When Qin Jinzhi arrived at the Empress's bedchamber, a young palace maid was already eagerly waiting at the entrance, constantly standing on tiptoe and peering out.
As soon as she saw Qin Jinzhi's figure, she seemed to be enlivened by a spring breeze, instantly coming to life. She immediately ran over, "Princess Jinzhi! You're finally back! Feiyan has missed you so much!"
Qin Jinzhi teased, "Feiyan, how is it that after three years, Feiyan has become Feiyan (Fat Swallow)?"
Feiyan was a maid specially chosen by the Empress for Qin Jinzhi.
She had always served her while in the Imperial Palace.
Three years ago, when she left the capital, Qin Jinzhi left her in the Empress's palace.
When she left, she was as delicate as a willow in the wind, but now she was almost like a steamed bun.
Feiyan immediately pouted, "Princess Jinzhi! You're making fun of your servant! And here I was worried sick about you. I'm not talking to you anymore!"
With that, she ran into the palace.
As she ran, she shouted, "Quickly, go inform the Empress, Princess Jinzhi has returned!"
Qin Jinzhi smiled and also lifted her feet, running towards the bedchamber.
Upon entering, she saw a kind and gentle old woman being helped out of the main hall.
As soon as she saw Qin Jinzhi, a light appeared in her somewhat dull eyes.
"Jin Zhi! My Jin Zhi!"
"Imperial Grandmother!"
Qin Jinzhi embraced the Empress.
Three years ago, Qin Jinzhi was only fifteen years old, still looking like a young girl when she left.
Now, her body had grown taller than the Empress.
The Empress shed tears the moment she saw Qin Jinzhi.
This was the child she had raised from such a tiny thing, who had never left her for such a long time!
"Good child, you've suffered!"
The Empress held Qin Jinzhi as if a cub had returned to its lioness mother's embrace.
"Imperial Grandmother, Jin Zhi has missed you so much."
The Emperor and Empress were childhood sweethearts. The Empress, once the daughter of a military general, had fought alongside the Emperor and Zhenbei Wang on the battlefield.
Years of old ailments led to her being unable to bear more children after giving birth to her youngest daughter.
However, that little princess was born with a congenital deficiency and died at the age of three.
Qin Ye entrusted Qin Jinzhi to the Emperor and Empress, which also helped her gradually emerge from the grief of losing her daughter.
The Empress looked at Qin Jinzhi's clearly defined features and immediately shed tears again, "That old scoundrel! Why did he send my Jin Zhi to that ridiculous White Sparrow Temple? It took me so much effort to raise that little person, like a small sparrow, and look how thin she's become!"
Qin Jinzhi said with a hint of amusement, "Imperial Grandmother, aren't you afraid of eavesdroppers, that someone might tell Grandfather Emperor you're scolding him?"
The Empress put her hands on her hips, "What am I afraid of him for? He'd better not come to my door, or I'll beat him out with a stick!"
With that, she pulled Qin Jinzhi into the hall.
Upon entering, the table was already laden with dishes.
Feiyan pouted and said, "Princess Jinzhi, the Empress woke up early this morning to prepare all this for you!"
The Empress pulled Qin Jinzhi to sit down and said with a smile, "Are you teasing our little Feiyan again!"
Qin Jinzhi also laughed, "Buns are good too, they look festive, and you can even hang an oil bottle from your mouth."
The Empress poked her nose, "You mischievous monkey, hurry and try the dishes Grandmother made for you. Look how thin you've become!"
Qin Jinzhi couldn't help but laugh at the familiar food bowl in front of her.
Qin Jinzhi was a big eater, especially a big eater.
Because since childhood, the Empress had told her not to be like those young ladies of the capital; one should eat a lot to grow up healthy.
Perhaps because she often faced assassinations and poisonings from a young age.
The Empress's greatest wish for Qin Jinzhi was for her to live healthily.
So, every day in the small kitchen, she would concoct various foods for Qin Jinzhi.
Before the age of five, Qin Jinzhi was as plump as the New Year's baby pasted during folk New Year celebrations.
But it's true, Qin Jinzhi was raised by the Empress to be very robust.
As she grew older, she was also a head taller than those princesses and young ladies.
The Empress, while serving dishes, looked at Qin Jinzhi, who was eating with great relish, and started to wipe away tears again.
