Jiang Xuan accepted the candy with some surprise, but remembering that he always had to have Xiao Guizi test it for poison before eating anything, he glanced at his father. Xiao Guizi then stepped forward with a smile, subtly blocking him, and tested the candy. Seeing that the silver needle had not changed color, he smiled and nodded.

Shen Mingrong breathed a sigh of relief.

If the poison isn't tested and the Crown Prince gets seriously ill from eating it, given Jiang Wang's doting on the Crown Prince, even the execution of the entire Rongguo Duke's mansion wouldn't be enough to save him.

Now that things are like this, she can finally rest easy.

She was worried that even if nothing went wrong today, it would be bad if Yan-jie fed the Crown Prince something that caused problems next time.

When Lu Yan saw Jiang Xuan put the candy to his lips and take a bite, she grinned happily, waved to Jiang Xuan, and left Jiaofang Palace with her mother.

Shen Ming'e, who had followed Shen Mingzhuang to the side hall to talk, was restless at the moment. When she saw Shen Mingzhuang come in, she immediately stood up.

"You're pregnant, sit down."

Shen Mingzhuang sighed helplessly and asked her to sit down.

Shen Ming'e nodded and sat down. Shen Mingzhuang then had someone bring her a glass of warm water and asked, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Shen Ming'e took the teacup handed to her by a palace maid, took a sip, and then looked at Shen Mingzhuang. She glanced at him somewhat guiltily and said uneasily, "Mingzhuang..."

She observed Shen Mingzhuang's expression, seemingly trying to confirm whether calling her by her given name would anger Shen Mingzhuang.

Shen Mingzhuang remained calm, clearly not bothered by her form of address, and then she continued, "Mingzhuang, about what happened with Wenxin back then, are you still blaming me in your heart?"

After she finished speaking, she pursed her lips again.

Shen Mingzhuang never expected that she was worried about this matter. What did this have to do with her? She couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "What does this have to do with you? Just because you were born of the same mother, does that mean that if one of you makes a mistake, the other has to be implicated?"

Shen Ming'e was taken aback by Shen Mingzhuang's words, and then laughed.

"Are you really not angry with me?"

As she spoke, her tone lowered again, sounding somewhat dejected, "I saw you talking so much with my fifth cousin, but you didn't say a word to me. I thought you were still angry with me about what happened back then."

That disappointed and heartbroken little face really left Shen Mingzhuang speechless.

"That's because Mingrong has been kind to me. I've been in a coma for the past five years. Now that I've woken up, she has already given birth to Yan'er. I think she's adorable, so I talked to her a bit more. You're about to become a mother yourself, why are you still so worried?"

He laughed again as he spoke, "But aren't you afraid that Lady Liu won't like you? After all, Liu Wenxin is still in the Cold Palace."

Shen Mingzhuang adjusted the crimson lotus root bracelet on her wrist. Upon hearing this, Shen Ming'e's expression changed, and she said, "My mother had a falling out with Liu Wenxin because of me before, and now... now my mother regrets it."

They've fallen out? Shen Mingzhuang was somewhat surprised, unable to discern whether it was true or not.

“Really.” Seeing her somewhat disbelieving look, Shen Ming’e added, “She wanted me to marry a widower whose wife had died. When my mother heard about it, she was so angry that she fell ill. Later, I don’t know what she said to Liu Wenxin, but we haven’t seen each other since.”

Shen Mingzhuang didn't care about these things; he just thought of their past relationship and didn't want Shen Ming'e to misunderstand anything.

"I heard you married Fang Wenshi, a scholar who repeatedly failed the imperial examinations?"

She changed the subject and asked about Shen Ming'e.

Upon hearing this, Shen Ming'e blushed deeply and, barely suppressing her embarrassment, explained, "Mingzhuang, no, he is actually a person of upright character, not as bad as he seems."

Hearing this explanation, Shen Mingzhuang couldn't help but laugh. She hadn't even said anything yet, and she was already so anxious about the repeated failures of the imperial examinations. It was clear that the young couple had a pretty good relationship.

She smiled and nodded, "Okay, okay, whatever you say. Judging from your appearance, you must be living a good life."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ming'e subconsciously touched her belly, smiled and nodded, "He treats me very well. Although the family doesn't have much wealth, he has never let me cry or get tired. He has taken care of me so that I never have to lift a finger."

Shen Mingzhuang listened and was happy for her.

Shen Ming'e is probably the most innocent-minded of the Shen family girls. Although she married down, she is living a good life, which shows that she is very fortunate.

"It's good that you're doing well. It's getting late, and everyone is probably still waiting for you. When you have time, come to the palace with Mingrong."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ming'e was immediately overjoyed. She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes, but she forced a smile and said, "I'll remember what you said. If I want to come see you in the future, you can't turn me away."

Shen Mingzhuang nodded and watched Shen Ming'e leave, remaining in a daze for a long time.

To be honest, back in the Shen family, she was closest to Shen Ming'e and Shen Mingrong. Now, they are all married and living their own lives, so they spend less time together and have fewer opportunities to share their girlish thoughts. Now, as the mother of the nation, she has reconnected with the Shen family, but her mood has not improved at all.

She didn't know why, perhaps because the past five years had passed so quietly, that she felt as if everything had happened five years ago, but her body had suddenly jumped to five years in the future.

Thinking of Manhuan, who was delayed for five years because of her, and now that Manhuan is almost twenty, while she herself is already past twenty, and everyone around her has aged more or less, it's time to make some plans.

Without his interference, Jiang Wang has governed Tianzhong very well in the past few years. The people live in peace and contentment, the seas are calm and the rivers are clear, and the world is at peace. Everything is developing in an orderly and prosperous manner.

She was somewhat worried because her awakening would destroy all of Jiang Wang's efforts, and she feared that everything would return to its original course, just as described in the book...

She didn't know how long she had been sitting in the side hall. It wasn't until Tan Yonglin came over and said that His Majesty had asked when the Empress would be going that she came to her senses. She then took Manhuan's hand, got up, and returned to the main hall.

Jiang Wang was sitting cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window. Five years of hard work and the passage of time had made him look much more mature. If the Jiang Wang of the past was a sharp and ambitious young man, the Jiang Wang of today was a wise man who had kept his sword sheathed.

On the square rosewood kang table in front of him was a set of utensils, which was indeed the jade chess set that his son Jiang Xuan had given him before.

"Why did you take so long? What do you need to say to me in private?"

Jiang Wang turned around, but complained like a child.