"Auntie!" Lianqiao called out in her childish voice. She ran to the princess's side and hugged her slender waist.
The visitor was Princess Lian Qingcheng of the Shu Kingdom. Lian Qingcheng was beautiful and had a curvaceous figure, which made countless princes and nobles fall at her feet.
Lianqiao hugged Lian Qingcheng and rubbed against her chest.
"It's so soft!"
My aunt smells so good!
"Lianqiao, let go quickly, it's hot!" Lian Qingcheng tapped Lianxiang on the head; children say all sorts of things.
The palace maids standing to the side covered their mouths and laughed.
Lianxiang was hit on the head and felt a little pain. Reluctantly, she left Lian Qingcheng's embrace and let go of his hands that were holding her.
"Auntie, are you here to play Cuju with us?" Lianrong asked, as she held the ball and moved closer to Lian Qingcheng.
“You should address her as Your Highness, Princess. You can’t be so rude!” Lianxiang corrected her seriously from the side, and then poured Lian Qingcheng a glass of plum juice.
"Your Highness, drink some plum juice. It's sour and refreshing, perfect for cooling off in the summer."
"Big sister, there are no outsiders here!" Lianrong pouted.
Lian Qingcheng gulped down the plum juice in his cup. "On such a hot day, only you guys can run around here playing under the scorching sun, sweating profusely. Your grandmother is coming back soon. I'm going to check how the Empress Dowager's bedroom is being prepared."
"Auntie, are we going to Nanyang? Is it true?" Lianrong asked excitedly, looking at Lian Qingcheng with curiosity.
"Who told you that?" Lian Qingcheng frowned slightly.
"We've all heard that the little princess of Nanyang is having her first birthday banquet, and the Empress Dowager is going to celebrate her birthday!" Lianrong was very excited. The thought of going out to travel and enjoy the scenery filled her with joy.
"I've heard that the Nanyang royal family has many princes, and that the people of Nanyang are all very good-looking!"
"What are you thinking about at such a young age?!" Lianxiang tapped Lianrong on the head.
"Big sister, don't hit my head! It's so annoying!" Lianrong shouted angrily, looking at Lianxiang with a dissatisfied expression.
"Don't you want to see handsome boys?"
"What does it have to do with you that the Empress Dowager is going to celebrate the little princess's birthday?" A boy's voice came from behind them, deep and pleasant.
"Big brother?!" Lianrong exclaimed.
The boy standing in front of them was Lian Jiucheng, the only prince of Shu. He was handsome and, although only nine years old, he exuded the unique aura of a royal nobleman.
"Why are you here? Didn't Father tell you to recite your lessons in the study?" Lianxiang glanced at him and asked in confusion.
Lianxiang and Lian Jiucheng were born in the same year and are both nine years old this year. Lianxiang was born a few months later than Lian Jiucheng, but she refuses to acknowledge it and never calls Lian Jiucheng "elder brother" or "elder brother".
“This prince is clever; memorizing is just a matter of half an incense stick’s time!” Lian Jiucheng raised an eyebrow and said nonchalantly.
"Big brother, when Grandmother goes to Nanyang, she will definitely take us with her, right?" Lianrong looked at Lian Jiucheng expectantly, hoping that Lian Jiucheng could give her a satisfactory answer.
"I heard that the bluebells in Nanyang are in full bloom, and the flowers are everywhere, it's so beautiful!"
"Moreover, Nanyang also has sweet cakes and rice cakes. I heard that the rice there is much tastier than the rice in our Shu Kingdom!" Lianqiao licked her lips, her face full of anticipation.
"You're such a little rascal!" Lian Jiucheng gently flicked Lian Qiao's nose.
"Your Highness, First Prince, the Empress Dowager has returned and is already at the palace gate," a palace maid whispered.
"Grandma's back!!"
"Quick, let's go to the palace gate!" Several little girls skipped and hopped, ignoring the blazing sun, and ran towards the palace gate.
...
Inside Shouchang Palace, the Empress Dowager took off her heavy palace robes and changed into a light and easy-to-move outfit.
"What is Your Majesty doing here?" Zhang Mama looked at the Empress Dowager, somewhat puzzled. If she was going out to practice martial arts, it was rather hot at midday. If she was going out, the Empress Dowager hadn't ordered anything to be prepared.
"I'm going to teach Duoduo how to walk!" The Empress Dowager removed all the hairpins and ornaments from her head, as well as the bracelets and jewelry from her wrists.
After hearing this, Zhang Mama suddenly realized what was going on. She went to the Empress Dowager's side and helped her pack her things.
"I have already told Granny Wang in the letter that my granddaughter has extraordinary talent. When the time comes, I will inevitably have Duoduo walk around and show off her skills to demonstrate her extraordinary strength."
"Although the Empress often teaches Duoduo to walk, the progress is too slow. When the old lady Wang from Shu comes, Duoduo has to walk as fast as she can!" The Empress Dowager looked somewhat anxious.
Otherwise, if Duoduo messes up, she'll really be bragging about things that aren't true!
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Zhang Mama's expression changed slightly, and she couldn't help but rub her forehead. To make a nearly one-year-old child walk so nimbly was not just difficult, but simply impossible!
However, seeing the Empress Dowager's anxious appearance, Zhang Mama didn't know what to say, so she took the palm-leaf fan and accompanied the Empress Dowager to Fushuang Palace.
...
Inside Fu Shuang Palace, Yun Duoduo was standing on Empress Zhaoyuan's lap, her hands resting on Empress Zhaoyuan's shoulders.
Empress Zhaoyuan squatted down, placed Yun Duoduo on the ground, held her little hands in her hands, and encouraged her to walk forward on her own.
"Come on, swing your arms, take big strides, head up, chest out, and stride forward!"
"Yes, yes! Again, step forward, turn around, great, beautiful!"
Empress Zhaoyuan's loud voice could be heard from two miles away.
Encouraged by Empress Zhaoyuan's enthusiasm, Yun Duoduo wiggled her two short legs.
She can walk now, but she needs someone to gently support her hands. In other words, her two legs cannot yet fully and independently support her small body.
Legs, legs, stand up for yourselves! Don't always rely on your hands; you need to learn to be independent!
Empress Zhaoyuan encouraged Yun Duoduo, and Yun Duoduo encouraged her own legs.
Her little feet slowly stepped onto the soft carpet, moving forward step by step. When there was an obstacle in front of her, Empress Zhaoyuan would shout a command, "Come on, turn! Yes, keep going!"
As Yun Duoduo's wobbly little body gradually became more and more stable in her walking, the nannies all showed surprised and gratified smiles.
"The little princess is so wonderful!" Aunt Xiang praised from the side, clapping her hands to encourage the little princess.
Jin Jinzhi watched Yun Duoduo diligently practicing walking, a beautiful smile curving her lips. [This little girl is quite determined!]
The Fu Shuang Palace was filled with laughter and joy, and was bustling with activity.
A palace servant appeared at the door, his expression hesitant and unsure of what to say.
"What's wrong?"
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