After everyone inside Fu Shuang Palace had been busy for a while, it was evening in the blink of an eye.

Ah Xiang washed Yun Duoduo's face, changed her into a light and soft nightgown, and put her on the bed.

Yun Duoduo was very well-behaved and went to sleep on time without needing to be coaxed. When A Xiang saw that she had closed her eyes, she blew out the candle and lay down on the soft couch to rest.

As Yun Duoduo lay on the soft bed, the thought of her upcoming first birthday celebration felt somewhat unreal.

She, a modern person, traveled to ancient times and became the most beloved little princess. She didn't know what the future would hold, nor did she know if she would always have this favor.

Lost in thought, she took Jin Zhuangzhuang's hand and fell asleep.

...

When Miao Nanyan regained consciousness, it was noon two days later.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is awake?!" Xiangling was both surprised and delighted. She went to Miao Nanyan's side and reached out to help her up.

"How did we end up in a carriage?" Miao Nanyan rubbed her temples, her head feeling a little dizzy. She squinted her eyes slightly, adjusting to the light, wondering why they weren't in the palace.

"Isn't His Majesty seriously injured and shouldn't he be returning to the palace?" Miao Nanyan looked around. She lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked around, but apart from their carriage, she didn't see Baili Yingfeng's carriage.

"His Majesty and the young prince have returned to Beiliang. His Majesty has ordered us to continue to Nanyang to deliver congratulatory gifts," Xiangling said, wiping the sweat from Miao Nanyan's head with a handkerchief.

So they went back. Indeed, the journey was fraught with peril; they encountered assassins as soon as they left the palace.

"We're almost there, Your Highness." Yun Jin looked outside.

"Let's find a place to rest nearby first, then enter the city gates. Once we reach the palace, the ministers from the Court of State Ceremonial will greet us and take us to our lodgings. Tonight, we'll be there for Princess Nanyang's first birthday banquet," Yun Jin explained the itinerary. This was what Chen Yuan had instructed her to do two days ago when she parted ways with Baili Yingfeng and Chen Yuan.

"Okay, I understand." Miao Nanyan nodded.

...

As evening approached, the Nanyang Imperial Palace was filled with a joyous atmosphere.

Each palace was adorned with bright red silk cloth, vibrant red peonies were displayed at the entrance, and large red lanterns hung from the eaves. Every ten meters along the palace path stood a palace maid dressed in an orange palace gown, with her hair tied into two round buns on top of her head.

The palace maid smiled, looking joyful and happy.

"Today is the little princess's first birthday party. The nanny said that everyone will receive a reward after tonight!"

"Yes! Stand still, an adult has already come in!"

Two young palace maids stood facing each other, chatting and laughing.

Their task tonight is to stand on both sides of the palace road to welcome guests, guide foreign guests who don't know the way, and ministers who don't often come to the palace.

Inside Fu Shuang Palace, Yun Duoduo was already dressed up. She was pulled out of bed early in the morning, and the supervising nanny gave her a bath and burned incense without stopping.

She's already taken a nice, nice bath and is all clean now.

Yun Duoduo was already very soft and cute, and after her bath, her little face was rosy and she looked even more beautiful and delicate.

Granny Liu and several aunts hurriedly dressed her in a little dress, put on a little bracelet, and put on tiny embroidered shoes.

Her sparse hair was tied into two little goat horn-like buns, making her look adorable.

The two little pigtails are adorned with pink tassels that sway as they walk, making them look lively and adorable.

Wow, this little girl is so cute!

Yun Duoduo looked at herself in the mirror and said narcissistically.

She wore a gold-inlaid jade longevity lock around her neck, and her arms and little hands were pink and white. Aunt Xiang had a white embroidered handkerchief tucked into her bosom to wipe her drool.

"Alright, everything's all sorted out!" The supervising nanny looked at her work with satisfaction.

"Then I'll take Duoduo there."

The Anqing Palace, where the first birthday banquet was held, and the Fushuang Palace, where Yun Duoduo lived, were not far apart, so there was no need to take a sedan chair.

Ah Xiang carried Yun Duoduo towards Anqing Palace.

Before leaving Fushuang Palace, Yun Duoduo had already eaten some milk to fill her stomach. After all, once she got to the main hall, she could only drink some water and meat soup, watching the ministers feast on the delicious dishes and wine.

...

Ministers entered the palace one after another. Their carriages stopped at the palace gate, and they were only allowed to enter after palace servants checked whether they were carrying any sharp weapons.

"We'll conduct a routine check. Anything of dubious origin cannot be brought into the palace," said the guard at the palace gate.

The ministers disembarked from their carriages one after another and saw a man in front of them being inspected by guards.

Left Chancellor Xue Guangjin, his beard bristling and eyes wide, said, "With the palace so strictly controlled these days, who would dare bring in anything of dubious origin and cause themselves trouble?!"

Since the little princess survived the assassination attempt, everyone entering the palace, regardless of rank or status, has been subject to inspection to prevent the smuggling of any unknown items or drugs.

Ahead of Xue Guangjin stood a thin, white-bearded minister. Upon hearing the guard's words, he pulled a white bottle from his boot and asked, "Can I bring the antidote pill?"

"no."

"Does the needle count? This is a silver needle used for testing for poison."

"No!" the guard said. He had been specifically instructed that the silver needles could also be coated with poison.

The man then took out a row of silver needles from his sleeve, and then pulled out the silver needles from the hairpin.

"So, poison won't work either." With that, he pulled out some medicine packets and bottles from his waist, chest, and sleeves, and threw them on the table.

Xue Guangjin stared at the person behind him, wondering if there was something wrong with his brain, carrying so much unnecessary stuff.

The man sensed someone behind him, so he turned around. He was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed, "Lord Xue!"

"Xu Zheng?!" Xue Guangjin was also surprised when he saw the person in front of him.

"You old codger, it's been so long! I thought you'd retired and gone back to your hometown!"

After the two were checked, they walked towards Anqing Hall.

"Why did you bring so much stuff?" Xue Guangjin and Xu Zheng put their arms around each other's shoulders.

"These are all for research purposes. The checks weren't this strict before, but they're really strict today when we go to the palace. All the medicines I worked so hard to develop have been wasted." Xu Zheng's eyes showed regret and pity.

"Why did you enter the palace without your official robes?"

"Ahem." Xu Zheng cleared his throat sheepishly.

"I came in such a hurry today that I haven't had time to change yet."

...

Inside Anqing Hall, fine purple-black sandalwood tables lined both sides of the passageway. On each table sat a red jade and gold candlestick, along with some cold dishes: fresh fruit on red glass plates, aged wine in jade porcelain bottles with ruby ​​patterns, and sweet snacks with auspicious meanings such as rice cakes, sesame brittle, and peanut brittle on purple jade and coral plates.

One by one, the ministers arrived, and it was time.

"Take your seats!" the eunuch shouted in a high-pitched, drawn-out voice.