EBE Chapter 470: Happy to have a son
Chapter 470: Happy to have a son
Miao Miao's family is having dinner.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the gate of Lu Garden.
Upon hearing that the visitor was from the palace, Lu Qingyao panicked.
She hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the mouths of the two little ones.
The late emperor had passed away less than a month ago. According to custom, these two children, as his grandchildren, should observe mourning and should not eat meat.
But both children are growing, so a few days without meat won't have a problem, but a month or two won't.
She didn't want her child to become thin from hunger.
Moreover, Yan-ge'er is about to take the imperial examination, and his studies are very demanding. This is the time when he needs to nourish his body the most. He is already thin, and if he doesn't nourish himself now and gain some weight, he will be skin and bones by the time he finishes the exam and leaves the examination hall after being confined to the examination hall for nine days and nine nights and can only make do with steamed buns and bread.
She can't bear it.
So Xiuxiu added meat to the dish.
Xiuxiu was also a little flustered, and quickly had the food cleared away without leaving a trace: "Sister, I'll leave now, and no one will find out."
"Can you see who's coming?" Lu Qingyao asked the maid.
"It's a palace eunuch; his voice is high-pitched and thin."
Lu Qingyao quickly stood up and looked at the two children who were eating: "Don't give them any more food, take it away."
Miao Miao had just taken a bite of rice, and before she could even swallow it, her bowl and chopsticks were taken away.
She still had food in her mouth: "Waaah... my bowl, I haven't finished eating yet."
"Sweetie, we'll eat later. Let me take you to the front hall first. Maybe Yu'er's father has come to pick him up." Lu Qingyao patted her daughter's head and straightened their clothes.
Then he pulled her towards the front hall.
Fu Yu neither cried nor made a fuss, letting her pull him along, taking small, adorable steps.
Upon hearing that his father was coming, the little boy, whose face had been drooping because his half-eaten bowl had been taken away, suddenly straightened up.
He immediately smiled.
During their time at Lu Garden, the little guy was always clinging to either Miaomiao or her.
She saw Miaomiao move closer to her, stretching her head and rubbing against her.
The little one will also imitate him, stretching out his little head to touch him, and reaching out for a hug.
They were so adorable!
Miao Miao is like that too. She's usually like a little rascal, but as long as she's around her, she's as obedient as a kitten, calling out "Mama" so sweetly.
Whether Yu'er missed his mother or mistook her for his mother, he called Miao Miao "Mother".
He even started calling her "Mother" too.
That cry of "Mother!" completely stunned Lu Qingyao.
It was clearly the royal family that owed the Lu family, yet she still had to help raise the princes and grandsons.
I wonder if I owed them something in my past life.
This cry of "Mother" must not be heard by anyone else.
She stopped and squatted down in front of the little one: "Yu'er, I'm not your mother. You can call me Aunt Lu. Remember that."
Fu Yu raised her little face and looked at Lu Qingyao: "Can you be my mother?"
"No." Miaomiao pinched his little cheek: "You have your own mother. If you call someone else's mother, she will be unhappy in heaven."
Fu Yu looked up at the sky, completely bewildered: "Where...is my mother in the sky?"
Miaomiao: ...
They had no choice but to resort to the old tricks used to deceive children: "Your mother has turned into a star, and you can only see her when it gets dark."
It's quite pitiful for the little one; she lost her mother when she was so young, and probably doesn't even remember what her mother looked like.
I don't know if any portrait was taken.
"Oh! But I still want you to be my mother." Fu Yu tugged at Lu Qingyao's sleeve, looking at her expectantly.
So cute!
The little guy looks quite like Miaomiao when she was little.
I must say, this royal bloodline is quite impressive.
Those eyes, big and small, looked like they were carved from the same mold.
Fearing that the palace servants would get impatient, Lu Qingyao had no choice but to pick up the little one and continue walking.
She even coaxed the little child, saying, "If Yu'er is willing to call me Aunt Lu, Auntie will bring you candied hawthorns next time."
Miaomiao strode after her, saying, "I want one too!"
This is unprecedented.
Her mother usually doesn't let her eat sweets, but today she actually used them to coax the little baby.
"How old are you? Still eating? Don't you want your teeth?" Lu Qingyao rolled her eyes at her daughter.
Miaomiao: ...
We proceeded to the front hall.
Several eunuchs were standing outside the door.
Even though it was my own house, I felt a sense of oppression even though I was still outside the living room.
Seeing this, Lu Qingyao was puzzled. Could it be that more than just eunuchs had come?
She led the child into the house.
Then a slender, fair-skinned man sat on the grand chair. He had those same eyes, and his features resembled Emperor Jing's.
"Daddy..."
Fu Yu let go of her hand, ran over, and threw herself into the man's arms.
The daughter followed and called out to her second uncle.
Miao Miao looked at him and saw that he was very different from the sickly Crown Prince she had seen last time. Could it be that he had gotten much better after leaving the palace?
She wasn't surprised at all when her uncle ascended the throne as emperor.
