The princess regretted it.

After hearing what her daughter said, Concubine Zhang thought for a moment and understood. She sneered and said, "Right! Let her make more noise. See how much patience your father has left. But, Jiaoyu, go to the kitchen later and bring His Majesty the Tremella and Lotus Seed Soup I cooked. His Majesty is busy with government affairs all day and is the hardest working. We must seize this opportunity to show His Majesty more care. When you bring it to him, be gentle and polite, and don't lose your manners. Let His Majesty see your virtuous and gentle nature, and understand that you are the daughter who cares most about him and understands him the most. In this way, His Majesty will naturally love you even more, and that Jin'an is always acting like this, and sooner or later he will get annoyed."

Princess Jiaoyu nodded slightly and replied confidently, "Don't worry, mother. I know what to do."

Concubine Zhang and her daughter thought they were smart, but they didn't know that the emperor had already known their thoughts. They also didn't know that the emperor didn't eat the white fungus and lotus seed soup they sent, but instead it went into Eunuch Fuquan's stomach.

Not long after, Eunuch Fuquan delivered the Jade Face Cream to Feiyu Palace. Jin'an asked Nanny Zhao to give Eunuch Fuquan a purse. After refusing for a while, Eunuch Fuquan reluctantly accepted it and left with a smile.

Jin An only took a look at the Jade Face Cream and then asked Han Shuang to go out of the palace and deliver it to the Lin Mansion. She originally wanted Zi Yun to deliver it, but Zi Yun was too much of a distraction, so she thought it would be better to let Han Shuang go. She also asked her to take a message to Lin Qian: "I have given her the Jade Face Cream she wanted. If she wants to enter the palace, she needs to have real ability."

Lin Qian was overjoyed when she received the Jade Face Cream. She knew its preciousness and understood the profound meaning behind Princess Jin'an's gesture. After hearing Han Shuang's words from Princess Jin'an, Lin Qian decided to practice diligently to ensure her chances of entering the palace.

The imperial court's grain and fodder had been prepared, and the personnel to escort them had been chosen, with Wu Anshuo, Marquis of Jin, leading the team. This was the result of the strong recommendation of the Vice Ministers of Personnel and War.

Strangely, no one in the court objected. Zhang Chengde's faction had originally reasoned that as long as it wasn't led by one of their own, it would be fine. Since Marquis Jin Wu wasn't on their side, he would be the one to take the blame if anything went wrong. Apparently, the Zhang family, having failed to prevent this during their preparations, had changed their minds. They had already placed their own men within the escort, intending to seize the rations for themselves.

Prime Minister Mu's faction did not object, as Zhong Chuzhou had given Prime Minister Mu a message, asking them not to interfere, hinting that the journey would not be peaceful and that he would make secret arrangements. Because of this, Wu Anshuo easily got the job, and he was naturally happy because it gave him the opportunity to make meritorious contributions and change the emperor's impression of him.

Upon learning that Wu Anshuo had been successfully appointed, Changsun Wuwang suddenly felt uneasy. Although he had been the one who had arranged this proposal, he had expected opposition from both the Zhang and Mu families, but in reality, both parties had unanimously agreed. He had a feeling something was amiss. True, the Vice Ministers of Personnel and War were also his people. Over the years, he had also secretly cultivated and won over a number of them.

At the Marquis Jinwu's mansion, the eunuch who had delivered the imperial edict had just left. Wu Anshuo respectfully accepted the order, his face brimming with smug pride, as if he had already foreseen a glorious future. Wu Changfeng, too, was beaming with joy and high spirits. The imperial edict specifically mandated that he accompany his father on the grain transport mission as a vanguard.

Fan frowned slightly, her expression filled with uneasiness. Deep worry flashed in her eyes as she whispered, "My Lord, the journey is long. How did Fenger go with you? Is it safe along the way? You must be extra careful."

Wu Anshuo raised his eyelids slightly, glanced at Fan calmly, and said calmly, "Madam, don't worry. The emperor has personally sent 3,000 people to escort the grain, so everything will be fine. Moreover, if we can successfully transport the grain to the northern border this time, it will be a great achievement. Feng'er can also use this opportunity to enter the court with good reason and bring honor to the family."

Wu Changfeng also said firmly: "Father, I will definitely behave well. Mother, don't worry, we still need you to make the decision at home."

Madam Lan, standing nearby, didn't share Fan's reluctance. After the incident on the street, Wu Changfeng had told Fan and the others not to embarrass Lan Zhu again, but he had also been avoiding her, intentionally or unintentionally. She had always looked down on Wu Changfeng, believing him to be a superficial figure with great ambitions but little talent. In her heart, only herself and her unborn child were most important. Indeed, she was already a month pregnant.

She even secretly thought that if Wu Changfeng never returned, her position in the mansion would be even more secure. After all, Wu Changfeng didn't have a wife, so the baby she was carrying would be the Wu family's only child. Although she was thinking this in her heart, she didn't show it on her face. She just stood quietly by, observing everything with a cold eye.

As for Liu Qianyi, she wasn't there. As she was a guest, she wasn't required to come out to receive the imperial edict. So, she was still waiting in the backyard for Fan to return and tell her the contents of the edict. However, whether she knew or not didn't matter.

Two days later, the army set out in a mighty procession. Wu Anshuo rode atop a towering steed, his expression solemn. Wu Changfeng, also atop a horse, was high-spirited. Behind them were carts laden with provisions and neatly arranged soldiers. The soldiers were all in high spirits, clad in neatly arranged armor, armed with sharp weapons, and marching forward with a resolute stride. The wheels rolled, stirring up a cloud of dust, and the flags fluttered, rustling in the wind.

What the Wu father and son didn't know was what they would experience along the way, and that they would never be so high-spirited and contented again.

Today, the grain transport army set out. Changsun Hongze stood on the city wall, looking solemnly at the receding troops. A gentle breeze rustled the hem of his clothes, and Eunuch Fuquan whispered, "Your Majesty, the troops have gone far. It's cold, Your Majesty, do you want to return?"

Changsun Hongze narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a moment of silence, he sighed and said, "Let's go back." He turned and walked down the city wall, and Eunuch Fuquan hurriedly followed closely.

After returning to the palace, Changsun Hongze went straight back to the imperial study. Eunuch Fuquan quickly brewed some hot tea and brought it over. Changsun Hongze smelled a faint herbal aroma, looked up at the tea in Fuquan's hand, and asked in confusion, "Aren't you brewing tea? What is this?"

Eunuch Fuquan replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, this is the perilla tea that Princess Jin'an sent yesterday. The princess said it has the effect of dispelling cold, promoting qi circulation, and soothing the stomach. I thought your Majesty felt a chill on the city wall today, so I rushed over to give it to you to warm you up."

Changsun Hongze chuckled and said, "Bring it here." Eunuch Fuquan responded and presented the teacup. Changsun Hongze took the teacup and took a sip. The warm tea went into his throat and the warmth quickly spread, making him feel the coldness in his body gradually dissipate.

Changsun Hongze put down his teacup and said thoughtfully to Eunuch Fuquan, "Do you know where this Jin'an medicinal tea comes from?"

"This..." Eunuch Fuquan looked embarrassed and said helplessly, "This old servant has no idea."