The Emperor’s fifty-ninth birthday banquet, sixty by traditional count, had always been celebrated grandly since ancient times.

Princess Qinghua returned to the capital to celebrate his birthday, arriving several days early. After settling into the palace, she came to the prince’s manor to see her son.

Though they had corresponded throughout the year, they hadn’t seen each other face to face, and her heart had been perpetually worried.

“Mother, I’m doing well.” Meng Shen’s face bore a smile. “Aunt hasn’t mistreated me.”

Princess Qinghua could see that her son was indeed doing well—he had grown taller and gained weight.

She spoke a few words with her son, then went to the rear courtyard to see Yun Chu.

Yun Chu had already heard from the servants that Princess Qinghua had arrived. She had prepared tea and greeted her with a smile: “Second Sister.”

“When you gave birth to Jue’er, I was far away and didn’t send anything. This time I’m making up for it.” Qinghua took out a safety lock and a thick red envelope. “I hope Jue’er will have better fortune than his two older siblings, growing up healthy and smoothly.”

“Thank you, Second Sister.”

Yun Chu accepted the gifts.

Qinghua looked into Yun Chu’s eyes and couldn’t help but ask: “Are you very pleased now?”

Yun Chu nodded: “Jue’er has received blessings, so naturally I as his mother am happy.”

“That’s not what I mean.” Qinghua pursed her lips. “Ding Dong has become the prince consort’s concubine. Are you satisfied?”

“Second Sister’s words are strange.” Yun Chu spoke. “Back then, Second Sister praised how wonderful Ding Dong was. Now that she and Second Sister have become family, serving you both, shouldn’t this be something Second Sister is happy to see? Why does it sound like you’re blaming me?”

Qinghua’s expression became serious: “You guessed it early on, didn’t you?”

Yun Chu raised her eyes: “So what if I guessed? I just wanted to tell Second Sister—do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”

Qinghua felt a breath catch in her chest, but ultimately swallowed it back.

This was indeed her own doing.

However, she had the bearing of a proper wife. A mere concubine—she didn’t even consider her worth noticing.

She changed the subject: “Tomorrow is Father Emperor’s birthday. I’ll trouble you to bring Shen’er into the palace with you.”

Yun Chu spoke slowly: “Tomorrow the children won’t be entering the palace.”

“Why not?” Princess Qinghua set down her teacup. “This is a grand birthday celebration that only happens once every ten years. The children all must kneel and kowtow to offer birthday wishes. How can they not enter the palace?”

“Tomorrow at the palace banquet, something will happen, so the children won’t be going.” Yun Chu answered. “I just arranged for someone to inform the palace that the children fell into water while playing around, they all caught cold, and Jue’er also caught the illness.”

Though Qinghua wasn’t clever, as a member of the imperial family, how could she fail to understand the implications?

She nodded, her face showing tension.

The next morning.

The Imperial Academy had no classes today, so Changsheng also had the day off.

“You two stay home and play with Jue’er. Don’t leave the manor.” Yun Chu instructed. “Your father prince and I may return somewhat late. Even if we can’t return right away, you two must not make decisions on your own to enter the palace. Shen’er, you’re older, so watch them and don’t let them act rashly.”

Meng Shen was already nearly ten years old. After studying at the Imperial Academy for a year, he had matured considerably in all aspects. He nodded: “Aunt, rest assured. I’ll take care of my younger siblings.”

Chu Changsheng raised her head, her voice clear: “Mother, don’t worry! I’ll persuade older brother not to act rashly.”

Chu Hongyu snorted: “The way you talk, it’s as if I’m particularly immature.”

Yun Chu smiled: “Yes, our Yue’er is the most sensible. Mother and your father prince will enter the palace now.”

She brought two maidservants, Qiutong and Luwei, into the palace.

When the carriage neared the imperial palace, it slowed down. Today all civil and military officials had to enter the palace to offer birthday wishes, and the palace gate had been congested for nearly an hour before clearing.

