Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

"Today, Mother has had someone prepare roasted duck with pork, which is my sister's favorite dish. My sister must try it."

Shen Yucheng pulled Shen Sangwan down to sit, his face beaming with smiles.

"it is good."

From as far back as she can remember, all she could see around her was her grandmother's hunched figure, working from sunrise to sunset in a small courtyard, tending to the fruits and vegetables in the soil every day.

The rare warmth came from that grandmother from another generation.

This scene of motherly love and filial piety made Shen Sangwan feel like a fish that had been parched for a long time, frantically drinking from a water source.

She cherished the harmonious atmosphere fostered by blood ties.

Mo Yun quietly served Shen Sangwan the dishes, her movements quite practiced.

She was originally a palace maid who served the eldest princess closely, named Shuyun. Later, she followed the eldest princess into the army camp and made many military achievements. She became a deputy general in the Yanmo Army and changed her name to Moyun. Although she had an official position, she chose to continue serving the eldest princess.

No one else dared to say anything, and when they saw the other party, they bowed to him according to his official rank and manners.

After finishing her meal and washing her hands, Shen Sangwan prepared to leave the palace, giving a few more instructions before departing.

"Father has not been feeling well lately. As the Crown Prince, you should spend more time serving him, and make sure you don't give others cause for criticism."

“Sister, I know, Mother has already given instructions.”

Shen Yuchen nodded obediently, "Is Sister leaving the palace?"

"I'm going back to the Princess's residence."

"When you come back, could you bring Ah Chen a serving of 'Jade Dew Rice Cake with Lotus Root Starch and Osmanthus Sugar' and 'Steamed Sugar-coated Crispy Cheese' from the shop in the alley in the west of the city? I haven't had them for a long time since you left the palace for the border."

Upon hearing this, the Empress rose gracefully and smiled, saying, "If Achen were not my own son, I would doubt whether he was even a girl. I don't know when he started to love sweet and sticky pastries, just like those noble ladies in the capital."

"Pastries are just snacks for when you have nothing to do, and have nothing to do with men or women. Mother, please don't tease Ah Chen anymore."

Shen Sangwan didn't interrupt, but simply nodded in agreement to Shen Yuchen's request.

First, he returned to Weiyang Palace, gave Cen Yan a few instructions, and then gave Shu Yi many more instructions before finally leading Mo Yun out of the palace gate with peace of mind.

The Princess's residence is very large, with a strict central axis symmetry forming a three-section, multi-courtyard layout that is well-organized and orderly.

There are covered walkways on both sides, and a passageway in the middle, where a large marble screen with a rosewood frame is placed.

Turn past the screen, you'll find a small three-room hall, behind which lies the main courtyard.

The front has five main rooms, all with carved beams and painted rafters, while the two sides have covered corridors and side rooms.

Upon seeing Shen Sang returning late at the mansion gate, the maids dressed in red and green knelt down to pay their respects.

She sat briefly in the front hall and ordered the steward of the manor to fetch the jade butterfly fan from the storeroom.

If it weren't for the fear that the emperor might die at any moment, she really wouldn't want to go out of the palace on a rainy day to deliver a thank-you gift to Miss Wen.

The steward, Qi Bo, held a square brocade box containing a round fan.

The border is made of warm jade, with a white silk background in the center. Embroidered on the silk are peonies, and a peacock with its head held high and wings drooping walks slowly up the slope.

The fan has a white jade handle with openwork and engraved scroll leaves and pine needle patterns, making it quite exquisite.

The fan handle is cool to the touch, and with summer fast approaching, this round fan is the perfect gift.

Shen Sangwan then instructed the steward to take out the two sets of gold filigree Taihu pearl headdresses that the Empress had previously given her, along with a hundred taels of gold, and send them to the Left Prime Minister's residence.

When the Princess's carriage stopped at the entrance of the Prime Minister's residence, the gatekeeper hurriedly went to report to the mistress of the house.

When Liang received the news, she was talking to Wen Yuening.

"Yuening, you should go back to your room. I will go and receive His Highness."

"Mother, the Princess's visit is likely for my sake."

Wen Yuening suppressed the brilliance in her eyes, and a smile appeared on her brows. "Although I have won His Majesty's favor, I am not the Crown Princess until the decree is issued to the Prime Minister's residence. Yesterday, after Father returned to the residence from the palace, he said that His Majesty's time is probably only a few days. Princess, you are here to test the Prime Minister's residence for the sake of your younger brother."

Upon hearing this, his brows furrowed slightly, his expression shifting several times, his face displaying a complex and unreadable expression. Gradually, everything seemed to calm down again.

"Yuening, born into this noble family, marriage has always been a matter of choice for you. Your father..."

“Mother, I have no complaints. Now that I have been born into this wealthy family and enjoy the protection that the family brings, I should bear some necessary responsibilities.”

Wen Yuening grasped Liang Shi's hand, her face calm, "Mother, don't keep His Highness waiting."

The steward greeted Shen Sangwan and seated her in the main hall, then ordered someone to serve her the finest Biluochun tea.

Unfortunately, Shen Sangwan didn't like Biluochun tea; she preferred Qishan black tea.

The emperor was seriously ill and had not attended court for the past two days. Wen Yunhe was in his study dealing with matters when the steward came to report. After a moment of surprise, he hurried out of the study.

