After my whole family overheard my thoughts, they went berserk.

Seeing Princess Qingling staring intently at him, Luo Jialin blushed to the back of his ears.

"Princess, let's hurry into the palace, or the gates will close," the maid whispered, reminding her.

Shi Qingling snapped out of her daze and looked away.

"You go."

She remembered that name.

"Thank you, Princess!" Rogalin boarded the carriage and rode away.

After entering the palace, Shi Qingling went straight to Qingning Palace.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty!" She knelt before the Empress Dowager's bed, bowing respectfully.

The Empress Dowager has recovered physically, but she is still troubled by heartache. She hasn't seen Wu Bende for a long time, nor has she heard any news from him.

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and she feels particularly lonely and empty inside.

"Upon hearing that Your Majesty was ill, I rushed back on New Year's Eve to keep you company and celebrate the New Year together."

The Empress Dowager couldn't hide her joy.

The older she gets, the more afraid she becomes of loneliness. Only when her daughter is with her does she feel the festive spirit of the New Year.

"You look rather haggard. Did you travel a long way and suffer some hardships?" the Empress Dowager asked with concern.

Shi Qingling shook her head: "I don't feel tired at all after coming back to visit my mother."

The Empress Dowager sighed.

"Ever since you were separated from me, I haven't had a single person to rely on. Qingning Palace is becoming increasingly desolate. If you could find a husband to stay with me in the capital, how wonderful that would be."

Shi Qingling smiled, her expression shy.

"Mother, I think there are still good young men in the capital. It's not impossible for them to come back."

The Empress Dowager could tell from her expression that she had something on her mind.

"Your mother is getting old, and these matters still need to be handled by your elder brother. If you return to the capital, it will be considered a marriage of rank, and you should find a good husband."

Shi Qingling naturally knew that this matter still needed to be decided by her elder brother and sister-in-law.

If her marriage were arranged by imperial decree, the treatment she would receive would naturally be different.

"Mother, it is rare for me to return to the palace. I wanted to visit my elder brother and sister-in-law. I heard that my sister-in-law gave birth to a princess. I should go and see her."

"Go and have a talk with the Empress. My sister isn't married yet, and you don't even know to help her find a husband!" the Empress Dowager said disapprovingly.

Shi Qingling walked through the Huayao Palace and saw that the palace was extremely festive and full of the New Year's atmosphere.

“Princess, this servant observes that only Huayao Palace is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. It seems that the Emperor still favors the Empress as much as before.”

With the maid's reminder, Princess Qingling understood even more clearly that it was necessary to please her sister-in-law.

Although her mother had never liked her and had instilled many of her ideas in her since childhood, she didn't particularly like the Empress either. But the Empress was, after all, the Empress, and she still had to be treated with deference when needed.

"Your Majesty, I greet you!" Shi Qingling bowed.

The Emperor and Empress were quite pleased to see Shi Qingling return.

"Qingling is back. Why didn't you tell me beforehand so I could send someone to fetch you from outside the city and bring you back to the palace?" The Emperor treated his younger sister quite well.

"Your Majesty is well aware of your busy schedule and would not dare to disturb you." She walked towards the Empress, looking at the baby in her arms: "This must be the little princess."

He was looking her over every second.

"So, this is my father's half-sister? Tsk tsk tsk, who would have thought that she would turn love into hatred and kill an entire family of three!"

The Emperor and Empress were both stunned.

Could it be... another scandal?

He couldn't help but grab a handful of sunflower seeds, cross his legs, and leisurely prick up his ears.

"My sister did not prepare any valuables, but she brought back some local specialties from the south. I think the little princess should be able to eat them."

The maid brought over a box filled with golden bananas.

"The south is backed by the Tianqi Kingdom, and has a hot climate. It is famous for its bananas, which have sweet and soft flesh and a pleasant aroma. When mashed into a puree, they can be fed to the little princess."

He was drooling every second.

On our first Lunar New Year's Eve, we actually got to eat fruit puree!

The Huayao Kingdom has very few fruits because it produces medicinal herbs, and fruits are not easy to grow. The people like to study various medicinal cuisines.

"So delicious, so incredibly delicious!"

Shi Miaomiao ate happily, her little face full of satisfaction.

"Look, the little princess really enjoys it." Shi Qingling looked at her blessed appearance, which was indeed very pleasing.

"My aunt is actually alright, but she was born in a slum when she was young and was adopted by the Empress Dowager when she was five years old. She experienced the gap between the rich and the poor, so she is sensitive and has a very strong sense of self-esteem."

"So, after my father ordered the execution of the man she had been courting, she was ridiculed by the noblewomen of the capital. Overcome by her pride, she acted in a fit of rage..."

The Emperor and Empress listened with great interest and then stopped.

The little mouth is still smacking the banana puree.

"Take it away, any more and you'll ruin your stomach," the Empress ordered.

How can you be distracted when sharing melons?

The emperor's face darkened. He was listening intently when the melon was gone. Can you believe how angry he was?

However, he's good at getting his daughter to talk!

"I remember when the Empress Dowager brought you back, you were only five years old and I was fifteen. Now I have five sons. Aren't you going to get married?"

Although the question is a bit blunt, it won't slow down the pace of our gossip!

Shi Qingling blushed, lowered her head, and remained silent.

The Empress naturally understood the thoughts of a young woman.

"Presumably, my younger sister has someone she likes."

Shi Qingling didn't hide it. Although she didn't want to admit she was getting old, she knew very well that she was an old maid.

"On her way back to the palace, my sister happened to meet a historian from the Hanlin Academy. She found him to be both talented and handsome. I wonder if he is a suitable match for her, and whether his family background is a good match for the Shi family?"

"Look, you're twenty-eight and still not married. Don't you know why? If we're all about matching based on family background, I reckon only my father would be a good match for you."

The emperor's face darkened.

What nonsense are you spouting, kid?

Fortunately, your mother can't hear you, otherwise, you wouldn't be able to clear your name even if you jumped into the Yellow River!

The Empress's gaze inexplicably swept towards the Emperor, carrying a profound meaning.

"What is his name?" the Emperor asked.

"Rogarin".

The original book says that on New Year's Eve, she met Luo Jialin, who was returning from his shift, and fell in love with him at first sight.

"But the family was poor, the mother was old, and the younger sister was an embroiderer. She was unwilling to marry down and insisted that the man abandon his old mother and resign his official post to follow her to the south."

"What a pity! My father, that muddle-headed emperor, thought that Luo Jialin was unwilling to marry into the Shi family because he was too proud, and in a fit of anger, he killed him."

"This matter spread throughout the social circles of wealthy women in the capital. Shi Qingling's self-esteem was greatly insulted, so he ordered the murder of his younger sister and elderly mother as well."

What a terrible thing it is to have pride! It's so harmful!

The Emperor was shocked!

He felt that he, a wise and benevolent ruler, would do such a despicable thing.

“His name is Luo Jialin. If he is a good match for my sister in all aspects, I will return to the capital and reunite with my family in the future.”

Fearing his daughter would look down on him, the emperor immediately waved his hand.

"No!" He can't hurt people.

Shi Qingling was stunned.

Her elder brother has always doted on her, so why would he so resolutely reject her?

Seeing this, the Empress quickly tried to smooth things over.

"I have also heard of Luo Jialin. He is indeed unmarried and is over twenty years old this year."

Shi Qingling said shyly, "You also know this person, sister-in-law? Since you have also heard of him, his family background must be quite extraordinary."