The wives of the concubines are empresses

The lotus flowers in the water tanks in Fushou Palace are in full bloom. There are fifteen water tanks in the courtyard. The lotus flowers are blooming one after another, and some are buds about to bloom.

The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace was in a good mood as she looked at the pink lotus flowers.

"The lotus flowers this year seem to be blooming even better than last year."

Nanny Li smiled softly and said, "I think so too."

Thinking of her daughter whom she had not seen for half a month, the Empress Dowager Donggong missed her very much.

"How is the emperor lately?" Ever since she moved into Fushou Palace and was honored as the empress dowager, she seldom disturbed her own daughter. Now the court and the harem are relatively peaceful, and she is very relieved.

"The emperor has been reviewing memorials recently. I heard that he also reviews two or three test papers of candidates every day." She grew up watching and caring for the emperor. Now the emperor has a more noble status, but also greater responsibilities. She sees it with her own eyes and feels pain in her heart.

"Exam papers for candidates?"

"Yes."

"It's good to read more. After all, the emperor has only been exposed to government affairs and literature for about half a year. Before, he could only read and write. His foundation is not as good as others. Reading more will always be beneficial."

Nanny Li agreed, "The Queen Mother is right."

Missing her daughter, she still wanted to go and see her.

"Let's have lunch in the imperial study. Set up the imperial study and I'll go see the emperor." Nanny Li understood how much the empress dowager missed her daughter.

The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace and her entourage appeared outside the imperial study, and the young eunuch at the door hurried into the main hall.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's procession has just arrived outside the palace."

Shangguan Wanjun, who had just sat down to rest for a while, was stunned: Why did my mother come here suddenly?

The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace stepped over the threshold with the help of Nanny Li and walked into the imperial study.

Seeing her mother, dressed in a noble bright yellow phoenix robe, walking towards her gracefully and elegantly, she quickly stood up and saluted.

"Your son pays respect to the Queen Mother. May the Queen Mother be well!"

The Empress Dowager Donggong's face was filled with a woman's gentle kindness: "My son, please excuse me. Are you done with your lessons?"

Shangguan Wanjun walked forward to the side of her mother, and Nanny Li stepped back consciously.

"It's over. The teacher has gone to have lunch. I am going to take a break and have lunch. The Queen Mother should not have had lunch yet." Could it be that the Queen Mother came to have lunch with her today?

The Empress Dowager Donggong readily agreed: "Okay, Mother will dine with the prince today."

This daughter was the one she poured all her love and hopes into, and she was also the princess and emperor that she was proud of.

"Xiao Liuzi, serve the food."

Liu Cheng responded respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty."

The mother and daughter hadn't seen each other for half a month, so they chatted for a while.

"How are you getting along with those imperial husbands?" She was now worried that her daughter didn't have a special confidant.

"Mother, we are all getting along well. Don't worry."

The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace patted her hands gently and said, "Your Highness has done a great job of treating everyone equally. If you could find one or two close friends, your mother would be even more pleased."

Shangguan Wanjun smiled when she heard this: "Mother, it's hard to find a true lover. Just let everything go as fate dictates. Don't force things too much, or you won't add to your troubles."

The Empress Dowager Donggong sighed that her daughter saw things clearly: "Well, you are quite open-minded."

"It's my fault that your mother is worried."

The Empress Dowager Donggong shook her head: "No, you have done very well. Mother is proud of you."

Shangguan Wanjun smiled happily when she heard this: "Thank you, mother. Let's go and have dinner."

"it is good."

Looking at the heartwarming scene ahead, Nanny Li lamented that time had passed so quickly and that the Emperor had grown so much.

Arriving at the dining hall, Shangguan Wanjun helped her mother sit down.

"Mother, slow down."

"Okay, you do it too." The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace stroked her dress and sat down.

Shangguan Wanjun sat down gracefully and elegantly. The mother and daughter had the same idea and did not want the eunuchs to serve the dishes. Instead, they each picked up food for each other. This scene made people feel that they were just an ordinary mother and daughter, not the empress dowager and the emperor.

