court robes, Guan Zhiyue still broke out in a cold sweat, and felt a slight chill on her back.

"Your Highness, isn't it too hot?" Bilian asked quickly when she saw beads of sweat on Guan Zhiyue's forehead.

Guan Zhiyue shook her head and said, "It's alright, it's acceptable. Keep dressing me up! Judging by the time of day, these women should be on their way, right?"

"yes."

Bilian then instructed the maids to continue dressing Guan Zhiyue. After about half a cup of tea's time, Guan Zhiyue was finally dressed.

He was wrapped up in layers, looking just like a rice dumpling.

It's no exaggeration to say that he looked like a giant rice dumpling. His bright yellow court robe and towering hat made him seem completely out of place.

Guan Zhiyue's fair and delicate face was lightly rouged, making her look radiant and very beautiful!

Rosamund Kwan usually goes out without makeup, but this outfit is quite rare, giving people a very novel and comfortable feeling.

"Your Majesty, you look so beautiful! This court dress was made just for you, as if you were born to wear such clothes!" Bilian exclaimed in Guan Zhiyue's ear.

Guan Zhiyue laughed and said, "You're so glib. Why don't you hurry up and help me to the next room?"

Bilian and Shiliu quickly stepped forward and helped Guan Zhiyue to a room with a large kang (heated brick bed) in the side. She would receive the greetings from the concubines in the harem in this room.

As soon as Guan Zhiyue sat down, groups of women from the harem came, each carrying something in their hands.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress! May Your Majesty be blessed!"

"Happy birthday, Your Majesty! May you stay young forever!" the concubines shouted in unison.

Guan Zhiyue said with a smile, "Sisters, please don't stand on ceremony, everyone! Today is my birthday, so there are plenty of snacks and treats. Please eat as much as you like!"

As Guan Zhiyue spoke, she had someone bring over all sorts of snacks that she had prepared beforehand.

She took them all out of her spatial storage—various unpackaged snacks, in all flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty.

"Oh dear, if you ask me, it's better to be the Empress! Qiaoqiao, none of us concubines have ever even seen these things before!" A woman in a pink dress raised her hand to touch her temples, her face full of disdain.

Then another woman chimed in, "Hey, who says otherwise? These things... they must have been bestowed upon us by the Emperor!"

"Your Majesty, isn't this a bit too unfair? The Emperor has bestowed all these things upon you, why don't you give some to us sisters?" Consort Rong looked at the plates of food that were being served with envy on her face.

Guan Zhiyue didn't want to argue with them, after all, it was her birthday today, and she didn't want things to get unpleasant.

She simply said, "My ladies, you may not know this, but these are all foods that I researched and developed, and they have nothing to do with the Emperor."

"But if there really is any connection, it's that all of these things come from the Imperial Kitchen. That's about it. Fresh food, everyone, have a taste!"

Consort Xian, He Jiao, couldn't wait any longer. She was too lazy to deal with these women who were just yelling and screaming like fighting cocks every day!

She's the kind of person who just eats and drinks for free. With so much fresh food available, it would be a waste not to eat it!

"Oh my god! Sister, what is this thing?"

"It's absolutely delicious!" He Jiao said, sticking out her tongue as she ate a spicy snack.

It's fragrant, spicy, and sweet—it's simply a delicacy!

"I call this spicy strip."

"How about it? Doesn't it fit its name perfectly?" Guan Zhiyue asked He Jiao.

He Jiao stuck out her tongue and nodded vigorously. Her eyes were already red from the spiciness, and her little face was flushed. She kept eating.

"Oh, Consort Xian, look at yourself! You're redder than a monkey's bottom! Aren't you afraid of being poisoned?" Consort Rong took a deep breath of the spicy snack. It was indeed fragrant, spicy, and addictive, but she dared not eat it!

Because she can't handle spicy food!

"What, Consort Rong, do you have something to say again? Why are you everywhere? You're like a dung beetle all day long." He Jiao stuck out her tongue, picked up a piece of dried mango and took a bite, directly retorting.

Consort Rong was displeased that He Jiao would speak to her like that, and immediately shouted, "Consort Xian, how dare you speak like that? How am I a dung beetle?"

Guan Zhiyue raised her hand and rubbed her temples. She knew that where there were many women, there was bound to be trouble!

"Enough! What's all this noise about? Consort Rong, you really have a lot of nerve! I don't want to pay attention to you, but you still dare to be so arrogant?"

"What rank does Consort Xian hold, and what rank do you hold? Don't you have any idea? Besides, today is my birthday. I wanted to spend it peacefully, but some people just like to go against the grain."

"I have prepared some food for everyone to enjoy. If you want to eat, then eat; if you don't want to, then don't. Why should you chatter away like a sparrow while others are eating?"

"Alright, I'm tired. All of you, leave!" Guan Zhiyue felt nauseous looking at the large group of women and quickly told them to leave!

Seeing that the Empress was in such a state, the concubines, not wanting to get into trouble, quickly slunk away.