In mid-June, it was the Empress’s birthday.

Yun Chu and Chu Yi brought their two children into the palace to offer birthday congratulations.

Kunning Palace had already received many guests and was quite lively. Chu Yi went to the male guests’ side while Yun Chu brought the children to talk with the female family members.

“Yu’geer.” Crown Prince’s second daughter Chu Lan came over. “We discovered a fun place over there. Come play with us.”

Chu Hongyu was instantly tempted.

Though he had visited Kunning Palace many times, he didn’t dare run around everywhere. There were many places he hadn’t been to. With Chu Lan leading, it should be much more fun.

He was about to follow.

Then someone grabbed his wrist.

He was pulled directly behind Yun Zhengjiang.

Yun Zhengjiang said to Chu Lan, “County Princess, Yu’geer and I still have some things to discuss. Please excuse us.”

Disappointment flashed through Chu Lan’s eyes. She snorted and walked away.

“How foolish.” Yun Zhengjiang tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Last time at the imperial tombs, you knocked her down and sat on her. Do you really believe she’d take you somewhere fun?”

Only then did Chu Hongyu understand. “Chu Lan wants revenge on me?”

“At least you got it right this once.” Yun Zhengjiang shook his head. “You’re part of the imperial family after all. How can you have no cunning at all?”

Chu Hongyu said huffily, “Before martial prowess, all cunning is a paper tiger. Brother Jiang, take this!”

He picked up a tree branch as a weapon and swung it toward Yun Zhengjiang’s face.

Yun Zhengjiang, being somewhat older, naturally reacted somewhat faster. He leaned back slightly and avoided the branch.

Immediately after, he reached forward with one hand, pressed down on Chu Hongyu’s shoulder, seized the branch from his hand, and placed it across Chu Hongyu’s neck.

“You lose.”

Yun Zhengjiang tossed the branch onto him.

Chu Hongyu became even more angry.

He couldn’t match him in cunning, couldn’t match him in martial arts—he was too inadequate.

Yun Zhengjiang said, “I’m two or three years older than you. Naturally I can beat you. You needn’t feel bad about it.”

Chu Hongyu crossed his arms. “From now on we’ll compete once a month. I don’t believe you’ll win every single time.”

After speaking, he ran over to Yun Chu’s side and said in a low voice, “After we go home, Mother should find me another martial arts teacher. I want to practice at night too.”

Yun Chu stroked his head. “You’re already learning every morning. Why do you want to learn at night too?”

“I want to beat Brother Jiang.” The little fellow clenched his fists, small flames flickering in his eyes.

Yun Chu knew this child had a strong competitive spirit and could only agree. “Alright, but then you mustn’t complain about the hardship.”

Before long, His Majesty arrived and the Empress’s birthday banquet officially began.

Many young ladies from prominent families in the capital came forward one after another to perform for the Empress’s birthday—playing instruments, singing, displaying all eighteen martial arts.

After the noble ladies finished performing, it was the children’s turn.

First were several imperial princes and princesses.

Next were the three county princesses born to the Crown Prince.

Then came Prince Gongxi’s two sons and one daughter.

When it was Chu Yi’s turn, Chu Changsheng suddenly became timid. Only Chu Hongyu went on stage alone and recited a poem.

The Empress’s face maintained a gentle smile throughout, but deep in her eyes was an imperceptible emotion.

Second Prince’s two sons and one daughter seemed to have studied themselves stupid—they always looked somewhat dull.

Third Prince’s one son and one daughter—the daughter was timid and afraid, while the son Yu’geer was overly lively, appearing rather ill-mannered.

Only the Crown Prince’s three daughters were proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. With the Crown Prince’s consort personally educating them, the future Crown Prince’s heir would certainly be excellent too.

The Crown Prince’s lineage would continue forever.

While the Empress was enjoying the performances, Yun Chu said to the little girl in her arms, “Didn’t our Changsheng prepare a birthday gift for Imperial Grandmother? Why not present it?”

