It’s a white jade bracelet along with several finger guards.
"Wow, they look so nice. Thank you, Empress." Yi Shiyin put on the white jade bracelet and finger guards, then raised them high, looking at them from different angles. Under the light, the finger guards embedded with agate displayed vibrant colors and appeared very beautiful.
Han Anniang, sitting beside Yi Shiyin, didn’t open hers but urged her, "Little Deer, take it off quickly, so you don’t hurt yourself."
The finger guards are indeed pretty, but they’re too sharp.
Children love colorful, beautiful things the most. Seeing the finger guards on Yi Shiyin’s hand, their eyes gleamed, and they all clamored for them.
Even Chen Jia, taught by Wu Mi to be steady, was no exception.
"Crown Prince, I give mine to you." Xu Ying opened her brocade bag, found finger guards inside too, and took one out to give to Chen Jia.
Just as she said this, Liang Ji, who didn’t get along with Xu Ying, instantly remarked, "These things are so sharp, aren’t you afraid they’ll hurt the Crown Prince’s precious body?"
Xu Ying: "..."
"Crown Prince Brother, my Consort Mother said these are for girls, boys shouldn’t want them." Over on Xia Zhiqing’s side, she had just coaxed Chen Nuo, turned around, and Chen Nuo said this to Chen Jia.
Xia Zhiqing was taken aback, her face reddening slightly, laughing in exasperation.
Chen Jia turned his head to look at Mother Wu Mi, seemingly asking whether what Chen Nuo said was true.
Wu Mi smiled, patted his head, and nodded.
Just as Chen Jia showed a disappointed look.
Wu Mi took out a brocade bag from her sleeve.
The brocade bag contained the leftover agates. She separated these pretty stones and distributed them among Chen Jia and Chen Nuo.
The children who received the agates grinned from ear to ear.
But only the mothers knew that their kids just found them appealing, and after the novelty wore off, they would toss them aside and stop playing.
Chen Mo didn’t finish speaking, just watched them. Is this what makes the family atmosphere strong?
The faces of the women also showed warm smiles.
Nalan Yiren watched this scene, her hand hidden under the table unconsciously touched her belly.
Will I have children too in the future?
This New Year’s Eve dinner lasted quite a while.
At the dinner table, everyone laughed and joked around, it was lively.
As Zhao Yushu laughed, she looked at everything before her, feeling somewhat incredulous. What kind of deep palace courtyard is this? How is it different from a regular family’s New Year’s dinner, warm, lively, filled with joy and laughter?
She had only felt this kind of warmth before getting married.
The royal family may be wonderful, but the "emotion" is too thin. Everyone maintains a distance, unlike now.
It wasn’t until midnight that everyone dispersed.
...
Liang Ji carrying Chen Qin returned to Lanxiang Palace.
At this time, for a child under one year old, he had long since fallen asleep.
Liang Ji handed Chen Qin to the wet nurse and instructed the attending palace maid to prepare hot water as she wanted to bathe.
Just as the palace maid prepared the hot water, a female official came in: "Lady Lanfei, the Empress asks to see you."
"The Empress wants to see me?" Liang Ji was surprised, considering they had just parted, she replied, "Now?"
The female official nodded.
"Tell the Empress I’ll be right over."
Liang Ji took quite a while bathing; she certainly couldn’t let the Empress wait for her.
"Certainly."
...
Glazed Palace.
Zhao Yushu sat on a soft couch laid with blankets, with a heater burning in the hall.
Though she had bathed during the day, she was somewhat sweaty and carried a hint of alcohol odor, but with it being so cold and late, she planned to wash the next day.
She asked the attending palace maid to prepare some hot water to wash her face and soak her feet, then prepared to sleep.
But just as she put her feet in to soak, someone came to inform her that the Empress wanted to see her.
Zhao Yushu dared not delay, barely soaked, dried her feet, and without wearing silk socks, went over.
...
Xu Ying was drinking more tonight; though not drunk, she was not sleepy either. So she called over Consort Ning Madam Gan, Consort Hui Madam Xiao, Consort Lan Zhihua, to her palace to play cards.