Liang and Wen Yunhe arrived at the main hall almost at the same time. Upon seeing Shen Sangwan sitting in the upper seat, they knelt down and paid their respects.

"I was unaware of Your Highness's arrival. Please forgive me."

"I have come here abruptly, and I am not guilty of any ignorance. Rise and sit down to talk."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Liang and Wen Yunhe sat down in order of their right, while Wen Yuening stood behind them.

"I wonder what brings Your Highness to the Prime Minister's residence today?"

"Firstly, it was because Miss Xie Wen saved me in the suburbs of the capital that day; secondly, I had important matters to discuss with the Left Prime Minister."

Mo Yun handed the brocade box in her hand to Qing Que behind Wen Yuening, and then raised her hand to have the people from the Princess's residence bring in two boxes and open them.

"The Jade Butterfly Fan is a rare item that I captured when I attacked the Eastern Rui Kingdom when I was fifteen years old. Recently, the weather has become hot, and this fan is cool to the touch, making it perfect for cooling off in the summer."

"There are also two sets of gold filigree Taihu pearl headdresses that the Empress bestowed upon me before the New Year. I have gotten used to wearing strong-fitting clothes over the years, and they have been gathering dust in the storeroom. It is said that a fine sword is given to a hero, so these hairpins should also be worn by a beauty like Miss Wen, so as not to be covered in dust."

"My daughter only did a small favor that day, and I dare not accept such a great courtesy from Your Highness."

Lady Liang tried to decline, but Shen Sangwan stopped her, saying, "I will give you another hundred taels of gold. Lady, please do not refuse my kind offer."

Wen Yunhe gave Liang a look, and after receiving the signal, he instructed Wen Yuening to step forward and kowtow to express her gratitude.

"Your Highness, I thank you for your generous gift."

"Your Highness just said that he had important matters to discuss with me. It is inconvenient here. May we move to the inner study?"

Shen Sangwan nodded, and the two walked past the main hall along a path that ran through the courtyard.

"Your Highness, please—"

Wen Yunhe respectfully raised his hand in greeting.

The rain outside the window falls gently, timidly tapping against the windowpane.

The ground became very slippery, and the mottled moss in the cracks of the stone slabs became even greener.

The tips of the grass growing in the corner of the wall were adorned with glistening raindrops, which then slid off in an instant, making the grass blades exceptionally bright and shimmering with a faint green light, a refreshing sight.

Mo Yun waited outside until 15:30 PM when Shen Sangwan finally came out of the study. She looked alright, indicating that the conversation had gone smoothly and nothing serious had happened.

"Your Highness, shall we return to the palace, or..."

"I promised Ah Chen I'd buy him pastries; I'll go to the shop in the alley in the west of the city."

After leaving the Prime Minister's residence, the carriage headed towards the west of the city.

Perhaps because of the rain, there weren't many people on the street, and the few pedestrians who were walking with umbrellas all seemed to be in a hurry.

However, the pastry shop's business was not affected, and there were long queues.

Shen Sangwan sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain, glanced at him, and said indifferently to Mo Yun outside.

"Two portions each of Jade Dew Rice Cake, Lotus Root Starch, Osmanthus Sugar Cake, Steamed Sugar-coated Crispy Cheese, and one portion of Crispy Abalone with Butter."

"Your Highness, please wait a moment, I will go immediately."

[Does Your Highness intend to send this to the Empress?]

〖Um. 〗

Xiao Tong noticed that Shen Sangwan was in a low mood and spoke sullenly.

At the same time, she didn't realize why she had blurted out "buttered abalone snails" that she had never eaten before.

[Does Your Majesty wish to know why the Eldest Princess and the Empress are not on good terms?]

A long-awaited tranquility, accompanied by the patter of rain, made the air seem to freeze.

You speak, and I listen.

[The original princess had practiced martial arts since childhood, thinking that even after the emperor's death, she could still hold military power and help her younger brother.]

[However, the Empress felt sorry for her daughter and didn't want her to go to the battlefield. When the princess was ten years old, an old nanny acted first and informed the Empress without consulting her first, injuring the princess's leg. This almost prevented the princess from going to war with Liang Huaiting. In this way, the princess mistakenly believed that the Empress had instructed her to do so, and from then on, she and the Empress were no longer very close.]

[Master? Master? Are you alright?]

"Xiaotong, why do you think there are parents in this world who don't love their children?"

Is Master thinking of his parents?

I feel so ironic that I've lived for over twenty years, in this fictional, non-existent dynasty, and yet I've experienced a sliver of maternal love and sibling affection.

【master......】

Xiao Tong didn't know how to comfort Shen Sangwan. She didn't have her own emotions; all her feelings were given to her by the main system after the host awakened.

"Your Highness, the buttered abalone and snails are sold out. Would you like to try something else?"

"Then... chestnut cake, and I'll buy some candied fruit to take back with it."

Mo Yun handed the pastries to Shen Sangwan, then turned and went back to the shop.

"Xiaotong, I'm suddenly feeling a little glad I came here. I'm even starting to suspect that the main system is slowly invading and controlling my mind."

[Master, what nonsense are you talking about?]

The rain outside was getting heavier, and Shen Sangwan began to feel irritable.