Perhaps it was destiny.
Some things may change, but some people and events remain constant.
It's good that everyone is alive!
Lu Qingyao thought it was a palace attendant coming to fetch her, but she didn't expect the retired emperor to come in person. The retired emperor had only been emperor for less than ten days before abdicating to Emperor Jing.
Behind the Emperor Emeritus was Eunuch Yu, who had once delivered an imperial decree to the Lu family; she remembered it.
She paused for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and bowed: "This humble woman, Lu, greets the Emperor Emeritus."
"Get up." The Emperor Emeritus offered a helping hand, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then said that he wanted to take Xiao Yu'er away.
But the little guy held onto Lu Qingyao's hand tightly, saying, "Daddy, I don't want to leave. I want to stay with Mommy, my brothers and sisters."
That cry of "Mother!" made Lu Qingyao feel quite embarrassed.
"Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand. This child must be calling out 'Mother' to Miaomiao every day. He probably misses his own mother."
The Emperor Emeritus's lips twitched, and he looked heartbroken.
“When Madam passed away, Yu’er was only one year old, so he probably doesn’t remember what his mother looks like.”
It's only natural for a child to look for its mother.
It must be because this Lady Lu treats the child well that the child considers her his mother.
"Is there a portrait of the lady?" Lu Qingyao reminded her.
The Emperor Emeritus frowned and thought for a moment, then his eyes flickered slightly: "Yes, there was one. When we were selecting concubines, we kept one."
When choosing a crown princess, people would first look at her portrait before meeting her in person.
He chose the Crown Princess from among many noble ladies at first glance.
Born into a scholarly family, she was a refined and virtuous young lady. While not the most beautiful among all the noblewomen, she was certainly the most intelligent and ambitious.
He has his own selfish motives.
Rather than choosing someone you like and clinging to them to the same fate, it's better to choose someone who is smart and capable, someone who meets your needs.
Perhaps they can survive in that place.
Unexpectedly, it ended up implicating her as well.
Lu Qingyao didn't know how to say anything to comfort him, but she felt that this young emperor emeritus was very approachable and gentle.
Then there was no more restraint.
Changing the subject, he casually asked, "What are the Emperor Emeritus's plans for the future?"
When asked about his future residence, the Emperor Emeritus relaxed considerably, a smile playing on his lips: "There is a hot spring villa in the outskirts of the capital that would be beneficial to my condition. I plan to move there with Yu'er."
"That's fine then." Lu Qingyao nodded slightly.
After sitting for a while and chatting with his niece, the Emperor Emeritus prepared to take his leave. However, seeing his son's reluctant expression, he had no choice but to ask, "Yu'er, are you reluctant to leave Aunt Lu and your sister?"
Fu Yu simply nodded without saying a word.
"Don't you want to go with Father?"
"..."
More than anyone else, he wanted his son to be happy and healthy.
But he rarely took his children away from the capital to live his own life, and besides, his health was inconsistent, and he didn't know how much longer he could live.
I just want to watch my child grow up in the limited days I have left.
He hugged his son: "Yu'er, if you like Madam Lu, then call her godmother. You come back with your father first, and when you miss your godmother and sister, you can come and find them, okay?"
Sure enough, the little guy immediately beamed with joy.
She turned around, hugged Lu Qingyao, called her "Mother," and left happily.
Lu Qingyao stood there, stunned.
"Congratulations, sister, on the birth of your precious son!" Xiuxiu teased from the side.
Lu Qingyao felt awkward hearing this, so she tapped Xiuxiu on the head and said, "Don't talk nonsense. The Emperor Emeritus was just trying to coax the children. Don't take it seriously."
Miaomiao doesn't think so.
Because her uncle had just tried to bribe her with money, asking if she would like to have another brother, Yu'er. He said that if he died, all the houses, antiques, paintings, jewelry and jade under his name would belong to the two of them.
But the prerequisite is that she must always protect her younger brother.
She agreed.
Even if they don't give it to you, you have to accept it; if you don't accept it, you might as well take it
After seeing Xiao Yu'er off, Miao Miao wanted to go back for dinner, but a maid came to report that someone from the palace had arrived again, the same eunuch who had just come.
"Here we go again!" Can't a person even have a proper meal?
Miao Miao wiped her mouth clean and went out with her mother again.
There's one downside to being a princess: every time someone from the palace comes, whether they're looking for her or not, she has to go.
Even the ladies who came to look for their mother would make sure to see her before leaving after finishing their business.
She's been made to look like a mascot.
After seeing the Emperor Emeritus off for a while, Eunuch Yu turned back.
Upon entering, he cupped his hands in greeting: "Congratulations to Madam Lu on the birth of your precious son."
Xiuxiu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Lu Qingyao glared at her and immediately stepped forward to greet her. No one in the palace could be neglected.
You never know when they'll make things difficult for you.
"Has Eunuch Yu forgotten something, or is there something he hasn't told us?"
