Xiao Yuling was choked by the remark and stared at Xiao Yunjing. "What are you talking about? Wouldn’t I wish for all my grandchildren to have good lives and happiness? But with what you’re doing, do you think you can stop those ministers of the former dynasty from gossiping? Can you silence all the wagging tongues?"
At this moment, which minister’s family wasn’t thinking about sending their daughters into the palace? If they became the Emperor’s father-in-law, those men could sleep more soundly at night. They even used the excuse that for the sake of Daqian’s state and stability, the Emperor must take more consorts.
What a load of nonsense! Those men could sleep soundly, but the Emperor would be plagued with headaches from all the endless affairs of the court and the harem.One consort competes for favor today, and another competes tomorrow. The Emperor’s harem might seem stable, but the Dragon Throne itself might not be.
Xiao Yunjing sneered, "Mother, you still don’t understand your son. Li’er and I built Daqian with our bare hands. If we didn’t have some real skill, could we have come this far? Those few old fools are no match for me. Just relax and manage the harem well for the next few days. Also, don’t go to Li’er’s palace if you have nothing else to do."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuling realized she truly didn’t understand her son. Since he had spoken so plainly, she wouldn’t press further and decided to trust him. However, her son had forbidden her from going to Fengqi Palace. Did something happen to Gu Qingli?
She approached Xiao Yunjing. "You wretched boy! What happened to Li’er that you’re even hiding it from your own mother and forbidding me to go? Tell me what happened. I know how skilled she is in medicine." Xiao Yuling had an expression that said, ’Don’t you dare try to deceive me.’
Xiao Yunjing looked helpless; his mother was such a busybody. "I’ll tell you in a few days. Just be patient for a little while. If you miss the little ones, you can come to Taiqing Palace."
Since Xiao Yunjing adamantly refused to say, Xiao Yuling didn’t probe further. As long as her grandsons were fine, that was all that mattered.As the Emperor, he would never lack for daughters-in-law. If Gu Qingli truly met with some misfortune, there was nothing to be done.
Seeing her son being so secretive, she wondered if Gu Qingli had contracted some incurable disease.Otherwise, why would her son and grandsons, who were usually inseparable from Gu Qingli, move out of Fengqi Palace and leave her there alone?
To be honest, if it weren’t for Gu Qingli’s mysterious background and the fact she had given birth to her three triplet grandsons, she would have strongly opposed Gu Qingli becoming the Empress.A mere farmer’s daughter! Even if she was Gu Xicheng’s legitimate daughter, she had grown up in the countryside—a true village girl. For her to be the Empress of Daqian, her daughter-in-law... it seemed her status was woefully inadequate for the position.
But her son was fond of her. Xiao Yuling glanced at Xiao Yunjing. "Alright, I’ll listen to you. Will you be staying for dinner tonight?"
Xiao Yunjing waved his hand. "I’m going back to accompany the three little ones. You eat by yourself, Mother." Fresh chapters posted on novel•fire.net
Xiao Yuling sighed. It was so tasteless eating alone every day. Her son had his own family now; whether his old mother accompanied him or not didn’t seem to matter anymore. She waved her hand. "Then hurry back."
Xiao Yunjing nodded, rose, bowed to her, and then left Happiness and Longevity Palace.
Watching her son leave just like that, Xiao Yuling couldn’t help but feel a pang of loss, and she sighed heavily once more.
Nanny Fu, who had been guarding outside, entered and saw her sighing again. She stepped forward to support her, saying, "Empress Dowager, why are you sighing? If the Emperor is too busy to accompany you, you could summon Xiao Yuxian to the palace. Didn’t I hear you mention her a few days ago?"
"Hmm, you’re right. Go and summon her for me. It’s been so many years since I last saw her; I do miss her a little."
"Yes, I will attend to it immediately." Nanny Fu secretly smiled. She was very good at understanding her mistress’s thoughts, and her attempts at comfort were always spot on.
Nanny Fu had previously worked in the Clothing Bureau. When Xiao Yuling was still an imperial consort in the palace, Nanny Fu often came to Xiao Yuling’s palace to deliver clothes and had met her several times. When Xiao Yuling returned this time, she was surprised to find Nanny Fu still in the palace, not having left. Since Xiao Yuling didn’t have a capable older servant woman by her side, she decided to keep Nanny Fu with her. For someone her age to still be doing so well in the palace, Nanny Fu must be very shrewd.
"By the way, Nanny Fu, remember to tell Xiao Yuxian to bring her youngest daughter along. Let me have a look at her."
"Yes, Empress Dowager." Nanny Fu received the order and immediately left the palace. If she hurried, she could make it back before the palace gates were locked for the night.
Xiao Yuling had ulterior motives for asking Xiao Yuxian to bring her youngest daughter. Her son said he wouldn’t take any more consorts, but surely marrying his mother’s cousin’s daughter would be acceptable?Besides, having someone congenial in the palace to talk to would be nice. She really had nothing to say to Gu Qingli. Every time they were together, Gu Qingli only talked about medicine, the three little ones, or farming; she never discussed anything else. It was truly quite dull.
Hearing her son mention Gu Qingli’s poor condition today had set her mind working. If Gu Qingli were to meet with some misfortune, couldn’t she then bring her cousin Xiao Yuxian’s youngest daughter in to be the new Empress? Making their close ties even closer would be for the best!
Since returning to the Capital City, her own family was gone, and few of her husband’s relatives remained. So, she had sent people to inquire about Xiao Yuxian’s situation. When Nanny Fu mentioned Xiao Yuxian, this matter came back to her mind.
「At this moment, in the residence of the Mu family’s second branch, Xiao Yuxian sat in her room sighing, while her youngest daughter, Mu Wan’er, sat beside her, frowning.」
The mother and daughter were worried. What were they worried about? Of course, they were anxious about how to get into the palace to meet Xiao Yuling.
It was only on the day Xiao Yunjing ascended to the throne that Xiao Yuxian learned the current Emperor was actually the Ninth Prince, Xiao Yuling’s son, who was believed to have perished in a fire over twenty years ago. How could she not be shocked? Someone presumed dead had reappeared more than twenty years later in such an astonishing manner! It filled her with a mixture of shock and joy.
So, Xiao Yuxian had been constantly trying to find a way to enter the palace and see Xiao Yuling. During their girlhood, they had been the closest of cousins.
Now, the Mu family was no longer what it used to be; it had declined. Her husband was merely a minor sixth-rank official, her eldest son still a commoner without a title, and her eldest daughter had also married poorly. She still had her youngest daughter with her. This daughter possessed heavenly beauty. Although not comparable to the Four Great Talents of the Capital City, she was also proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
It was precisely because the Mu family had declined that her fifteen-year-old youngest daughter had not yet been betrothed. Suitable matches were hard to find—those of high status were out of reach, and those of lower status were beneath her.
If they could only reconnect with Xiao Yuling now, their branch of the Mu family’s fortunes would instantly soar!And if they could send Wan’er into the palace to become a consort to the Emperor, then she would no longer have to worry about her husband’s and son’s prospects!
"Mother, how can we meet Aunt Yuling and our cousin, the Emperor?" Mu Wan’er asked, resting her cheek on her hand and looking up at Xiao Yuxian.
Xiao Yuxian lovingly stroked her youngest daughter’s head and said softly, "I don’t know either, dear. Your father’s official rank is too low; he has no way to meet your cousin, the Emperor. And I don’t have a noble title, so I can’t submit a formal petition to enter the palace."
Mu Wan’er pouted. "So, there’s no way at all?"
Xiao Yuxian sighed. "Yes, it seems there really is no way."