Prev
Ch. 392 / 43590%
Next

Chapter 392

~8 min read 1,444 words

Sui Sui was curious and full of anticipation.

She liked Prince Qing a lot, so if he were her father, Sui Sui felt she could accept that.

Her biological father!

Sui Sui thought, she would finally have one!

As long as her father agreed, she would have a biological father!

Prince Qing hadn't expected Sui Sui to suddenly ask him that.

He didn't hesitate, nodding firmly: "Yes, Sui Sui, I am your father. Sorry for letting you wander outside for so long, suffering so much—it's my fault."

Sui Sui no longer really cared about the hardships she had endured before.

She always thought that if she endured so much suffering, it was to find her biological parents, and given what her father and mother consort had said, she was willing to suffer.

Even if it meant more suffering, she would be willing.

Now that her father king spoke of it, Sui Sui had already heard the mother consort explain: back then her father king was also helpless, trapped in a foreign scheme, unable to escape, and finally fought his way back, only to find that Sui Sui and her mother—one had been stolen away, the other had slipped and drowned.

Sui Sui actually didn't really understand the story from back then.

But she believed the mother consort wouldn't lie to her.

Her father was a good father; back then it was only due to various accidents that they got separated.

But it's fine; now they've met again, reunited— that's good enough.

Thinking of these, Sui Sui gently wrapped her arms around her father's neck, just as she had rubbed against the mother consort before, to show her affection.

Prince Qing was rubbed by her soft hair, and he still felt a bit dazed.

He instinctively stiffened there, making Prince Qi unable to help feeling sour again: "Don't just stand there like a wooden block, the child likes you and is snuggling up to you."

Prince Qing had no experience at all; he let out an "ah," then lowered his head to look at Sui Sui nestled in his arms, meeting the little girl's lively round eyes— cute and clear.

His daughter!

Prince Qing still couldn't believe it to this day.

Someday he would be able to see his biological daughter again!

So, the reason those eyes seemed familiar at first wasn't because she had a pair resembling Feng Xuanrui's, or even the Late Emperor's eyes.

It was because of father‑daughter resonance!

Heaven gave him so many hints, yet he caught none of them.

That's not her fault either.

This child Sui Sui took after the good points of her grandparents; her appearance resembles Prince Qing by only two parts, and she even looks more like Prince Qi than he does himself!

Sui Sui's facial contours are very like those of Nian Niang.

Besides that, her eyes resemble the Late Emperor's, while her nose and mouth are like those of Prince Qing's birth mother, Consort Wen.

Therefore, every time he saw this child, Prince Qing found her cute and endearing, yet he never imagined she would be his own daughter from years ago.

He had only seen her during the postpartum month, and after that never got another chance.

Now seeing her again…

Prince Qing's eyes felt a bit sore, and fearing to frighten Sui Sui, he struggled to hold back tears.

Prince Qi had cried, felt awful, but now he's much better.

The father and daughter embraced, excited and happy; Princess Consort of Qi felt sour to the point of being unable to bear it, yet she couldn't say anything.

She hadn't even finished raising her, and the child was already taken away.

How hateful!

But Prince Qing is even more pitiable than they are.

Princess Consort of Qi couldn't bring herself to truly snatch the child from the other side.

Prince Qi thought the same way; otherwise they would have concealed this matter from the start, and no one would have spoken of it.

After the excited father‑daughter recognition, Sui Sui kept clinging to Prince Qing.

Prince Qi actually wanted to tease Sui Sui sourly: "How come, now that you have a father, you've forgotten your father king?"

But he couldn't bear to.

He treasured his dear little darling; how could he bear to say another word?

So he stood there feeling sour in his heart, sat there feeling sour as well, tormenting himself, yet unwilling to torment his little treasure any further.

Princess Consort of Qi found it even harder to interject; most of the time she just silently watched.

Prince Qing felt the pressure of being watched, which was actually quite great.

But at this moment, nothing could interfere with his time with his daughter.

He had found his daughter with Nian Niang!

After he had thought for years that the child was gone, his child was found!

Prince Qing was so excited he basically didn't want to let go.

Several people sat down to discuss Sui Sui's future affiliation.

The child ought to belong to whoever she rightfully belongs to.

But the Qi Wang Fu had raised her for so long, developing feelings; they couldn't just abandon her.

Otherwise Prince Qi could cry the city walls of Jing Cheng down!

Furthermore, Sui Sui's status had already been announced at a small banquet; her outward identity now is that of the junior lady of the Qi Wang Fu.

Now returning her to the Qing Wangfu…

In practice, it's actually quite troublesome.

They need to work out a stable, mutually acceptable method to successfully transition Sui Sui's identity.

Prince Qi actually wanted to simply take over by inheritance.

This way attracts the fewest rumors, and it's also simple to carry out.

It just looks weird.

Moreover, Sui Sui's origin remains unclear.

Prince Qing naturally wasn't willing; he still wanted to seek truth from facts, letting the cause determine the effect.

Sui Sui was originally his and the nanny's child, and this can be verified with corresponding data and evidence, so what adoption is needed?

He was originally his child; why adopt?

However, since Sui Sui has already held a small ceremony for his identity, doing this again would be a bit troublesome.

But to them, this is actually nothing.

After both sides agreed, they prepared to enter the palace to see His Majesty and discuss how to handle this matter.

In the afternoon, they entered the palace together.

His Majesty heard they were entering the palace and wasn't too surprised.

Before they entered the palace, His Majesty also told the Empress Dowager about Sui Sui's background.

After listening, the Empress Dowager remained silent for a moment, then softly sighed: "Prince Qing's military achievements are outstanding; it is also fitting to bestow a posthumous title on Consort Wen."

Generally, for the Late Emperor's consorts, or consorts of earlier emperors, only the Empress or the Emperor's birth mother, owing to the continuation of the bloodline and the new emperor's achievements, continually receive higher posthumous titles. Since the status of Empress and Empress Dowager cannot be raised further, various praiseworthy terms are continually piled on.

For a deceased Empress, by the time of her great-grandchildren's generation, it is normal for her to have accumulated a dozen or so characters of beautiful posthumous titles.

As for consorts, only if their descendants have made outstanding contributions will a succeeding ruler consider bestowing a posthumous title.

However, generally speaking, it is only when a son is especially talented that his mother can share in the glory.

For the generation of grandsons and beyond, the opportunities become fewer and fewer, and further on, they may even be forgotten.

Only in the imperial jade genealogy is there a brief introduction, and the posthumous title receives only the rites due at burial.

Prince Qing's birth mother became a consort only because she gave birth to a son.

Over these years, Prince Qing has had many military achievements, but His Majesty never considered bestowing a posthumous title on the deceased Grand Consort.

The main reason is still the historical legacy issue of the Late Emperor's Noble Consort, which makes the Empress Dowager thoroughly dislike such things.

His Majesty, in order not to worry the Empress Dowager, and also because there really was nothing that needed a posthumous title, has never brought it up.

Prince Qing's military achievements can be made up for elsewhere; it is not necessary to bestow a posthumous title on his birth mother.

Now, the Empress Dowager suddenly brought it up.

The Emperor thought…

It's all because of Sui Sui.

Thinking of that lovely child, His Majesty thought, if it were him, he would also be willing.

Second watch

◈

End of Chapter

Prev
Ch. 392 / 43590%
Next