Chapter 369: Missing Grand Empress Dowager

Prince Qi was somewhat surprised by this result, but quickly accepted it: "It's not so bad; as long as Aunt is satisfied, that's fine."

Thus we will output: Thus we will output: Thus we will output: Thus we will output: Xiefuren's affair this time caused too much commotion, so it's no wonder Aunt is relentless.

Prince Qi even imagined, if it were him, his obedient one would encounter such a matter.

He would kill the man on the spot—then forgive?

"Forgive his ancestor's leg!" Prince Qing then brought up the matter of Xu Mingxian: "Jin Yangzi's residence is now in chaos; Xu Lao Fu Ren has had a stroke and can't manage the household affairs, so now an aunt is holding things up."

The managing aunt is not the one Jin Yangzi favored.

That person was sent away far after the incident of swapping legitimate and concubine daughters occurred.

Xu Lao Fu Ren secretly employed some tricks, forced the other party to take medicine, and now the other is both deaf and mute.

Jin Yangzi is a face‑picker; with the other now like this, Jin Yangzi simply can't recall.

Bring the person back? That's basically impossible now.

Prince Qi raised an eyebrow at this outcome: "Brother Emperor is still soft‑hearted; otherwise just kicking him out of the capital's circle would actually be fine."

According to Prince Qi's thinking, demoting Jin Yangzi to a commoner and expelling his whole family from Jing would be just fine.

Never mind that counterfeit; as long as Jin Yangzi never gets a chance later to entangle their residence again, that's enough.

Prince Qi, in front of his brother Prince Qing, did not conceal his small, wicked thoughts at all.

Prince Qing smiled after listening: "Even if Brother Emperor intends such an arrangement, the Censorate will probably try to persuade, and Brother Emperor generally doesn't want to hear their nagging."

It's just that the Imperial family isn't strict; they collided with a lady from Da Zhang Gong Zhu Fu, and that charge isn't severe enough to demote Marquis Jin Yangzi to a commoner outright.

So, if the punishment is too harsh, the Censorate will definitely offer various remonstrances.

The two brothers chatted for a while, and as evening approached, Prince Qing suggested taking leave.

Prince Qi tried to persuade him to stay for a meal, but Prince Qing declined.

Prince Qi didn't persist.

After seeing Prince Qing off, it's time to fetch Sui Sui for school.

Sui Sui's guqin today was learned quite well; when school ended, the guqin teacher unsurprisingly praised her again.

Prince Qi listened, feeling delighted inside.

Thinking further that many people still covet his treasure, he almost couldn't keep from a scowl.

He thought: No one may touch his treasure!

Whoever comes, dies!

Starting tomorrow he'll brandish a sword and stand guard at the manor gate; he'll see who dares to come!

Sui Sui, unaware of adult worries, blushed from the teacher's praise; her little head nestled into Father King's neck, and her soft hair brushed Prince Qi's ear, making it itch a bit.

The hostility rising in Prince Qi's heart vanished instantly.

He happily embraced his obedient, soft little daughter and took the children to dinner.

The next day, Sui Sui woke early and didn't need to go to school; Ren Shu Han and the others also had a day off, so they could return to the residence to rest.

After being carefully dressed by the Princess Consort, Sui Sui rode in the carriage with Father King and Mother Consort into the palace.

The Empress Dowager's health has still been poor lately, with constant coughing, occasional wheezing attacks, and shortness of breath; the imperial physicians fear she might pass away this way.

If it weren't inconvenient, the imperial physicians would want to move into the Empress Dowager's palace themselves.

Early in the morning the Empress Dowager took medicine; her spirit improved a bit, allowing her to get up and step onto the ground, but she can't walk far due to lack of strength.

The Empress Dowager flustered around and broke out in a cold sweat.

She helplessly sat back down, sighing lightly: "Old fool." Aunt Xu hurriedly offered auspicious words, preventing the Empress Dowager from sinking into negative emotions.

The Empress Dowager was coaxed by Aunt Xu's clever words into laughing openly.

Upon hearing the palace staff report that Prince Qi and his wife had arrived with the little princess, the Empress Dowager's spirit improved a few more points.

She quickly tidied herself and sat behind a screen.

When Prince Qi entered with the Princess Consort and Sui Sui, he saw a beautiful screen.

Prince Qi also understood Mother Empress's persistence; saying more would be useless.

So, pulling the Princess Consort and Sui Sui, he first offered his respects to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager's voice was a bit hoarse: "Come up quickly; family need not be so formal."

Through the thin veil of the screen, the view wasn't very clear.

However, the Empress Dowager still saw that Sui Sui's face seemed to have gained some flesh, and her hair had grown a bit, turning from a short greenish fuzz into soft little hair.

Although still not very long, hair does grow; children grow fast, and their hair follows, so soon enough she can tie a little hair bun.

The child no longer looks as thin as before; some flesh has developed on the body.

Her stature also appears a bit taller than before, though not obvious; the Empress Dowager isn't sure if it's just her illusion.

"The child is being raised well!" the Empress Dowager sighed lightly, smiling as she asked, "Sui Sui, have you missed Grand Empress Dowager?"

Serious as the Empress Dowager, when speaking to the child she involuntarily pinches her own throat, flattening her tone as much as possible so as not to frighten the child.

Sui Sui thinks Grand Empress Dowager is a good person, so she obediently answers: "Yes, Grand Empress Dowager, I miss you; Sui Sui misses Grand Empress Dowager."

The child's crisp voice was full of sincerity.

The Empress Dowager's eyes became slightly moist after listening.

She thought, what a good child! Because of her arrival, Jiao Yang's remains were all recovered.

It wasn't in vain that she had once bestowed the title "Jiao Yang" upon her.

The Empress Dowager thought, perhaps this is a magical destiny.

Even though this aunt–niece pair have never met, they are still drawn together by destiny, aren't they? The Empress Dowager lifted her veil, gently wiped her eyes, and said in a gentle voice: "Grand Empress Dowager also misses our precious Sui Sui, but unfortunately Grand Empress Dowager is ill now and can't hold Sui Sui directly; once her health recovers, she'll hold Sui Sui again, and give Sui Sui a kiss."

Sui Sui knows that being sick doesn't feel good.

Upon hearing Grand Empress Dowager fell ill, her cute little brows tightened a bit, and she said softly: "Grand Empress Dowager, I'm not afraid; I can give Grand Empress Dowager kisses and cuddles."

The little girl said that, but she didn't rudely rush over directly.

Whether it was Mother Consort or Xiang Gugu, they taught her that her status was different from ordinary people's.

Imperial Uncle is the Emperor, Grand Empress Dowager is the Empress Dowager; compared to affection, what needs more attention is etiquette.

Upon hearing Sui Sui's voice, the Empress Dowager's eyes became moist again.

At her age, she could tell whether the child was saying that to flatter her or speaking sincerely from the heart.

Precisely for this reason, her eyes would become moist several times from being moved.

Behind the screen, many things were not seen very clearly.

The Empress Dowager actually also wanted to hold the child in her arms, calling 'good girl' repeatedly.

But she was also afraid of passing her illness to the other.

It's not easy for a child to grow up; if they really caught an illness, it would be very troublesome.

Precisely because of these layers of concern, the Empress Dowager only saw the person behind the screen.

the second watch