I returned to the Little Bamboo Pavilion through the secret passage.

　　The short distance felt slow and heavy.

　　The weight on my chest made it hard to breathe, but gradually, I made a decision and formulated a new plan, feeling much lighter.

　　The students were surprised to see me again.

　　I said to them, "Children, I'm afraid I can no longer be your teacher from now on.

　　Please refrain from coming here for the time being.

　　Before we say goodbye, I have a favor to ask of you." I asked them to take all the lesson plans, notes, and books that do not belong to this era from the Little Bamboo Pavilion, quickly clean up, and bring a few plain clothes and a set of bowls and chopsticks, leaving behind daily necessities for one person, as if someone still lived there.

　　I also asked Gao Yuan to wear Daoist robes and purposely go find Jiao Jiao, revealing the news that I always stay in the Little Bamboo Pavilion during late nights.

　　Soon after, Prince An and his men came to search.

　　At that time, I was in a room on the second floor.

　　When Prince An and his two daughters entered, I was bent over a lacquer box, drawing magnolias.

　　The table and shelves were filled with materials for making lacquerware, such as oak, elm, tung oil, and brick dust.

　　Some were still raw materials, while others had already been coated with several layers of lacquer.

　　Shanshan curiously asked, "Mother, what are you doing?" I pretended to be surprised and said, "Why have you come?" Prince An scanned the room with an unreadable expression, "I couldn't find the princess when I returned to the room at night.

　　I was worried, so when I heard you were here, I rushed over.

　　What is the princess doing?" "It's my negligence.

　　I should have informed Your Highness," I put down my brush and pointed at the things on the table, "How could Your Highness forget? My family sells lacquerware, and making lacquerware is my hobby.

　　I thought, Shanshan will turn eighteen in a few months, and Jiao Jiao will also reach the coming-of-age ceremony in less than two years.

　　So I wanted to personally make gifts for them." The two daughters were overjoyed and eagerly leaned over the table, praising me continuously.

　　However, Prince An looked at me suspiciously.

　　I knew he was confused now.

　　Perhaps he had also suspected that I was a time-traveling woman, but how could a person who traveled through time know the original owner's inherited skills? This confusion was what I wanted.

　　I needed to dispel his doubts, make him lower his guard, and quickly leave Songshou Palace.

　　I must not let him discover that I have been secretly teaching the orphans.

　　It's not in vain that I sought lacquerware craftsmen to teach me for all these years, just to maintain the persona of Yun Wei.

　　For a long time, Prince An complained to me half seriously and half jokingly, "Why do our two daughters have everything, but I don't?" I took a mother-of-pearl lacquerware container from the shelf.

　　It contained one hundred oak lacquerware divination sticks, black and shiny under the candlelight, exquisitely beautiful.

　　This was a gift I specially made for Jinghong.

　　It took me three years to complete.

　　But...

　　since his body changed, I have never given him this gift.

　　"Of course, Your Highness has it too, but...

　　but I was afraid you wouldn't like it.

　　Your Highness prays and divines for our dynasty every day, so this item will definitely come in handy."

　　However, there are rules for the use of royal ceremonial objects, and I'm afraid this gift of mine may not meet the standards.

　　Maybe I should just forget about it..." Prince An quickly snatched it away, afraid that I would take it back.

　　"No! I will use it! I'm just...

　　I'm just too moved.

　　This is the first gift the queen has given me, it's too precious." He gently stroked the smooth surface of the tube, his eyes gradually turning red with surprise and touched emotions.

　　With that, I felt relieved knowing that the matter was settled.

　　Sure enough, everything went well during the prayer period at Songshou Palace.

　　Prince An was in a good mood, using a new tube and no longer monitoring me or having Princess Jiao investigate me in private.

　　He even became gentle towards me, accompanying me in prayers, listening to lectures, and serving meals to the pilgrims.

　　This act was spread throughout the palace, and Emperor Longxin was delighted, sending many rewards.

　　Returning to Prince An's residence, our family was harmonious and happy.

　　But I knew that the real trouble had just begun.

　　Indeed, less than three days after returning home, Prince An announced that the emperor intended for the county princess of Prince An's residence to replace the princess in marrying the Sirong tribe.

　　He looked at his two daughters and suddenly changed his words, "Shan Shan, Jiao Jiao, which one of you wants to be the princess?" I saw the malice hidden in his eyes.

　　Clearly, he was deliberately inciting them!