Little Sizi came to my house and became the family's darling, and Li Shimin got anxious.

The sky outside the window darkened, turning a grayish-blue.

Empress Zhangsun lay in bed, feeling physically exhausted.

In the afternoon, I was wheeled out for two tests. One machine slid back and forth across my chest, feeling cool, while the other had me stay in a ring for a while, making a buzzing sound.

It's finally quiet now.

She still had needles in her hand and an oxygen mask on her face, but her breathing was indeed much smoother; she just felt weak.

"Mother, does it hurt?" The little princess lay by the bedside, her little hands gripping the edge of the bed, looking at her expectantly.

Empress Zhangsun gently shook her head. "It doesn't hurt. Is Sizi scared?"

The little princess shook her head: "I'm not afraid. Sister, the doctor here is amazing. She can cure Mother."

Li Yinxun, who was adjusting the IV drip rate nearby, turned around upon hearing this: "Auntie, all the checkups are done for today. Get some rest tonight. If you feel particularly uncomfortable anywhere, like severe chest tightness or chills, be sure to press the call button to call the nurse immediately."

Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Yinxun and nodded.

She couldn't understand most of what the young woman was saying, but she could feel the care she was receiving.

Just then, "Gurgle—"

A loud noise came from the little princess's direction.

The little princess paused for a moment, looked down at her belly, and chuckled shyly.

Li Lizhi was sitting on a chair by the bed, not saying much. She was looking at her mother with a somewhat vacant expression, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

The growling sound from her stomach woke her up.

"Hungry?" Li Yin glanced at her phone. "Perfect timing, the takeout should be here. I'll go downstairs to get it."

She walked quickly out of the ward.

The ward fell silent.

Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Lizhi and noticed that she didn't look well.

"Lizhi," she called softly, "what's wrong?"

Li Lizhi snapped out of her daze and quickly shook her head: "No, Mother, I'm fine."

She forced a smile, "Mother, you're not feeling well, don't worry too much, just focus on getting better."

Empress Zhangsun did not press further, but simply watched her quietly.

No one knows a daughter better than her mother, and Li Lizhi had something on her mind.

A few minutes later, Li Yinxun returned carrying two large plastic bags.

"Here it is, eat it while it's hot." She placed the plastic bag on the table and started taking things out.

Several transparent plastic boxes contained stir-fried vegetables and tender slices of meat.

A large bowl of porridge, with brown, translucent chunks and shredded meat mixed in, steaming hot.

"Auntie, this is congee with preserved egg and lean pork, and a few light stir-fries. This is suitable for you to eat now."

Li Yinxun opened the lid of the porridge bowl, inserted a straw, and handed it to Li Lizhi, saying, "Lizhi, feed Auntie some porridge, be careful it's hot."

She then took out several disposable bowls and chopsticks and distributed them to Li Lizhi and the little princess.

The little princess had already climbed onto the chair herself, staring longingly at the dishes.

Li Yinxun opened a box containing several soy sauce-colored chicken legs.

He picked one up and put it in the little princess's bowl: "Little Sizi, this is for you."

Sizi looked at the glistening chicken leg, swallowed hard, but didn't touch it immediately.

She looked at the chicken leg, then at her mother on the bed, and whispered, "Mother is sick, eat something good. Maybe...maybe some porridge."

Li Yin chuckled, "Your mother has special meals for sick people. This chicken leg is for you and Lizhi to replenish your energy. Look at you, running around all afternoon, your tummy is growling. Come on, do your sister a favor and eat it, otherwise it'll go to waste."

The little princess blinked: "Help?"

"Yes, helping me eat it would be a huge help." Li Yinxun pushed the bowl towards her.

The little princess then picked up the chicken leg, a happy smile spreading across her face.

Li Lizhi carefully blew on the porridge to cool it down and then held the straw to Empress Zhangsun's lips.

Empress Zhangsun took a few slow breaths from her hand.

The porridge was soft and sticky, with a unique aroma she had never tasted before. It slid down her stomach warmly, making her feel more comfortable.

She took a few sips and then shook her head, indicating that she had had enough.

Li Lizhi herself didn't have much of an appetite. She forced herself to eat a few bites of food before putting down her chopsticks.

Her gaze drifted to Empress Zhangsun, and looking at Empress Zhangsun's pale but seemingly more vibrant face, she thought of the cold words in the history books, and felt as if a stone was stuck in her heart.

"Beautiful," Empress Zhangsun suddenly said.

Li Lizhi looked up.

"Don't worry too much. I feel much better than yesterday. I still want to see you get married."

Li Lizhi felt a lump in her throat, quickly lowered her head, and mumbled an "Mmm".

The sound of the little princess diligently gnawing on a chicken leg could be heard from the side, along with Li Yinxun's soft reminder, "Eat slowly, don't choke."

Empress Zhangsun watched quietly.

Watching the little princess eat the chicken leg with relish, a little oil got on the corner of her mouth.

Watching the woman from the future named Li Yinxun deftly tidy up the lunchboxes, gather the trash together, and wipe Sizi's mouth.

Upon hearing Empress Zhangsun's words, Li Yinxun thought of the fact that Li Lizhi and Zhangsun Chong were related by blood. She opened her mouth, but then, considering Empress Zhangsun's health, she kept quiet.

Never mind, I'll talk to her when Empress Zhangsun is feeling better.

Knowing that Li Shimin would be very anxious in the Tang Dynasty, but Empress Zhangsun still needed someone to accompany her, Li Lizhi definitely could not go back.

Li Yinxun took out her spare phone. "Auntie, we can't go back for a while, and Uncle must be very worried. But Lizhi needs to stay and take care of her, so we can record a video to let Uncle know we're safe."

"Alright!" Empress Zhangsun nodded.

"Auntie, you can say whatever you want to say." Li Yinxun started recording a video.

"Your Majesty, I need to stay here for treatment for a while. Don't worry, everything is fine here. Lizhi will stay with me until I recover, then we'll go back."

Empress Zhangsun said a few words, and Li Yinxun also recorded the situation inside the VIP ward.

Let Li Shimin see the environment where Empress Zhangsun lived; it will leave him speechless.

"Auntie, Lizhi, then Sizi and I will go back first to let Uncle know."

Empress Zhangsun smiled gently, "Thank you for your trouble."

Li Yinxun chuckled, "No need to be so polite, Auntie, you can just call me Xiaoxun if you don't mind. Oh, and there's a small bed over there, Lizhi, you can rest on it if you're tired. That cubicle is the bathroom, you can use it there. After I take Sizi back, I'll bring you a few changes of clothes."

A VIP ward that costs 2,000 yuan a day is no joke; it's almost like a small suite with a bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen, and has everything you need.

"Alright, I won't stand on ceremony with you, sister." Li Lizhi had also figured out Li Yinxun's temperament; she didn't like formalities.

Li Yinxun carried the little princess away from the hospital and headed straight home.