"Mother, try the winter melon in this winter melon and turtle skirt soup. It's very tasty."

Winter melon and turtle skirt soup is a palace health recipe originating from the Northern Song Dynasty. It has anti-inflammatory, heat-clearing and diuretic effects, making it a health-preserving delicacy in summer.

The ancient palace's emphasis on and innovation in food culture was actually constantly being updated and added to.

"Okay, you can have some of the drooling rabbit too. I don't know if it's my illusion, but the cooking skills of the imperial kitchen seem to have improved a bit today." The taste just seemed worse than in previous years.

Shangguan Wanjun smiled softly and gently: "Maybe it's a change in mentality."

The Empress Dowager Donggong smiled faintly: "Perhaps, let's have a good meal. You should take a nap later so that you can have the energy to review the memorials in the afternoon."

"My son understands."

After taking a nap, Concubine Wen-Li Youwen left Shiyaxuan for a walk. Passing by a palace wall, he was stunned when he heard a meow.

"Did you hear any sound?"

Follower Liu Mingcheng and guard Liu Yaowen looked at each other, one shook his head and the other nodded.

"Let's go and look around."

He pricked up his ears to listen, and finally saw two snow-white jade kittens in a corner of the palace wall. He exclaimed in surprise.

"It turns out they are two cats, Liu Mingcheng and Liu Yaowen. Take them back."

In the courtyard of Shiyaxuan, Concubine Wen-Li Youwen is giving the kitten Chiyu a bath in a wooden tub.

"Be good, I will wash you clean. We need to be clean cats, otherwise it would be a shame to have such snow-white fur, right?"

Listening to his concubine's nagging, Liu Mingcheng sighed. When did their concubine become so loving?

Under the sunshine, the hair of the Chiyus was dried and they became more obedient.

"Cejun, this cat looks pretty good after washing it."

Li Youwen, the concubine of Wen, nodded. "Indeed, but there are two of them. Should I keep both?"

Wouldn't two be a bit too many?

Liu Mingcheng's eyes lit up and he said, "Two would be great, a pair. Or maybe you could give one to the emperor? One for you, one for the emperor, that's it..."

Looking at the ambiguous smile on his face, Wenbin-Li Youwen instantly understood.

"You can do it, kid. Just do it."

Shangguan Wanjun, who was carefully reviewing memorials, was stunned when she heard the cat's cry. She looked up in confusion and looked towards the door of the palace. At this time, Su Yude walked in quickly.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Wen requests an audience!"

Concubine Wen?

Could it be that he was the one who made that meowing sound just now?

Su Yude was deeply puzzled when he saw that his master had not spoken yet.

Liu Cheng reminded him as soon as he saw her: "Your Majesty, is Concubine Xuanwen coming in?"

"Declarate it."

When Shangguan Wanjun saw the snow-white cat in his arms, she was stunned.

"Hey, where did the cat come from, my dear?"

Seeing that her attention was indeed attracted by the cat, Wenpin-Li Youwen smiled gently.

"I found it in the corner of an abandoned palace wall. It just came out of the bath and it still smells good."

Shangguan Wanjun sniffed it slightly and said, "It smells quite nice. Did you put rose petals or spices in it?"

The other concubines also looked at him curiously, and Concubine Wen - Li Youwen spoke with a smile.

"My husband asked Liu Mingcheng to pick the petals, and they are quite effective."

"That's a good idea. Have you named the cat yet?"

Li Youwen, the concubine of Wen, looked at Shangguan Wanjun with a smile on her face: "My husband, this one is ready, so let's call it Snow White."

Shangguan Wanjun smiled and murmured, "Snow-white? That sounds pretty good. What about this one?"

She stroked the Chiyu cat in Liu Mingcheng's arms, and Concubine Wen - Li Youwen met Shangguan Wanjun's gaze with a deep smile on her face.

"I'll give this one to you. How about letting it keep you company?"