There were too many tribute fruits, and she had always just eaten them without caring who sent them.

“It’s Feng’s shop, Feng’s Trading House from Yao Capital,” the female official thought for a moment and added, “I’ve never heard of them before.” Those selected as tribute items were all destined for greatness.

“Feng?” Princess Hanyue’s eyes brightened, “Wonderful! I thought she had gone to the Wei Kingdom, but she’s still here!” She pointed at the female official, “Go, bring the owner of Feng’s shop here. Why are you standing there stunned? Go!”

“Now?” The female official was a bit uncertain.

“Yes, now!”

The princess’s request was somewhat unusual, but the advantage of holding a high position was precisely that one could act according to one’s wishes. Thus, about three hours later, the old manager of Feng’s shop stood before Princess Hanyue.

“You’re not the owner, are you?” She frowned, unable to hide the disappointment in her eyes.

“This humble one is not,” the manager said with a beaming smile. “Our owner departed for the Eastern Sea five days ago. Before leaving, she instructed this humble one that if the palace requested, I should bring a gift for the Crown Prince’s Consort.”

Princess Hanyue asked curiously, “What is she doing at the Eastern Sea?”

“The owner’s health is poor and wanted to go to the Eastern Sea to clear her mind.” The old manager beckoned, and the servant behind him stepped forward with a tray in his hands. “This is the gift the owner presents to the Princess.”

Princess Hanyue didn’t wait for the female official to inspect it and reached out to take it herself. It was a small longevity lock, gleaming with the color of gold, yet feeling very light in her hand.

“Pure gold?” Princess Hanyue was knowledgeable and immediately recognized the precious nature of the material. Moreover, the water pattern on it was exceptionally intricate, and a blooming red lotus made of polished red jadeite was inlaid in the center of the lock. Turning it over, there were four characters on the lock:

“Peace Year After Year.”

This was a gift for a small child.

The female official watching beside her smiled and said, “This owner is truly thoughtful, to even know that the Crown Prince’s Consort is expecting.”

Hanyue stared intently at the longevity lock and said softly, “She has always been attentive to details.”

Her figure was still slender, with only a slight bulge in her abdomen, and lately, she had taken to placing her hand on her belly.

She was already more than three months pregnant.

The Crown Prince’s Consort being with child was a joyous occasion, but the royal family had not yet announced it publicly, preferring to wait until her pregnancy was more stable. How did Feng Miaojun know about it?

Princess Hanyue couldn’t help but think of her prayer visit to the Luan God Temple in the suburbs half a month ago. Could this girl have been hiding in some corner, secretly seeing her?

How hateful! Even after seeing her, she didn’t come forward to reconnect!

The female official standing to the side watched her gnash her teeth for a while before asking the old manager of Feng’s shop, “Will your owner return?”

“The owner did not specify, only saying that Feng’s shop in the capital would remain as a memento for the Princess from now on.” He pulled out a note from his pocket, “This is the recipe for the salted peaches, please accept it as well.”

The female official beside her took it.

“A memento?” Princess Hanyue chuckled softly, suddenly losing interest, and waved her hand, “You may go.”

Outside the window was a riot of colorful flowers, and Princess Hanyue stared blankly at the lake surface not far away. The lake bottom was lined with blue algae, so the water surface in the sunlight was as blue and transparent as the sky, and there were some strange little fish in the lake that could change their appearance in an instant.

She remembered that Feng Miaojun also had a lake behind her estate in the suburbs of Jin Capital, about the same size as this one. She and Feng Miaojun had boated together and picked lotus pods from the surface.

The joyful laughter of days past still echoed in her ears; they had both once been carefree. But now, one was about to be heavy with child, while the other had gone to the ends of the earth.

Her friend had left behind Feng’s shop and the recipe, using the excuse of “clearing her mind,” but Princess Hanyue understood that she would never return.

This was a farewell, unable to express the words “take care.”

When Miao Fengxian entered, Princess Hanyue was standing by the window lost in thought.

He embraced her from behind, his large hands crossing over her lower abdomen. “What are you thinking about?”

Princess Hanyue smiled and leaned back into his embrace. “How about planting some water lilies in the lake?”

That lake? Miao Fengxian looked up to see it. The most beautiful thing about this lake was its water, clean and clear like a blue sapphire. If water lilies were planted on it, it might be like a flaw in the jewel. However, “Good, as long as you like it.”

Princess Hanyue asked him, “What’s the situation in the Wei Kingdom?”

“Xiao Yan refuses to surrender the imperial seal. Wei’s Crown Prince Xiao Jing is leading his northeastern army southward. The Wei court, unprepared for the Crown Prince’s self-proclamation, hastily dispatched troops, and the two sides fought a battle at Jiyang Pass. The result was that the Wei Crown Prince captured Jiyang Pass, which is only ninety li from the Wei capital.” It was less than a day’s march, and with Jiyang Pass under his control, Xiao Jing could now look upon the Wei capital.

He also found it strange: “Although the Wei Crown Prince is eager for quick success, he shouldn’t be so impatient. Just after Xu An’s assassination attempt on the Wei King, he immediately raised troops to attack the capital. This matter has always seemed odd.” He paused, then added, “By the way, Xiao Yan just survived an assassination attempt. He didn’t die but was injured. At this critical juncture, it’s not hard to guess who was behind it.”

Princess Hanyue was not well-versed in battle analysis and merely asked, “In your opinion, who will win?”

“That’s hard to say,” Miao Fengxian pondered. “The Wei Crown Prince’s troops have been tempered in the An Xia region for many years and include many elite soldiers. Although the Wei court’s mobilization of the army was hasty, they had no shortage of good generals. Xiao Yan has much support; the longer time drags on, the more advantageous it is for him.”

Princess Hanyue asked curiously, “Yun… the Wei Kingdom’s State Preceptor stands on Xiao Yan’s side. Doesn’t Xiao Yan have the advantage of elemental power?” Wasn’t one of the State Preceptor’s specialties to empower armies with elemental force, enhancing their combat strength?

“No,” Miao Fengxian smiled. “You’ve forgotten, the Wei King has passed away, and the new king has yet to ascend the throne.”

Princess Hanyue suddenly realized. Yes, elemental power is only available when the sovereign is alive. If a country has no ruler, then all elemental power is sealed and cannot be allocated, even the State Preceptor is powerless.

If Feng Miaojun heard this, she would probably compare the relationship between the sovereign and the State Preceptor to that of a chairman and a CEO.

At this time, both the country and individual cultivators were especially vulnerable, so any country would try to shorten this gap period. Princess Hanyue’s heart raced with excitement: “Isn’t this a great opportunity for us?”

Miao Fengxian couldn’t help but tap her delicate nose: “How is it? You’re not siding with State Preceptor Yun Ya this time?” Before her marriage, the Crown Prince’s Consort was a die-hard fan of Wei Kingdom’s State Preceptor Yun Ya, which of course he knew.

Princess Hanyue blushed: “Follow the dog you marry, what can I do?” She was now the consort of Yao, so naturally from now on she must act in the interests of both the Yao and Jin kingdoms; this was her duty.

Let that little dream of her girlhood days fade away with the wind.

“Who’s the dog?” Miao Fengxian lifted her effortlessly, causing her to shriek and giggle continuously.

After the couple’s playful banter, Hanyue stroked her husband’s face as she listened to him explain, “Sending troops now might cause the two feuding parties to unite against an external threat, which would backfire. Unless…”

Hanyue saw his eyes flicker, clearly hiding another calculation in his mind.