Zhuoying Pavilion.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

"Greetings to my uncle and aunt, and my eldest cousin!"

A man with graying temples and a woman with wrinkles around her eyes reached out their hands and helped Guan Zhiyue up.

"This old man and his wife pay their respects to Her Majesty the Empress!"

"Uncle, Aunt, you're too polite. It's your daughter-in-law who's bowing to you." Guan Zhiyue stepped aside to avoid their bows.

The man straightened up, looked at his wife beside him, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, etiquette must not be disregarded!"

Guan Zhiyue smiled and led the two to a seat on the side, saying with a smile, "Today is a family banquet, so there are no need for so many formalities. You are the elders, and my niece-in-law is the junior! It is my duty to show respect to you."

"Good, good, good! Ji'er is such a good wife!" Xin Bai looked at Guan Zhiyue and laughed heartily. At the age of forty, she was in the prime of her life. It was such a pity that she refused to pursue an official career despite her lifelong talent!

Guan Zhiyue turned her head to look at the man following behind the two of them who had not said a word.

The man was eight feet tall, dressed in a bright red official robe with a wide black belt around his waist. He wore an academic official's hat with two black tassel ribbons floating behind him. He had a face that resembled the emperor's, and his thick, dark eyebrows were pleasing to the eye, unlike the harsh kind of beauty.

There is a very obvious red mole on the lower left eyelid, small but very dazzling. Her eyes are clear and bright, like a fairy descended from heaven. Her nose is high and straight, her lips are thin and red, and her jawline is firm yet soft. She is like a beautiful tree, who has experienced many trials and tribulations and never fallen from grace.

"I suppose this must be Cousin Xin?" Guan Zhiyue stepped forward and said softly.

Xin Chenchen nodded and looked up to see the woman in front of him. She was not the same woman as the eldest daughter of General Guan's family whom he had met before.

"Is your sister-in-law General Guan's daughter?"

Guan Zhiyue burst out laughing after hearing Xin Chenchen's words.

That smile completely melted Xin Chenchen's heart. The woman before him was exceptionally beautiful, possessing a refined and noble air. Her skin was fair and delicate, her expression serene, her eyes sparkling, her smile charming and gentle.

"Yes, my sister-in-law is General Guan's daughter, Guan Zhiyue."

Xin Chenchen lowered her head awkwardly, wondering what was wrong with her.

"Sister-in-law, you've lost weight?" Xin Chenchen lowered her head and quickly started a new topic to cover up her embarrassment.

"Yes, I've lost weight after exercising for more than half a year." Guan Zhiyue's expression was calm, and there was a confident look between her brows.

"Good!"

After saying this, Xin Chenchen didn't dare to say another word to Guan Zhiyue and quickly went to sit quietly to the side.

However, Li Qiji, who had not spoken since entering, now realized that the woman in front of him was his empress, the fat woman weighing over 200 pounds who lived in the cold palace. It had been several months since they last met.

"Is this my empress? How come she's lost so much weight?" Li Qiji thought to himself.

Empress Dowager Xin looked at Guan Zhiyue and said, "Yes, Yue'er has lost a lot of weight and is much lighter than before. I was just worried that her body would not be able to handle such a sudden weight loss."

"As a result, this girl, in order to show that her health was up to par, and after hearing that you, my brother, had just returned to the capital from Jiangnan, volunteered to cook a welcome dinner for you and your family!"

"Hahaha, then this old man is truly fortunate to have such a delicious meal!"

Madam Xin chimed in, "Then I must try my nephew's wife's cooking later."

"Yue'er, come here quickly. Your aunt and uncle just arrived in the capital today and haven't prepared a gift yet. This bracelet was given to me by my mother. Now that I'm old, this pink color is more suitable for young people like you." Madam Xin slipped the pink jade bracelet she was wearing onto Guan Zhiyue's wrist and nodded with great satisfaction.

Guan Zhiyue accepted it without hesitation, saying, "Thank you, Aunt. I really like this bracelet, so I won't stand on ceremony!"

"You child, you cannot refuse the kindness of your elders."

"Yes, thank you, Aunt."

During their casual conversation, Li Qishang finally arrived. Otherwise, Guan Zhiyue would have been dying of awkwardness. This guy truly lived up to his reputation as a scholarly family; his constant use of classical Chinese phrases made her feel like she was about to vomit blood.

"Empress Dowager, Imperial Brother, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Qi Shang is here." Li Qi Shang, whose voice preceded his arrival, finally arrived amidst Guan Zhiyue's expectant cries. This fellow had been running off somewhere again, and only now was he returning.

"Shang'er has arrived! Quickly greet your uncle and aunt!" said Empress Dowager Xin.

Li Qishang rushed up to Xin Bai with a happy expression, grabbed his sleeve and said, "Qishang, greet your uncle. How have you been lately, uncle?"

"Hello, Auntie! You're getting younger and younger!"

As soon as Li Qishang arrived, the whole house was filled with laughter and joy, which surprised Guan Zhiyue. Was this still a royal family? How come they seemed happier and more joyful than ordinary people?

"You naughty child, your aunt is getting younger and younger, isn't she going to become an old monster?" Old Madam Xin teased.

Li Qishang looked around but didn't see Guan Zhiyue. Instead, he saw a thin woman sitting next to the Emperor, with his elder brother holding her hand. He asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, are you not here yet?"

Guan Zhiyue chuckled lightly, "Your Highness, do you think I am?"

"Royal sister-in-law? You are the royal sister-in-law? How could you become so thin? Are you sure you are my royal sister-in-law?" Li Qishang looked at the woman in front of him in astonishment, simply unable to believe that his Yue'er had become so thin after only a month or two of not seeing her.

"Yes, absolutely genuine!"

"Alright, now that everyone is here, let's have our meal!" Empress Dowager Xin quickly said.

So the group went into the house. Xin Bai smelled the aroma coming from inside, took a deep sniff, and then said with a smile, "Big sister, please don't laugh at me. I've smelled this aroma for a long time. Now I can finally taste my niece-in-law's cooking. I'm going to feast on it. Please don't laugh at me, big sister."

"Yue'er said we're having a hot pot with two broths today. If you like it, then eat as much as you like. Your sister will make sure you have a full meal." Empress Dowager Xin and Old Madam Xin supported each other's hands.

Li Qiji and Guan Zhiyue walked behind the crowd. Li Qiji held Guan Zhiyue's hand tightly in his. Guan Zhiyue couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Pah, you son of a bitch! Now that I've lost weight, you're going to give me my beauty? You heartless man!"

"What, does the Empress dislike me holding your hand?" Li Qiji glanced back at Guan Zhiyue as if he could hear her inner thoughts.

Guan Zhiyue immediately flashed her obsequious smile, her face full of flattery: "No, no, Your Majesty, let's go in quickly! This concubine is hungry..."