A life of ups and downs is pure joy

In the Iris Pavilion, Tao Baiwan was drawing his eyebrows in front of a bronze mirror, with a happy smile on his face.

"How's breakfast going? Brother Yi likes soft and glutinous pastries, so give him some instructions."

Fuzi stood aside, hesitant to speak.

"What's wrong, so early in the morning?"

Seeing the maid's strange expression, Tao Baiwan asked.

"Princess, the eldest son stayed at Luoyi Pavilion yesterday. I'm afraid he didn't go to Chenyu Courtyard for breakfast."

After saying this, Fuzi looked at Tao Baiwan with sympathy.

"Huh, that's strange. She actually showed her weakness to Brother Yi?"

Tao Baiwan stopped the Luozidai in his hand and said.

"Well, the eldest son went to Luoyi Pavilion yesterday afternoon, and then went to the Eastern Palace in the evening. After returning home very late, he went directly to Luoyi Pavilion. The princess was asleep at the time, so Fuzi didn't dare to disturb her."

The little maid stood aside and said in embarrassment.

"Alright, then let the kitchen stop working. It's been going on for almost four months now, and I've been eating breakfast with Brother Yi for four months. It's about time she started getting anxious."

After all, Tao Baiwan grew up in the palace, so he never expressed his joy or sorrow.

Fuzi glanced at her, then bowed and left.

Tao Baiwan was wearing a moon-white skirt and a snow-white gauze coat. She carefully painted her makeup in front of the bronze mirror. Although her appearance was not as stunning as Changping's, after careful dressing up, she was still bright and beautiful.

She gently contoured her eyebrows, making them longer and more defined. Then, she applied a light coat of lipstick to make her lips appear fuller and more rosy. She carefully observed herself in the mirror, seemingly quite satisfied with her look.

However, when her eyes fell on her eyebrows, she couldn't help but sigh softly. She knew that if she wanted to win Xiao Yi back, relying on her looks would be useless. After all, the Changping she considered her rival was the most beautiful woman in Dasheng.

"Changping, Changping, it was I who underestimated you."

Tao Baiwan spoke softly. She knew Lin Qinghuan wasn't just a simple character. She was beautiful, intelligent, and deeply loved by her brother, Yi. Furthermore, she had the powerful influence of the Lin family, which made her think twice, especially since the Eastern Palace relied heavily on Lin Mutang and the Lin family army behind him.

A faint sense of worry welled up in Tao Baiwan's heart. She knew she had to be even more cautious if she was to truly contend with Lin Qinghuan. She couldn't let her willfulness become an excuse for others to attack her, and she couldn't let Xiao Yi think she was merely receiving the emperor's favor and asking him to be wary of her.

Tao Baiwan took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She knew she had to remain calm and rational in order to win this chess game without smoke.

She looked at herself in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.

She believed that she could do it.

After Xiao Yi finished his breakfast, he went to the East Palace. Lin Qinghuan also packed up and took Yun Xiang and the wet nurse, holding Xiao Xingjian, to the Qingyin Pavilion to pay his respects to Liu Ji.

Yong'er was wearing a gorgeous outfit that Tao Baiwan had carefully chosen for him, a stark contrast to his usual style. Liu Ji looked at her eldest grandson with a bright smile, her eyes full of love.

Yong'er's every word and action reveals the dignity and elegance that has been cultivated by aristocratic families with great financial and human resources. The cut and material of his clothes are both of high quality, and the colors are chosen to suit him best, neither looking too flashy nor making him feel suffocated. He is naturally handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips and white teeth. Wearing this outfit, he looks even more elegant and graceful, and even someone with high standards like Liu Ji couldn't help but praise him.

"This child, wearing this dress, looks like a little adult."

Liu Ji held Yong'er's hand and looked at him carefully, her eyes full of joy. Tao Baiwan watched from the side, feeling very proud.

She knew that Liu Ji had always doted on her grandson. After all, Xiao Yi only had two sons, so this time she could give him what he wanted.

"Come, Yong'er, show it to grandma."

Liu Ji motioned for Yong'er to turn around and show off the dress. Yong'er obeyed, twirling his body as his dress fluttered like a blooming flower.

"Good, good, our Yong'er is so handsome." Liu Ji patted Yong'er's hand and touched his head. Yong'er raised his head and looked at Liu Ji, his eyes full of admiration. He knew that besides his mother, Li Jiaxin, his grandmother was the person who loved him the most.

