Qu Nian had already understood the system's meaning.
So, its mission was to reproduce...
Ren Yingying then said, "This is my daughter."
I feel like if his daughter doesn't become an empress someday, it would be a disservice to this damn system.
But then I thought about Linlin's age, and decided against it; she's too old.
Daughter, stay away from older men in the future.
Meanwhile, back in the palace, everyone was gathered together in a lively atmosphere.
Jinse quietly reminded Tang Zhuyun, "Your Majesty, don't let your guard down. The Yanrong Aristocratic Family is not easy to deal with; they won't give up until they achieve their goal."
Tang Zhuyun chuckled lightly, "I know."
Yanran left the palace to pay New Year's visits.
She went to the Tang Family first.
As the Empress's maternal family, the Meng Family received many New Year's greetings from their relatives.
Seeing that Meng Yulan was busy greeting guests, Yanran took Little Tangyuan out the door and went to the Cui Family not far away to find Cui Xiaoqiu.
She couldn't leave through the main gate, so she jumped over the wall of the palace.
"Cui Xiaoqiu, you're still reading!"
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, can you please give yourself a break?
Cui Xiaoqiu stood up with a smile, closed the book, and said, "It's not a proper book."
Yanran gave Cui Xiaoqiu a thumbs up.
She understands.
Cui Xiaoqiu has indeed grown up.
After reading her mother's "educational picture book," she now understands a lot more.
But it's still best to take it easy.
However, she was too embarrassed to remind her.
Cui Xiaoqiu should know the answer, right?
Little did Cui Xiaoqiu know that she was thinking such "improper" thoughts. She got up and pushed the box containing snacks and dried fruits in front of Little Tangyuan, and then peeled pine nuts for Yanran as usual.
Little Tangyuan watched him peel pine nuts and wanted to learn, but she was too strong and accidentally smashed the pine nuts, skin and all, to pieces.
Crumbs fell in a flurry, and the Little Tangyuan looked completely innocent.
Yanran fed Cui Xiaoqiu the pine nuts she had peeled, and then helped peel some herself.
"What exactly are these people from Nanyue trying to do? I won't feel at ease until this matter is thoroughly investigated," Yanran said, distressed.
"I'm checking," Cui Xiaoqiu said.
The book he was just reading was also about Nanyue.
"The current emperor of Nanyue faces a similar situation to the previous emperor."
"Um?"
"Having just ascended the throne, his foundation is unstable, beset by internal and external troubles," Cui Xiaoqiu said. "Therefore, if the so-called Yanrong Aristocratic Family is truly behind this, we must find out whether it is truly the will of the Nanyue Emperor, or whether someone is trying to take advantage of the chaos and instigate war between the two countries."
"Oh, you did a good job investigating. Go ahead and continue. Tell me when you need to beat someone up!" Yanran said.
Cui Xiaoqiu was both amused and exasperated.
Little Tangyuan raised her hand. "I can do it too!"
She's incredibly strong!
Not only is she strong, she also... has a huge appetite.
The two of them peeled pine nuts, but she thought it was too slow. She quickly picked out and ate all the snacks, and then gulped down water.
They are very easy to raise.
Looking at her, Cui Xiaoqiu suddenly had the thought that "he and Yanran will have a daughter like this in the future."
Yanran went to relieve herself, Little Tangyuan tilted her head and looked at Cui Xiaoqiu, her big eyes Jingjing.
"What's wrong?" Cui Xiaoqiu asked with a smile.
"Brother-in-law," Little Tangyuan said crisply.
Cui Xiaoqiu's face flushed red to her ears, her heart pounding with ecstasy.
Although it was just childish talk, he couldn't contain his excitement.
"Who taught you that?" he asked in a low voice, glancing furtively toward the door.
He couldn't help but wonder if Yanran also... had feelings for him...
"If my sister marries you, you'll be my brother-in-law, right?" Little Tangyuan asked.
Cui Xiaoqiu blushed and said, "Yes."
He dreamed of that day.
"I'm so smart," Little Tangyuan said.
Then she continued eating pine nuts, acting as if nothing had happened.
Cui Xiaoqiu suddenly didn't understand, and tentatively asked, "Why do you specifically think I'll be your brother-in-law?"
"If you get together with my sister, she'll definitely marry you."
Cui Xiaoqiu: This child is teachable!