Just as the four were about to play, a report came from below, saying the Empress had business with Xu Ying.
"You play on, I’ll be back soon." Xu Ying couldn’t guess why Wu Mi sought her at this hour, after all, Wu Mi was serious, dignified, and poised in her heart.
...
Zhao Yushu and Liang Ji arrived at Wu Mi’s Weiyang Palace at almost the same time.
When they saw each other, they were surprised, Liang Ji spoke, "Yushu, did the Empress want to see you too?"
"Is Lady Lanfei here too?" Zhao Yushu asked.
Both nodded.
With curiosity, they walked skillfully into Weiyang Palace.
After all, both had once lived in Weiyang Palace.
Weiyang Palace’s inner halls were warm, just like the warm pavilion.
Wu Mi wore a large black palace skirt, kneeling behind a long table, making tea.
Seeing the two women enter, she raised her hand to indicate toward the front: "Lady Lanfei, Consort Liu, take a seat."
Zhao Yushu and Liang Ji exchanged glances and sat before Wu Mi.
Wu Mi held a copper tongs to take out three teacups that had been soaking for a while from a copper basin filled with hot water, poured tea into two of the cups, and smiled, "Try it."
"Thank you, Empress." Zhao Yushu picked up her cup and sipped lightly.
Liang Ji noticed the empty teacup and asked curiously, "Empress, is there someone else coming?"
Wu Mi nodded: "They should be arriving soon."
Just then they heard a female official’s voice from outside the hall.
"Lady Qing, the Empress is inside."
Light footsteps reached Liang Ji’s ears.
Liang Ji’s expression changed slightly, turning back.
It was Xu Ying who arrived.
"Consort Qing?" Zhao Yushu was momentarily surprised.
"Lady Lanfei, Consort Liu." Seeing Liang Ji and Zhao Yushu in Weiyang Palace, Xu Ying was surprised too but quickly guessed a bit; a meaningful smile appeared on her face.
"Consort Qing, take a seat and have some tea." Wu Mi poured tea into the empty cup she had taken out.
Compared to the initially tense Liang Ji and Zhao Yushu, Xu Ying felt relaxed after coming in, filled with anticipation. She smiled, nodded, and sat before Wu Mi.
She didn’t sit beside Liang Ji, with Zhao Yushu seated between them.
Liang Ji vaguely guessed some things but felt with Wu Mi’s integrity, she wouldn’t do such things. So she asked tentatively, "Do you know why the Empress called us over at this hour?"
Wu Mi looked at the three women, her dignified and brilliant pale face unexpectedly showed two blushing spots, she said, "Forgive me, sisters.
Your Majesty, you may come out now."
"Your Majesty?" Liang Ji and Zhao Yushu were startled.
Xu Ying showed amusement, following Wu Mi’s line of sight.
From behind the screen in the corner, a tall figure stepped out.
Who else could it be but Chen Mo?
"Your Majesty, why... are you here too?" Zhao Yushu’s reactions always were a beat slower than the others.
"You... everyone." Liang Ji looked at Chen Mo, then pointed at Wu Mi, feeling remarkably annoyed.
She wanted to leave immediately.
Called here so late, with Zhao Yushu and Xu Ying also here, and now even Chen Mo has appeared.
Liang Ji wasn’t a fool, she certainly knew the games Chen Mo intended to play.
But since she was here, Chen Mo wouldn’t let her leave.
She didn’t get far before Chen Mo caught her arm and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly.
"You... let me go, don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning, it’s absurd, you won’t succeed." Liang Ji struggled.
"Stop fussing." Chen Mo raised a hand and gave Liang Ji’s rounded bottom a light smack, then turned his gaze to Wu Mi, Zhao Yushu, and Xu Ying, speaking gently, "It’s late, time to rest."
Wu Mi blushed and softly agreed.
Xu Ying began to unroll the skirts of her coat.
Zhao Yushu raised her eyebrows, finally realizing, her tender, charming face turned a crimson red, under the shimmering lamp light, extremely entrancing.
"Your Majesty, Empress, are you planning to..." Zhao Yushu’s voice grew quieter and softer.