But there was one good thing—this cousin was particurly well-behaved and never stirred up trouble.

  Even though she wasn’t favored, she never acted out, which at least proved that she was obedient.

  Outside, Fu Meiren took a deep breath.

  Chami quickly consoled her, "My Lady, don’t be like this. The Empress Dowager only said a few words out of concern for you. Try to think positively—she’s your own aunt, after all. If you don’t want to hear it, just forget about it."

  Fu Meiren lifted her gaze to the drifting clouds in the sky, letting out a quiet "Mm." She offered no further expnation before leading Chami back.

  Meanwhile, after exchanging a few pleasantries, Wumian got straight to the point. "Your birthday is fast approaching, and right now, Guifei is handling all the arrangements. She’s thorough, so I have complete confidence in her. But since it is still Your Majesty’s birthday, if there’s anything else you would like or need me to do, I will gdly take responsibility."

  The Empress Dowager…

  The Empress Dowager felt that talking to the Empress these past few times had been exhausting. Gdly take responsibility? Are you trying to swear a lifelong oath with me?

  "It’s not a milestone birthday—just an occasion for the imperial family to gather, watch a py, and have a meal. There’s nothing that requires much effort. Just come and keep me company for the performance—that’s all that matters," the Empress Dowager said.

  "Of course! In that case, Mother, you should pick extra performances for us to watch. Let’s make a day and half a night out of it," Wumian said with a grin.

  "Very well! When the others get tired, you can stay and watch with me," the Empress Dowager chuckled.

  She truly loved theater—just thinking about watching performances from morning to midnight didn’t tire her at all.

  "Speaking of which, that py A Reunion at Yunqiao from st time was quite good. It lifted my spirits," the Empress Dowager mused.

  "It really was! These days, most pys are written by men, and the common theme in reunion stories always paints the woman as pitiful—abandoned and waiting, while the man returns a success, magnanimous enough to accept her. In the end, it’s as if she must gratefully accept his so-called generosity. It’s rare to see a story where both sides remain devoted to each other, free of doubt, and love equally. That’s truly refreshing."

  The Empress Dowager nodded repeatedly in agreement. "You’re absolutely right!"

  At the end of the day, women in this era might be bound by traditional thinking, but that didn’t make them foolish.

  Only a minority truly internalized those self-deprecating ideals.

  Most women would rather watch a py about a scorned wife spping a faithless husband than one where an aging beauty gets cast aside, begging to stay.

  But more often than not, they simply had no choice but to accept their fate without protest.

  "The way you put it makes so much sense. It really is a rare kind of story," the Empress Dowager sighed.

  Wumian figured the Empress Dowager was just musing aloud. Having been born into nobility, married as the Crown Princess at a young age, and ter becoming Empress and then Empress Dowager, she had probably never experienced such grievances herself.

  Perhaps because they started with a discussion about theater, the mother-in-w and daughter-in-w ended up chatting for quite some time. It was almost noon when Wumian finally excused herself.

  She didn’t return directly to Fengyi Pace but took a detour to the greenhouse in the northern part of the Imperial Garden.

  Linshui was curious. "Is Your Majesty looking for some special flowers?"

  "I want to pick two beautiful pots for the Empress Dowager and send them to her for her birthday. A birthday gift is one thing, but flowers are something else," Wumian replied.

  "A gift is a gift, and flowers are flowers?" Feixu asked.

  "Of course. It’s a birthday—why not send some flowers?"

  "Then should we choose peonies or chrysanthemums? Those are the Empress Dowager’s favorites," Feixu suggested.

  "No, let’s pick a beautiful pot of roses."

  "Roses? What’s the symbolic meaning behind them?" Linshui asked, puzzled.

  "Does everything have to have a symbolic meaning? She’s already the Empress Dowager—why can’t she just appreciate something purely for its beauty?" Wumian ughed.

  The two maids didn’t quite understand but followed her into the greenhouse.

  As soon as the pace servants tending the greenhouse saw the Empress arrive, they immediately dropped to their knees in greeting.

