Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

After a while, Qiulan became a little anxious and couldn't help but say, "Miss, we should go back."

Su Qianrou then remembered that she had come to attend the flower viewing banquet. "Your Highness, I must go to the flower viewing banquet now, so I will take my leave first."

"Yes, I will escort you down."

"No need to trouble Your Highness, I can go down by myself."

"Let's go," Mu Jinchen said, and walked out first.

Su Qianrou had no choice but to follow behind him.

After getting down, Su Qianrou said urgently, "Your Highness, then I will take my leave now," and then she couldn't wait to leave.

"Wait a minute," Mu Jinchen called out to her.

Su Qianrou looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Just then, Princess Chang Le walked over and said, "Brother, you were looking for me."

"Yes, send her to the flower viewing banquet."

Chang Le then noticed Su Qianrou's presence and was amazed by her beauty. "I wonder who this young lady is...?"

“Su Qianrou, daughter of Su Jing'an of the Marquis of Anping’s residence, greets the princess.”

"So it's Miss Su," he said, then teased, "Brother, you summoned me from the Princess's residence to the palace in such a hurry just so I could take Miss Su to the flower viewing banquet."

"Is there a problem?"

"No, there's absolutely no problem."

"Alright, take her there quickly. As for what to say, you should know."

"I know, don't worry, I promise I won't let her be punished by the Empress Dowager."

"Ok".

"Actually, I can go by myself. There is no need for the princess to make the trip."

"It's alright, I'm happy to help. Let's go, I'll take you there," she said, intimately taking Su Qianrou's hand.

Su Qianrou was somewhat flattered.

Mu Jinchen watched them leave until they were out of sight before he went to the Imperial Study.

Along the way, Chang Le held Su Qian Rou's hand. Anyone who didn't know them would think that the two had known each other for a long time and were close friends. In fact, they were meeting for the first time today.

"I call you Qianrou, you don't mind, do you?"

"It is my honor."

Then, Chang Le asked with a gossipy look, "When did you and my imperial brother meet, and how long have you known each other?"

"Your Highness, I met the Regent five days ago."

"You've only known each other for five days," Chang Le thought to herself. She hadn't expected her brother to be so superficial. No wonder he had looked down on everyone before. Compared to Qian Rou, those noble ladies were indeed rather plain and vulgar. Chang Le then asked, "How old are you this year? Are you married?"

"Your Highness, I am fifteen years old and still unmarried."

"Fifteen? Isn't that a bit young? My brother is already twenty-three this year," Princess Chang Le muttered.

Su Qianrou looked at her, puzzled, not quite understanding the meaning of her words.

Chang Le didn't explain, but asked some other questions.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Garden, the Empress Dowager sat at the head of the table, while the noble ladies from various households sat below her in order.

"Although it's a bit cold this year, the flowers in the Imperial Garden are still blooming quite well, as I'm sure you've all seen."

“The flowers in the Imperial Garden are naturally excellent,” Li Nanyi said.

"Which one have you set your sights on this time?"

Li Nanyi smiled and said, "As expected, my aunt understands me best."

"Go ahead and say it."

"There is a camellia that is blooming quite well. I wonder if my aunt would be willing to part with it."

"You're still the same as when you were a child. Every time you go to the palace, you have to bring something back with you, otherwise you refuse to leave no matter what."

"It's all because my aunt spoiled me."

"In that case, it seems that I am in the wrong."

If it were anyone else, they would probably have knelt down and begged for forgiveness long ago, but Li Nanyi said calmly, "Of course not, it was Yi'er who misspoke. Aunt is very magnanimous, please don't hold it against Yi'er."

At that moment, everyone present envied her.

Seeing that everyone's eyes were on Li Nanyi, Su Wanshan felt envious and a little jealous. She thought to herself, "If only I could also get the Empress Dowager's attention." Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind, and she smiled. Then, she stood up and walked to the center. "Your subject Su Wanshan greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager live a thousand years!"

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly. "Which household are you from? What brings you here?"

“Your Majesty, I am from the Marquis of Anping’s household. I had no intention of offending you. I had no choice but to do so. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

"What happened?"

"Your Majesty, my sister has gone missing. I wonder if Your Majesty could send someone to look for her?"

Only then did the Empress Dowager notice that one person was missing.

At this moment, Su Huaizhu also stepped forward. "Your subject Su Huaizhu greets the Empress Dowager. This is my sister's first time entering the palace. She was probably so captivated by the scenery that she forgot to return. Please forgive her, Empress Dowager."

"Heh, I hope he didn't secretly go to see the Regent himself."

"It's not impossible, but I don't know how the Marquis of Anping's family raised such a shameless person."

"Exactly, it's shameless."

“The situation is still unclear, and you're all just spouting nonsense. You really just make things up without thinking.”

"What else could it be? Everyone is here, but she's the only one who's missing. Isn't she just trying to take this opportunity to bump into the Regent so that he'll remember her?"

"That's right, it seems that they are not only shameless, but also very cunning."

"Who says it's not?"

"That would only work if the regent would approve of her."

"Could it be that the regent threw her into the pond?"

"That's quite possible."

Several noble ladies couldn't help but laugh.

"Enough, do you have any evidence? If not, shut up."

"Yang Shanshan, what are you doing here standing up for? Who do you think you are?"

"Exactly, her two younger sisters haven't said anything, so what right do you have to yell at us like that?"

"You've forgotten, her maternal grandparents' family is none other than the Marquis of Anping's mansion."

"Oh right, we all forgot if you hadn't mentioned it."

"You guys..." Yang Shanshan was furious.

The Empress Dowager was displeased to see that they were so disrespectful, making a scene in front of her and showing no regard for her.

Seeing that she was unhappy, Su Wanshan and Su Huaizhu mistakenly thought it was because of Su Qianrou, so they couldn't help but feel secretly pleased, but on the surface they pretended to be very anxious and worried.

"Don't talk nonsense. My sister is not that kind of person. Please ask the Empress Dowager to send someone to look for her and clear her name."

"Please ask the Empress Dowager to send someone to search for it."

"Someone, go and find it."

"No need to look anymore," Empress Dowager's voice had barely faded when Chang Le's voice rang out, and then she and Su Qianrou appeared in everyone's sight.

Everyone stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Princess Chang Le."

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

"Your subject, Su Qianrou, pays respects to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager live a thousand years!"

“Raise your head.”

Su Qianrou dared not disobey the order, so she raised her head.

When they saw her stunning beauty, even the well-traveled Empress Dowager couldn't help but be amazed.

Chang Le walked to the Empress Dowager's side, took her hand, and said coquettishly, "Mother, please let Qian Rou get up first."

"How could I not know when you met?"

"We just met. I heard you were holding a flower viewing banquet, so I thought I'd come and join in the fun. I didn't expect to run into Qianrou on the way. I learned that she had just returned from Yangzhou. I had never been there, so I was a little curious and chatted with her for a while. But as we were talking, I forgot the time. You won't blame me, will you?"

"When have I ever blamed you?"

"The Empress Dowager is the best."

The Empress Dowager looked at her with a mixture of helplessness and doting affection.