Holding the script, I want to give up.

"Hmm... let me think about it."

After handing the embroidery to Le Qi, Shangguan Zitong scratched her head and thought for a long time.

"How about we embroider bamboo instead? What do you think?"

Leqi took the embroidery and began to unravel the stitches.

"A gentleman is like an orchid, so why not embroider an orchid?"

"Leqi, teach me how to embroider."

"I'd like to try that."

Seeing that Leqi had untied all the threads from the half-embroidered handkerchief, Shangguan Zitong felt a little tempted to try again.

"Okay, I'll teach you."

"Look, first like this... then like this... and then..."

Leqi patiently taught Shangguan Zitong, and she was also learning diligently.

"Leqi, where are His Highness and his concubine?"

Shangguan Zitong felt that today was unusually quiet, and she was a little unaccustomed to it.

"His Highness is discussing matters in the study, while the concubine has gone to visit a friend."

As Leqi saw the orchids she was embroidering gradually taking shape, she realized that Leqi was a kind and intelligent person.

"Oh, okay."

Shangguan Zitong understood immediately; she had already grasped the general idea.

"It's too hot today, let's go to the kitchen."

After she finished speaking, she put down the handkerchief in her hand and led Leqi towards the kitchen.

She quickly made a few glasses of lemonade and passion fruit cold drinks and handed them to Leqi and the sweltering cooks.

"You all saw how I did it, right? Just do it the same way."

"Ah Li, quickly give me a recipe for milk tea. I'm dying of heat!"

【Give.】

After Shangguan Zitong finished speaking, she took out a piece of Xuan paper from her waistband, glanced at it, and handed it to them.

"These are my tips for making cold drinks while traveling in Nanning. Try making them yourself."

Those weren't her personal reflections; they were clearly just about the milk tea she wanted to drink but couldn't make.

"Yes."

The head chef took the Xuan paper and looked at it, while the other chefs tasted the cold drink, their faces showing shock. Leqi took a sip and thought it was delicious, so she praised it.

Shangguan Zitong was so flattered by the praise that she was completely oblivious to what was going on. She left with Leqi, leaving the chefs with a mysterious and enigmatic figure.

Meanwhile, Song Yao was refused entry at the entrance of the Prime Minister's residence. Her sisters dared not see her, nor did they want to.

"Consort, don't wait anymore, she won't see you."

"They're all a bunch of people who put down the powerful and fawn over the weak."

"You made a mistake in choosing your friends, which is a good lesson for you."

Manqi waited with her outside the Prime Minister's residence. Seeing that her friend was not coming out for a long time, she felt that this person was not worth getting to know well.

"Okay, come with me to the market."

When Song Yao saw that the visiting card had been delivered to the Prime Minister's residence but no one came, it already indicated that the person did not want to get involved in this mess.

She wandered aimlessly through the streets, and finding nothing of practical use, she took Manqi and headed home.

A few days later.

"Yibai".

Shangguan Zitong watered her flowers, wanting to see what they would look like next year when they bloomed.

"Your subordinate is here. What are your orders, Your Highness?"

Yi Bai stopped practicing his swordplay and walked towards Shangguan Zitong, who was watering the flowers.

"This sword tassel is for you. I was so focused on buying clothes for Leqi that day that I forgot about yours."

Shangguan Zitong put down the water jug ​​in his hand, took out a small black pouch with gold thread inlaid in his sleeve, and handed it to him. The pouch was made of cloisonné with a gradient of ultramarine blue. Overall, it was a decent-looking sword tassel.

"Your Highness, I have no need for these things."

Yi Bai looked at the sword tassel in her hand, and for some reason, he didn't dare to reach out and take it.

"Are you saying my embroidery is ugly?"

Seeing that he wouldn't take it, Shangguan Zitong felt a little awkward as her hand froze in mid-air.

"Is this a flower? I thought it was grass."

"I don't dislike it, I just find it hard to wash."

Yi Bai could tell what was embroidered on the sword tassel in front of him, but he hesitated.

"Well, okay, so what do you like?"

"Hmm... Should I give you a short vacation, or should I buy you pretty clothes like I did with Leqi?"

Shangguan Zitong put away the sword tassel in her hand and picked up the watering can to continue watering the flowers.

"How about giving your subordinates a short vacation?"

Yibo also wanted to rest for a few days and go out to see the sights by himself. Three years of traveling had made him realize how wonderful the outside world was. If he could live to see the world again, he would like to travel to different countries, wander the world with a sword, and make the world his home.

"Alright, how about I give you a month's leave? You'll still get your monthly pay as usual."

Shangguan Zitong smiled and looked at him, asking.

"really?"

Yi Bai knew that the Crown Princess treated them all very well, but he still found it unbelievable. A month's leave without any deduction in pay meant that if he saved up, perhaps a trip wouldn't be a dream come true.

"Of course it's true! Don't you believe me? Go have fun!"

"But wait a moment, it will be more convenient to bring some money with you."