When Yanran returned, she saw two red envelopes next to Little Tangyuan.
"My brother-in-law gave it to me," Little Tangyuan said happily.
Yanran: "... Silly boy, you can't call your brother-in-law that."
Then she explained to Cui Xiaoqiu, "Just now, her cousin and cousin-in-law went to our house to pay New Year's visits, and they were still thinking about this matter."
She was referring to Meng Yulan's relatives.
Although the Duke Meng's Residence was unethical, Meng Yulan still had two sisters with whom she got along well and maintained contact.
Cui Xiaoqiu: No wonder Little Tangyuan suddenly remembered her brother-in-law.
Even so, Yanran never considered that possibility.
Alas, the road ahead is long and arduous.
Little Tangyuan: "Oh, sister, aren't you going out to see the excitement? Have you eaten anything yet?"
"Go away! Cui Xiaoqiu, are you sure you can sneak out today?"
"Able."
The two of them, along with their Little Tangyuan, went to the bustling area near the Great Xiangguo Temple to eat and have fun.
Meanwhile, Linlin was having dinner with Mu Ziyu.
Mu Ziyu raised his glass to him, "Wishing the Prince a long and prosperous life, like the rising sun."
Linlin smiled faintly, "Thank you, Brother Mu."
Mu Ziyu sighed again and said, "My father sent you two 'skinny horses' yesterday... He didn't mean any harm."
It's just plain stupidity.
He was speechless with frustration about his biological father.
It's all thanks to being born into a good family and the solid foundation laid by the previous generation that it has managed to survive for so many years without collapsing.
Linlin, "Don't worry, I know you're different from him."
Mu Ziyu was actually in a worse situation than his father, the emperor.
Because the retired emperor was merely mentally unstable, he could still occasionally set a good example.
This Prince of Liaodong seemed Shang Ke from a distance, but once you got too close, you realized he was nothing but a lump of... tofu dregs.
Mu Ziyu said self-deprecatingly, "In any case, on behalf of my father, I offer three cups to the Prince."
Mu Ziyu was already slightly tipsy when she left.
As for Linlin, her face only had a touch of peach blossom color, but otherwise, there was nothing unusual.
Zhao Qing served him a hangover soup.
Linlin rubbed her temples and asked, "What did she do today?"
Yuanyang is by Lang Xuan's side, and recently Linlin has been frequently sending people to "meet" with her.
Zhao Qing knew who he was referring to and respectfully replied, "Ninth Miss Lang went to pay New Year's visits and got along well with her neighbors. There was nothing else going on."
Linlin nodded. "Keep watching."
"Yes." Zhao Qing then asked, "Are you going out again?"
Many people lined up to wish Linlin a Happy New Year and host a banquet for him.
Linlin said coldly, "I'm not going out. I need to write a letter to my mother. Did Wei Jun and the others go out for a stroll today?"
The Wei Jun he mentioned was also one of his trusted confidants.
Zhao Qing hurriedly replied, "Yes."
"That's fine then, you may leave."
Zhao Qing respectfully withdrew, closing the door behind him, leaving Linlin.
Lang Xuan, who had just come out of visiting her neighbor's house for the New Year with her younger brother Lang Wu, saw that Lang Wu's pockets were bulging with peanuts and couldn't help but laugh and say, "You're so popular with young girls."
The three-year-old girl next door insisted on giving Lang Wu peanuts, and cried when he refused.
Lang Wu shook his head helplessly.
The siblings' relationship has improved considerably, and Lang Wu is now more open to joking around.
As they were talking, they encountered a caravan of carriages speeding past.
Lang Xuan pulled Lang Wu to dodge, but they still got splashed with snow and mud.
Lang Xuan was heartbroken that her new clothes were dirty, and she couldn't help but stomp her feet and curse.
Lang Wu stared longingly at the departing steeds, a look of envy in his eyes.
"I wonder who it is..." Lang Xuan muttered to herself.
"A subordinate of Prince Ming."
"Really?" Lang Xuan asked incredulously.
She didn't think Yuwen Duo's men would be so arrogant and domineering.
"Yes, Wei Jun, I see it clearly now."
"Oh," Lang Xuan, seemingly unconcerned. "Let's go home."
However, when night fell, Lang Xuan woke up from a nightmare.
Wei Jun!