Chapter 257

Having gotten Prince Qi's response, the Emperor finally relaxed, holding Sui Sui as he asked, "Did you eat the pastry? Have you had anything to drink? Are you hungry?"

……

The Emperor wouldn't make things difficult for a child, and moreover this child is favored by heaven, so he would be even less likely to act recklessly.

The question wasn't complicated, and Sui Sui answered obediently, her voice soft and tender, warming the listener's heart.

At this moment, the Emperor felt a strange sensation……

It was as if the Father Emperor who once weighed upon his head could now be controlled in his hand.

Nothing else, Sui Sui's eyes are just too much like the Father Emperor's!

He couldn't tell anyone about this strange sense of satisfaction, lest it spread and people say he was disrespectful to the Late Emperor.

When the clansmen come, they'll inevitably come to chatter, and the Emperor doesn't like to hear it.

So, just thinking about it in his heart is enough.

When the Emperor came over, the Empress Dowager signaled to start the meal.

The Empress Dowager's usual food, clothing, and expenses are not extravagant, and she doesn't like those things.

Although it can't be called frugal, it's not overly wasteful either.

Today both her sons are by her side, and the newly arrived granddaughter has come over, the Empress Dowager thought……

It can't be not extravagant!

Sui Sui, this child, is so timid; if she feels that her Grand Empress Dowager is having a hard time, what if she dares not eat in the future?

So, serve the rice, serve the dishes, serve the meat!

The Emperor staying at Yishou Gong for the meal means the food and dishes certainly need to be arranged abundantly.

While waiting, the Emperor still held Sui Sui, speaking softly.

At first, Sui Sui was quite afraid of Imperial Uncle, the Emperor's aura was still too fierce.

However, the other party spoke gently, with a smile on his face while talking, Sui Sui quickly adapted, and her voice grew louder.

Seeing the child grow bolder in his arms, the Emperor felt quite relieved.

The Emperor thought: I'm not bad at handling children, that's good.

Perhaps it was Sui Sui's change that made the Emperor swell with pride.

He actually took the initiative to request holding Sui Sui while eating.

Princess Consort of Qi was uneasy, but didn't dare to speak up.

Prince Qi wasn't at ease either; how could his treasure be allowed to be held by someone else?

Not even his older brother could do that.

Prince Qi wanted to intervene, but the Emperor gave him a cold stare, and Prince Qi backed down.

The Empress Dowager watched from the side, couldn't help laughing, and didn't stop the two brothers.

Their relationship is good, the Emperor looks after little Nine a lot, and only then did her heart truly settle.

The Emperor's plan was to hold Sui Sui and properly feed the child.

However, very few princes and princesses get to be personally held and fed by the Emperor; occasionally once or twice, it's either because their status is noble, like the Empress's children, or it's a favored consort's child, and the Emperor does it just to show favor.

He rarely does it himself, so his skill is rusty.

The Emperor's feeding is clumsy, and Sui Sui has to cooperate carefully, otherwise who knows where the rice would end up.

Finally, the Empress Dowager couldn't bear it, laughing as she interrupted the Emperor's embarrassment: "All right, all right, if you keep feeding like that, Sui Sui's ears will be full of rice; give the child to me."

The Emperor was already embarrassed, but he couldn't directly admit defeat.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager's words actually amounted to an indirect rescue of him.

Although the Emperor wasn't eager, he did quickly hand Sui Sui over to the Mother Empress's hands.

Not wanting the child to think too much, the Emperor quickly smiled and said, "Imperial Uncle's hands are rough and clumsy; he feeds poorly—let Grand Empress Dowager feed, okay?"

Indeed, Imperial Uncle's feeding was poor; Sui Sui didn't even know what she had eaten, only feeling her neck sore, having to chase after Imperial Uncle's hand, otherwise who knows where the rice would fall.

At this point, she could finally be free, and Sui Sui was quite happy.

She lightly nodded: "I'll listen to Imperial Uncle."

Although she knew she was being disliked, Sui Sui's words still made the Emperor feel deeply comforted; he raised his hand and gently patted her little head, his voice low yet tinged with pleasure: "Good child."

The Empress Dowager has raised three children in total; although not every child was personally cared for by her, because there were few children, she had more opportunities to do so.

Especially Prince Qi and the former Princess Yangyang, the Empress Dowager had personally fed them meals, bathed them, and taken them to the privy.

Although many years have passed and many things may have become rusty, the memory remains.

So, the Empress Dowager took Sui Sui, quickly got the hang of it, and fed the child well.

Watching Sui Sui eat heartily, her cheeks puffed out, the Empress Dowager couldn't help smiling with eyes curved.

She rarely laughs so openly, but seeing Sui Sui eat well, she can't control her expression.

Because of Princess Yangyang's death, the Empress Dowager has been feeling depressed these past years, and she appears unhappy.

Although the knot in her heart remains, at least her state of mind has opened up considerably.

Especially looking at Sui Sui's eyes, the Empress Dowager felt a strange sense of satisfaction suddenly arise in her heart.

How to put it?

It's as if she had the Late Emperor under her control.

If the other party is hungry or thirsty, they must go through her, at least they need to seek her help.

Don't even mention……

Thinking about it this way, she indeed feels very satisfied inside.

However, this feeling of satisfaction shouldn't be known to outsiders.

The Empress Dowager thinks it's enough to just think about it quietly, and also she mustn't scare the child.

Sui Sui is innocent; she has no relation to the Late Emperor and should not bear the adults' dark thoughts.

The Empress Dowager quickly adjusted her mindset, raised her hand, and lightly touched Sui Sui's puffed cheek.

Tender and smooth, very cute, and pleasant to touch.

Sui Sui was touched a bit; although she felt a little doubtful, it did not affect her chewing.

The little girl widened her eyes, her cheeks puffing up again—how adorable!

The Empress Dowager grew happier the more she looked, and finally couldn't help asking Prince Qi, 'Xiao Jiu, Sui Sui staying in the palace for a few days to keep me company, how about that?'

Prince Qi was eating when he heard this; he suddenly lifted his head, looking at his Empress Dowager with utter disbelief, his whole self seeming on the verge of breaking apart.

Prince Qi thought: 'Ah?'

He had just entered the palace, and his precious little one was about to be snatched away?

Prince Qi felt reluctant, yet couldn't refute his Empress Dowager, so he could only lower his head silently and quietly break apart.

Seeing her young son like this, the Empress Dowager couldn't help wanting to laugh.

She helplessly sighed: 'Fine, fine, fine—I'll be the villain; let the child follow you back to your residence, and after a while you must send him into the palace to make me happy.'

Hearing this, Prince Qi felt a secret joy.

Not having to send out his precious little one is naturally good.

But soon, Prince Qi felt a twinge of guilt.

Since the Imperial Elder Sister passed away, the Empress Dowager's mood has not been good, and her health has deteriorated considerably.

Nowadays it's rare to have a child she likes; Prince Qi thinks, if he really takes Sui Sui away, how sad would the Empress Dowager be?

But leaving Sui Sui in the palace also makes him uneasy.

Second watch.