The next morning, after a simple breakfast, Tao Ti sat in front of the dressing mirror and started to dress up.

She wore a lilac-colored long skirt paired with a moon-white satin gown inlaid with silver silk. She had her hair done in a fairy bun, and put on a little makeup. Her eyebrows and eyes were bright, and her white wrists were frosted. She was like a lotus flower after the rain, graceful, gentle, and elegant.

Linglong took a look at it and thought it was too plain and elegant. She suggested softly, "Crown Princess, would you like to wear another pearl flower or a boudoir?"

"That's great. We're going to pay our respects to the Queen, so there's no need to dress too brightly and ornately." Tao Ti looked in the mirror, and after making sure that her outfit was low-key without losing her status, she slowly stood up and said, "Let's go. Paying respects should be done sooner rather than later. Let's try to go early and come back early."

"Yes." Linglong responded and followed her obediently.

It was not yet fully light outside, with a faint bluish hue. Tao Ti sat on the sedan chair, yawning lazily, with one hand supporting her head. She thought to herself that she had no energy at all to get up early. She really admired Pei Yan for being able to get up so early every day... If she had to get up early every day, I'm afraid her mentality would have collapsed long ago.

By the time the sedan chair stopped at Ganlu Palace, the sky had just brightened and several princesses arrived one after another.

Tao Ti exchanged greetings with them, and was then led into the main hall by the palace maids and took their seats.

The princesses were either gentle, quiet, lively or shy, each with her own beauty. Although this was only the second time they met, the sisters-in-law got along well with each other. They chatted casually and the scene was very pleasant.

Soon, a eunuch announced in a long, thin voice, "The Queen has arrived—"

Upon hearing this, Tao Ti and the other princesses quickly stood up and bowed to greet them.

Queen Zhou, wearing a purple-red phoenix gown with gold embroidery, was seen walking out from behind the seven-foot-high phoenix-peony screen, supported by the second princess Pei Lingbi. Her well-maintained face was filled with her usual kind smile, and she said in a gentle voice, "No need to be polite. I got up a little late today, and I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Everyone kept saying "We didn't have to wait long" and only sat down after seeing Queen Zhou take her seat.

As the Crown Princess, Tao Ti naturally sat in the front. When she looked up, she happened to see the smiling face of Queen Zhou and the face full of disgust written on Pei Lingbi——

What are you staring at? Don't be afraid of your eyeballs popping out.

Tao Ti glanced at Pei Lingbi dimly, and then stopped looking at her, only chatting with Queen Zhou.

Since ancient times, there has been nothing good to talk about between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, not to mention that she and Queen Zhou were not a real mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. They talked about the same old things, such as "How is everything in the East Palace?", "How is the prince's health recently?", "How are you two getting along?"... It was a bit like a company leader greeting new employees.

Tao Ti was amused by her own analogy and felt a lot more relaxed.

The two chatted back and forth for a few rounds, and the atmosphere was good. However, Pei Lingbi, who was standing aside, seemed to be uncomfortable. She found a gap and quickly interrupted, "I heard that the Crown Princess stays in the small kitchen all day cooking, and even your daily meals are made by yourself. Is the cooking skill of the East Palace kitchen so bad that you, the Crown Princess, are forced to become a cook? Humph, if this gets out, you will think that we in the royal family treat you harshly..."

Queen Zhou frowned slightly, "Is this true? If the East Palace is not used to the food, I can send a few new chefs over..."

Pei Lingbi said, "That's right, is it necessary to cook for a chef yourself? How shameless..."

Realizing that the situation was not right, she swallowed the word "scumbag" back without saying it out loud.

Tao Ti met the caring gaze of Queen Zhou and smiled, "Don't bother mother, the chefs in the East Palace are all very good. It's just that I can't sit still, and I like to think about food by myself when I have nothing to do, so I asked His Highness to allow me to open a small kitchen."

After a pause, she curved her dark eyes and looked at Pei Lingbi tenderly, "I didn't expect that Sister Lingbi cares so much about the Eastern Palace. She cares about such trivial matters. As her sister-in-law, I am really touched."

Pei Lingbi's face turned green. Who cares about you? You are not touched at all! Why didn't I realize that this woman is so good at acting before?

Queen Zhou was the champion of this round of palace fighting, so she naturally understood what Tao Ti meant. A hint of deep meaning flashed across her beautiful eyes, and a loving smile still hung on her powdered and rouge-covered face as she praised, "I didn't expect that you are also good at cooking, A Ti. It seems that Yan'er has really married a virtuous and good wife."