"Thank you, grandmother, and thank you, Princess." Yong'er said softly.

Tao Baiwan looked at the child born from the concubine's wife and found that he was much more sensible than before.

"Okay, okay, go play."

Liu Ji said with a smile.

Yong'er nodded, turned around and left. Wanwan looked at his back, and her mind became more calculating.

Li Jiaxin, who was standing with Liu Rong, looked at her son, then looked at Tao Baiwan who was always thoughtful, and a feeling of uneasiness gradually came over her.

Lin Qinghuan stood at the gate, looking at Tao Baiwan with a cold expression. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a hint of contempt.

Tao Baiwan was wearing a plain dress with a virtuous smile on her face. Lin Qinghuan knew that all this was a disguise. Lin Qinghuan naturally knew what kind of person she was.

Lin Qinghuan raised his head, stepped over the threshold and walked into the yard.

Her steps were light and firm, as if she was showing her disdain to Tao Baiwan. Her long hair fluttered with her movements, and her eyes were firm and confident.

After entering the yard, Lin Qinghuan stopped and glanced at Tao Baiwan calmly. Her eyes were full of provocation and disdain, and then she smiled slightly.

"Mother, Huan'er is late."

Lin Qinghuan bowed respectfully towards Liu Ji and said.

"No problem, no problem, Huan'er, come and have a look. Wanwan has also prepared a new set of clothes for our Jian'er. Take a look."

Liu Ji took Xiao Xingjian from the nanny's hands, held him in her arms, and kissed him tenderly on the cheek.

"Sister Changping, I wonder what Wanwan's taste is like. I wonder if she can make you like these little clothes."

Tao Baiwan walked over and pretended to be friendly, speaking gently, then reached out and gently patted Xiao Xingjian's little face.

"The eldest princess's vision is naturally the best. Jian'er is so lucky."

Lin Qinghuan glanced at Tao Baiwan, then reached out with a smile and touched the few small clothes in Fuzi's hand. The fabrics were all of the best quality, so naturally there was nothing wrong with them.

"I have no experience as a mother, and I don't know what kind of clothes are suitable for this child. So I went to the fabric store that Brother Yi loved to go to when he was a child and asked the owner. Brother Yi prefers Jian'er and Yong'er, so they are naturally suitable."

Tao Baiwan pretended to be casual and said this, and early in the morning he and Liu Ji teased the laughing Xiao Xingjian with a smile on their faces.

Lin Qinghuan was naturally annoyed to hear Tao Baiwan mention his childhood sweetheart relationship with Xiao Yi, but now that Liu Ji was here, she couldn't lose face, so she could only nod and smile.

"As a mother, there's no need to rush. Our Huan'er had to wait several years before she had Jian'er. Now that you're in good health, there's no need to rush. You can give Jian'er more brothers and sisters in the future."

Liu Ji said happily. Liu Rong on the side glanced at Lin Qinghuan, whose face changed slightly, with some resentment, and then stepped forward and said.

"Eldest sister, Yong'er has been talking about wanting to play with his brother since he came."

Upon hearing this, Michelle Reis quickly asked the maid to call back her son who was watching the cricket fight.

Only then did Liu Ji realize that what she said was not considerate of Lin Qinghuan's feelings, as she could no longer have children. She smiled awkwardly.

"Huan'er, yesterday I asked your Aunt Rong to buy your favorite snacks. The yard is a bit hot, so let's go inside to cool down for a while."

Liu Ji reached out and pulled Lin Qinghuan over and said, Lin Qinghuan nodded, then she and Li Jiaxin helped her into the house.

Tao Baiwan walked at the back and smiled triumphantly at Lin Qinghuan's back.

Indeed, from today on, Lin Qinghuan's infertility will probably become an excuse for Liu Ji to gradually lean towards Tao Baiwan. After all, for such a big Xiao family, continuing the family line is the most important thing.

Back at Luoyi Pavilion, Lin Qinghuan sat in front of the bronze mirror in a daze.

Even if Xiao Yi favors me, what can I do? As the young lady of the Xiao family, I don't have the ability to have children now. How can I compete with Tao Baiwan? Xiao Yi is a filial son. If it is Liu Ji's request and Tao Baiwan's pitiful behavior, as well as their relationship of more than ten years, it is only a matter of time before they consummate the marriage and have children. How can I stop it? What reason do I have to stop it?

Thinking of this, Lin Qinghuan touched her belly sadly.

"Is there really no hope?"

Lin Qinghuan murmured weakly.