The Emperor smacked his lips and said:

“Cutting window flowers is good, it’s festive. Quickly, bring them here for me to have a look.”

When Huan Bi heard this, she hurriedly grabbed the window flowers from the table and handed them to Zhen Huan, who then presented them to the Emperor.

As the Emperor examined them, he said, “Not bad. The peacock’s tail and the two immortals of harmony are both well-cut.”

“What is this?” The Emperor asked, holding a window flower in his hand.

Everyone looked, and it turned out that the flower the Emperor was holding was Zhen Huan’s small portrait.

Jin Xi spoke up, “Your Majesty, this is a small portrait that Xiao Yun Zi cut for our young master.”

Upon hearing this, the Emperor raised the window flower to his eyes, examined it carefully, and then glanced at Zhen Huan, saying, “Hmm, not bad. It’s almost an exact replica of your young master’s.”

Jin Xi smiled and said, “Xiao Yun Zi has some skill with cutting flowers.”

The Emperor nodded as he continued looking at the small portrait.

At this moment, Jin Xi spoke again, “I’ve heard there’s a custom in the palace. If you hang something you cherish on a tree branch, the higher you hang it, the better, and it is believed to bring blessings.”

“If Your Majesty and the young master like this small portrait, perhaps you could hang it on a tree in the courtyard to pray for good fortune in the coming year.”

The Emperor, upon hearing this, flicked the green bead pouch in his hand and said, “Very good!”

Then he turned to Zhen Huan and asked, “Guan Changzai, would you like to join me in hanging this small portrait on the tree?”

Zhen Huan smiled and curtsied, replying, “I would be honored, Your Majesty. If Your Majesty is willing to accompany me, it would be my great honor.”

The Emperor looked out the window and said:

“I see your courtyard is so bare. If we hang the small portrait here, wouldn’t it be a waste of your beautiful face, Guan Changzai?”

“I know of a place nearby where the red plums are in full bloom. I believe you will like it.”

Zhen Huan smiled and said, “As Your Majesty commands.”

Hearing this, the Emperor’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

He instructed Jin Xi to bring Zhen Huan a thicker cloak, concerned that the strong wind outside would harm his delicate Guan Changzai.

When Jin Xi brought the cloak, the Emperor personally draped it over Zhen Huan’s shoulders. He pointed to the clothes inside the cloak and said, “This outfit looks beautiful on you. Wear it often for me!”

Then, he took the small portrait, grabbed Zhen Huan’s hand, and began heading outside.

Just as they reached the palace door, the Emperor suddenly seemed to realize something and asked, “Guan Changzai, are you only attended by these few?”

Zhen Huan replied that she didn’t need too many servants, as she was ailing and didn’t like noise.

“That’s not right,” the Emperor responded. “Who is in charge of the palace attendants and eunuchs?”

Jin Xi replied, “I am in charge of Shuiyu Xuan, but there is no head eunuch. The former head eunuch, Kang Luhai, was called away by Consort Li two months ago to serve elsewhere.”

The Emperor had originally planned to have the Internal Affairs Bureau send some experienced eunuchs to Shuiyu Xuan and let Zhen Huan choose one to be the head eunuch.

But Zhen Huan politely declined!

In her heart, Zhen Huan thought, the chief eunuch in my palace must naturally be Xiao Yun Zi!

So, she said to the Emperor, “I think Xiao Yun Zi would be fine. He can take the position for now and gain some experience.”

Xiao Yun Zi was very quick-witted. As soon as Zhen Huan finished speaking, before the Emperor could respond, he began thanking both the Emperor and his young master.

He didn’t give the Emperor any chance to refuse!

The Emperor, seeing this, could only agree as a courtesy, saying that as long as Zhen Huan was happy, it was fine.

It would also save them from sending someone who didn’t understand Zhen Huan’s temperament.

The Emperor then led Zhen Huan to Yimei Garden.

On the way there, Zhen Huan thought a lot. She recalled the wish she made in this very garden in her previous life: “May the wind understand my heart, and may misfortunes not harm me.”

She thought about the favor she had gained because of her, and also about the loss of favor because of her, especially Yu Shi…

Yu Shi?

According to the timeline, Yu Shi should be trimming flower branches in Yimei Garden tonight.

And that Guo Junwang…?

“Brother Emperor, so you’re here! It took me a while to find you!”

Just as Zhen Huan feared, here came Guo Junwang.

He still looked as charming and dashing as in her previous life, but for some reason, Zhen Huan felt no stir of emotions inside her this time.

All she wanted was to get away from him as soon as possible. She had no other particular feelings.

“Seventeenth Brother, what brings you here?” the Emperor asked as he saw Guo Junwang walking toward them.

Guo Junwang first glanced at Zhen Huan standing beside the Emperor, then said:

“Brother Emperor, you left the banquet earlier and didn’t allow anyone to follow you. Empress didn’t feel at ease with you alone, so she asked me to come and check on you.”

“I didn’t expect to find you with such a beautiful lady…”

Seeing Guo Junwang’s burning gaze again, Zhen Huan felt very uncomfortable.

I am his imperial sister-in-law!

How could he look at me like that?

Why didn’t I feel this way in my previous life?

While Zhen Huan was lost in thought, she heard the Emperor introducing her to Guo Junwang.

The Emperor pointed to Zhen Huan and said, “This is Guan Changzai.”

Guo Junwang cupped his hands and greeted, “Greetings, Guan Changzai.”

Then the Emperor pointed at Guo Junwang and said, “This is Seventeenth Brother.”

Zhen Huan curtsied, “Greetings, Wangye.”

Zhen Huan thought the introductions were over, and that Guo Junwang would leave out of courtesy.

But to her surprise, he started another conversation with the Emperor:

“Brother Emperor, you are truly fortunate to have someone new by your side, unlike me…”

The Emperor, looking in a good mood today, laughed heartily at Guo Junwang’s words:

“Seventeenth Brother, this is simple! If one day you find a woman you fancy, come tell me, and I will arrange a marriage for you.”

Guo Junwang quickly glanced at Zhen Huan from the corner of his eye, then cupped his hands and said:

“Thank you, Brother Emperor, for your kindness. But I’ve always been accustomed to a carefree life. If suddenly someone were to control me, I’m afraid I would not be able to adjust.”

Hearing this from Guo Junwang, Zhen Huan became a bit confused—he expressed envy to the Emperor, but when the Emperor offered to arrange a marriage for him, he rejected it. She didn’t know what he was really thinking.

Zhen Huan remembered that in her previous life, Guo Junwang often mentioned—half seriously, half joking—that he was alone.

But Guo Junwang was unmarried, and that wasn’t unusual in the palace, everyone knew that.

So why did he keep bringing it up every time he saw her?

What a strange man!

Zhen Huan realized that every time Guo Junwang spoke, he would intentionally or unintentionally sneak glances at her, which made her feel very uncomfortable.

Guo Junwang was a sharp one. It seemed he noticed Zhen Huan’s unease and immediately said:

“Admiring the plum blossoms in the snow with a beautiful lady by your side, truly is a delightful experience. I shall not disturb your enjoyment, Brother Emperor, and Guan Changzai.”

With that, Guo Junwang made to leave with a bow.

“It’s no bother, we are out here to hang this small portrait on a tree, they say it brings blessings.”

The Emperor glanced at Zhen Huan and then took out the small portrait.

Guo Junwang took one look at the small portrait in the Emperor’s hand and cupped his hands:

“I’ve heard that some people can cut out a person’s likeness, but I’ve never seen it before. I wonder if Brother Emperor would allow me to take a look at this small portrait?”