The mountain has trees, and the trees have branches; one by one, six turns of the gate.

  Zhang Yan's soup washing county, finally determined as Yizhui, Yan Shi, Shanyin, Lingling and other ten cities. Among them, five counties are located in the rich and prosperous prefecture, three medium-sized counties, while Shanyin is close to Xiongnu, and Lingling is even in the Jiangnan Jingchu area.

  Liu Ying's expression was slightly complex, and he continued, "A Xiang, if you are not willing, I can..."

  "Your Majesty has already promised me," Zhang Yan said with a calm smile, "are you planning to go back on your word?"

  He looked at her expression carefully and made sure she was not dissatisfied or resentful, then said, "Very well, I will summon the Imperial Secretary to draft an edict."

  "Don't bother." Zhang Yan stopped him and smiled, "Anyway, I have nothing to do, why don't I serve Your Majesty with pen and ink instead?"

  She poured out the ink particles from the ink sac, and then tilted some clear water, suspended her wrist to hold the grinding tool, and soon there was a thick ink flowing slowly on the inkstone. Liu Ying took the rabbit hair brush that was placed upside down on the pen holder, dipped it in ink and wrote:

  "...Now, the ten cities of Hedong, Zizhui, Runan, Yanshi, Jiangnan, Lingling and Yangmen Mountain are designated as the fiefdom of Empress Zhang's bath and toilet. The decree reads: 'Approved'." Above, the Emperor stamped with his seal after blowing dry the ink marks.

  "Actually," he glanced at the girl kneeling with her head bowed, and suddenly said, "In the past, Ruyi also accompanied me in this Xuan Hall."

  "Huh?" She looked up at him in surprise.

  He smiled and didn't think much of it, "But he's lively and energetic, unlike your calm and reserved personality."

  "Very well." He handed the imperial edict to the Huangmen officer standing on duty in the palace, ordering him to deliver it to the Investigating Censor Ren Ao.

  Han Xing, the Chancellor Xiao He ordered to collect books from all over the country and store them in the Tianlu Pavilion. The Weiyang Palace became the place with the most stored books in the world. There were many rare editions that Zhang Yan had never seen before. At this moment, she was dazzled by the books placed on the shelves in the emperor's study, turned around with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, may I borrow some of your books to take back and read? You won't mind, will you?"

  He raised his head and said absent-mindedly, "Whatever you like. Just be careful not to damage it."

  She read several volumes of books and then left.

  By nightfall, they sat under the lamp, reading and arguing with each other. Laughing and talking, they didn't notice that the moon had reached its zenith.

  "It's late." Liu Ying glanced at the clepsydra, patted her shoulder and said, "You sleep tight." Her voice carried a hint of listlessness.

  She agreed and lay down obediently, listening to the sound of him covering her with the quilt.

  "Uncle," she suddenly opened her eyes and called out.

  Liu Ying stopped in her tracks and turned around to ask, "What's wrong?"

  She reached out and grabbed his hem, suddenly saying excitedly, "Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll move back to the Pepper Chamber, okay?"

  "What?" Liu Ying asked in surprise.

  "I want to see what's different between the Weiyang Palace's Pepper Chamber and the Changle Palace." She made up an excuse, "In the past, no one lived in the Pepper Chamber on this side, I didn't even take a close look. Since we're going over, might as well move back while we're at it."

  Liu Ying quietly looked at her. Insightful and transparent, "Foolish child, the etiquette is like this, the empress must wait in the Xuan Hall for three full days. If you move to the Pepper Chamber, such a big commotion will soon be known by the Empress Dowager." He smiled and sighed, "On the day of your return home, you don't want your mother to worry about you either."

  She couldn't say a word. She had no choice but to slowly let go of his hem.

  In pre-Qin marriage customs, after three days of marriage, the newlyweds would take their new husband to their maternal home for a visit.

  "What's going on?" In front of the Xuanping Marquis' mansion, Lu Yuan and Zhang Ao dismounted their horses after paying respects to the Emperor. They saw palace eunuchs and guards surrounding someone. The Emperor's brother, dressed in dark clothes, still couldn't hide his gloomy expression. He was startled.

  "Mother," Zhang Yan hastily stepped forward and took her hand, smiling. "Let's go in first and talk later."

  For this newlywed couple, one is Lu Yuan's own daughter and the other is her own brother, Lu Yuan's emotions are complicated, she hopes they will be good. Originally, for their return, she had prepared a sumptuous feast and wonderful music and dance, but at this time----

  "Mother," Zhang Yan asked, "is our old courtyard still standing? I'd like to accompany Your Majesty there for a walk."

