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

The barbecue skewers were piled up like a small mountain, and the box of stir-fried noodles was almost empty.

The little princess rubbed her eyes, her little head nodding as she leaned against Empress Zhangsun.

"Sister," Li Yinxun said to Empress Zhangsun, "you shouldn't go back tonight, stay here and rest."

Empress Zhangsun was gently patting Sizi's back when she heard this and paused.

His brows furrowed slightly: "This... is not appropriate. I haven't been back for three days."

She couldn't put her mind at ease, and this departure lasted for three days.

"Sister, I want to go back with you tomorrow! I want to visit you and see some relatives, okay? That way you can stay here tonight without worry, and we can go together tomorrow."

"You...want to come back to the Tang Dynasty with us?"

"Yes, I want to!" Li Yinxun's eyes lit up. "I really want to see what Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, is like!"

"In that case...we'll stay one more night before going back."

"That's right!" Li Yinxun clapped her hands. "Then it's settled! We'll stay here tonight!"

The accommodation arrangements are simple.

Li Yinxun's apartment only has one bedroom and one large bed.

Without hesitation, Li Yinxun patted the sofa: "You guys sleep in the bed, I'll sleep here."

Empress Zhangsun tried to decline, but was silenced by a single look from her.

"Sister, you've only just recovered, and Lizhi and Sizi are still young, so it's not good for them to sleep on the sofa. It's settled then."

The little princess was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. Li Lizhi carried her to wash up quickly and then tucked her into bed.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi also tidied up and lay down.

"Sister, Lizhi, Sizi, goodnight!"

Li Yinxun lay on the sofa, looking at the ceiling, somewhat excited.

……

Li Yinxun woke up early at seven o'clock the next day.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and looked towards the balcony.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi have already gotten up.

The two of them each held a book and were reading quietly.

Li Yinxun clicked her tongue inwardly, thinking how energetic this mother and daughter were.

I played all day yesterday and went to bed late, so I actually woke up earlier than her.

If there were no other arrangements, she could sleep until noon.

"Sister, Lizhi, you're up so early?"

Empress Zhangsun put down her book, looked up at her and smiled: "You're awake, so get up. Xiao Xun, go wash up. I've already ordered breakfast."

Li Yinxun linked a family card to Empress Zhangsun's WeChat account.

"Sis, you've even started ordering takeout?" Li Yinxun said with a hint of admiration.

"Just follow the same procedure. I ordered porridge and steamed buns; they should be delivered soon."

Li Yinxun gave her a thumbs up: "Awesome! I'm going to wash my face now."

Li Lizhi went to wake Sizi up.

Two seconds later, a muffled protest drifted out from the bedroom.

"I need to... I still need to sleep..."

Her voice was soft and sweet, like a little dumpling that had just been pulled out of its nest.

Li Lizhi put on a stern face, "Sizi, get up and wash up."

"I want the cloth..."

The little dumpling shrank further into the blankets, revealing only half of the back of its head.

"It has meat on it."

A fluffy little head slowly peeked out, its eyes still squinted, but it was clearly thinking seriously.

"Again?"

"Mmm, this meat smells delicious."

Sizi's eyes snapped open.

Upon seeing Li Yinxun standing at the bedroom door, she immediately opened her two chubby hands and spoke in a coquettish tone with a self-righteous air.

"Auntie, hug me! I really want some more!"

Li Yin walked over with a smile and scooped her out of bed. The little princess wrapped her arms around her neck and rested her head on her shoulder.

"Come on, let's wash our faces, then we'll have something delicious to eat."

Li Lizhi pouted, "Now that you have a younger aunt, you don't need an older sister anymore."

By the time they finished washing up and came out, the takeout had already arrived.

Empress Zhangsun laid out several lunch boxes on the table: white porridge, steamed buns, and a few refreshing side dishes.

Li Yinxun took a bite of her steamed bun and said, "Sister, let's go to the supermarket before we go back to the Tang Dynasty."

"To the supermarket?"

"That's right. It's my first time going to the Tang Dynasty, so I can't go empty-handed. I have to buy some gifts."

