When Ning Zhuangyan returned, Chu Mingze had already left. She was wearing a pale pink palace maid dress embroidered with liruoxi motifs, and her hair was styled in the standard double buns of palace maids. Without the bright red clothing, her facial features appeared delicate and refined.

"Drawing, can I do it like this?" After seeing Chu Qitong, Ning Zhuangyan took two quick steps and approached Chu Qitong, circling around her before asking.

Watching the smile that brimmed at the corners of the woman's lips, Chu Qitong's mood improved slightly. Her tone returned to its usual mildness as she said, "Even Yanyan looks extremely beautiful in palace maid attire."

The praise from Chu Qitong greatly satisfied Ning Zhuangyan. Her hand unconsciously hooked onto Chu Qitong's arm. When she lowered her head and saw the palace maid attire she was wearing, she became somewhat flustered and quickly let go of Chu Qitong's arm. She took two steps back and imitated the posture of Luluo, standing with her head lowered behind Chu Qitong.

Ning Zhuangyan's actions made the smile at the corner of Chu Qitong's lips deepen. As she watched the inherently flamboyant girl try to put on a demure appearance with lowered brows and gentle eyes, Chu Qitong originally planned to tease her a bit. However, considering that she needed to go to the Qingyu Palace to pay respects to Empress Wen, she temporarily put aside her thoughts.

It has to be said that Ning Zhuangyan is a clever girl. Even without anyone teaching her court etiquette, when she followed Chu Qitong, she had already learned about eighty percent of Lili's appearance.

Chu Qitong has always been the first one to arrive at Qingyu Palace to pay her respects. Although she was slightly delayed today, she still arrived earlier than the majority of the consorts.

Empress Wengui was favored by the Emperor and thus enjoyed the best of everything in the Qinyu Palace. Even in winter, there was no trace of coldness in the palace.

Consort Wen was draped in an elegant and charming silk skirt, leaning diagonally on a soft couch. The skirt was adorned with peonies embroidered in golden thread, which added a touch of nobility and grace to her entire being. As usual, Chu Qitong bowed to Consort Wen and then took a seat upon her gestured signal.

Because the Da Chu Dynasty only had one Guifei, Guifei Wen, the position of Guifei had always been vacant. Guifei Wen only had two Pin, while the rest of the concubines were mostly meiren and guiren. As the princess born of the Empress, Chu Qitong naturally sat on the left side of Guifei Wen.

The concubines who came to pay their respects hadn't all arrived yet, and Empress Wen's gaze fell upon Chu Qitong. She asked, "Liuhua, you arrived rather late today. Did you catch a cold because of the heavy snow at night?"

"Liuhua is fine. It's just that there was thick snow on the way here, so the journey was a bit slower. It made the imperial concubine worry for Liuhua. It's Liuhua's fault, please forgive her, Your Highness." Chu Qitong lowered his gaze and spoke with a modest tone.

Empress Wen straightened her body and warmly grasped Chu Qitong's hand. Her tone was gentle as she said, "Liuhua, you're always like this. I'm already happy when you come to greet me every day. Besides, you're not even late. What is there for me to be angry about?"

When Concubine Wen spoke, her gaze inadvertently shifted towards Ning Zhuangyan, who was standing behind Chu Qitong. She said in surprise, "Liu Hua, this servant you brought with you this time looks unfamiliar."

Chu Qitong didn't expect Empress Wen to notice Ning Zhuanyan. She was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Empress has a keen eye. This girl used to work in the kitchen of my Qiwu Hall. I saw that she was clever in her work, so I brought her by my side. Coincidentally, Lyu Luo caught a cold today, so I let her come out with me."