  "It's natural." Lu Yuan nodded and said, "Mother will always have a place ready for you, whenever you want to come back and stay, it's okay."

  Zhang Yan smiled with pursed lips.

  However, after leaving for only three days, the small building where she used to live was still as it was before. Her father had built a new house opposite it half a year ago, facing the small building, and all the furnishings inside were brand new.

  "Take a rest, Uncle," Zhang Yan said sincerely. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

  Liu Ying moved her lips slightly and sighed, but ultimately didn't say anything.

  She stood in her room for a while, walked out and ordered Zhang Jin, "You wait outside and listen to the emperor's orders."

  "Yes." Chang Jing responded with a bow.

  As soon as she walked out of Xia Xing's courtyard, she saw Lu Yuan standing far away with his servants, pacing back and forth anxiously.

  "Ah Yan." Her mother hastily came forward, holding her hand and asked in a soft voice, "What's going on between you and the Emperor? Are you really okay?"

  "Mother," Zhang Yan raised her head and comforted with a smile, "don't worry, I'm very well." After hesitating for a moment, she continued, "His Majesty treats me very well."

  "What kind of person is Your Majesty? Doesn't Mother know yet? Even if," her voice dropped slightly, "even if there's really something that can't be taken care of, he's always been good to me in his heart."

  "That," Lu Yuan looked back doubtfully in the direction of Xia Xing's residence, "Your Majesty, what is this?"

  She felt a bit bitter in her heart, lowered her eyes and sighed softly, "He hasn't slept well these past few days."

  Lu Yuan was shocked.

  "Alright, Mother." Zhang Yan looked up and smiled, pretending to be delighted. "It's only been three days since we last met, but I feel like it's been many years since I left you. It's great that I'm back today, so you must spend more time with me."

  "Good." Lu Yuan's eyes were slightly moist, and he turned his face away with a faint smile, responding, "Mother will accompany you."

  In the hall, Lu Yuan carefully asked Zhang Yan about her life after marriage. Zhang Yan also replied in detail. Then Lu Yuan slightly frowned and smiled, "Ah Yan, you entered the Weiyang Palace under the name of a young bride. The future is long. The emperor's heart is not made of iron, it will warm up eventually. You are still young, there is no need to rush."

  "I know, Mother," Zhang Yan smiled. "I've always been very patient."

  "Sister, sister," a distant voice called out from the corridor outside the house, and it was him returning after finishing his morning lessons, shouting "You're back!" He rushed into Zhang Yan's arms, excitedly calling out.

  "Ah." Zhang Yan took a slight step back before embracing her younger brother.

  "I heard that sister is coming back today." Zhang Yan raised her head and said in a childish tone, "This morning when I was attending Mr. Shi's class, I couldn't concentrate at all, I just wished for it to end soon, the teacher saw that my heart wasn't in it, so he let me go back."

  "Sister," he said, pulling Zhang Yan's hand, "What's good about the Weiyang Palace? It's not as comfortable and free as living in our own home. Why don't you move back home?"

  "Nonsense." Lu Yuan wiped the sweat from his son's forehead with his sleeve, scolding with a smile, "Your sister is now the Empress of Great Han, where can she still live at home?"

  Zhang Wan heard this and blinked his eyes. "I heard Chi Guo say that the Empress is the wife of the Emperor's uncle, right?" Zhang Yan smiled and patted his forehead, "Yes."

  "But," Zhang Yan stroked his forehead, stared at his sister and said in confusion. "Since the emperor is my and my sister's uncle, how can... uh," Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yuan quickly covered his mouth.

  "It's almost noon," said Lu Yuan, "Let's have lunch."

  To entertain the emperor and empress on their return, the Marquis's estate had indeed put in a lot of effort for this lunch. However, no matter how delicious the dishes were, people at the banquet had different thoughts on their minds, and they couldn't bring out the good taste.

  After lunch, Zhang Ao instructed, "A Yan, follow me to the study."

  "According to your intention," Zhang Ao said, "I have already persuaded Third Uncle San to let Qiuniang marry Wei Kui. They will come to Chang'an in a few days."

  "Thank you, Father." Zhang Yan said with a smile.

  "Wei Kui, this person," Zhang Ao hesitated to say, "is young and eloquent, although he followed the Mohist school, but I observe that he is not sincere in his faith in the Mohist doctrine. Although he treats Qiuniang with sincerity, he appears slightly cunning, Ah Yan, what do you want to use him for?"