Empress Zhangsun shook her head: "There's no need for such expense. Now that you acknowledge me as your elder sister, the palace is your home. Why bring gifts when you come home?"

"That won't do." Li Yinxun insisted, "Even if it's home, I'm the aunt, and this is the first time I'm meeting so many younger relatives. I have to give them a small gift; it's my way of showing my appreciation. Sister, please don't stop me."

Empress Zhangsun couldn't refuse and smiled, "Alright, as you wish."

"Yay!" The girl next to me, hearing that we were going to the supermarket, even stopped eating her favorite meat. "I want to ride in the little car!"

She still remembers the joy of riding in a shopping cart at the supermarket the last time.

"I'll take you there." Li Yinxun wiped her mouth. "Eat quickly."

After breakfast and tidying up, the four of them went out.

The supermarket isn't far away; it's just a short walk away.

Upon entering the supermarket, the view suddenly opened up.

Rows upon rows of tall shelves are filled with colorful goods, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi stood at the entrance, their eyes wide with amazement at the dazzling array of goods inside.

The fruit section was piled high with various kinds of fruit, the snack section was covered with countless packaging bags, the cooked food section had glistening roast chickens hanging on the shelves, and in the distance, the household goods section had all sorts of strange bottles and jars...

Sizi didn't care about any of that; she excitedly stomped her feet, shouting, "Auntie! Car!"

Li Yinxun pulled a shopping cart from the entrance, picked up Sizi, and put her in the baby seat in front of the cart.

The little princess sat inside and pointed ahead.

"Let's go!"

Li Yinxun pushed the shopping cart forward, saying as she went, "Just take whatever you like and put it in the cart."

The little princess's eyes immediately locked onto her target.

"Auntie, I want this!"

These are family-sized potato chips.

Li Yinxun reached out and grabbed a large bag, stuffing it into her arms.

The little princess hugged herself with both hands, resting her chin on the packaging bag. She was almost completely submerged in potato chips, with only her eyes showing.

Li Yinxun then looked at Li Lizhi beside her.

"Lizhi, take a look and see if there's anyone you like."

Li Lizhi hesitated for a moment, walked to the shelf, and picked up a bag of potato chips.

He weighed it in his hand, a puzzled expression on his face.

"Auntie, why is this thing so light?"

This bag looks so big, but it doesn't seem to weigh much.

Li Yin smiled mysteriously: "You'll know when you get back and open it."

Li Lizhi nodded and put the potato chips into the car.

Empress Zhangsun stopped in her tracks, her gaze falling on a gold box on the shelf, exquisitely packaged.

"What is this?"

"Oh, this is chocolate. It's quite delicious. It's perfect to take back as a gift."

She looked at them and saw that they had liqueur flavor, dark chocolate flavor, and nut flavor.

"Take one box of each."

As he spoke, he took three boxes of different flavors and put them in the car.

The little princess leaned over the shopping cart, staring at the glittering golden box, her mouth practically watering.

"Auntie," she slurped, "is this good?"

Li Yinxun chuckled when she saw how greedy she looked.

"Try it and you'll know." She picked up a box of nut chocolates, tore off the plastic wrap, opened the box, and took out three individually wrapped pieces.

One piece was given to each of Empress Zhangsun, Li Lizhi, and Sizi.

"Come on, have a taste."

Li Lizhi caught the chocolate, her expression changing slightly. "Auntie, we haven't paid yet!"

His tone was urgent and serious, as if he had stumbled upon some serious violation.

From a young age, she was taught that anything not paid for belonged to someone else, and she shouldn't even touch it, let alone open it to eat.

Li Yinxun flipped the chocolate over and pointed to the barcode on the back of the packaging.

"Look, this is the barcode. As long as this code is still there, we can push the cart together to the door, scan the code, and pay. It's okay to open it and eat now, don't worry."

As he spoke, he helped the three of them tear open the chocolate wrappers.

"Eat up, try it."

Empress Zhangsun looked at the small, dark brown cube in her hand and took a bite.

Li Lizhi and Sizi also ate.

The little princess's eyes widened suddenly.

"It's sweet! It smells good, Auntie, it's delicious!"