Chapter 557: Is Something Wrong with the Empress Dowager?

"The rest of you need to work harder!"

"How can it be acceptable for the Emperor to have only one Prince! It’s not as if His Majesty avoids the Harem. You must all serve His Majesty well and strive to expand the imperial family soon!"

The concubines quickly rose to receive her instruction.

"We shall humbly follow the Empress Dowager’s teachings."

They appeared respectful on the surface, but inwardly, their bitterness was beyond words.

Oh, Empress Dowager, we wish to bear children, we truly do, if only we could conceive this very instant. But the Emperor doesn’t touch us; we are helpless too!

The Empress Dowager paid no mind to these matters, continuing to chat and laugh with the Empress and the Noble Consorts. She looked every bit the benevolent matriarch.

Noble Concubine Shih was furious but dared not voice her dissent.

Who wants to chat and laugh with the Empress? Pah!

However, she was very curious.

What does the Empress Dowager mean by this, chatting and laughing with the Empress? She must be worried about the Third Princess. After all, if she’s harsh to the Empress, the Third Princess won’t have an easy time! But why drag me into it? Hasn’t the Empress Dowager been ignoring me for a long time? And she knows full well that the Empress and I are irreconcilable enemies! Chatting and laughing? What a load of nonsense! I’m about to explode with anger, alright?

The Empress, on the other hand, was quite pleased.

Currying favor with the Empress Dowager isn’t bad at all; my position will be even more secure in the future. Maybe if the Emperor is pleased, he might... cough, cough! It’s ultimately not good enough without children; I must work hard!

Thus, the Empress Dowager spent a long time talking with the Empress and the Noble Consorts.

The others wished to join the conversation but couldn’t find an opening, nor did they dare to whisper amongst themselves. They all watched the Empress Dowager with great restraint, not daring to speak.

Xia Ruqing was one of this "everyone."

The Empress Dowager has been here for so long and hasn’t even thought to ask about Little Bun? Is she really here to see the child?

After she had been wondering for quite some time, the Empress Dowager finally seemed to have had her fill of chatting and laughing. Looking at the crowd below, who were watching her with eager eyes, she felt a little indecorous.

"AHEM! Consort Xian Pin, what are you waiting for? Quickly bring the Little Prince!"

Xia Ruqing immediately stood up and complied.

「」

Inside the inner chamber, Little Bun and Yi An, along with the two cats, were playing with a ball of yarn.

The Second Princess said, "The little horse and little sheep that Consort Xia gifted me are fun. Why don’t you have them here, little brother?"

Little Bun, unable to speak, looked quizzically at Sister Liang, as if asking,

What’s a little horse? What’s a sheep?

Sister Liang quickly smiled and said, "The Little Prince is still too young to play with those. When he’s as old as the Princess, he’ll have them!"

The Second Princess nodded thoughtfully, seemingly understanding.

Little Bun also nodded, deeply engraving one thing in his heart:

I’ll have them when I’m bigger!

At that moment, Zi Su and Zi Ning came in. "Sister, Her Ladyship is calling for the Little Prince!"

"Yes!" Sister Liang hurriedly picked up the Little Prince and straightened his clothes.

The Second Princess’s Wetnurse Nanny also quickly picked up the Second Princess. The group headed out.

「」

Little Bun had hardly ever seen the Empress Dowager. So, when he was held in her arms, he was completely baffled, having never seen her before!

Just as he was about to cry, Xia Ruqing shot him a look.

Son, don’t you dare cry!

Little Bun didn’t dare to cry then. He suddenly realized that his mother seemed very fearful and respectful towards this woman.

So, as for himself... sigh, when you’re under someone else’s roof, how can you not bow your head?

Little Bun instantly yielded. Then, with his big, sparkling eyes, he looked at the Empress Dowager.

What was he doing? Acting cute!