Look how hungry the child is!
She turned to Feiyan and said, "Go add another quilt, Jin Zhi will stay with me tonight."
With the door closed, the Empress seemed no longer the Empress, but merely a loving grandmother.
Even Feiyan couldn't help but wipe away tears, "The Empress hasn't been this happy in a long time. After you left, the Empress was sad for a long time, and she even chased the Emperor out several times."
Qin Jinzhi laughed, "Imperial Grandmother is still mighty, but you shouldn't be angry with Grandfather Emperor anymore. It was my mistake in the first place, and a little punishment is what I deserve."
The Empress suddenly slammed the table, "It's all that Minister Pei's fault, raising such a good son! It's his good fortune that our Jin Zhi took a liking to him, and he still dared to get engaged to someone else!"
Qin Jinzhi put down her chopsticks, "Imperial Grandmother, you don't sound like the mother of a nation, but rather like a female bandit from Qihuang Mountain outside the city."
The Empress snorted coldly, "If it weren't for your old scoundrel Grandfather Emperor, this old woman might really have become a mountain king. No, I'll find that old man to issue an imperial decree for you, directly bestowing a marriage between you and that Pei family from Hedong!"
Qin Jinzhi immediately laughed, "Alright! Let's try to have a great-grandchild for you next year!"
Who knows how that person will react when he finds out.
The Empress thought about it more and more and felt that this was feasible. Although she looked down on those pretentious Families, who could blame her? That Pei family from Hedong had a good-looking appearance that Jin Zhi liked. If they were to have a little Jin Zhi, how beautiful would that be?
"What great-grandchild?"
At this moment, the Emperor walked in from outside.
The palace maids and eunuchs in the room immediately knelt down, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Upon seeing the Emperor, the Empress immediately let out a heavy cold snort.
The Emperor looked somewhat helpless, "Jin Zhi is back, how much longer are you going to be angry?"
The Empress turned her body away, "If you want me to calm down, then issue an imperial decree of marriage to that Pei Family, and let that Pei boy marry our Jin Zhi!"
The Emperor frowned and said, "What nonsense are you stirring up again? That Pei Family has an engagement with the Cui Family. As the Son of Heaven, how can I break up a subject's marriage!"
The Empress slammed the table and stood up, "So what if there's an engagement! I had an engagement with that Wang family's young master back then, and didn't you still abduct me?"
The Emperor coughed violently, and the palace maids and eunuchs didn't know where to look.
Qin Jinzhi watched the commotion with a grin, and when the Emperor turned around and saw her frivolous face, he immediately pointed at her and said, "You rascal, you cause trouble as soon as you come back! Just you wait, I'll deal with you!"
The Empress, with a swift movement, stood in front of Qin Jinzhi like a hen protecting her chick, "You dare!"
Qin Jinzhi peeked out from behind the Empress, saying with a playful smile, "You dare?"
The Emperor immediately slammed the table and stood up, then looked at the Empress and sat back down, "At my age, I won't stoop to your level, old woman."
Then he looked at the dishes on the table and rubbed his hands, "It's been a long time since I've had my old woman's cooking."
At this moment, a very attractive palace maid walked over from behind and placed a set of bowls and chopsticks in front of the Emperor.
Just as the Emperor was about to pick up the chopsticks, he heard the palace maid's pleasant voice.
"Your Majesty, you haven't washed your hands yet."
She then turned and moistened a silk handkerchief that had already been prepared, then walked to the Emperor's side and gently wiped his hands.
The palace maid's skin was very fair, her waist was slender, and when she bowed her head, one could see just the right amount of fullness.
Qin Jinzhi subtly glanced at the Emperor and Empress, and seeing that neither of them paid any special attention to the palace maid, she spoke, "Oh, I haven't seen this older sister before. When did the Imperial Palace get new people?"
The palace maid smiled slightly and curtsied, "Replying to Princess Jinzhi, your servant has been serving by the Empress's side for two years."
She was poised and graceful, not like a servant, but rather like a young lady from an official family.
Qin Jinzhi had left three years ago, so she naturally hadn't seen her.
After the palace maid finished speaking, she retreated, but as she passed, Qin Jinzhi detected a special fragrance.
A faint scent of ylang-ylang.