Yun Chu and Chu Yi followed the crowd toward the great hall. By this time, many people had already arrived.

Chu Yi ranked third and sat in a position quite far forward. Yun Chu sat beside him.

She saw the Empress sitting beside the Emperor, wearing her phoenix crown on her head, her face made up with exquisite cosmetics, yet still unable to conceal her aged appearance.

In just a month or two, the Empress seemed to have aged rapidly.

She then looked toward Li Jingshu not far away. Lady Jin, who had been stabbed and was said to be near death, now sat there in high spirits, seeming several years younger.

The guests seated below couldn’t stop discussing.

“Lady Jin has been staying in the Hall of Mental Cultivation all along. Why hasn’t His Majesty given any explanation?”

“I guess at this birthday banquet, His Majesty will certainly take the opportunity to ennoble Lady Jin as Consort Jin.”

“At such an advanced age, still entering the harem—truly… laughable, too laughable. His Majesty is confused.”

These voices reached Li Jingshu’s ears, causing her expression to change.

She had risked her life to forge a bloody path, thinking it would prevent the Empress from ever recovering. She hadn’t expected that in just a few days, the Empress would return to Kunning Palace.

She had thought the Emperor would compensate her with a rank.

But after staying in the palace for so long, aside from endless daily rewards, there had been no substantial promises.

Even though her relationship with the Emperor had been exposed publicly, the Emperor… seemed unwilling to take responsibility for her, allowing her to suffer public criticism.

At this moment, a group of beauties happened to be dancing.

Li Jingshu saw the Emperor staring at those beauties, his eyes fixed.

She couldn’t help but clench her fingers.

In the end, she had grown old… When one ages, one becomes like a fish eye—no longer worthy of attention.

She looked toward the Emperor.

The Emperor sensed it and also looked at her.

Their eyes met.

The Empress sitting nearby felt her heart surge with blood.

Even though she had long stopped caring, when this scene unfolded before her eyes, it was still so painful to watch.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Second Prince requests an audience!”

A young eunuch from the hall entrance came to report.

Prince Gongxi had committed an error last time and his princely title had been revoked, so now he was called Second Prince.

The Emperor’s brows furrowed tightly: “He’s under house arrest. How did he enter the palace?”

The young eunuch replied: “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Second Prince kowtowed with every step and entered the palace on his knees.”

The Great Jin Dynasty had an unwritten rule: if common people had grievances, they could kowtow with every step at the palace gate and beat the drum to request an audience with the current Emperor.

The Second Prince using this method was beyond reproach.

The Emperor was somewhat moved. No matter what, this was his biological son who, to offer birthday wishes, had actually entered the palace on his knees.

“Summon him!”

At the Emperor’s command.

At the entrance, Chu Mo walked in.

The Empress’s pupils constricted sharply. Chu Mo had committed such a grave error, yet the Emperor was still willing to give him a second chance.

What about her? She had committed no wrong, had been conscientious her entire life, managing the vast harem for the Emperor, yet the Emperor wanted someone else to replace her.

How pitiful she was.

“Your son has come to offer birthday wishes to Father Emperor!” Chu Mo knelt on the ground. “Your son has been confined to the prince’s manor and couldn’t buy valuable calligraphy or paintings, so I learned embroidery from the manor’s embroiderers and personally embroidered an inner garment for Father Emperor. I hope this inner garment can ward off wind and cold, keeping Father Emperor free from illness and pain.”

Eunuch Gao presented the garment he had offered before the Emperor.

The Emperor carefully examined the inner garment that didn’t look particularly refined, somewhat dazed.

He had seen countless exquisite birthday gifts and precious treasures. This was the first time at a birthday banquet that he had received such a simple and unpretentious gift, and also the first time a son had made clothing for him.

A man’s hands could write and read, yet he had used them for embroidery.

The Emperor’s voice was full of emotion: “Mo’er has put his heart into this. Since you’ve come, sit down and dine together.”

Eunuch Gao quickly ordered someone to place a table slightly in front of Chu Yi’s position.