Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Enjoying songs and dances, and drinking fine wine, how wonderful! Thus, the hall was filled with laughter and joy.

Suddenly, an anxious voice rang out, "Princess, Princess, what's wrong? Wake up!"

Upon seeing this, people around gathered around.

The Empress Dowager asked, "What has happened?"

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the eldest princess has fainted."

Upon hearing this, Su Qianrou quickly got up and walked over. Just in case, she would always bring Qiulan with her when attending banquets, so she called out, "Qiulan."

Qiulan understood and immediately stepped forward to examine the eldest princess, then said, "Your Highness, the eldest princess ate something she shouldn't have."

"It could be a serious problem."

Fortunately, I didn't eat much, so there was nothing seriously wrong.

"Guards, escort the eldest princess back to Luoyang Palace."

Luoyang Palace

The eldest princess did not wake up until the morning of the following day.

Su Qianrou stayed by the bedside. When she saw that she was awake, she asked with concern, "How are you feeling? Is there anything that's bothering you?"

The eldest princess looked at her as if in a dream, and called out uncertainly, "Royal Aunt."

"I'm here. Are you feeling better? Are you still feeling unwell?"

"What are you doing here, my imperial aunt?"

Before Su Qianrou could answer, her wet nurse said, "The princess was worried about the princess, so she stayed here all night."

"I'm sorry, I made my royal aunt worry," the eldest princess said apologetically.

"I'm glad you're alright," she said, then asked, "Are you hungry? Do you want to get up and eat something?"

"it is good".

Then, Su Qianrou helped her up and fed her herself.

"Aunt, I can do it myself."

"It's okay, I'll feed you."

The eldest princess ate bite by bite, her eyes welling up with tears. In the past, when she was sick, she only had her nanny by her side, but her mother, whom she had always longed for, never appeared, not even to visit her. So, she always had a wish: that her mother would feed her something, even if it was just medicine.

"You can't eat shrimp. You must be careful from now on. You absolutely cannot eat it again, not even a little bit, understand?"

"Know".

"It's also my fault. I thought you liked to eat it, so I had someone take it to you, but it ended up harming you."

"It has nothing to do with my aunt, it's my fault. I thought eating a little bit wouldn't be a problem, but I never expected it to be so serious that I fainted."

Su Qianrou said in surprise, "You know you can't eat shrimp."

"I know," the eldest princess said, keeping her head down and not daring to look at her.

"I know you'll still eat."

The eldest princess remained silent, knowing that if she didn't eat, people would say she disliked Su Qianrou and gossip behind her back, which was not what she wanted. Besides, Su Qianrou had given it to her specifically, and she didn't want to disappoint her. So she didn't hesitate. Who would have thought her body would be so weak, fainting after only a few bites?

She didn't want to talk about it, and Su Qianrou didn't force her. She just said, "No matter what the reason is, you shouldn't joke around with your health. If it gets more serious, you might be in danger of losing your life. Do you know that?"

"I'm sorry, Aunt, I know I was wrong, I won't do it again next time."

Seeing her sickly appearance, Su Qianrou couldn't bear to scold her anymore. Besides, she already knew she was wrong, so she didn't say anything more. She put down the porridge in her hand, picked up the medicine next to her, and fed it to her, "Drink the medicine."

The eldest princess obediently drank it.

Afterwards, Su Qianrou left Luoyang Palace and went to Changshou Palace. It was an hour later when she came out of the palace.

When she arrived at the palace gate, she saw a carriage parked there, with Yingfeng standing to the side. She knew without a doubt that Mu Jinchen was inside, so she walked over.

"Your Highness," Yingfeng greeted.

Su Qianrou nodded in response, then got into the carriage. Sure enough, she saw Mu Jinchen sitting inside. "Why are you here?" she said, walking over to sit down beside him.

"I've come to take you home," Mu Jinchen said, pulling her into his arms. Seeing her tired face, he asked, "You didn't sleep all night?"

"He dozed off for a while."

"Take a nap, I'll wake you up when we get to the Su residence."

"Should we go back directly? Although my parents don't mind, it's not good to go back empty-handed for the New Year."

"I've had it prepared."

Su Qianrou then leaned against him and closed her eyes to rest. Thinking of something, she asked, "The eldest princess knew she couldn't eat shrimp, but she still ate it. What do you think she was thinking?"

"Because that's what you gave her."

Su Qianrou didn't quite understand. "Even if I gave it to her, she could choose not to eat it, and I wouldn't blame her."

“If she doesn’t eat, rumors will inevitably spread that you two don’t get along. Besides, you’re her support. Only by pleasing you can she have a better life.”

"Are all children who grow up in the palace so sensitive and have such heavy minds? Xiao Xuan is like that, and so is the eldest princess."

“Living in the palace, one could lose their life with the slightest carelessness; how could one not be sensitive?”

"They say the palace is a place that eats people up without spitting out the bones, and it's true."

"Alright, go to sleep now," Mu Jinchen gently patted her head.

Su Qianrou was indeed sleepy, so she didn't say anything more and focused on sleeping.

To let her sleep a little longer, Mu Jinchen specifically instructed Yingfeng to walk slowly, so what should have been a short time took more than half an hour.

When they arrived at the Su residence, Su Haoyu had already been waiting at the entrance for a long time. Upon seeing them, he quickly stepped forward.

A short while later, Mu Jinchen and Su Qianrou came out of the carriage.

"Sister, brother-in-law, you've finally arrived."

"Why are you waiting at the door on such a cold day?"

"My parents saw that you hadn't arrived yet, so they told me to wait here."

"Hurry inside, don't get too cold."

Then, the group went inside.

lobby

Lin Rong held Su Jinsen, but she was absent-minded, glancing at the door from time to time. Seeing that Su Qianrou had not yet arrived, she couldn't help but worry, "It's almost 9 o'clock, why hasn't she come yet? Could something have happened?"

“Rou’er stayed in the palace last night, and she will definitely go to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager this morning, so it’s normal for her to be a little late,” Su Jing’an said.

“Yes, Mother, don’t worry, everything will be fine. We’ll probably be there soon, let’s wait a little longer,” Su Mingxuan echoed.

"Don't worry, Mother. With the Prince by your side, nothing will happen," Song Shiyu reassured her.

Lin Rong was slightly relieved.

Not long after, Su Haoyu's voice came, "Father, Mother, Sister and Brother-in-law are back."

Immediately afterwards, several people walked in.

Su Qianrou smiled and said, "Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Happy New Year."

Everyone stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness and Your Highness."

"We're all family, no need for formalities with your father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Su Jing'an and Lin Rong were taken aback, and then they both looked at Su Qianrou as if asking what was going on. This was because, apart from calling her father-in-law and mother-in-law on their wedding day, Mu Jinchen always addressed her as Lord Su and Madam Su. So, both of them were a little surprised.

Su Qianrou smiled but didn't say anything; she simply took Mu Jinchen's hand.

Su Jing'an and Lin Rong understood each other perfectly, and couldn't help but smile.