“I do have some matters to attend to. First, I’ve come to congratulate Madam Lu on adopting Prince Rui as her godson. Second, I’ve summoned you to the palace; Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see you,” said Eunuch Yu with a respectful expression.
He was a clever man and had a clear understanding of the unspoken relationships between these important people.
The two old ladies of the Mu and Lu families, Lu San Niangzi and the Empress sisters, are not ordinary friends. Most importantly, Lu San Niangzi is the adoptive mother of Princess Mingzhu, and now she has also taken in Prince Rui as her godson.
This complex web of relationships.
Anyone who's blind enough to offend her is probably doomed.
Seeing Lu Qingyao's bewildered expression, he continued, "Madam Lu, you probably don't know yet, but the Emperor has already bestowed the title of Prince Rui upon the young prince."
"To be crowned a king at such a young age!" Lu Qingyao couldn't help but exclaim.
Grandpa Yu smiled but said nothing.
It's perfectly reasonable for someone who should have been the crown prince to be granted the title of king.
It has nothing to do with age.
Lu Qingyao didn't take the idea of adopting Prince Rui as her godson seriously.
But it's inevitable to be nervous when entering the palace for the first time, worrying about making a mistake. There are many rules in the palace. The emperor and empress won't say anything, but there are still two formidable figures: the empress dowager and the grand empress dowager.
We must be careful and cautious in everything we do.
Eunuch Yu was very perceptive and noticed Lu Qingyao's nervousness. He then said, "Madam Lu, Little Princess, pack your things and come with us. Her Majesty the Empress has also summoned Madam Yan. They should be arriving at the palace soon. The Eldest Princess is also waiting for us there."
"Mother, don't worry, I know the palace well." Miao Miao held her mother's hand.
Lu Qingyao laughed heartily.
She never imagined that one day she would benefit from her daughter's fame.
They dressed neatly and entered the palace.
Lu Qingyao discovered that even when her daughter didn't have the token and Eunuch Yu wasn't around, the palace maids and eunuchs treated her not only respectfully but also warmly.
They called her "Little Princess" so affectionately.
He even proactively gave her information.
Which palace is the Empress in? Where is Lady Yan? What delicious food has the Princess prepared for her?
I've said everything that I should and shouldn't have said.
Who could be wary of a beautiful, lovely, and innocent child?
As Xiuxiu walked, she shrank back and slipped some silver into the hand of a palace maid.
That's when I found out what was going on.
Catching up with her older sister, she said, "I've heard about it. Miao Miao is very generous. She gives them rewards every time she goes to the palace. She can't stand seeing anyone being bullied and often stands up for them. All the palace servants are vying to do things for her."
Lu Qingyao opened her mouth.
I wondered why she spent the money I gave her so quickly and so extravagantly, but I didn't see her buy anything back.
So that's where it's used.
No wonder she walks so arrogantly, she looks like she deserves a beating.
Kunning Palace was something Miaomiao knew very well.
This was her first time entering the palace since the palace coup.
However, this time when he entered Kunning Palace, he did not see his maternal grandmother, but his maternal uncle's wife.
My maternal grandmother was promoted to Empress Dowager and moved to a different palace. I heard that she still grows flowers and plants and makes desserts just like before.
I'll have to try it later.
Miaomiao skipped and hopped into Kunning Palace, but as soon as she stepped inside, she shrank back out.
The atmosphere was a bit strange; it was quiet.
I cautiously peeked inside and immediately spotted an old lady sitting in the head seat.
The younger aunt, the princess's mother, and Jiang Yue's aunt all sat quietly on either side.
It's like a young bride meeting her parents.
Judging from his clothes and everyone's attitude, she knew who he was without even having to guess.
The most honored woman in the Great Liang Dynasty, the Grand Empress Dowager.
To Miao Miao's surprise, the Empress Dowager was not as old as she had imagined.
She looked only a few years older than her maternal grandmother, but unlike when she first met her grandmother, this ancestor had a kind face, yet the sharpness in her eyes was unmistakable.
He doesn't seem like someone easy to get along with.
It looks like it'll live a long time.
Some strange thoughts popped into Miao Miao's mind.
An old man and a young man looked at each other.
The Empress Dowager looked at the little girl standing at the door, then glanced at Princess Yuqing, her eyes holding an ambiguous meaning.
Finally, his gaze fell on Lu Qingyao's face.
He then beckoned to Miaomiao: "Come here."
Miao Miao walked over, and the Empress Dowager held her small face and examined her carefully.
Then he said several words like "like" to Yuqing.
Princess Yuqing just gave an awkward smile.
Empress Mu Qianxue quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Grandmother, what brings you here today? You've come to see Yuan'er. I'll have someone bring her out right away."
The Empress Dowager was her aunt.
But since they were all royal wives, they could only be treated according to the royal family's seniority.
She practiced several times in private before she could finally say it.
But it's a bit strange that my aunt suddenly came to visit today.
Especially the way he looked at Yao-jie.
Why does it have such a hint of hostility?
……