Chapter 259

Sui Sui was quickly sent back by the Emperor to the Side Hall to sleep.

Aunt Xu and Xiang Gugu stood guard nearby, and the outer hall still had a host of palace staff, so they weren't afraid of any mishap.

The Emperor left and then returned, and soon sat down.

The family sat together and first chatted about everyday matters for a while.

Most of the time, it was the Empress Dowager speaking, Prince Qi responding, and Princess Consort of Qi occasionally adding a few words.

The Emperor, for much of the time, simply listened quietly.

After the small talk, they brought up the consorts presenting gifts.

Princess Consort of Qi took the opportunity to say that when Sui Sui wakes up, she must take the child to each palace to give thanks.

The Empress Dowager, upon hearing, waved her hand immediately: "No need; give your own niece some greeting gifts. Do you really expect the niece to kneel three times and bow nine times to give thanks?"

At that point, the Empress Dowager smiled faintly, her meaning unclear: "They don't appear, I never questioned them; now you still want to question me?"

Those were her words, but regarding what must be done, the Empress Dowager would not actually go too far.

So as not to let the Inner Palace bear a grudge against Sui Sui again.

Thus, after speaking, she signaled Aunt Ma to come forward: "Go to the storeroom and fetch some items; according to each palace's standards, deliver them in the afternoon, and say the weather is fine today, I'm in a good mood, and I'm rewarding them."

Aunt Ma, having heard, responded promptly.

Princess Consort of Qi understood that this meant there was no need to go give thanks anymore.

She wasn't really keen on taking Sui Sui to each palace to kneel.

On the Empress's side, because of the Tang family's affairs, Princess Consort of Qi also didn't know whether the other party would make things difficult for them.

Even if there's none on the surface, what about behind the scenes?

And there's the Noble Consort's side…

The other side's temperament is arrogant and not very easy to get along with, and their palace also has a specially positioned Princess Shunyang.

Among children, they can be both easy and difficult to get along with.

If the eyes don't match, there have been cases of them fighting upon meeting.

Princess Consort of Qi was actually quite worried.

The other palace ladies…

Princess Consort of Qi also couldn't gauge their attitude.

Therefore, she imagined the first meeting should be in the Empress Dowager's palace, with the Empress Dowager present; even if those people dislike Sui Sui, they couldn't show it.

However, since each palace sent gifts today, she will certainly make her stance clear.

Now that the Empress Dowager has declined, Princess Consort of Qi can breathe a sigh of relief.

The Empress Dowager said no need, and she made other arrangements, so Princess Consort of Qi finally feels at ease.

As the family kept talking, the topic turned to Sui Sui's status banquet.

That banquet definitely has to be held.

Although there is an imperial edict, Qi Wang Fu also must state its stance and publicly announce Sui Sui's status.

Bringing this up, the Empress Dowager turned to the Emperor and asked, "Has the Astronomical Bureau calculated the date yet?"

The Emperor, of course, took the matter seriously, so when the Empress Dowager asked, he quickly smiled and replied: "It's already been calculated; the date is a bit far off—June the sixth. The Astronomical Bureau's reasoning is that the double month and double day symbolize a double blessing, and that day is also an auspicious one, suitable for ceremonies and relocations, very fitting."

The Empress Dowager, hearing this, thought the timing was indeed a bit late.

There's still a long May in between.

But a good day isn't feared for waiting.

Sui Sui, that child, had a very hard past; she wants everything to go smoothly from now on.

Therefore, the date must be chosen well.

After understanding, the Empress Dowager turned her head toward Prince Qi and asked, "Xiao Jiu, what's your thought?"

Prince Qi also felt the date was a bit too far away.

However, his beloved obedient one isn't afraid of waiting.

So he thought for a moment, looked at Princess Consort of Qi, and nodded: "Your servant thinks it's fine."

Princess Consort of Qi also thought June was auspicious, so she naturally had no objection.

Thus, the date could be tentatively set.

Next, the Wangfu needs to make preparations.