The Empress Dowager looked at her grandson in her arms. He was clad in a bright red outfit, embroidered with longevity peaches and carp. Chubby and fair, with big, dark, sparkling eyes, he was looking up at her, trying to be endearing.

The Empress Dowager smiled. "This child looks just like the Emperor did when he was small!"

As she spoke, she lovingly stroked Little Bun’s hair. Little Bun giggled as well. He wasn’t afraid of people; if someone smiled at him, he would smile back.

It was just that he felt a little uneasy in his heart. He always felt that this old woman holding him seemed somewhat ill-intentioned! The way she looked at him, why was it so strange?

Xia Ruqing noticed it too.

The Empress Dowager is acting a bit strange towards Little Bun! I can’t quite put my finger on what’s off, but it just doesn’t feel normal. It’s not like the genuine, heartfelt affection a grandmother would have for her grandson.

Yet, she rubbed her eyes and observed carefully but still couldn’t find anything amiss.

Her gaze was doting, her actions affectionate, and her face held a soft smile—nothing seemed wrong! How very strange.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Xia Ruqing was a bit surprised.

So soon?

Inside the room, everyone except the Empress Dowager rose and knelt to welcome him. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao was dressed in beige informal robes, a jade belt around his waist, and a White Jade Crown. He was as handsome as ever; no more need be said. He casually handed his cloak to Li Shengan and walked forward. "Mother Empress!"

He too was surprised to see the Empress Dowager, but then he quickly understood.

The first Imperial Son, after all. It’s natural for Mother Empress to have expectations. Even if she doesn’t meddle in Harem affairs, it’s good that she came to see him; the bond isn’t broken, then!

The Empress Dowager’s hands, holding the Little Prince, stiffened abruptly, and a complex light in her eyes vanished in an instant. Soon, she regained her normal expression and smiled kindly. "My Imperial Son is too courteous. Please, take a seat!"

Then she added, "Today is a joyous occasion for the Crown Prince. Everyone, there’s no need for excessive formality. Please, relax!"

Then she looked towards the Emperor. "What do you say, my son?"

Zhao Junyao also smiled. "Mother Empress is right. Everyone, please rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" A chorus of delicate, bird-like voices arose.

Xia Ruqing felt goosebumps all over.

Weren’t their voices perfectly normal when they were paying respects before the Emperor arrived? Now that he’s here, why are their voices so shrill and thin? Aren’t they afraid their vocal cords will snap? Tsk, tsk!

「」

With the Emperor’s arrival, the stream of visitors finally ceased.

Xia Ruqing thought to herself,

The greetings are finally over.

She couldn’t help but inwardly grumble,

No wonder everyone wants to climb higher. Even for the sake of one’s own knees, one has to raise their rank. Otherwise, in the Harem, having to kneel before everyone you meet is just too much suffering.

Lost in her thoughts, she heard Zhao Junyao ask, "Is everything ready? Let’s just start then!"

Xia Ruqing finally snapped back to reality. "Everything is ready."

Those several boxes of items you sent early this morning are all displayed, aren’t they?

Zhao Junyao nodded. "Then let’s begin!"

Li Shengan and Xiao Xizi exchanged a look. Ultimately, it was Xiao Xizi who went to lift the red cloth covering the items in the main hall.

The choosing ceremony for a Prince is regulated. The Ministry of Internal Affairs prepared just the right amount, neither too much nor too little. However, the Emperor had also sent items this morning, so with this addition, there were considerably more.

Therefore, when the red cloth was lifted, the Empress’s eyes lit up for a moment. "So many?!"

Xia Ruqing quickly smiled apologetically. "Your Majesty the Empress is too kind!"

Sister Qing took the Little Prince from the Empress Dowager’s arms and placed him directly on the large mat for the choosing ceremony, then stepped away. All eyes were now on Little Bun in the center of the mat!

「」

Little Bun, surrounded by all sorts of dazzling items, seemed utterly dazed.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?