The surging emotions in her chest might be from her past self, or they might be her own. Looking at the exceptionally kind face before her, and at the undisguised worry in her eyes, Wan Anran choked back a sob, and after a long while, she wiped away her tears: "...Mother."

The woman in front of me, Mrs. Wanliuha, looks so much like my mother.

Wan Anran's nose stung with tears. In her memory, her mother's face was almost identical to that of Wanyan Shi, leaving her momentarily stunned. Gone was her earlier unease; she twisted her handkerchief, repeatedly calling out, "Mother..."

Lady Wanliuha's eyes were slightly red.

She could hear the grievance in her daughter's voice, and couldn't help but pound her head and quietly wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Despite her excitement, Lady Wanliuha strictly adhered to etiquette.

She bowed deeply and said, "This servant greets Consort Qi."

"Mother, please get up quickly."

"Thank you, Consort Qi." After rising, Lady Wan Liuha raised her eyes to carefully examine Wan Anran.

From the very first day her daughter entered the palace, she had never had a moment of peace. She only wished that her daughter could leave the palace because of her stupidity. Even if her stupidity and reputation were poor, at least she could find a suitable husband, so that her pampered daughter wouldn't have to serve others in the palace, and the mother and daughter wouldn't have to suffer the torment of unrequited love.

However, her plan failed, and to her and her husband's surprise, their daughter became a concubine. Faced with the congratulations and flattery of relatives, the family felt little joy, but rather much sorrow.

To be frank, my daughter has never been particularly bright. And since our family has neither power nor status, wouldn't she be more vulnerable to being bullied in the palace?

Sure enough, they soon heard that their daughter had fallen out of favor and was seriously ill. Just when the family was filled with fear and anxiety, they heard that their daughter had moved to another palace and regained favor, being promoted to the rank of Changzai, Guiren, and even Pin, and had even given birth to a prince.

For the past year, the Wanliuha family's hearts have been floating in the air, as if they were walking on clouds, soft and floating, with no sense of solid ground.

Lady Wanliuha's heart only began to relax slightly after she entered the palace. The Empress was kind and gentle, and the palace servants were attentive; it was clear that her daughter's position was secure and that she had a good relationship with the Empress.

Upon seeing her daughter, whose eyes were bright and whose complexion was excellent, Lady Wanliuha felt completely relieved. She blinked, trying to hide the tears welling up in her eyes: "You're a concubine now, why are you still crying like before?"

Wan Anran choked up.

She snuggled against Wanyan's chest and wrinkled her nose: "Of course I can do that in front of Mother."

After saying this, Wan Anran was stunned for a moment.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, which, in Madam Wanliuha's eyes, meant her daughter was shy.

Lady Wanliuha happily took a step back.

Watching the palace servants approach in an orderly fashion to help her daughter wipe her face and wash her hands, a faint smile appeared on her cheeks.

"Madam, please have some tea."

"Thank you." Madam Wanliuha sat down, looking at Wan Anran with interest, until she caught a faint fragrance and then her attention fell on the cups and saucers.

"This is……"

"Mother, this is chocolate milk tea, please try it." Wan Anran said with a smile, "The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and Her Majesty the Empress all like it very much!"

Lady Wanliuha tasted it.

A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "It really is... quite delicious? What's this stuff called again? I think this is the first time I've ever tasted it?"

Master Tuo Erbi was the head chef of the imperial kitchen, and he had seen all kinds of rare delicacies from all over the world. Lady Wanliuha had also tasted quite a few things, but she had absolutely no memory of this particular dish.

"Mother, this is chocolate."

Wan Anran smiled and explained, "These are tributes from overseas countries to the Emperor, so naturally they cannot be seen outside. However, I have already pleaded with the Empress Dowager, and I believe they will be available outside soon."

Is this a tribute from a foreign land?

Lady Wanliuha's hand holding the cup trembled slightly. She had originally wanted to ask her daughter about her life in the palace, but now she had no more worries.

Lady Wanliuha relaxed and became much more at ease. For example, she turned her gaze and asked about the most important matter: "How is the young prince...?"

