The Emperor granted Guo Junwang’s request.

Guo Junwang took the small portrait and examined it seriously.

From time to time, he would glance up and compare it with Zhen Huan, then chuckled and said:

“This small portrait is very much like Wan Changzai, especially the eyebrows and eyes. It’s definitely Wan Changzai herself. Wan Changzai and…”

When Guo Junwang spoke these words, he looked meaningfully at the Emperor, then glanced at Zhen Huan, but did not continue.

He then handed the small portrait back to the Emperor.

The Emperor took the small portrait, glanced at it, and said, “It’s only the eyebrows and eyes that look a little similar.”

It seemed like the Emperor was commenting on the portrait, but perhaps not.

From Zhen Huan’s understanding of the Emperor, just the look on his face made it clear that he wasn’t talking about the small portrait’s resemblance to her.

It was more likely that he was talking about her resemblance to Chun Yuan…

After the Emperor said this, he and Zhen Huan hung the small portrait on the tree.

As Zhen Huan closed her eyes to make a wish, Guo Junwang continued the Emperor’s words:

“That’s already quite rare, but giving Wan Changzai such a position seems a little too humble.”

Hearing Guo Junwang’s words, the Emperor’s gaze returned to Zhen Huan.

He looked at her, still making her wish, as if he was looking at Chun Yuan from many years ago.

Zhen Huan, however, pretended not to have heard their conversation, devoutly continuing her wish.

Her first wish was for her parents’ health, hoping they would no longer suffer as they had in her past life.

Her second wish was to change the fates of Shen Meizhuang, An Lingrong, and Liu Zhu from her previous life.

Her third wish was for the Emperor to be able to live a peaceful old age with her and the others.

When Zhen Huan finished her wish and walked over, the Emperor looked at her with a smile and asked, “What did you wish for?”

“I can’t tell the Emperor. If I say it, the wish won’t come true.”

Zhen Huan teased him a little.

To the Emperor, however, it seemed like the innocent shyness of a young woman, and he liked it more and more the longer he watched her.

He smiled and said to Zhen Huan:

“Then it’s your choice.”

“Just now, the Seventeenth Brother told me that your position as Changzai is really too humble…”

Zhen Huan quickly bowed and said:

“Your Highness is joking.”

“I’ve been ill for so long, and it’s thanks to the Emperor not abandoning me. I feel that the Emperor has treated me very well, so I truly don’t dare feel wronged.”

The Emperor laughed twice:

“But I think you are wronged.” He helped Zhen Huan up and said:

“When you first entered the palace, I had planned to make you a Guiren.”

“But the Empress mentioned that there were already too many Han army Guiren, so I only made you a Sixth-Rank Changzai.”

“Now that you have won my favor, tomorrow I’ll have Su Peisheng deliver the imperial decree to promote you to Guiren.”

Zhen Huan was happy in her heart, but on the surface, she said:

“I feel unworthy, Your Majesty. To be promoted to Guiren without even having served in the bedchamber… I truly feel uneasy. Please, Emperor…”

“I’ve already made up my mind. From today on, you are my Wan Guiren.”

Guo Junwang, who had been watching from the side, also spoke up: “Wan Guiren, Your Majesty has spoken, you should thank His Majesty quickly!”

Zhen Huan immediately knelt and thanked him for the great favor.

The Emperor laughed heartily upon hearing this, looking very pleased.

Zhen Huan recalled that in her past life, Yu Shi had overheard her conversation with the Emperor here, then had been found by Su Peisheng and promoted to an official position by the Emperor.

But where had she hidden?

Zhen Huan looked around, but didn’t see anyone, so she decided not to continue searching.

She had originally thought of trying to win over Yu Shi, but then felt it wasn’t necessary.

Yu Shi acted recklessly and without restraint, and if someone like that stayed by her side, it would only cause trouble.

So, she left it at that.

After a while, the Emperor and Guo Junwang chatted for some time, and then Su Peisheng came over.

The Emperor said he had come just in time, as there was a task for him.

He then informed Su Peisheng about Zhen Huan’s promotion to Guiren.

Su Peisheng, of course, congratulated her profusely.

Then, concerned that it was cold outside and Zhen Huan might catch a chill, the Emperor suggested they head back.

However, Guo Junwang stayed behind, saying he wanted to take this opportunity to admire the plum blossoms.

As the Emperor prepared to leave, a figure suddenly darted out from the plum trees.

Since Zhen Huan was with him, the Emperor didn’t invite Guo Junwang to join him for a game of chess or drinking.

After the Emperor and his entourage left, Guo Junwang quietly placed the small portrait into his personal fragrance pouch.

What exactly was Guo Junwang’s intention? Only he knew.

After the Emperor returned with Zhen Huan, he didn’t seem in any hurry to leave.

Zhen Huan, however, knew that as long as Wen Shichu hadn’t informed the Empress about her recovery, she couldn’t stay with the Emperor overnight.

So, she said: “I’m still ill and might not be able to attend to Your Majesty. Please, Emperor, move back…”

“I don’t need you to attend to me, just accompany me in poetry and chess. If you feel unwell, Wan Guiren, I’ll leave then.”

With the Emperor saying this, Zhen Huan couldn’t refuse, so she had to obey.

At the palace banquet, the Empress received news from Jianqiu, and her face turned green with anger.

The Empress was truly furious; all this trouble just because of a bunch of red plums at the banquet, and now Zhen Huan had gotten an advantage.

Looking at Hua Fei, the culprit, she was already somewhat unsteady from drinking.

“If I can’t have a good New Year, neither will you!”

Thus, the Empress decided to reveal the news she had just received.

But no matter how upset she was inside, her face couldn’t show it. This was the Empress’s usual way of handling things.

With a smile, she looked at everyone and said: “Everyone, raise your glass to congratulate Wan Guiren.”

“Wan Guiren? Empress, which Wan Guiren are you talking about?”

Hua Fei, whose face had turned crimson from the alcohol, staggered to her feet and asked.

The Empress smiled and said: “It’s the one who’s been ill for a long time, Wan Changzai from Suiyu Pavilion. Just now, the Emperor promoted her to Guiren.”

“It’s Wan’er,” Shen Meizhuang said, excitedly gripping An Lingrong’s hand.

An Lingrong also smiled and said: “Sister Wan is Guiren now! That’s great!”

“She’s been ill all this time, using her charms to seduce the Emperor. What will happen when she’s well?”

Li Pin’s face twisted in jealousy, her envy practically dripping from her expression.

Hearing Li Pin’s words, the Empress feigned a stance of fairness and said:

“The Emperor favors whoever he favors; that’s his choice.”

“We are all sisters. Whoever wins the Emperor’s favor, we should all get along harmoniously and not be envious or jealous.”

“Li Pin, you’ve been in the palace for quite a while now, so please don’t say such things in the future!”

Upon hearing the Empress speak up for Zhen Huan, Shen Meizhuang’s opinion of the Empress improved even more.

“Does the Emperor really like her? Can she even match him?”

Hua Fei said, and then simply grabbed the wine jug and drank.

The Empress, seeing Hua Fei’s displeasure, felt a sense of satisfaction in her own heart.

“Hua Fei, you’re drunk. Song Zhi, don’t you see? Help your mistress back to rest!”