Marrying the Crown Prince

"I think it will be a while before Mother wakes up. Why don't I go back and finish up my business first, and then come to pay my respects to Mother when she wakes up?" Zhou Zhou suggested.

This approach is perfectly reasonable. Moreover, Ruofu is just a palace maid. Although she is a senior palace maid serving the Empress and is more noble than ordinary palace maids, it does not mean that she can refute the Crown Princess's words.

So she hesitated and didn't dare to answer.

Zhou Zhou walked straight out, bowed gracefully to the main hall, and then returned to the East Palace.

As usual, Empress Chu slept until Chenshi (7-9 AM) before slowly waking up; the difference was that today, as soon as she woke up, she asked about Zhou Zhou.

"Where is the Crown Princess now?"

Ruosong spoke cautiously, "The Crown Princess came to pay her respects today and waited in the side hall for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before Donghe came looking for her."

"So she went back?" Empress Chu clutched her handkerchief in disbelief.

"Before returning, the Crown Princess bowed at the entrance of the main hall, just as she had yesterday," Ruosong added.

Empress Chu nearly vomited blood, feeling utterly aggrieved, so she issued the order, "Tomorrow, when she arrives, she should wake me up!"

She refused to believe it; for three days in a row, Zhou Shi had managed to get up this early!

It turns out that I really can get up that early.

When Empress Chu was awakened, she was in a terrible state. She opened her misty eyes, her whole body radiating resentment, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess has arrived," Ruofu said softly.

Empress Chu took a while to recover, then said, "Yes, I understand."

Ruofu waited for a while, but didn't hear the rest of the story. She looked up and saw that Empress Chu seemed to be going back to sleep.

She thought for a moment, then still brought it up, "Does Your Majesty wish to continue sleeping?"

"No, do my hair and makeup!" Empress Chu instantly snapped out of her daze.

Ruofu looked at Empress Chu, who was forcing herself to cheer up, and felt somewhat worried about how things would develop in the future.

Finally, after three consecutive days of intense competition, Zhou Zhou managed to win over Empress Chu.

Empress Chu took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay alert, and looked at Zhou Zhou with some unfriendly eyes, "The Crown Princess has quite a temper. I only asked you to wait for a little while yesterday, and when I woke up, you were nowhere to be found."

It's obvious he's settling old scores, but because he didn't sleep well, he's speaking weakly and lacks any real force.

Zhou Zhou hurriedly bowed and apologized, "This matter was indeed my fault, please forgive me, Mother."

The other party immediately admitted their mistake, leaving Empress Chu speechless. She could only snort, "It's good that you know."

Unexpectedly, Zhou Zhou added, "Your Majesty understands me, and I am truly moved. I came to your Fengyi Palace early this morning, firstly to pay my respects, and secondly to express my gratitude to Your Majesty."

After being flattered, Empress Chu's face darkened slightly—you thanked me, but now I have to suffer getting up early too?

Furthermore, she had always harbored the intention to torment Zhou Zhou, but now Zhou Zhou said that he treated her very well. Was she sure he wasn't being sarcastic?

But Zhou Zhou spoke with such genuine emotion, and the emotion on her face didn't seem fake at all.

Empress Chu rubbed her temples, roused herself, and launched her second attack, "I noticed you were quite knowledgeable about tea ceremony the other day, did you specifically study it?"

“Yes,” Zhou Zhou replied respectfully, her eyes lowered, “I was taught tea ceremony by the matrons at Jingyang Palace.”

Upon hearing that she had learned it at Jingyang Palace, Empress Chu swallowed back the sarcasm in her mouth and instead suggested another method, "In that case, Crown Princess, please pour me a cup of tea."

The real show was about to begin. Zhou Zhou washed the tea, skimmed off the foam, and after a whole process, he finally poured the tea. The tea was clear and fragrant, and it was obviously a good tea.

She served the tea to Empress Chu, saying, "Your Majesty, please have some tea."

Empress Chu brought it over, took only a small sip, and frowned, immediately scolding, "Tsk, is this tea so hot that you want to scald me to death?"

“It is my fault,” Zhou Zhou continued, following the Empress Chu’s words. “I will pour another cup for Mother.”

When it was served again, Empress Chu took a small sip and almost spat it out. She simply didn't have the stamina to do so. She said, "This tea is so cold. Are you doing this on purpose?"

Because of this tea...

The scalding heat is so intense that it could be used to scrape pig bristles.

"Mother, what's wrong?" Zhou Zhou asked with concern and great anxiety.

Empress Chu took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to smash someone with a teacup, and said, "You, you're quite something!"

Hearing the praise, Zhou Zhou blushed shyly, her face full of bashfulness. "Thank you for the praise, Mother."

Ruofu couldn't stand it any longer and stepped forward to smooth things over, "Your Highness, Crown Princess, although it's still early, it's already past dawn. Isn't it time for dinner?"

Empress Chu thought this was a good idea, so she ordered, "Yes, prepare the meal."

As Zhou Zhou had expected, she did not receive permission from Empress Chu and could only stand aside to serve her, picking up food for her.

Zhou Zhou had an excellent eye for things; every time before Empress Chu even said what she wanted, she would already have the item she desired.

Who in this world would go against the will to eat?

So after the meal, Empress Chu's attitude towards Zhou Zhou improved considerably, though her words were still sarcastic: "Your service skills are indeed excellent; no wonder Jin You dotes on you so much."

"Your Highness's pity for me is a blessing I have accumulated in my past lives." Zhou Zhou nodded, not taking Empress Chu's words to heart, but instead praising Li Ziyan highly.

Seeing her son being praised like this, Empress Chu naturally couldn't say anything more. "It's good that you know."

Having said that, the Empress Chu, having eaten and drunk her fill, took pity on her and stood up, saying kindly, "Please continue your meal; you don't need to serve me anymore."

"Thank you, Mother." Zhou Zhou bowed and smiled.

A slap followed by a sweet treat works everywhere. Although it can't change a person's impression all at once, it doesn't matter, the fifteenth day will come soon.

Zhou Zhou ate slowly. She was also a person who liked to take care of her health. Eating too fast was not good for her spleen and stomach. Therefore, she chewed slowly and carefully. After finishing her breakfast, Empress Chu was already drowsy.

"Mother?" She tiptoed over and called her softly.

Empress Chu struggled to open her eyes and saw a blurry face, but she couldn't hold on any longer and closed them again.

"Mother," Zhou Zhou's voice was soft and slightly seductive, "it's chilly here, why don't you go back to bed and rest?"

The allure of the bedding was so strong that Queen Chu's heart wavered.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Zhou gave Ruo Fu and Ruo Song a look, and the two palace maids understood immediately. They helped Empress Chu up and settled her back in her quarters.