  "Is that so?" Zhang Yan was slightly disappointed, but "it's okay."

  "Father," she said loudly, "rest assured. Although I am not talented, I would never dare to do anything harmful to the country or family. The Mo Gate's ingenious and clever techniques, I think, please ask them to make something for me."

  "So," Zhang Ao thought for a moment, "I'll let him live in our mansion under the name of a Hou Fu scholar."

  Zhang Yan nodded and knelt down in front of her father, "Father," she said calmly, "I know that when the previous emperor demoted you from king to marquis, you were disheartened and dismissed all the soldiers who had followed you from Zhao, except for a few relatives. Now that times have changed and I have become empress, you have to bid farewell to your carefree days as a retired marquis and work hard to help me in the palace. I am unfilial, it is true that I have not treated you well."

  "Foolish child." Zhang Ao was taken aback, and smiled, "You've forgotten, it was your father who originally insisted that you become the empress. Ah Yan," he stroked his daughter's hair, "you must live well in the Weiyang Palace, or else your father won't be at peace."

  She dismissed the indoor attendants, Huan You and Mu Xi, and walked softly to the bedside.

  The window sash of the branch window came down, and it was a bit dark in the room. On the inner chamber couch, her husband was fast asleep.

  Her husband. She smiled slightly.

  Always been a carefree girl in this life and the previous one, but after marrying someone, I occasionally think about it and find it quite uncomfortable to be called Mrs. Certain-surname.

  However, she rested her chin on her elbow and lay on the bedside, gazing at Liu Ying's face within inches.

  He must have been really exhausted, he slept very soundly, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes. His sleeping face was very peaceful.

  She silently said in her heart, for you, I will be fearless and forge ahead.

  After a long time, Liu Ying woke up, frowned and mumbled, "What time is it?" Her voice was blurry.

  She glanced at the hourglass in front of her bed and replied, "It's almost time."

  He let out a sigh and apologized, "I was only going to take a short nap, but I ended up sleeping soundly. The nice gift for returning home is now like this. It's disappointing for my sister."

  "It doesn't matter. My mother and father are not outsiders," she said, "They won't mind. Your Majesty must be hungry, I'll get Qian to warm up some food for you and have them bring it in?"

  Liu Ying nodded.

  Chang Yong presented the dishes and lifted the lid, releasing the fragrance and heat of the food. Liu Ying picked up her chopsticks and took a bite, exclaiming, "This flavor..."

  The dishes are extremely delicious. The plate of mandarin fish is golden in color, and the carp is tender and fatty. There's a unique flavor that, upon closer inspection, surpasses even the imperial kitchen by a notch.

  "Of course." Zhang Yan smiled with a curved lip, "I have been picky since I was young, and Cen Niang has been able to serve me for so many years, the culinary skills are indeed not weak."

  "That's great." He smiled faintly and said, "I'll have good fortune in the future."

  The empress holds the central palace, every five days she goes up to offer food, and offers wine and meat to those on her left and right, stays overnight, and returns to the central palace at dawn the next day.

  Today, I, Cavendish, was weirdly cursed.

  Only three thousand words, but it has been a hassle until now.

  It seems that my Ah Yan is having a hard time, so I'm also feeling down. So as soon as I opened the document, I wanted to run away.

  I'm really their mom.

  So, for my own good, I should write something happy from now on.

  By the way, I previously kept remembering that April has 31 days. In fact, it only has 30 days. So, there are only two days left for April's recommended tickets.

  Please vote for me with your pink tickets to support me.

  The competition on the recommended ticket list is fierce, so please give a round of applause and don't hesitate to show your support.

  Once more, I bow.

  Finally, I recommend a May PK article.

  Lanterns aglow, vast and wide "Cold Splendor Song" (Book No. 1193534)

  Xiuzhen actually has a college system? The ugly duckling's immortal struggle history officially begins.

  Black-bellied handsome guy, raising a straight man, undercover and ruthless, conspiracy and romance, queen and harem...... Cough...... Not one can be missing.

  Deng Huo, a renowned author, winner of the first prize in the women's frequency category, and writer of "Golden Branches and Jade Leaves".

  Come to think of it, "Jade Leaf and Golden Branch" was written during the same period as my "Golden House".

  Cough, we've all grown old.

  Vote for "Han Yan" pink ticket, put everyone to sleep, vote, vote.