Chapter 787

Ultimately, Sister Huang couldn’t say no to Little Bun and took him along.

But before they left, she had the Wetnurse Nanny add another two or three layers of clothing to him.

Little Bun, already petite, became as round as a ball.

Zhao Qichen found it unbearable.

"Sister Huang..."

Sister Huang’s face darkened.

"No discussion!"

Little Bun pouted.

Fine, for Mother’s sake, this Imperial Prince will endure it! Honestly, it’s not even cold, alright?

「Inside Ningshou Palace」

While Xia Ruqing was shivering in the small Buddhist hall, Noble Concubine Shih was gleefully savoring crucian carp soup with the Empress Dowager.

Sister Qing came to report.

"Empress Dowager, His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience!"

The Empress Dowager paused, soup bowl in hand, somewhat bewildered. For a moment, she didn’t quite register the meaning of this title.

It was only when Noble Concubine Shih, beside her, prompted her that she had a flash of understanding.

"Oh..."

"Humph, so it’s her son!"

Noble Concubine Shih lowered her head.

Who else did you think it was? The Great Prince?!

The Empress Dowager put down her chopsticks, forcing a stiff smile onto her face.

"Let him in!"

"Yes!"

Sister Qing went out.

A moment later, Little Bun entered, with Sister Huang trailing behind him.

"Your grandson pays his respects to Grand Empress Dowager!"

"Your servant greets the Empress Dowager!"

Master and servant knelt, heads bowed respectfully, their conduct impeccable. This was especially true for Little Bun.

Though only three years old, he performed his courtesies with the poise of a miniature adult, every movement precise and proper.

Even a stranger, upon seeing such a bright, adorable, and chubby little child, would surely take a liking to him.

Yet, in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, there wasn’t a trace of fondness, only a flicker of aversion.

"All rise!" She waved her hand nonchalantly.

"Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager!"

Little Bun kowtowed once more before rising.

The Empress Dowager looked at him, the corners of her lips lifted slightly, but her smile held no warmth as she asked, "Why have you run over here instead of studying diligently?"

Although Little Bun hadn’t seen the Empress Dowager very often, he wasn’t shy. He clasped his fists, bowed slightly, and replied, "Replying to Grand Empress Dowager, today is New Year’s Eve. Your grandson came early to offer New Year greetings. Surely Grand Empress Dowager welcomes me?"

"You!"

The Empress Dowager was momentarily struck speechless by this unexpectedly bold, yet soft, rebuttal.

She couldn’t very well say, ’I simply don’t welcome you,’ could she? In truth, seeing that face which so closely resembled a young Zhao Junyao, all those painful memories surged before her eyes. She felt anything but welcoming! Yet, she couldn’t get angry. For the Empress Dowager of a nation to get upset with her own three-year-old grandson... if word got out, it would be utterly laughable!

So, the Empress Dowager could only force a smile and, steeling herself, offer praise.

"Such a good child, so thoughtful! Much better than your elder sisters!"

"Come, come over to me!"

"Yes, Grand Empress Dowager!"

Little Bun responded and strode over.

He truly wasn’t shy around strangers. After settling down beside the Empress Dowager, he glanced at the table laden with dishes, then patted his small tummy, a woeful expression on his face.

"Grand Empress Dowager, your grandson hasn’t had lunch yet..."

Seeing his pitiful look, the Empress Dowager found it hard to be harsh and said gently, "What would you like to eat? I’ll have someone make it for you!"

Zhao Qichen tilted his little head, thought for a moment, then said, "I’d like sweet and sour fish, plum sauce spare ribs, braised pork, lily and osmanthus lotus root soup, steamed fish, and..."

Little Bun fluently reeled off a full twenty dishes!

They were all dishes his mother consort and he loved! Having listed them all, he tilted his little head up, his face a picture of innocent confusion.

"Grand Empress Dowager, is that alright? Am I asking for too much...?"

His tone was soft, tentative, and extremely cautious.

Since he had already spoken and it was just a few dishes, how could the Empress Dowager refuse? She immediately forced an awkward laugh.

"Not at all, not at all!"

"Would you like to add anything else?"

Little Bun’s face instantly lit up, and he chuckled happily.

"Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager, no need to add more, this is enough!"

The Empress Dowager nodded.

Just as she was about to instruct Sister Qing to pass the order to the Imperial Kitchen, Little Bun hurriedly said, "Wait a moment, Sister Qing, there’s no rush!"

Then he turned back to the Empress Dowager. "Grand Empress Dowager, I heard... my mother consort is with you. Why don’t I see her?"

"I’d like to wait and eat with my mother consort, may I?"

The Empress Dowager looked somewhat awkwardly at Sister Qing.

Sister Qing didn’t know how to answer, hesitating for a good while before saying, "Consort Xian is deeply filial. To pray for blessings for the Empress Dowager, she is in the small Buddhist hall copying scriptures!"

Little Bun nodded and then smiled.

"That’s perfect, I can wait and eat with my mother consort!"

The Empress Dowager’s expression became even more awkward.

She certainly couldn’t say, ’Your mother consort won’t be able to come out to eat for a long time!’ And she definitely couldn’t say, ’I am punishing your mother consort.’ After all, if the child were to ask, ’What wrong has my mother consort done?!’, she wouldn’t know how to answer!

After some thought, the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You eat first. Your mother consort has already eaten. Look at these dishes on the table..."

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager shot Noble Concubine Shih a look. Noble Concubine Shih quickly chimed in with a smile, "Chenchen, the Grand Empress Dowager is right. Your mother consort ate before she went over! She just finished a full meal; she’s not hungry!"

Zhao Qichen glanced from one to the other, knowing they were lying. But he couldn’t expose them directly, so he said, "But, Grand Empress Dowager! None of these dishes are my mother consort’s favorites. She definitely didn’t eat much and can’t be full!"

"Grand Empress Dowager, my mother consort isn’t in good health; she can’t go hungry! Please call her back to eat some more!"

The little child pleaded so pitifully, tears welling in his eyes.

The Empress Dowager’s face grew even uglier.

The child was crying in her palace for his mother. To those unaware, it might seem as if she had mistreated the mother and son!

Thinking this, she waved her hand impatiently.

"Alright, alright, stop crying!" she snapped. "I’ll indulge you, how about that! Someone, go fetch Consort Xian. Tell her to stop copying!"

"Yes!"

Sister Qing left again.

After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Xia Ruqing emerged, her face slightly pale.

The moment she stepped into the inner chamber, she spotted Chenchen and was utterly astonished.

"Chenchen, how did you get here?"

The Empress Dowager looked at her coldly.

"Consort Xian, you truly have your methods! It’s one thing to bewitch my Imperial Son, but to think you wouldn’t even spare my three-year-old grandson! You are simply..."

Xia Ruqing was immediately somewhat taken aback.

"Empress Dowager, you can’t speak so baselessly. Whom have I bewitched?"

The Empress Dowager was thoroughly incensed.

"Look at you! It’s bad enough the Imperial Son protects you, now even Chenchen protects you!"

Xia Ruqing was even more perplexed.

"Just because they protect me, it means I’ve bewitched them? Empress Dowager, that... that’s rather unreasonable, isn’t it?"

Seeing Xia Ruqing dare to talk back, the Empress Dowager’s expression turned even colder. She sneered, "Such a sharp tongue! I won’t bicker with you!"

"Today, out of consideration for my Imperial Grandson, I won’t hold this against you. However... as for the scriptures, you are still to copy them without fail. Only this time, it won’t be sixty pages, but the entire volume!"