Tang Dynasty: The pot is tied to the duck nest, the little rhinoceros is here!

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Si Zi made three trips back and forth before finally bringing Li Lizhi, Chengyang, and the cake back to the Tang Dynasty.

The Imperial Palace of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Lizhi sent someone to deliver a six-inch cake to Aweng first, and she planned to divide the remaining various delicious cakes into two portions.

Before we arrived, Jiang Fan had instructed us that these cakes should not be left out for too long and should ideally be eaten on the same day, and that Si Zi should not eat too many.

So she decided to keep a small portion of the cake in her own bedroom, intending to invite her brothers and sisters to enjoy it together, and to take the rest to her parents.

Then she turned to the two little dumplings that were munching away, making little noises as they ate:

"Sizi, Chengyang, I'm going to my mother's palace later. Do you two want to come with me?"

"Waaah~ I want to go, I want to go! Big sister, I want to go find big mother!" Little Sizi's mouth was full of cake, and her speech was unclear, but that didn't stop her from raising her chubby little hand and responding enthusiastically.

"I want to go too, sister."

Chengyang had just finished eating when he walked over to Xiaosizi, took her hand, and whispered something to her.

"Okay, wait for Sister to change into some casual clothes, then we'll go together."

Li Lizhi looked at her two younger sisters with gentle eyes.

Xiao Sizi and Chengyang stood hand in hand, waiting. Xiao Sizi shook Chengyang's hand.

He leaned close to her ear and whispered in what he thought was a very soft voice, "Second Sister, do you miss Mother?"

Chengyang nodded and lowered his voice, "Yes, I wonder if Mother misses us."

Little Sizi's eyes darted around as she looked at Li Lizhi, who was still choosing clothes, and a "good idea" popped into her head. She tugged at Chengyang's sleeve and whispered:

"Second sister, I've noticed that older sister takes a long time to change clothes. How about... we sneak over first and give mother a surprise?"

Chengyang was somewhat tempted, but also hesitant. He glanced at Li Lizhi and asked, "Is this... alright? Aren't we waiting for my sister?"

"My sister's an adult; she knows the way and can get there by herself!"

Little Sizi analyzed in a low voice with a self-righteous air, then furtively made a "shush" gesture.

"We're going to... sneak out now! Without our sister finding out!"

Chengyang was intrigued by his sister's idea and thought it sounded quite interesting, so he nodded: "Then... shall we go?"

"Let's go!" Having reached a consensus, Xiao Sizi immediately took Chengyang's hand.

The two little girls tiptoed and crept towards the entrance of the palace.

Their personal maids were somewhat at a loss, but seeing that the little princesses were gesturing for them to be quiet, they had no choice but to quietly follow behind.

Li Lizhi was putting on the clothes brought by the palace maid. Just as Si Zi had said, Li Lizhi changed clothes very slowly, and not only did she change clothes, she also had to apply powder and rouge.

Li Lizhi felt more at ease with Jiang Fan, not needing to observe too many formalities, but in the Tang Dynasty palace, she still paid more attention to the demeanor of a princess.

Not only did she wear a high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), a low-cut half-sleeved top, a shawl adorned with jeweled hairpins, but she also wore head ornaments with nine flowers and nine pheasant patterns, and a purple ribbon.

Li Lizhi had just changed into her gorgeous everyday clothes and was getting ready when she didn't notice her two younger sisters making any noise.

However, Li Lizhi's personal maid stood by the side the whole time, and saw the two princesses' "conspiracy" and actions clearly.

Seeing that the two of them were almost at the threshold, she quickly and quietly walked to Li Lizhi's side.

A whispered reminder: "Your Highness, the two young princes... seem to be planning to go ahead first."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi turned and looked towards the door. She saw Xiao Sizi and Chengyang holding hands.

One foot had already stepped over the high threshold, while at the same time looking back into the hall.

Six eyes met.

Little Rhinoceros: "!!!"

Chengyang: "Ah!"

"Oh no, Second Sister! Big Sister has found us!" Little Sizi exclaimed in a low voice, a fleeting look of panic at being caught doing something wrong flashing across her face, which quickly turned into the determination to "run!"

"Okay! Let's go!" Chengyang also realized what was happening.

The two little princesses, no longer caring about being "quiet," immediately quickened their pace.

She ran across the threshold, her figure quickly disappearing around the corner of the corridor outside the palace gate.

Only a series of crisp, hurried footsteps and the maids rushing after them remained.

Li Lizhi stared at the empty doorway, momentarily stunned.

He then shook his head helplessly and chuckled, both amused and exasperated: "These two little rascals... they really are childlike, they can't wait a moment longer."

"I'll go after them first. You stay here and have someone carefully pack up the pastries and desserts we brought back from there and send them to the Empress's palace," she said, pointing to the cake.

"Yes, Your Highness, I understand," Li Lizhi's personal maid replied respectfully.

Li Lizhi nodded and quickly walked out of the palace, heading towards the direction of her mother, Empress Zhangsun's palace.

Xiao Sizi and Chengyang arrived at Empress Zhangsun's palace first.

"Mother! We're back!" As soon as she stepped through the palace gate, the little girl's clear and loud voice rang out impatiently, filled with the excitement of returning home with a full load.

Inside the palace, Empress Zhangsun was quietly instructing her personal maid, Qiuyue, on some palace matters.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, a joyful smile immediately appeared on her face.

He nodded slightly to Qiuyue and said, "You can go now." He then stood up and walked quickly outside.

As soon as Empress Zhangsun stepped out of the inner palace, she saw two small figures toddling towards her with their short legs.

"Mother! Mother!" Little Sizi called out as she sped up, and in the last few steps she almost threw herself into Empress Zhangsun's open arms.

Immediately afterwards, Chengyang also ran up to her and was embraced by Empress Zhangsun on both sides.

"Oh my, my two little princesses, when did you get back?"

Empress Zhangsun knelt down and hugged her two daughters tightly.

His cheek pressed against their soft hair, his voice filled with love and longing.

"Mommy, we've just arrived!" Little Sizi lifted his rosy cheeks from his mother's arms and said happily.

"Yes, Mother, Sizi and I came to find you as soon as we got back."

Chengyang snuggled up to her mother and added, "My older sister is changing her clothes and will be here in a bit."

"Good, good, it's good that you're back." Empress Zhangsun's smile deepened as she took her two daughters' soft little hands. "Come on, let's go inside and talk. It's windy outside."

"Mother, my second sister and I miss you so much!" Little Sizi said, looking up at her with a spoiled expression as she was being led along. "Do you miss us?"

"Of course I do, how could I not?" Empress Zhangsun looked down into her bright eyes, her tone incredibly gentle. "You are all my precious children, and I think of you all all the time."

"Hehehe..." Little Sizi laughed contentedly, resting her little head on her mother's arm.

Chengyang pursed her lips, her face beaming with the peace and joy of returning to her mother's side.