Wanliuha was merely a bondservant, and his status was not high.

She was not qualified to attend the full moon banquet held by Consort Tong, and because the eleventh prince was young, she did not see him at the subsequent festival banquets.

Lady Wanliuha looked at Wan Anran expectantly.

It was nothing but a small matter, Wan Anran said with a smile, and asked Granny Zhao to bring out the peaches.

To be honest, just hearing the name "Mao Tao" made Lady Wanliuha's lips twitch. The Fifth Prince was named Baoqing, the Ninth Prince was named Wanfu, and the Tenth Prince was named Ankang. How come the Eleventh Prince's name was completely different?

Lady Wanliuha's expression was strange.

She lowered her voice: "This name...you chose it? Your Majesty, Your Majesty has no objections?"

The sight of Yinzhen being carried out was truly heartbreaking.

Why did he forget about this incident, and then his grandmother, whom he had never met, had to stab him in the heart again?

Mao Tao let out a wilted "Oh!" and Wan Anran nodded casually: "His Majesty said he wanted to change the names of His Highness the Crown Prince and all the princes. I will choose my own nicknames for them."

Lady Wanliuha: ...

She remained silent for a moment, then turned her gaze to Mao Tao. Upon seeing him, Madam Wanliuha's expression froze again.

Mao Tao was wearing her newly made clothes.

The clothes were black and white, the body was white, the limbs were black, and there was a small hat attached to the head.

"Is this a bamboo bear?"

"Isn't it cute!" Wan Anran proudly held the peach high in her arms and placed it in Madam Wan Liuha's arms.

She is cute.

"But... wouldn't it be a bit inappropriate and dignified to give these clothes to a prince?" Lady Wanliuha frowned slightly, and she seemed to see the words "life is meaningless" written all over the eleventh prince's face.

Um?

Lady Wanliuha blinked.

Everything that had just happened seemed like her imagination. The eleventh prince before her grinned, his smile exceptionally innocent and adorable. Lady Wanliuha smiled and nodded, "Adorable, so adorable!"

"I also made little rabbits, kittens, and foxes..." Wan Anran said with regret, "They would be even cuter in winter, but for now we can only make do with satin."

Yinzhen remained expressionless.

He had already received similar treatment last winter and was now used to it. And according to his mother, this would obviously become the norm until he was able to resist it.

Yinzhen had no desires or wants.

It's just changing clothes, that's all... that's all.

Yinzhen was moved to tears.

Neither Wan Anran nor Madam Wan Liuha noticed Xiao Maotao's reaction. The two were enjoying various pastries and chatting animatedly.

Hai Tao and the others exchanged glances, and the same phrase flashed through their minds: Like mother, like daughter.

The two chatted for almost half an hour.

Lady Wanliuha ate until she was stuffed, and even felt bloated after walking a few steps.

Wan Anran covered her mouth and smiled.

She quickly had someone bring her peach blossom tea to aid digestion, and casually asked about her family: "How is Father? How are Eldest Brother and Second Brother doing lately?"

Lady Wanliuha took a sip of tea, a smile on her face: "My lord is in good health. Now that he is the head chef of the Imperial Kitchen and enjoys the Emperor's trust, what could possibly happen to him?"

"The imperial kitchen is full of oily and greasy food..."

"The master is a cautious man, so Your Highness can rest assured!" Madam Wanliuha replied earnestly, her expression turning solemn.

The case of Uya is a precedent.

Wanliuha Tuoerbi was extremely careful and meticulous in his work, fearing that any mistake would bring disaster upon his daughter.

Upon hearing this, Wan Anran breathed a sigh of relief.

Lady Wanliuha then added with a smile, "And your eldest brother is already a first-class bodyguard!"

Not only was Madam Wan Liuha pleased, but Wan Anran was also quite surprised.

A first-class imperial guard is a third-rank official.

Wanliuhatuqi rose to the position of first-class bodyguard at a young age, indicating a promising future.

you do not say?

Yinzhen sighed slightly. This Tuoheqi's future was indeed smooth. He rose all the way to the position of Commander of the Infantry and was deeply trusted by his father, the Khan.