After this topic, they chatted about other things.

They also mentioned a few words about banquet preparations and such.

Soon, the scene shifted to the Empress Dowager and Princess Consort of Qi speaking softly, while the Emperor and Prince Qi exchanged words from time to time.

The Empress Dowager was, of course, attentive to matters concerning Qi Wang Fu.

Previously, she might not have paid much attention.

But after Prince Qi's incident, the Empress Dowager wanted someone to keep a tight grip on the Wangfu.

Thus, the Wangfu dismissed many concubines and chambermaids, and one concubine was sent to a Taoist temple; the Empress Dowager naturally knew about it.

At this moment, she said in a deep voice: "You should have been decisive earlier; they're not respectable people, keeping them is useless."

What could Princess Consort of Qi say?

She could only respond with a smile.

Is she expected to say that, when the Prince once pursued a woman obsessively, she truly dismissed people, and the two would inevitably quarrel?

If she said that, the Empress Dowager would certainly not be pleased to hear it.

Seeing Princess Consort of Qi respond gently, the Empress Dowager couldn't help herself: "You, you're too soft‑hearted, which lets them bully you. Next time a similar situation arises, be stricter, be fiercer—what are you afraid of? You are the matriarch of Qi Wang Fu; those chambermaids and concubines are merely pastimes. If you don't like them, beat them to death or have them sold. If Xiao Jiu wants, just replace them with another batch! You can always get obedient ones."

Princess Consort of Qi replied with a smiling expression: "Your Majesty says it."

The more gentle and compliant Princess Consort of Qi was, the more the Empress Dowager hated that iron would not become steel, wishing she could personally go out and clean up the rear courtyard of the Wangfu.

However, Xiao Jiu's mood probably won't be too good lately due to her health.

Furthermore, the Wangfu side has already dismissed a batch.

The Empress Dowager thought, "Next time."

After thinking it through, the Empress Dowager nodded and said, "Exactly, the person cultivating tranquility over at the Daoist temple—after three or five months, just let her pass away; don't bring her back again, lest she harm my obedient grandson."

The Princess Consort of Qi was not surprised by the Empress Dowager's decision, and she also responded with a smile.

……

As she spoke to the end, the Empress Dowager slightly furrowed her brows, lifted her eyes and glanced toward the direction of her two sons, noticing they seemed to be saying something and had not paid attention here, she then lowered her voice and asked: "Is Madame Ren still behaving herself lately?"

Because of the previous generation's interests struggle, the Empress Dowager does not take a liking to Ren Ce Fei, and the Princess Consort of Qi knows this in her heart.

In response to the Empress Dowager's question, the Princess Consort of Qi did not find it surprising; she quickly smiled and said: "The last time I entered the palace with the Prince, Che Shi was causing a ruckus in the Residence, but it was Ren Shi who protected Sui Sui, so that aunt and niece pair did not bully Sui Sui. I think, since Ren Shi can protect Sui Sui, she must be mature and sensible."

The Empress Dowager was not surprised that the Princess Consort of Qi defended Ren Ce Fei.

She thought, Xiao Jiu's wife, ah, is just too soft-hearted.

Fortunately, over these years, the Empress Dowager has kept Ren Shi and Meng Shi in check, so that these two would not overshadow the Princess Consort of Qi.

However, this time, the Princess Consort defends Ren Shi because the latter had once protected Sui Sui.

The Empress Dowager thought, she is not one who cannot distinguish gratitude from grudges; since Ren Shi has performed well, she could also give some rewards to show imperial grace.

After all, discipline is discipline; when it's time to reward, she cannot possibly avoid discussing it.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager nodded and said: "Since she has protected Sui Sui, she ought to be given some rewards; I will have Aunt Ma pick out some things…"

Originally, the Empress Dowager had intended to say, 'You all bring them back to the Residence together.'

Moreover, fearing that Ren Shi would not believe this was her own reward, the Empress Dowager quickly changed tack and said: 'I will arrange for someone to send it separately.'

Second watch.