"I know it's not easy for you to save money, so please don't refuse. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Shangguan Zitong put down the water jug ​​in her hand and pushed him towards the hall.

"This, okay."

Yibai accepted a heavy bag of silver coins.

"Open it after you leave the residence."

"Bye-bye, have fun!"

Shangguan Zitong waved to him.

"it is good."

After leaving the mansion, Yi Bai opened the bag, which was full of gold beans and large sums of money notes! His hands trembled as he held the money bag! Excitedly, he went to the blacksmith's shop and had a fine sword made. He even held it in his hand to test it out. Finally, he strolled around the market, completely satisfied.

......

Summer always passes so quickly, and autumn arrives in the blink of an eye.

[Please complete the assassination mission as soon as possible.]

"Let's wait a little longer. The assassinations are happening too frequently, and this is my last chance. I want to lie low for a while longer."

Shangguan Zitong swung on the swing path.

【...OK.】

Meanwhile, in the study on the other side.

"Your Highness, I am pregnant."

"The physician said it has been more than two months."

"I want to wait until the pregnancy is stable before I tell you."

With her back supported, Song Yao was slowly helped into the study by Manqi.

"Since you are pregnant, Consort, you should move around less and just focus on resting and taking care of your pregnancy."

"Tell me what you want, and I will find it for you and your child."

Huangfu Hongxi put down the dossier in his hand and quickly walked towards her, carefully supporting her.

"Your Highness, I would like to go for a walk."

Song Yao said to him in a coquettish tone.

"it is good."

"Hongjin, prepare the carriage."

Huangfu Hongxi addressed Hongjin outside the hall.

"Yes, I will prepare now."

Hongjin was forced to become a laborer, and he was a little unhappy. Why was Yibai's master, the Crown Princess, so good to him, giving him leave and not deducting his monthly salary, and even giving him gold coins... It's really infuriating to compare people like that.

After Hongjin prepared the carriage, Huangfu Hongxi helped Song Yao carefully get into the carriage, while Hongjin acted as both the coachman and a helper, protecting them and carrying some things along the way.

"Your Highness, why don't we get out of the carriage? I'd like to see those beautiful clothes."

Song Yao lifted the side curtain, and a bustling market with a dazzling array of goods came into view. She was eager to get off the carriage and stroll around.

"Okay, that's up to you."

"Hongjin, stop the car."

Huangfu Hongxi held her hand, their affection palpable. Hongjin helped them down from the carriage after parking it.

"You don't need to come, I will help you myself."

Huangfu Hongxi was helped down from the carriage by Hongjin. When he saw Hongjin trying to help the concubine down from the carriage, he felt inexplicably annoyed, thinking that Hongjin was tactless.

"Yes."

Hongjin stepped aside and watched as he helped Song Yao down from the carriage.

"Your Highness, let's go."

After being helped out of the car, Song Yao and Huangfu Hongxi walked towards the clothing store, while Hong Jin waited outside.

They browsed and selected items, visiting many clothing stores, and Hongjin's hands were filled with more and more things.

"Your Highness, I would like to eat a sugar figurine."

"Okay, buy it."

"Your Highness, I wish to have this jade hairpin."

"Okay, buy it."

"Your Highness, I would like to hear a song."

"Okay, I'll listen."

And so, whatever Song Yao said, Huangfu Hongxi did as she wished. Seeing that Hongjin could no longer carry anything, and Huangfu Hongxi's hands were also full, and that she herself could no longer walk, she led them back home, returning laden with their belongings.

Inside the main hall, Huangfu Hongxi, Song Yao, and Shangguan Zitong dined together.

"Consort, these dishes are all sour. As the saying goes, sour foods are for boys and spicy foods are for girls. You should eat more."

"Give me a healthy and chubby son when the time comes."

Huangfu Hongxi kept putting food on her plate and even had a maid bring her a sliced ​​lemon to feed her.

"Your Highness, oh dear, I don't like sour food."

Song Yao pursed her lips in resistance, refusing to eat the sour lemon. She could tolerate sour dishes, but she really couldn't stand the sour lemon.

"Eating is all for your own good."

Huangfu Hongxi reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing a lemon into her mouth. Song Yao struggled to eat it, but Huangfu Hongxi slapped her, causing her to fall to the ground.

"Your Highness, if she doesn't like it, can't you just not let her eat it? Besides, she's pregnant. What if it harms the baby?"

Shangguan Zitong couldn't bear to watch any longer, so she got up, went to Song Yao's side, helped her up, and protected her in a protective posture.

"Your Highness, this is a matter between me and my concubine."

What are you doing interfering?

Huangfu Hongxi was furious when he saw her protecting Song Yao. He had been so good to Song Yao during the day, indulging her every whim. Why couldn't Song Yao have a taste of something sour?

"Your Highness, I am only thinking of your child."

"The concubine is pregnant now, and her body can't withstand this kind of exertion from you."

What if I miscarry?

"So, you'd better tone it down."

Shangguan Zitong hates men who hit others at the drop of a hat and who favor sons over daughters.

......