e momentum, they leaped back onto the stone bridge in the next instant!"Brother Tingxuan, I..." Fang Minrou didn't expect Qian Tingxuan to appear suddenly. Now she didn't even know if she had actually..."Ming Yang, go check where the Princess went today." He hated seeing her cry, especially like this, heartbroken. The one who made her sad was even more despicable!

"Yes!"

The next day.

Xiao Zhan, because of what happened a while ago, knew he had lost face. So, on his birthday, he didn't plan to have a big celebration. He only invited some disciples to visit and celebrate, with just one or two tables of guests. Compared to last year's lively gathering, it was indeed incomparable.

Perhaps because he had been through so much, Xiao Zhan valued being together as a family even more. Luckily, Chu Tianqi listened to Xiao Yuge's words and tidied himself up, seeming to have returned to the spirited young general once again.

"My Lady, the Empress summoned you to the palace yesterday. Was there something she needed" Xiao Zhan only remembered now that his wife had been summoned to the palace by the Empress yesterday. She said it was a birthday gift for him, but he didn't believe it.

Mrs. Xiao's expression froze for a moment, and she quickly glanced at Ge'er before shaking her head: "My lord, the Empress summoned me to the palace to discuss matters regarding Fu'er and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"How did the Empress say it" Ever since Xiao Yufu entered the Prince's Residence as a concubine, Xiao Zhan's old face was almost unbearable in court. But he also knew that this time His Majesty had shown mercy; otherwise, not only would she be a concubine, even a chamberlain would have been possible. It was all his daughter's fault for being so unambitious.

"The Empress said...."

"His Royal Highness has arrived!"

Before Madam Xiao could finish her words, a report came from outside. Xiao Zhan immediately took his men forward to greet them.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

"All of you, rise!" Qian Si Chen gestured for them to stand up: "Today, the Imperial Palace is here to celebrate the Prime Minister's birthday. This is a gift from this palace, wishing the Prime Minister good health, peace, and prosperity year after year!"

He even presented the gift to Xiao Zhan as his son-in-law, which also amounted to telling everyone that even though Xiao Yufu was merely a concubine of the prince, the prime minister was also the prince's father-in-law!

Xiao Zhan could naturally hear it, and his heart was filled with gratitude.

When taking their seats, Qian Si Chen also proactively sat beside Xiao Yu Fu. Even during the meal, he actively served her dishes, which left Xiao Yu Fu feeling surprised and honored. After all, in the Prince's Mansion, he rarely spoke to her, even ignoring her presence.

After dinner, Xiao Yuge wanted to go back early because she had promised Qian Tingxuan not to stay at the Xiangfu anymore. However, Madam Xiao seemed reluctant to let her go. She pulled her back to her old room and they chatted for a long time.

Unable to resist Mrs. Xiao's repeated invitations, and considering Chu Tianqi's matter, Xiao Yuge decided to stay for the night. To ease Qian Tingxuan's worries, she instructed Qing Luo to return home first.

After a short while, Zhu'er entered carrying a plate of small snacks.

"Ge'er, at dinnertime, your mother saw that you were eating little, so she had some of your favorite snacks made for you. Try it, is it the same taste as before" Madam Xiao pushed the snacks to Xiao Yuge's face.

Xiao Yu's song had no defense, picked up the snacks and sent them to her mouth, while still nodding: "Well, it's still the same taste, delicious."

"If you find it tasty, eat a little more." Mrs. Xiao's eyes flashed with a hint of guilt, but she quickly concealed it, only smiling and encouraging Xiao Yuge to eat more.

"Mother, I'm stuffed." Looking at the nearly empty plate, Xiao Yuge finally stopped eating. Unexpectedly, she choked at this moment.

"Ge'er, come, drink some water quickly." Mrs. Xiao personally handed the tea that Zhu'er had brought to Xiao Yuge.

Xiao Yu's song thought nothing of it, and drank it all in one gulp, finally no longer choking.

As darkness fell outside, Madam Xiao also pretended to be tired and said she wanted to return to her room to rest. As she reached the door, she paused, turned back to look at Xiao Yuge, hesitated for a moment, and uttered, "Yuge..."

"Hmm Mother, is there anything else" Xiao Yuge asked.

Mrs. Xiao shook her head. "It's nothing, just get some rest." There seemed to be a hint of guilt in her soft voice.

"Well, Mother, see you tomorrow!" Xiao Yuge felt that her mother was a bit strange, but she didn't think much of it and went straight to bed.

Lady Xiao walked out of the courtyard, but she could no longer hold back her tears, falling like rain. She turned back one last time, glancing at Xiao Yuge's room door, and said with a heavy heart, "Yuge, my child, it's mother who failed you..."

"Madam..." Zhu'er hurriedly supported her.

Mrs. Xiao took a deep breath, composed herself, and asked in a low voice, “Where is the Crown Prince”

"She was still chatting with the old master in the front hall."

Then Madam Xiao asked, "What about the eldest Miss"

"As you instructed, madam, they have been sent back to their rooms to rest."

Madam Xiao nodded, but still unconvinced, asked again: "Is the door locked"

"Madam, rest assured, it's locked."

“That’s good, let’s go.” Madam Xiao wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes and walked towards the front hall. For her husband, for her daughter, for her son, she had to do this. She couldn’t just watch her own daughter forever be only a concubine, nor could she watch her husband be pointed at and gossiped about, nor could she watch her son fall so low.

She had already apologized countless times in her heart to Ge'er: if there was an afterlife, she would be willing to repay Ge'er everything!

She had just walked into the hall when Xiao Zhan and Qian Si Chen finished their conversation.

"Prime Minister, it's getting late. This palace should head back." Qian Sichin was about to say goodbye.

Before Xiao Zhan could speak, Madam Xiao interjected, "Your Highness, just now, my maid came back from Ge'er and said she has something important to discuss with Your Highness."

"Ge'er has something to find this palace Now" Qian Si Chen was a little puzzled. Although he really wanted to be alone with Ge'er, or even just talk to her, he never dared to face her.

"Well, she's still out in the courtyard waiting for His Royal Highness," Mrs. Xiao nodded.

"Alright, this palace will go now." Although he knew it was late and meeting with Ge'er was inappropriate, thinking about what Mrs. Xiao had said, it likely wasn't a lie. Perhaps Ge'er truly had something important to tell him.

"Zhu'er, you take the Crown Prince away." Xiao Fu gave Zhu'er a look.

"Very well, Madam!" Zhu'er understood and bowed to the prince: "Your Highness, please this way."

"Madam, it's so late. Why are you still letting the Crown Prince meet with Ge'er Doesn't this ruin Ge'er's reputation What if the King finds out" Looking at their departing figures, Xiao Zhan felt something was amiss.

"My lord, these young people today are not as conservative as we were in our time. This song and the prince's matter, some things need to be made clear. Let them go." Madam Xiao supported General Xiao: "My lord, you have had quite a bit to drink tonight. I will help you back to your room to rest."

Xiao Zhan didn't doubt him, rubbing his temples: "I really drank a bit too much today, my head hurts a little."

"I'm going back to the room, mistress will give her master a good massage."."What Didn't elder sister just say she would do anything Why the change of heart now" Xiao Yuge raised an eyebrow: she wanted to see how far Xiao Yufu's charade would go.“I, I......” Xiao Yufu was tr...