After the milk ball arrived, the father who had no heirs had a string of good luck.

"Zhaohua has such abilities? Seventh sister-in-law, your skin has really improved a lot!"

"Zhaohua, we can't show favoritism!" Princess Rui also said.

Princess Xiang gave her a disapproving look: "What are you doing? Today is my birthday. If you want it, you can wait until my birthday!"

"I'll make two more boxes when I get back and send them to my third and fifth aunts. They'll all have some, they'll all have some."

Tang Rui's sweet, childlike voice amused the princesses.

Princess Chen had already experienced Tang Rui's cuteness and intelligence, but Princess Rui had never met Tang Rui before, so this was their first time meeting.

Princess Rui couldn't help but sigh, "Seventh sister-in-law, your Zhaohua is so adorable, unlike my daughters, sigh..."

Before Qin Zhiyan could speak, Tang Rui said in a serious tone, "Fifth Aunt, don't compare your own children with other people's children. Your own children are unique and the cutest. If you say that, they will be sad."

She wasn't close to the three girls from the Prince Rui's family in the Imperial Academy, and they didn't know each other well. She didn't want to make enemies!

"Yes, yes, Zhaohua is right. Fifth Aunt misspoke." Princess Rui laughed and pinched her chubby cheeks.

How could she, an adult, not understand Tang Rui's implied meaning?

This child is truly intelligent!

The emperor had seven sons; the ninth son was not yet married, and the eleventh son was still young.

There are five sisters-in-law in the princess's circle, and the four women have a very good relationship.

Apart from…

"The Crown Princess has arrived!"

A voice rang out.

Princess Xiang's expression instantly turned cold.

Princess Chen also stopped smiling.

Princess Rui rolled her eyes, lazily adjusted her hair, and said sarcastically, "They say the more you lack something, the more you value it. We didn't even need servants to announce our arrival, but she's different. She's as if she's afraid people won't know she's the Crown Princess, like she's risen to a high position."

"Alright, they've made such a grand entrance, let's get ready to pay our respects!" Princess Chen said, standing up first.

The other princesses also stood up and curtsied to the woman who entered, saying, "Crown Princess."

Qin Zhirou raised an eyebrow and smiled, her eyes revealing an undisguised smugness: "Sisters, there's no need for such formalities!"

The princesses: "..."

Who's your sister?

Can't you speak properly?

We are sisters-in-law, not concubines of those princes in your backyard!

Couldn't they just say, "We're all family, no need for formalities"?

Not only can she not hide her emotions in her eyes, but she also can't speak properly. This Crown Princess is truly...

Sometimes it's not that they don't want to be close to Qin Zhirou, nor that they want to use passive-aggressive tactics.

Qin Zhirou is simply not presentable. Being with her is either beneath one's dignity or one gets infuriated by her unintentional remarks.

Tang Rui glanced at the Crown Princess and muttered to herself.

She's not bad looking, and her eyebrows and eyes are about four or five points similar to Qin Zhiyan's, but she's not as pleasing to the eye as Qin Zhiyan.

the most important is…

Tang Rui's gaze fell on Situ Qiang, who was standing beside the Crown Princess, and she asked curiously, "Auntie Crown Princess, isn't Situ Qiang under house arrest?"

The Crown Princess glanced at her indifferently, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes: "Today is the birthday of the Princess Consort of Xiang, and Father has specially granted her the privilege of being released from confinement."

Well, actually, Situ Qiang didn't know who reminded her to copy the Classic of Filial Piety in blood.

Moved by her plight, the emperor granted her a reprieve from confinement.

"Zhaohua, are you questioning me?" The Crown Princess spoke with an air of authority without anger.

Tang Rui: "??" Is she sick?

Situ Qiang looked at Tang Rui with a smug expression: "Mother, she doesn't even bow to you. You are the Crown Princess, and she is just a little princess. She has no manners at all. I don't know who taught her that."

Tang Rui: "..." She's definitely sick.

Of the Crown Prince's family, only the Crown Prince and his son Situ Wei seemed somewhat normal.

Qin Zhiyan shielded Tang Rui behind her: "Sister Qiang, please be careful with your words. Zhaohua has already performed the ceremony."

Situ Qiang pressed on, "I'm referring to the full kneeling ceremony!"

"Oh dear!" Princess Rui chimed in, completely ignoring Situ Qiang and turning to Qin Zhirou: "What a show of power! Bullying even a little girl, how capable! Crown Princess, is this your idea or your concubine's daughter's?"

When she mentioned the word "庶" (shu, meaning illegitimate or commoner), Princess Rui emphasized it.

Situ Qiang's face immediately turned ashen.

Qin Zhirou was displeased with the Princess Consort Rui's tone and disapproved of everyone associated with Qin Zhiyan. She said arrogantly, "Is there anything wrong with that? I am the Crown Princess. How can I not accept a princess kneeling before me?"

Check it out!

As expected of someone born into a concubine's family, she has no vision and no regard for face or feelings after turning her life around.

Princess Rui chuckled and glanced at Princess Chen and Princess Xiang.

A hint of dissatisfaction flashed across their eyes.

"Zhaohua should indeed kneel before the Crown Princess."

Qin Zhiyan slowly picked up the conversation, and before Qin Zhirou could even feel smug, she suddenly changed the subject: "However, it seems Father has exempted Zhaohua from the kneeling ceremony. Crown Princess, is Zhaohua listening to you or Father?"

The Crown Princess's expression changed drastically. Without thinking, she said, "Of course I'll listen to Father Emperor. But did Father Emperor exempt her from the kneeling ceremony? How come I didn't know?"

Qin Zhiyan: "..."

Do you think I would make up such nonsense?

Do you think I'm like you?

Qin Zhiyan's gaze fell on Situ Qiang, her face showing confusion: "That's strange. Last time, when your sister Qiang was punished and confined by the Emperor, she said this herself. Didn't your sister Qiang tell you? Or is my prince lying to me? This... can't be, right?"

Qin Zhirou suddenly looked at Situ Qiang with an unfriendly gaze.

Situ Qiang only now remembered that there seemed to be such a thing, and immediately became anxious: "Mother, at that time..."

"Hehe..." Princess Rui chuckled, interrupting her, "The Crown Princess has quite the airs! Zhao Hua was exempted from the kneeling ceremony by the Emperor, yet you still make her perform it. Third Sister-in-law, tell me, what kind of nonsense is this!"

Princess Consort Chen said calmly, "It's just a crime of deceiving the emperor. I don't think the Crown Princess is afraid of it. After all, she is the Crown Princess. Who knows, she might become the most honored woman in the world in the future."

Qin Zhirou's expression changed drastically: "Third sister-in-law, watch your words."

"Princess Consort, you don't think I'm as outspoken as you, do you? You're wrong. Not only does Great Xia have empresses, but Donglin and Beidi also have empresses. If you want to be the most honored woman in the world, then the Crown Prince will have to work hard and conquer Donglin and Beidi." Princess Consort Chen gave her a mocking glance and continued, "Speaking of which, His Highness the Crown Prince and Prince Li are siblings from the same mother. Prince Li was brave and skilled in battle when he was healthy, so I suppose the Crown Prince is no less so?"

It had to be Princess Consort Chen who, while mocking the Crown Princess, subtly implied that the Crown Prince was inferior to Prince Li, completely missing any flaws in her words.

Is it wrong to expand the territory of the Great Xia?