Unfortunately, unlike the calm and reserved Consort Ding and her twelfth brother Yin Tao who disliked vying for the throne in their previous lives, Tuoheqi was ambitious and self-righteous, which led to his death in prison and his ashes being scattered.

In this life, Tuoheqi had unexpectedly become his uncle... Yinzhen's heart was filled with complicated feelings, and he felt a headache coming on as he thought about how to persuade him in the future.

Wan Anran smiled faintly.

She solemnly instructed Lady Wanliuha: "Your mother must tell your brother that everything must be done according to the Emperor's orders, and that focusing on doing things is of utmost importance."

Lady Wanliuha nodded: "Your Majesty, please rest assured."

Speaking of this, she remembered something else: "Oh right, the things that Her Majesty asked Master to look for last time, Master found two more of them."

Wan Anran was slightly taken aback.

Lady Wanliuha smiled and said, "It's the sweet potato and potato you mentioned."

"Did you really find it?"

“How could this servant dare to lie to Your Highness? We’ve found everything! Master said that the sweet potatoes were sent by several imperial merchants, and that people in Fujian and other places still grow them as food. As for the potatoes, they are actually yams. Master said that he has already sent them over, and they will be delivered to the palace soon.”

Having a father who works in the imperial kitchen is a good thing. If it were any other concubine, getting new ingredients into the palace would not be a simple or easy task.

Wan Anran thought about it and happily agreed.

With tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, Wan Anran felt that her life had visibly become more beautiful.

Unfortunately, allowing family members to visit did not mean they could stay until very late. As dusk approached, even though Wan Anran and Madam Wan Liuha were reluctant to part, it was time for the mother and daughter to say goodbye.

Wan Anran packed several boxes of snacks and treats for Lady Wan Liuha to take back and enjoy with her father and brothers. After seeing Lady Wan Liuha off, Wan Anran turned back and started fiddling with the little peach, unable to help but complain, "The Emperor's efficiency is too low."

Lady Wanliuha almost forgot about it if she didn't mention it.

This has been going on since last year, and the princes' names still haven't been changed. It seems like not only the New Year is over, but even the Emperor's birthday has passed. Before we know it, another year will be over.

When will the Emperor finally change the names of the princes? The nickname "Mao Tao" was chosen because it seemed like there wasn't enough time back then, but now Wan Anran is starting to worry about it.

She poked Xiao Maotao's chubby cheeks and sighed sadly, "Maotao, Maotao, you haven't changed your name by the time we're going to teach you to speak, have you?"

Yinzhen: ...Don't talk nonsense!

Just thinking about it gives him nightmares tonight.

This is not Emperor Kangxi's calligraphy.

Instead, the civil officials in the court were arguing heatedly about naming the princes, their faces flushed and necks red, without reaching a conclusion since before the new year. Kangxi was determined to change the name and ranking of the crown prince before his birthday, which only intensified the discussions in the court.

By early May, although the birth order would not be changed until after the New Year, the names were the first to be determined: Mao Tao's formal name was Yinzhen.

Wan Anran had long harbored suspicions.

When the news reached her, she was surprisingly calm, feeling as if everything had been settled.

Only when she picked up the teacup did Wan Anran notice that her hands were trembling. She took a deep breath to steady herself and sipped the calming, cool tea.

Ju Bai paused for a moment.

She then told her master the names of the Crown Prince and the other princes: "...The Seventh Prince's name is Yinzuo."

Yinzhen: ...? ? ?

Wan Anran: ...! ! ?

The next instant, she spat out her tea: "Pfft!! Cough cough cough cough!"

Hai Tao and the others exclaimed in surprise.

They rushed forward, offering handkerchiefs and patting her back. Wan Anran coughed forcefully several times, her almond-shaped eyes wide open: "Yinzhuo!?"

Wait! Wait!

Aside from the struggle for the throne among the nine princes, if we were to name the most famous prince in Kangxi's history who died young, it would undoubtedly be Yinzhen's younger brother from the same mother, the sixth prince, Yinzuo!

But now that has become Wan Fu's name?