Chapter 253: Empress Dowager

Because it was the palace entered by requesting an imperial edict in advance.

So, the Empress Dowager had prepared everything early in the morning.

All kinds of snacks and tea were prepared with portions for the children.

Upon hearing that Prince Qi's family had already entered the palace, the Empress Dowager could not stay seated.

She thought, she wasn't particularly eager to see this child Sui Sui; she was simply curious.

After the matter concerning Prince Qi, when the Empress Dowager was alone, she also somewhat came to her senses.

This child Sui Sui...

She has some good fortune upon her.

This might be Heaven's fondness for the simple-minded, so it specially sent her a treasure for her young son.

And for that reason, the Empress Dowager felt a bit curious about Sui Sui.

Now that she could finally see her, she naturally felt some anticipation.

Not long after, palace attendants came to report that Prince Qi was arriving with his consort and the young lady.

The Empress Dowager nodded to show she understood, and then ordered Aunt Xu to personally go out to greet them.

Aunt Xu smiled as she ushered Prince Qi's family into the inner hall, and meanwhile she furtively observed Sui Sui.

A very slender little girl, with very beautiful eyes.

At first sight, Aunt Xu thought the child was too thin; the second glance was at Sui Sui's eyes.

Lively and beautiful, pure and spotless.

Because those eyes were exceptionally lovely and carried a subtle sense of familiarity, Aunt Xu couldn't help but look twice more.

Sui Sui sensed someone looking at her, quietly lifted her head for a glance, met Aunt Xu's kindly smiling face, and Sui Sui also gave a polite smile.

Mother Consort said, having entered the palace, stay close to Mother Consort; no need to look around, everything will be arranged naturally by Father King and Mother Consort.

Sui Sui was very obedient and didn't look much, but Aunt Xu's gaze was somewhat intense; she couldn't help but glance once, smile, then withdraw it.

She thought...

The people around Grand Empress Dowager don't seem very frightening either.

Last night, Seventh Brother even scared her, saying Grand Empress Dowager is very stern, and those around her look frightening as well.

Seventh Brother said, anyway he doesn't want to enter the palace.

Sui Sui was still nervous back then, but now, because of Aunt Xu's kindly smile, she has relaxed a bit.

The family of three quickly entered the inner hall.

The Empress Dowager had been seated there early; after Prince Qi and his party entered, they first paid respects to the Empress Dowager.

Sui Sui has been studying etiquette with Aunt Xiang these past few days, and she has learned the basic rites quite well.

Now, imitating Mother Consort, she first performed a kneeling bow.

Then, following Mother Consort's indication, she obediently knelt down and performed the great salute to the Empress Dowager: 'Sui Sui pays respects to Grand Empress Dowager; may Grand Empress Dowager be safe and sound.'

Sui Sui knows few auspicious phrases, and Princess Consort of Qi does not wish to trouble the child.

So, last night she was taught just a simple one.

She thought, the Empress Dowager dotes on Prince Qi, her young son, and is relatively lenient toward the people of the residence.

Furthermore, Sui Sui's pitiful background means that even if her manners are lacking, one would not overly blame her.

Princess Consort of Qi cannot bear to torment the child.

As Sui Sui performed the salute obediently, the Empress Dowager lowered her eyes and gazed at this tiny figure before her.

She is truly very small.

She feels not even as big as Little Seven of the Wangfu.

Although the Empress Dowager hasn't seen Feng Xuanbin for some days, she still retains an impression of the Wangfu's young son as a big, chubby fellow.

He is not old in age, yet has plenty of flesh, a blessed child.

Now looking at Sui Sui again, she is so thin as if made of paper; a gust of wind could blow her away.

These inhuman idiots!

After cursing a few times in her heart, the Empress Dowager tried to make her expression as kind as possible.

But she usually likes to keep a stern face, maintaining the Empress Dowager's dignity.

Now making her smile, her expression still feels a bit stiff.

Finally, she simply stopped smiling further, lightly raised her hand to gesture: 'Good child, hurry up and rise.'

Sui Sui obediently thanked her, then rose up, wanting to see what Grand Empress Dowager looked like, but feeling a bit afraid, she merely timidly stayed by Mother Consort's side, her cute little head slightly lowered, with no intention to look around.

Watching this scene, the Empress Dowager sighed in her heart: this child had been pitiful before, and her courage was also small.

However, from now on, as a princess of the Wangfu, such behavior will not do.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager beckoned: 'Sui Sui, come over, let Grand Empress Dowager take a close look.'

The Empress Dowager's voice was low, revealing neither joy nor anger, and her expression was also indifferent.

Princess Consort of Qi guessed she was not displeased, so she reassuringly patted Sui Sui's shoulder: 'Sui Sui, go over quickly.'

She patted Sui Sui's shoulder to give the child some confidence and a sense of security.

Mother Consort is still here; there's nothing to fear.

Even if she is Mother Consort's mother-in-law, it's fine.

Sui Sui obediently walked over, during which she honestly kept her little head lowered, not daring to look around.

Prince Qi watched, feeling pained, wanted to say something, but fearing the Empress Dowager might be displeased, he thought it over, held it back, and his eyes remained fixed on Sui Sui as he stared.

Empress Dowager: ……

Simpleton!

She is the Grand Empress Dowager; could she possibly eat the child?

The child's title was set by her personally; even a princess doesn't receive such treatment—does that still not explain the issue?

The Empress Dowager cursed her son a few times in her mind, felt a little lighter, then adjusted her expression and forced out a faint smile.

Sui Sui obediently came to the Empress Dowager's side, her round big eyes quietly glancing upward, meeting the Empress Dowager's slightly stern phoenix eyes.

Sui Sui felt a little scared, yet sensed no malice from the Empress Dowager, only widened her eyes instinctively.

The Empress Dowager originally intended to tweak her expression so she wouldn't appear so severe and frighten the child on their first meeting.

But when she met Sui Sui's eyes, the Empress Dowager was stunned.

These eyes…

They look so much like Prince Qi.

No, I can't say that.

They are like the Late Emperor!

They are practically identical to the Late Emperor's eyes!

Prince Qi's eyes are the most like the Late Emperor's.

But, in the Empress Dowager's view, after comparing with Sui Sui, Prince Qi's eyes seem only about seventy percent alike.

The most similar are still Sui Sui's eyes.

After the Late Emperor grew old, his gaze was no longer as clear as in his youth, and his eye shape was not as attractive as before.

However, the Empress Dowager, who had been the Late Emperor's wife from youth to old age, naturally knows how lively and beautiful those eyes were in his younger days.

She originally thought the child's eyes were already sufficiently like the Late Emperor's.

The Late Emperor himself said that Prince Qi's eyes resembled his the most.

But now someone even more alike has appeared.

Seeing these eyes, the Empress Dowager even vaguely glimpsed the Late Emperor's youthful appearance.

Although the Late Emperor, in his old age, had a few years of senility and did many foolish things.

Nevertheless, the two had been bound by hair in youth and walked together ever since, their bond remaining extremely deep.

Now, seeing such eyes again, the Empress Dowager was instinctively stunned.

Sui Sui quietly glanced, noticed the Grand Empress Dowager was very stern, got scared and lowered her head again, pretended she hadn't been looking improperly, and dutifully called out, "Grand Empress Dowager, I am Sui Sui."

Second watch.