"Thank you, mother." Tao Ti cooperated very well and put on a shy look, lowered her head, and said softly, "Mother is the mother of a country and a role model for women all over the world. I still have a lot to learn from you, mother."

This round of business flattery made the awkward atmosphere harmonious.

Queen Zhou raised her red lips and smiled sincerely, "Look at this sweet little mouth, what a good child." She turned around and glared at Pei Lingbi, "You, you are not a child anymore. Don't always think about playing on weekdays. Talk to your sister-in-law more often when you have time. If you are half as smart and sensible as your sister-in-law, I won't have to worry about you being blamed by your in-laws after you get married."

Pei Lingbi was already unhappy with Tao Ti's neither salty nor indifferent attitude, and now she was even more indignant when she heard her mother comparing herself with Tao Ti.

She bit her red lips, her eyes full of pride, "Mother, I am a princess! Even if I get married, I am the king and my husband's family are the subjects. Even if I do something wrong, they dare not complain even if they have a hundred courages!"

Having said this, she glanced at Taoti and muttered softly, "Pretending."

Pei Lingbi was sitting next to Queen Zhou, so she could hear everything clearly. Her expression darkened, and she called out "Lingbi" as a warning. She looked up at Tao Ti with a guilty smile, "Ah Ti, Lingbi has been spoiled by me since she was a child, and she doesn't think before she speaks... But she has a good heart, so don't bother with her."

Tao Ti thought: What a heartless person. But she put on a gentle and generous smile, "I am her sister-in-law, and I am her elder, so I will naturally be more tolerant of her."

As expected, after these words were spoken, Pei Lingbi's face became noticeably darker. How could this bastard have the nerve to treat her as his elder? Was he taking advantage of her?

Seeing Pei Lingbi's helpless rage, Tao Ti felt so happy in her heart.

After a cup of tea, a senior palace maid came to report to Queen Zhou that the concubines were already waiting outside.

Seeing this, Tao Ti and the other princesses were very tactful and stood up and left immediately.

Queen Zhou smiled and said politely to Tao Ti, "Ah Ti, come to Ganlu Palace when you have time."

Tao Ti naturally agreed and retreated with everyone else in a meek and polite manner.

As soon as she walked out of the main hall, she saw many concubines waiting in the courtyard. There were a few familiar concubines, and Tao Ti still remembered them, so she smiled and nodded to them as a greeting.

Suddenly, her sleeve was gently tugged.

Tao Ti retracted her gaze and stared blankly at the little girl beside her, "Sixth Princess?"

The Sixth Princess is the youngest child in the palace. She is eight years old this year and is a pretty girl with a round face. Compared with the other princesses, the Sixth Princess doesn't talk much. She mostly listens to her sisters and never speaks on her own initiative. The only words she has ever said to Tao Ti are "Blessings, sister-in-law".

Seeing her suddenly pull her sleeve, Tao Tiying's moist black eyes were filled with surprise, "What's wrong?"

The Sixth Princess blinked her watery black eyes, as if mustering up her courage, and whispered, "Sister-in-law, don't take Second Sister's words to heart. She has always been like that... Well, it's not worth getting angry with her."

Her voice is soft and her pink face still has a childish look, but her clear black eyes have a maturity that is not suitable for her age.

Children who grow up in the palace are more mature. Tao Ti bent down, raised her hand and touched her little head, and smiled, "Thank you... But don't worry, I don't take those words to heart."

Perhaps because her actions were somewhat intimate, the Sixth Princess was slightly stunned for a moment before she said hesitantly, "Well, that's good."

Perhaps it was because the little girl in front of her was too cute, or because she was the first person in the royal family to show kindness to her, Tao Ti suddenly became interested and invited her in a gentle voice, "Do you have other things to do? If you are free, would you like to go to the East Palace with me?"

The Sixth Princess was stunned again. Her cute little look looked just like the emoticon of a hamster holding melon seeds.

"Can I...can I?"

"Why not?" Seeing the little girl's expectant and hesitant look, Tao Ti thought she was shy, so she took the initiative to extend her hand to her and smiled brightly, "Let's go? I just soaked some peach gum before I went out, and I'll make you a dessert later."

Looking at the jade-white hand in front of her, the Sixth Princess's dark and thick eyelashes trembled. In the end, she still couldn't resist the smile of her sister-in-law, the Crown Princess, and placed the little hand in her palm.

The Sixth Princess didn't know why, but she had an inexplicable trust in her sister-in-law, the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess's sister-in-law seemed different from everyone else in the palace. She was like the bright sun hanging in the sky, or a vibrant vine, always full of vitality and hope...making people involuntarily want to get close to her, to keep warm, and to absorb the light.