One by one, the concubines left, leaving only Guan Zhiyue sitting on the kang (heated brick bed). Looking at the empty room, she suddenly felt a little sad, even though the room had been bustling with noise just moments before.

"Your Majesty, you've driven everyone away... this..."

"It's alright, just pack everything up and feed it to the chickens!"

"By the way, let Liu Debao figure out a way to build a pigsty tomorrow!"

“The New Year is almost here, let’s raise our own pigs! We can slaughter them and eat meat ourselves during the New Year! Then we won’t have to get it from the Imperial Kitchen.” Guan Zhiyue said, looking at the room full of food.

Bilian sighed, and in the end, she said nothing and could only do as she was told.

What else could they do if they didn't do it? Because the lady of the house would never give food that others had eaten to the servants; in her opinion, it was dirty.

Why eat dirty stuff when there's fresh food available?

"Yes, Your Highness, I'll have someone take care of it right away!" Bilian replied.

Guan Zhiyue nodded and then said, "Let's have a good meal in the Cold Palace tonight! Tell the servants in the kitchen to prepare it!"

"Your Highness, are you not returning to the Guan residence today?"

"Just now, the old lady sent someone to deliver some things, and I put them in the next room for you," Bilian said.

Guan Zhiyue asked, "What is it?"

Bilian shook her head and said, "It's a very large box. I suppose it's a birthday gift that the master and the others prepared for you!"

Guan Zhiyue thought for a moment and said, "Help me up, I want to see what my grandparents have prepared for me?"

Bilian quickly stepped forward to help Guan Zhiyue up from her seat and led her towards the room next door where she was sleeping.

"Are we inviting the Emperor tonight?" Bilian asked.

Guan Zhiyue chuckled and said, "Those who are sincere need no invitation, and those who are not sincere cannot be persuaded even if you invite them."

Bilian changed the subject and said, "Just now, all the concubines were here. Prince Xiaoyao came by and left a message for the servant at the door."

He said he hoped we could give him a set of chopsticks and a bowl tonight, so he went to check on the shops outside the palace. He'll be back before dinner is served in the Cold Palace.

Guan Zhiyue nodded. "Alright, what should we eat tonight? Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Bilian shook her head, and the two of them arrived at the room where they slept. What came into view was a huge mahogany chest with a lock on it.

Do you have the key?

Bilian took the key out of her sleeve and handed it to Guan Zhiyue, saying, "How could there be no key? There must be one."

Guan Zhiyue couldn't wait to open the box in front of her. Inside, the box was filled with all sorts of things, including a wooden sword.

Guan Zhiyue picked up the wooden sword, couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth, and said with a smile, "As expected of a family of military generals, this gift is truly ingenious."

“Your Highness, don’t you remember this sword? It was carved for you by the Second Young Master!” Bilian said, looking at Guan Zhiyue holding the wooden sword.

Guan Zhiyue smiled. She didn't remember this at all! How long ago was this? She couldn't recall at all; it seemed like it had never happened!

"No, I was just thinking about some things. Here, put it away! I'll check what else I have."

Guan Zhiyue continued to look inside the box and found a bundle of candied hawthorns. Needless to say, this must be her second brother's.

"Your Majesty, may I have a skewer of these candied hawthorns?" Bilian asked, looking at the bright red and glistening candied hawthorns.

"You little glutton, here, have some!"

"Hehe, thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is the most wise and powerful!"

"Take it and share it with them. Alright, hurry up and get ready! Whether we can have a big meal tonight depends on you guys," Guan Zhiyue said.

Bilian happily grabbed the big bundle of candied hawthorns and ran off, it was so much fun!

"Your family is so good to you!" Guan Zhiyue said to herself, though it was unclear who she was talking to.

Little Tuantuan, inside the space, heard Guan Zhiyue speaking and used her consciousness to say, "Happy birthday, Master!"

"Do you want some birthday cake?" Xiao Tuantuan asked.

Guan Zhiyue smiled and said, "I want to eat it, do you have any?"

Little Tuantuan said, "Of course!"

"Okay, get me one, and I'll share it with them tonight?"

"Master, are you sure?"

"yes!"

Guan Zhiyue seemed to have thought of something and said, "Wait a minute, I'll go find someone to bring some things in, just in case a cake suddenly appears and they get suspicious."

So Guan Zhiyue asked Bilian to bring flour, eggs, and milk into the house so she could make them something delicious. Bilian was naturally delighted, as anything made by her mistress was always of the highest quality!

So whenever her empress needs her, she has to run faster.

——

The Imperial Study.

"Hua Quan, have the things I asked you to prepare been ready?" Li Qiji looked up from among the numerous memorials. He needed to finish these things before dinner tonight, otherwise he would definitely miss the grand feast in the Cold Palace.

"Your Majesty, everything is ready, so you can rest assured!"

"Today is also the anniversary of my mother-in-law's death. You'd better be careful and not let the Empress develop any bad impressions of me," Li Qiji continued to instruct without looking up.

Hua Quan quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, everything is in perfect order. Moreover, I have also delivered the sacrificial offerings to the Guan residence in the name of the Empress, as Your Majesty instructed. They should have arrived long ago."

Li Qiji agreed with Hua Quan's words. He didn't want any mistake to cause his emperor to be disliked by the empress!

——

The cold palace came alive with activity that night. Masters and servants alike ate, drank, played drinking games, and sang songs together, having a wonderful time.

Li Qishang arrived just as they were about to start eating. The Imperial Preceptor Shan Liuxian arrived after Li Qishang, bringing Guan Zhiyue a peace charm to pray for her continued safety.

When Li Qiji arrived, Guan Zhiyue and the others had already been drinking for quite a while. Guan Zhiyue was especially happy tonight, as this was her first birthday celebration in this world, and today was also her sixteenth birthday.

What a pity! She's at such a young age, and she's already married and a wife. It's just outrageous.

"Come on, cheers!" Guan Zhiyue raised her glass.

He tilted his head back and took a sip, then looked at everyone present, who all raised their glasses in agreement.

"Come on! If we can't wait for the morning porridge, let's fill up the midnight wine together!" Guan Zhiyue picked up another glass of wine, put one foot on the stool, and laughed loudly.

Everyone else stood up and drank their wine in a very bold manner, finishing it all in one gulp and wiping their mouths with great relish!