After Zhen Huan stood up, Hua Fei looked at her with a meaningful gaze for a moment, then said, with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes:

“Guan Gui Ren, take your time and choose carefully!”

After speaking, she was assisted by Song Zhi and strutted out.

Shen Mei Zhuang and An Ling Rong, seeing this, hurried over to Zhen Huan’s side and whispered:

“Huan’er (Guan Jie Jie), are you alright?”

Zhen Huan shook her head, and the three of them left Jing Ren Palace together.

As they walked down the road, Shen Mei Zhuang, looking displeased, said:

“Hua Fei is really too much today. No matter what you do, she always finds a way to make trouble.”

Zhen Huan smiled at Shen Mei Zhuang and replied: “Hasn’t she always been like that? Sister, there’s no need to mind her.”

“It’s not that I mind her, I’m just feeling wronged for you,” Shen Mei Zhuang said, pretending to be angry and turning her face away.

An Ling Rong laughed and added:

“Guan Jie Jie, look at what you’ve done, you’ve made Mei Jie Jie angry! You should hurry and invite Mei Jie Jie to the palace for tea to apologize.”

Hearing this, Zhen Huan playfully curtsied to Shen Mei Zhuang:

“Alright, alright, it’s all my fault. Please, Shen Gui Ren, be magnanimous and allow me to take you to the palace for tea as an apology.”

Shen Mei Zhuang, amused by Zhen Huan’s playful tone, couldn’t help but laugh and covered her mouth with a handkerchief:

“I don’t know when you started getting so mischievous.”

She pointed at An Ling Rong and joked: “Look, even Ling Rong has been influenced by you.”

“Yes, yes, Shen Gui Ren is absolutely right! All the bad habits are what Huan’er taught, and all the good habits come from learning from Mei Jie Jie.”

After hearing Zhen Huan’s teasing words, the three of them couldn’t hold back their laughter, and even the servants joined in, sharing in the fun.

Then, Shen Mei Zhuang put on a dignified look and stretched out her hand to Zhen Huan: “Then please, Guan Gui Ren, lead me to Sui Yu Xuan for tea.”

With that, they all went together to Sui Yu Xuan.

The atmosphere was lively, filled with laughter and playful banter!

Soon enough, it was time for the servants’ talent showcase, and Chun’er was the first to arrive among the three.

As soon as she arrived, she ran toward Zhen Huan like a little motor, calling out:

“Guan Jie Jie, Guan Jie Jie, have you prepared some snacks for me while I watch the competition?”

Seeing Chun’er’s bright, lively eyes, Zhen Huan felt her heart nearly melt.

In her past life, she had also been a mother and had truly liked Chun’er’s innocent nature. She smiled and pulled her to sit beside her:

“I knew you’d be hungry, so I asked the kitchen to prepare some snacks early, just waiting for you to arrive.”

“Really? I knew Guan Jie Jie would take care of me!”

As they spoke, Liu Zhu brought out the pre-prepared snacks, but they were in a box. Zhen Huan said they were for later, to eat while watching the show.

Chun’er, hearing this, became impatient. She coquettishly said to Zhen Huan:

“Guan Jie Jie, can I eat just a little now? I came so early, and I haven’t even had breakfast. My stomach is so hungry.”

As she spoke, her long eyelashes fluttered, and she playfully rubbed her stomach. Zhen Huan just couldn’t resist.

“Alright, alright, you can eat a little now, but when Mei Jie Jie and An Jie Jie arrive, we’ll go together.”

Hearing Zhen Huan’s approval, Chun’er jumped up happily:

“Guan Jie Jie is the best! I like Guan Jie Jie the most!”

She happily took the snacks from the box and started eating with a big smile.

In her heart, it seemed like there was nothing to worry about. Zhen Huan really hoped that Chun’er could continue living this carefree, innocent life forever.

Zhen Huan thought to herself that she wanted to protect Chun’er’s innocence, just as she had once tried to protect her own pure self.

As her thoughts drifted, Shen Mei Zhuang and An Ling Rong also arrived. Zhen Huan teasingly said it seemed like they had coordinated to arrive at the same time.

So, laughing and chatting, they all went to the stage together.

“Hahaha, sister, look at that one! He says he’s performing magic, but even Chun’er can tell it’s fake!”

Chun’er, munching on her snacks, pointed at the performer on stage and laughed so hard she nearly fell over.

After hearing what Chun’er said, what would’ve been an unremarkable performance became hilarious.

The others couldn’t help but laugh along.

Next came performances of wrestling, crosstalk, and string-pulling…

But they either ended up with people falling all over the stage or performers forgetting their lines because of nerves…

Although these performances weren’t much to look at, they had the audience in tears from laughing.

“Wan Bi, Wan Bi, look at that one! He says he’s a master performer!” Liu Zhu pointed at a person on stage with excitement and said to Wan Bi:

“Doesn’t it look like he’s smiling, but it’s really more like he’s crying?”

Wan Bi covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, “I think he looks better crying than smiling!”

With that, the two of them burst into laughter.

The group continued laughing for quite a while, when suddenly, the scene changed, and a beautiful woman dressed in a Kunqu opera costume appeared.

The entire group gasped, stunned: “She’s so beautiful!”

Among them, Zhen Huan had interacted the most with Yu Ying’er. She knew that Yu’s Kunqu opera singing was extraordinary, but she had never seen her in stage costume before.

It was truly breathtaking!

This was just her first appearance, and everyone had such high praise. What would happen once she began singing? How would the crowd react?

Zhen Huan couldn’t wait!

“Sister, listen to her! She sings so beautifully, her voice is clear and melodious, like the sound of heaven.”

Chun’er, always direct and straightforward, said exactly what she thought.

“Yeah, this is the first time I’ve heard such an amazing Kunqu opera!” Shen Mei Zhuang agreed, joining in the praise.

Even An Ling Rong, who was known for her singing, complimented Yu’s voice.

While everyone was lost in the beauty of Yu Ying’er’s performance, they suddenly heard a familiar voice:

“Who’s singing here?”

Everyone turned around: “Your Majesty!”

They quickly bowed to the Emperor, who raised his hand, signaling for them to stop with the formalities.

He looked at the delicate figure on stage and excitedly shook the green-beaded pouch in his hand:

“It seems I arrived just at the right time. This is the first time I’ve heard such authentic Kunqu opera!”

Su Peisheng, who was good at reading the Emperor’s thoughts, waved toward the stage:

“Those on stage, don’t just stand there! Hurry down and greet His Majesty, the Emperor has something to ask.”

From the Emperor’s gleeful expression, Zhen Huan knew right away that he had taken a liking to her!

It was no surprise—who wouldn’t enjoy having a beauty by their side, singing and making merry while handling official business?

During her years as Empress Dowager, when she had nothing to do, she often enjoyed performances like this!

Yu Ying’er knew that this opportunity had been specially arranged by Zhen Huan, but meeting the Emperor for the first time still made her nervous:

“Your servant, Yu Ying’er, pays her respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty have eternal prosperity and peace.”