  Wumian waved her hand. "Rise. Bring me two pots of roses with the most vibrant colors and the best shape for me to see."

  The pace attendants in the greenhouse quickly responded and hurried off to select the flowers. Before long, they brought over seven or eight pots.

  "We have gathered the most beautiful ones in every color, but our eyes are unrefined. Please, Your Majesty, take a look and choose for yourself," they said respectfully.

  Wumian examined them for a moment before pointing to one. "Send this pot to my pace. This one—send it to the Twelfth Prince’s residence. As for these two, take good care of them and deliver them to the Empress Dowager on the morning of her birthday. This is a simple task—you won’t make any mistakes, will you?"

  "Of course not! Please rest assured, Your Majesty. We will handle it properly," the attendants replied in unison.

  Wumian nodded, signaling Linshui to reward them before turning to leave.

  As soon as she left, the greenhouse attendants straightened their backs and hurried to secure the chosen pots.

  "Be careful with these—don’t let anyone touch them."

  The Empress had changed her ways. But why did she suddenly take a liking to roses?

  And why send one to the Twelfth Prince? He could barely speak properly and wasn’t favored. What was she trying to gain?

  The attendant couldn’t understand, but he dared not overthink it. He simply instructed the others to deliver the flowers as ordered.

  This was just a minor event, and no one paid much attention to it. When the flowers arrived at her pace, they were pced under the veranda—just something to enjoy at a gnce.

  Before the Empress Dowager’s birthday, the Emperor didn’t visit Fengyi Pace again, though he did send a gift—an exquisitely crafted gold hairpin embedded with gemstones. It was indeed beautiful. Wumian decided she would wear it on the Empress Dowager’s birthday as a gesture of goodwill toward the Emperor.

  In her past life, she had felt self-conscious wearing hanfu accessories, thinking they looked too fake and somewhat embarrassing. But now, as the Empress—favored or not—she had no shortage of jewelry.

  Might as well wear them as extravagantly as she pleased.

  "Your Majesty," Feixu entered from outside. "A servant overheard some news—he says that Xu Liangyi hasn’t had her monthly cycle this month. She’s already past her expected date."

  "Hmm? Hasn’t she been in the pace for less than a month? It’s normal for young girls to have irregur cycles. There’s nothing unusual about that," Wumian replied casually. "Don’t get involved in this. A pregnancy, whoever it belongs to, is a good thing. Just focus on our own matters. If we don’t need to know, then we don’t know."

  "Understood."

  "Oh, but we should still keep an ear out for updates. No need to be too obvious about it. Reward the servant for his efforts and let him continue keeping an eye on things."

  "It will be done."

  The night before the Empress Dowager’s birthday, rain fell, bringing a chilly morning.

  When the Empress Dowager woke, she received the two flower pots Wumian had sent. The roses were in full bloom.

  They weren’t her favorite flowers, but there was no denying their beauty.

  She was pleased. "The Empress was thoughtful. Set them here—I like them very much."

  "Go and send word to the Empress. Tell her to have a proper breakfast before coming—there’s no need to rush."

  Wumian didn’t dey for too long. After finishing her morning meal, she made her way to the Empress Dowager’s pace. Not long after she arrived, Guifei, Xian Fei, Li Fei, Rongfei, Li Zhaoyi, Jiang Zhaorong, Yang Jieyu, and several Meirens followed.

  The Eldest Princess, Second Princess, Second Prince, and Third Prince were also present.

  Wumian’s gaze lingered briefly on the Second Prince. He was clearly unwell—his complexion was unnaturally pale, a faint blue vein visible along the bridge of his nose. Held in the arms of his wet nurse, he looked lethargic and frail.

  At five years old, he appeared far weaker than Li Zhaoyi’s Third Prince, who was only two years old but full of energy, round-cheeked, and lively.

  Wumian observed the scene with a faint smile. Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager motioned for the children to be brought closer.

  She didn’t particurly favor the sickly Second Prince, but since all the children were present, she refrained from commenting.