"The Shu Kingdom must be unbearably hot right now."

"That's right, this time of year is the hottest time in Shu."

"Is the Empress Dowager De handling Duoduo's first birthday banquet this time?"

"Your Majesty, His Majesty, out of consideration for the Empress's hard work, has entrusted the first birthday banquet to Consort De."

"Yes, when you have time, go and help out. Consort De is not very efficient, so we can't let my granddaughter's first birthday banquet be ruined."

Empress Zhaoyuan was her first daughter-in-law. Although she was straightforward, she was quite clever and knew how to handle things appropriately.

But Consort De was different. She was eloquent and never allowed herself to be bullied. She was a famously shrewish and fiery woman with a sour face and a hard heart. If anyone angered her during the preparations for the little princess's first birthday banquet, she would turn on them and not recognize them!

If they really start arguing, it might delay our important business.

"Yes, this old servant will keep an eye on the movements in each palace." Zhang Mama nodded.

"Help me up." The Empress Dowager placed the teacup back on the table and reached out to Zhang Mama to help her up from the soft couch.

Zhang Mama helped the Empress Dowager sit on a small, carved stool, in front of which was a black pear wood desk.

"Mo Chou, prepare the brush and ink." The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, a smile she could hardly hide on her face.

A sheet of letter paper was laid out on the table, and Granny Zhang was standing beside the desk grinding ink.

"Your Majesty, is this to write a letter?" Granny Zhang asked, watching the Empress Dowager write on the envelope.

The Empress Dowager nodded. "Write a letter to the Empress Dowager of Western Shu, to that old woman. Her five granddaughters have all grown up quite a bit, and each one is incredibly beautiful, soft, and adorable."

“That old woman writes to me every few days, bragging about how clever and adorable her granddaughter is.”

"During holidays, they would bring their kids over to visit, showing off and being incredibly smug."

"Now, I have a granddaughter, and a granddaughter with extraordinary talent. Her physique is truly one in a million among girls. Besides, my granddaughter is going to have her first birthday banquet. Such a wonderful event, shouldn't we invite the Queen Mother of Western Shu to come and have a look?"

Zhang Mama smiled; the Empress Dowager could finally hold her head high.

"Yes, yes, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is right." Zhang Mama nodded with a smile.

"Old Lady Wang is truly blessed, with a multitude of granddaughters, so many that they could play polo!" The Empress Dowager continued, recalling the letter written to her by the Empress Dowager of the neighboring Shu Kingdom.

"Old woman Wang, just you wait, what's there to brag about? When Duoduo grows up, I'll teach her to play polo!" The Empress Dowager laughed happily, her smile as bright as a sunflower.

A few days ago, when Yun Beiye came to Shouchang Palace, the Empress Dowager mentioned that she wanted to teach Yun Duoduo martial arts. However, Yun Beiye did not agree. He felt sorry for his daughter and thought it would be hard for her to learn martial arts.

"Alright, Mochou, have someone send this letter over quickly!" The Empress Dowager glanced at the words on the letter, packed it up, and handed it to Zhang Mama.

"We need to get that old woman off as soon as possible, so she has more time to prepare a first birthday gift for my granddaughter."

"Yes, Your Majesty, please rest assured."

...

Sunlight spilled across the earth, casting a golden glow.

The sky is blue with white clouds, green grass and peach blossoms line the stream, and on the opposite bank of the river, peasant women dressed in coarse cloth clothes and straw hats are drying crabapples.

Below the cliff lies a lush, soft green lawn, with peach trees on both banks blooming with pink flowers. Across the river, a few thatched cottages are scattered, creating a scene of serene beauty, like a secluded paradise.

An old woman was working in the field, plowing and weeding, with her trousers rolled up and sleeves rolled up.

"Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from the palace."

"I've already told you, don't call me Empress Dowager in public, you brainless brat!"

"What's going on in the palace?"

"They say it's the first birthday banquet for the little princess of Nanyang, and they're inviting the Empress Dowager to attend." The palace maid showed her the letter in her hand.

"Oh, my old friend is going to have a first birthday party for her baby?!" About a few months ago, she received a letter from the Empress Dowager of Nanyang, and her heart was filled with joy and pride.

"This old woman can't wait to show off her little granddaughter!" Empress Dowager Wang Fengru of Shu wiped the sweat from her forehead and carefully placed the letter in her sleeve.

"Quickly, let's go, help me change my clothes, and then we'll return to the palace!"

"Return to the palace?!" The palace servant was clearly taken aback. The original plan was to wait until autumn, after the crops had been harvested, before bringing the grain back to the palace.

The Empress Dowager was Wang Fengru, the Empress Dowager of the Shu Kingdom and the biological mother of the current emperor of Shu. The Shu Kingdom consisted mostly of basins, with hot and rainy summers, and was rich in resources, including many plants unique to the south.

Every year, the Empress Dowager would come to the fields to sow, cultivate, and finally harvest the crops. This year, her main purpose was to cultivate new varieties.

The royal family of Shu was large and prosperous. Unlike Nanyang, Shu had a particularly large number of girls, but a relatively small number of boys.

At present, the Shu royal family has only one prince, who is only nine years old and named Lian Jiucheng.

"Your Majesty, what about the crops?" The palace servant pointed to the crops that were half-harvested, then hesitated.

"Let the people brought from the palace continue farming. Do you really expect me to cultivate all these crops well?!" Empress Dowager Wang Fengru glared at the palace servant and rubbed her aching back.

"Your Majesty, let this old servant give you a massage!" The palace maid quickly put down the basket in her hand, moved closer to Wang Fengru, and began to massage her waist.

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