My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

Chen Mo was placing the freshly cooked dumplings on the table when he heard a noise and looked up—

Li Shimin stood at the door, followed by Li Chengqian and Empress Zhangsun.

Before Chen Mo could even speak, the little ox let out a howl and pounced over.

"Mother!!!"

Empress Zhangsun bent down and caught the small figure.

"Si'er..."

Li Lizhi quickly walked over, curtsied, and said, "Mother."

Empress Zhangsun raised her head, looked at her eldest daughter's thinner face, and held her hand with heartache.

"You've lost weight."

Li Lizhi shook her head and said softly.

"My daughter is alright."

Over there, Li Chengqian stood behind his father, his gaze sweeping across the room.

Liu Ju walked over and cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Li."

Li Chengqian snapped out of his daze and returned the greeting with clasped hands.

Brother Liu.

Fusu also came over and said gently.

"We meet again."

Zhu Biao also came over and patted him on the shoulder affectionately.

"How have you been lately?"

"It's alright. We've been busy training our troops lately, as we're going to fight Japan."

"oh!"

Upon hearing that war was imminent, Huo Qubing immediately became interested.

"We're going to fight Japan? Perfect, I'll be fighting one later! Let's exchange experiences then."

"What a coincidence, I'm also preparing to fight Japan! Count me in then."

Zhu Gaoxu also came over.

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and the others sitting at the table behind him, and was about to bow.

"Alright, alright! Why be so solemn during the New Year!"

Old Zhu continued muttering to himself while cracking sunflower seeds.

After saying that, he grabbed another handful.

You know what, once you start cracking sunflower seeds, you can't stop.

Li Shimin nodded to everyone, then looked towards the door and turned away.

"Father, please go first!"

Everyone was taken aback.

Then, an old man, supported by Empress Zhangsun, slowly walked in.

It was Li Yuan.

Li Yuan's gaze swept over the crowd.

Liu Che, Ying Zheng, Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Di...

He glanced at the group of young people and chuckled.

"You've all arrived! I'm sorry, Erlang had to pick up this old man, so he was a little late."

"Not at all, we haven't even started yet."

Fusu and the other young men quickly helped Li Yuan to his seat.

When Chen Mo saw that Li Shimin and the others had arrived, he asked Li Lizhi to serve them tea and fruit.

Little Sizi held Empress Zhangsun's hand and chattered about what had happened these past few days.

"Mother, Mother! Manager Chen's chestnut cake is so delicious! Grandfather loves it too! My sister is blushing!"

After listening, Empress Zhangsun glanced at Li Lizhi.

Li Lizhi blushed.

"I...I'll go to the kitchen to help Manager Chen!"

After saying that, he fled into the kitchen as if he were escaping.

Empress Ma and Empress Wei Zifu couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

Then, Empress Ma walked over with a smile and took Empress Zhangsun's hand.

"Hey girl, come sit down. Don't stand, let the children play."

Wei Zifu also stood up and said gently, "It's warmer here."

Empress Zhangsun looked at the two women—the empresses of the Ming Dynasty and the empresses of the Han Dynasty—and felt a surge of indescribable emotions.

She nodded slightly and sat down beside the charcoal brazier with them.

"Here...try these sunflower seeds, they taste pretty good to me."

Empress Zhangsun looked down at the tiny, dark brown things in her palm, somewhat bewildered.

"This is……"

Sunflower seeds.

Empress Zhangsun watched her movements, and imitated her, picking up a pearl and gently cracking it open.

"Click."

The shell opened, and the kernel fell out.

She picked up the tiny kernel, put it in her mouth, and chewed it.

A faint fragrance spreads on the tip of the tongue.

Empress Ma looked at her expectantly: "How was it?"

Empress Zhangsun nodded slightly.

"……good."

Empress Ma smiled.

"Right? I think it's great too! Look at my Chongba, he's been kowtowing non-stop since earlier!"

Wei Zifu laughed out loud.

Empress Zhangsun's lips also curved into a slight smile.

While eating melon seeds, Empress Ma looked through the kitchen window and saw Li Lizhi busy inside.

"Is that your daughter?"

Empress Zhangsun followed her gaze.

Li Lizhi was standing next to Chen Mo, her head down, seemingly lost in thought, but the slightly reddened tips of her ears betrayed her.

"Yes," Empress Zhangsun said softly, "My eldest daughter is beautiful."

Empress Ma nodded.

"Good boy, you're obviously a sensible child. Much better than my boys."

Wei Zifu nodded and said gently.

"She's good-looking, and she and Manager Chen look very well-matched."

Empress Zhangsun remained silent.

She simply watched her daughter's back, her daughter's slightly lowered head, and her daughter's hand that was quietly clenching and then loosening. Suddenly, an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart.

My daughter has grown up.

She's getting married.

She was to marry someone she had never imagined, in a place she had never thought of.

But so what?

She looked at the barely concealed smile on her daughter's lips, and at the glances her daughter occasionally stole of Chen Mo—

That was a light she had never seen on her daughter's face.

She sighed softly.

In that tone, there was reluctance, relief, complexity, and a hint of relief.

Empress Ma seemed to read her mind and gently patted her hand.

"Children grow up and eventually have to fly away. As mothers, all we can do is send them off safely, and then—"

She paused, then pointed to the emperors who were making a ruckus over there.

"Watching them fuss around, while munching on sunflower seeds, is quite nice."

Empress Zhangsun was stunned.

Then, she smiled softly.

"Thank you, sister."

she says.

Empress Ma waved her hand.

"No need to thank me! We're all family!"

Wei Zifu spoke gently from the side.

"Young lady, you must be tired from your journey. Take a rest and have some tea."

She picked up the teapot and poured a cup of hot tea for Empress Zhangsun.

Empress Zhangsun took it and held it in her hands.

The warmth seeped through the porcelain walls, slowly penetrating her slightly cool fingertips.

She lowered her head and took a sip.

The tea is very fragrant, with a subtle, almost imperceptible sweetness.

"Good tea."

After saying that, she looked at the tea inside.

"This tea seems to be different from the tea we have back home."

"It's not quite the same as what we have here."

Wei Zifu also spoke up.

Empress Ma smiled slightly.

The fire in the charcoal brazier burned even brighter, its warmth dispelling all the chill.

The three empresses sat together, eating melon seeds, drinking tea, and chatting about everyday life.

Empress Ma laughed so hard she slapped her thigh as she recounted embarrassing incidents from Zhu Di's childhood.

This even attracted the attention of Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui, who asked with curiosity, "Really? My father really used to..."

Even Zhu Di, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but blush and mutter to himself.

"Mom! How old are you! Why are you still talking about these things!"

After saying that, he yelled at Zhu Gaoxu and the other man.

"You two, get over here!"

When Wei Zifu spoke of Huo Qubing's first time on the battlefield, a smile appeared in her eyes.

Empress Zhangsun listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word or two, her smile growing ever wider.

In the distance, the group of emperors were still making a ruckus.

The only difference was that Li Shimin and Li Yuan replaced Liu Che and Ying Zheng.

Zhu Yuanzhang's loud voice could be heard from time to time.

"Fourth brother! Play this one! You can't go wrong with us!"

"Erlang! Do you even know how to play cards? If not, let Gaoming play!"

"Dad! Don't worry!"

Over here, Liu Che and Ying Zheng are fighting one-on-one.

Liu Che's voice was leisurely: "Emperor Qin Shi Huang, you played the wrong card."

Ying Zheng didn't speak, but his silence carried a "what do you know?" implication.

Huo Qubing and Fusu offered suggestions from the side.

The hotel was bustling with activity and everyone was having a great time.