Yu Hai and his wife didn’t recognize the empress, but Fang Zizhen and his wife, who were also the hosts of this ceremony, couldn’t act as if they didn’t know her. The couple quickly brought over their adoptive relatives to greet the empress. Yu Hai and Madam Liu’s eyes widened in surprise upon finding out this guest’s identity. Was their daughter’s reputation truly so great such that even the empress herself would come to her small hairpin ceremony? 

“Please rise quickly. Today’s leading role is Miss Xiaocao and her sister. I am merely looking for an excuse to relax a bit after living deep in the palace for so long.” The empress’s smile was as warm as a spring breeze which calmed Yu Hai and Madam Liu’s racing hearts. 

“Where is Older Sister Xiaocao?” The eldest imperial prince also benefited today. He had been given a day off of class, so he could leave the palace. He stuck out his head from behind his mother’s back and looked around curiously at everything on the third floor. A pair of eyes as bright as the stars looked for Yu Xiaocao’s figure. Older Sister Xiaocao hadn’t been in the palace for so long because she was busy with the matters of her hairpin ceremony! 

Fang Zizhen and his wife hurriedly gave the eldest imperial...