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

Situ Che: "..."

He didn't know if it was because of blood ties or something else, but he found this little witch more and more pleasing to the eye now.

Those bright, grape-like eyes, that chattering little mouth, that chubby little face—they're just so pleasing to the eye.

Situ Che couldn't resist and reached out to ruffle her hair: "Good girl!"

Tang Rui: "!" Who possessed my cheap dad?

Situ Che pushed the wheelchair away, and as soon as he turned around, his eyes turned cold: "Go after him and tell the Crown Prince that he must return my princess's dowry within three days, or I will go to my father and argue with him."

"Yes!" The guard behind him flashed away.

...

With the annoying person gone from the banquet, things became much quieter.

Several women gathered in twos and threes, chatting animatedly about what had just happened.

Seeing that there was nothing more for her to do, Consort Gu returned to her circle of concubines.

As soon as she arrived, a group of concubines surrounded her, asking her all sorts of questions, such as whether it was true that the Crown Princess had taken away Princess Li's dowry.

After all, a woman's dowry belongs to her, and forcibly taking it would be considered shameful.

Consort Gu initially didn't want to pay them any attention, but thinking of the Crown Prince's attitude just now, she felt a surge of resentment: "I'm not entirely sure either. The Princess Consort has always been very frugal, and when she married into the Li Prince's mansion, her dowry was only thirty-two loads. On the other hand, the Crown Princess, a concubine's daughter who rose to power, with an unremarkable maternal family, had a dowry of one hundred and twenty-eight loads."

The concubines: "..." Got it!

This is absolutely true.

I never expected that the Crown Princess would be so shameless!

Qin Zhirou's reputation plummeted, and the gentle and kind persona she had cultivated for so long collapsed.

Tang Rui kept her word and stayed by Qin Zhiyan's side like a little tail, which amused the princesses, who kept teasing her.

Especially the Princess Consort of Xiang, who always liked to pinch her cheeks.

Tang Rui smiled apologetically the whole time, her face almost stiff from smiling.

Seemingly noticing her exhaustion, Qin Zhiyan picked her up and asked, "Rui Rui, are you tired? Do you want to sleep for a while?"

"Okay!" Tang Rui glanced at Consort Gu, who was in the circle of concubines not far away, and whispered something in Qin Zhiyan's ear.

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhiyan's face turned cold. She glanced at Consort Gu without making a sound, then quickly looked away and asked Tang Rui in a low voice, "Who else knows about this?"

Tang Rui: "It's Zhu Miaoling, but she probably wouldn't talk nonsense!"

Princess Li nodded and instructed her, "My dear Ruirui, this matter concerns the Prince's reputation, so don't tell anyone else. As for Consort Gu, your mother will handle it."

"Okay!" See? I already told you this is love-struck thinking.

Tang Rui yawned, feeling a bit tired, and unknowingly snuggled into Qin Zhiyan's arms and fell asleep.

Princess Xiang said with envy, "Seventh sister-in-law, you and Zhaohua have such a good relationship. You're not mother and daughter, but you're closer than mother and daughter."

Qin Zhiyan smiled, pursing her lips: "Zhaohua is intelligent and adorable, doesn't Sixth Sister-in-law like her?"

"I like it, but my belly..." Princess Xiang sighed, staring at her belly with frustration.

She has been married to Prince Xiang for more than half a year, and she is the only woman in the household.

Although the King of Xiang slept with her not many times, it wasn't a small number either, but for some reason, she never got pregnant.

Princess Consort Chen advised, "These things can't be rushed. As long as you and your sixth brother are healthy, you'll have a child sooner or later."

"Yes!" Princess Rui spoke with particular experience about this matter: "When I first married my prince, I was also very anxious and drank a lot of various soups and broths, which actually made me sick. It took me a year to recover. This kind of thing really can't be rushed."

"I know, but..." I don't know when new people will join the household, and then there will be even less of a chance.

Unlike the Qing Dynasty, in this era, only after the principal wife had given birth to a child could other concubines have children.

Apart from Qin Zhiyan, every princess went through the same process, and everyone can understand her concerns.

But this is really frustrating.

Princess Rui, thinking of her two daughters, also began to worry: "I have given birth to two daughters in a row, plus a concubine's daughter in the mansion, making three daughters in the Rui Prince's mansion. We haven't been able to have a son. Although the Rui Prince hasn't said it explicitly, I can tell he's very anxious."

It's not that she doesn't like daughters, but in this era, it's still better to have sons.

Qin Zhiyan: "..."

She never gets a word in edgewise at these times.

but…

Looking at Tang Rui, who was snoring softly in her arms, Qin Zhiyan smiled.

Regardless, she is now a woman with a daughter.

As long as it's the prince's child, it's her child, and she will love it dearly.

The birthday banquet lasted until the afternoon before everyone went home.

Situ Che drank some wine and felt a little dizzy.

As soon as he got into the carriage, Qin Zhiyan thoughtfully handed him a bowl of hangover soup.

Situ Che was stunned: "Where did this hangover soup come from?"

Qin Zhiyan smiled and said, "When I heard Your Highness say that you wanted to drink, I asked Sixth Sister-in-law for a bowl before I left, to prepare for Your Highness."

"..." This woman really loves him!

Situ Che thanked him and closed his eyes to rest.

Afraid that he would feel uncomfortable, Qin Zhiyan shyly leaned closer and gently massaged his temples.

Situ Che grasped her hand, his expression helpless: "You are my queen, you don't need to do these things."

Qin Zhiyan said earnestly, "But I don't want to see Your Highness suffer."

Situ Che pondered for a moment, then let her have her way: "Father Emperor has recently shown signs of suppressing Marquis Yong'an. Does he need my help?"

Qin Zhiyan paused upon hearing this, but quickly replied nonchalantly, "Father has more than one son-in-law, the Prince. He can ask other sons-in-law for help. The Prince need not trouble himself."

Situ Che laughed and said, "You're really willing to give that up?"

"Your Highness..." Qin Zhiyan lowered her eyes, somewhat saddened, "Do you think I've been too cruel?"

Situ Che shook his head and said casually, "I am also disliked by the Empress Dowager, so I can understand you."

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhiyan, who was obsessed with love, felt sorry for him again.

She wanted to say that perhaps there was some misunderstanding, and that no parent doesn't love their child.

But when she thought of her biased father, she swallowed her words and said instead, "Your Highness, I, Rui Rui, and all the sisters in the manor are your family."

"Hmm!" Situ Che smiled slightly, dazzling Qin Zhiyan.

Tang Rui, who was already awake but still pretending to be asleep: "..."

When will you get home?

She's like a light bulb; the filament is almost black.

On the other side…

The Eastern Palace!

The Crown Prince coldly stared at Qin Zhirou, who was kneeling and sobbing below, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Your Highness, it really wasn't me who did it; it was all the old nanny's doing..."

Even at this point, she's still making excuses.

"Guards, drag this old woman out!" At the prince's command, men immediately came in, grabbed Momo, and dragged her out.

The old woman turned pale and kept begging for mercy.

Seeing that she was about to be dragged away, she no longer cared about protecting herself and hysterically shouted at Qin Zhirou, "Your Highness, you ordered this old servant to do it! Save this old servant..."