Chu Changsheng hugged Yun Chu’s neck and whispered, “There are too many people. I’m scared.”

Chu Hongyu immediately said, “I’ll present it for my sister.”

Chu Yi pressed down on the little fellow’s hand and said, “Trust that Changsheng can present it herself.”

“Changsheng, you worked so hard for several days to complete this birthday gift. It’s only more meaningful if you present it yourself.” Yun Chu’s eyes held encouragement. “Don’t be afraid. Father and Mother are sitting right here.”

Chu Changsheng stood up and took the scroll from the maid behind her.

She took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and walked to the center. Her voice soft and sweet, she said, “Changsheng wishes Imperial Grandmother health and contentment. This is the birthday gift Changsheng prepared.”

When she was down below, she had been terribly afraid, but once she came here and spoke the first word, it seemed she wasn’t so scared anymore.

She raised the scroll.

A smile appeared on the Empress’s face. “This is the first time I’ve seen Changsheng offer birthday wishes. It seems Changsheng has truly grown up and become sensible.”

Hearing this, Imperial Concubine Yin furrowed her brow.

The Empress’s words seemed to imply that Changsheng had been insensible before.

She immediately spoke up. “Changsheng was ill before. Now that her illness has just recovered, she stayed up several nights to prepare a birthday gift for the Empress. Your Majesty, please open it and look.”

The Empress opened the painting. It was a family garden outing scene.

The imperial family members were enjoying themselves in the Imperial Garden—His Majesty with his consorts, imperial princes with their consorts and grandchildren.

Suddenly, the Empress paused. “Changsheng, why are there five children beside the Crown Prince?”

Chu Changsheng’s voice clearly explained, “This is a snow scene. By this coming winter, Crown Prince Uncle’s child will be born, making five total.”

Those five children—three girls and two boys.

And the Crown Prince precisely lacked sons.

The Empress was immediately delighted. “Changsheng painted very well. Someone, bring me my Thousand Strands Jade Ruyi.”

A nanny immediately fetched a jade ruyi and handed it to Chu Changsheng.

The little girl thanked her politely, then returned to Yun Chu’s side.

The Empress looked at Fang Xinyan, seated below the Crown Prince’s consort, and smiled. “You must carefully nurture your pregnancy and add another son to the Eastern Palace.”

Fang Xinyan’s complexion was somewhat pale. “Yes, Mother Empress.”

Her hands tightly protected her belly. Her strength was somewhat insufficient.

Since the flower-viewing banquet when the Duke’s wife had slapped her and she suffered a fright, her body had shown bleeding. She took pregnancy-preserving medicine every day, but the effect wasn’t great.

A few days ago, the imperial physician told her the fetus might not be preserved.

She had spent much silver to have the imperial physician conceal this news.

She raised her head to look in the Duke’s wife’s direction. Because the Duke’s manor enjoyed His Majesty’s trust, the Duke’s wife sat in a position very close to His Majesty.

The Duke’s wife, with an air of elegant nobility, sat there eating without smiling.

Who could tell that the Duke’s wife was actually having an affair with His Majesty?

Fang Xinyan thought of that day’s situation. Her body couldn’t help but tremble. Her belly suddenly ached, and she accidentally knocked over a cup on the table.

The Crown Prince’s consort’s face was cold. “You’re still preserving the pregnancy. I told you not to come, yet I don’t know why you insisted on joining this commotion.”

“This concubine wanted to offer birthday wishes to Mother Empress.” Fang Xinyan dug her nails hard into her palm. “This concubine knows her own body. If I can’t endure, I’ll return to the Eastern Palace first.”

The Crown Prince’s consort couldn’t be bothered to say more.

Fang Xinyan felt the pain in her abdomen growing more severe.

She raised her eyes and saw a family directly opposite—Prince Pingxi and the Princess Consort, with a son and daughter. They truly looked like a happy family.