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Chapter 146: Suisui's Name and Identity
Chapter 146: Suisui's Name and Identity
The Empress Dowager could speak her mind, but Queen Qi could not afford to respond casually.
It was one thing for a mother to reprimand her son; it was another for her to interfere. If she meddled, she would be damned if she did and damned if she didn't.
Thus, Queen Qi could only smile helplessly and sigh gently, indicating her powerlessness.
Seeing her like this, the Empress Dowager's anger subsided considerably. She wanted to say more, but she feared that Little Liu was present and didn't want him to hear things he shouldn't.
In the end, she held back and smiled as she turned to speak with Feng Xuanrui.
Feng Xuanrui had long made his peace with the fact that his father had a child in another courtyard. He had seen enough of the concubines who had entered the manor in the past two years.
However, as long as they didn't bully his mother, Feng Xuanrui wouldn't go as far as to strike them down.
After all, it wouldn't reflect well on him if it got out that he beat up his father's concubines.
Feng Xuanrui may have been young, but he understood a lot.
Hearing the Empress Dowager bring it up, he wanted to complain, but he didn't know how to bring it up, so he could only let the old lady continue stroking his head.
After observing her well-behaved grandson for a while and asking him numerous questions, the Empress Dowager finally felt somewhat reassured. She gestured for the attendants to take Feng Xuanrui out to play.
Feng Xuanrui understood that the Empress Dowager had something private to discuss with his mother, and it wouldn't be appropriate for a child to be present.
He obediently allowed the attendants to lead him away without throwing a tantrum.
Watching from the side, the Empress Dowager sighed, "Little Liu has your temperament. He's a bit too soft. I hope he isn't being bullied by his other brothers in the manor."
Queen Qi smiled helplessly and shook her head gently. "Little Liu is kind-hearted, but when the situation calls for it, he won't back down. I won't let anyone bully him either."
The Empress Dowager naturally trusted her on this matter.
However, she worried about Feng Xuanrui's obedience. "The two direct sons of the manor are both so gentle and easy to bully. One is like a jade gentleman, and the other, Little Liu, is soft-hearted."
Thinking of their five other brothers, she felt a headache coming on.
The children were still young, so it was hard to tell what they would be like when they grew up.
When it came to matters of royal family interests, she didn't know what conflicts would arise.
Being part of the royal family, the Empress Dowager was accustomed to viewing sibling relationships through this lens.
Queen Qi couldn't offer much advice on this matter. The children's growth was something to be observed over time.
They were still young, so she could only take things one step at a time.
Not wanting the Empress Dowager to worry too much, especially since her health hadn't fully recovered, Queen Qi smiled and steered the conversation towards Suisui.
In front of the Empress Dowager, it wouldn't do to hide Suisui's background.
After all, Suisui had saved Feng Xuanrui more than once.
Thus, even though the Empress Dowager hadn't met the child, she had a rather favorable impression.
Hearing Queen Qi bring up Suisui, she nodded, "He sounds like a good child, and he's still young, so he can be raised properly. As long as he doesn't follow in the footsteps of that... good-for-nothing from the Jinyang Marquis Manor, it should be fine. The manor has more than enough mouths to feed."
Mentioning the Jinyang Marquis Manor stirred up anger in the Empress Dowager.
She furrowed her brows before continuing, "Let's keep this child's background under wraps. Only those who need to know should be informed. The Jinyang Marquis Manor is not a decent place. I heard that recently, they were testing the waters to send their eldest daughter to the Xie Manor. From the sounds of it, even if she can't marry in, they're willing to have her become a concubine."
To be a concubine?
Wouldn't that mean she'd be demoted to a side room? How could the daughter of a marquis lower herself to become a concubine for another family?
However, the Marquis of Jinyang was unable to pull himself together, and the situation in his manor worsened day by day. It wouldn't be surprising if they resorted to some underhanded schemes.
The Xie family was the Empress Dowager's maternal clan, and her younger brother, the Minister of Justice, was the current head of the family.
His wife, the current matriarch of the Xie manor, was the elder sister of the Marquis of Jinyang.
When Lady Xie entered the Xie manor, the Marquis of Jinyang wasn't as worthless as he was now.
Back then, considering everyone's interests, and the fact that she was a replacement wife, she was chosen to enter the manor.
Now, whenever the Empress Dowager thought about this, she wished she could turn back time and undo this decision.
Getting involved with the Marquis of Jinyang's manor was indeed asking for trouble!
Princess Qi naturally knew that the Marquis of Jinyang's manor was no decent place.
From top to bottom, the entire manor could be described in four words: rotten to the core.
The Marquis of Jinyang himself was a scoundrel, and it was difficult to say anything good about the old madam either.
As for the rest...
They were all cut from the same cloth, not a single decent person among them.
Princess Qi didn't even dare to imagine what Suishu's life would be like if she really ended up in the Marquis of Jinyang's manor. With her lucky disposition, how would she fare in that environment?
The more she thought about it, the more Princess Qi realized that this secret must be kept tightly under wraps.
Even if the Marquis of Jinyang's manor found out something later on, she would adamantly deny it.
'You recognized the wrong daughter. Why would I let you take mine away?
Even if she is your daughter, no one can take her from me!
At worst, we'll just have to sever all ties!'
Thinking of Suishu's adorable face, Princess Qi's panic subsided considerably. As for the child's identity and name, she tentatively asked the Empress Dowager, "This child doesn't even have a proper name yet, and there's also the matter of her status..."
The daughters of a princely manor, even if they were born to concubines, could usually attain the title of county princess.
While they might not be granted their own fiefdom, they would still enjoy various privileges.
Most importantly, with the title of county princess or county lord, Suishu's movements would be much more legitimate.
The Empress Dowager understood Princess Qi's intentions. She pondered for a while before speaking, "As for the name, I'll ask the Emperor later whether he wants to choose one himself or invite a fortune-teller. As for her status..."
The Empress Dowager hesitated on this matter.
However, she eventually made a decision, "Let's keep her here for now. If she stays, she'll be our manor's county princess. Even if the Emperor disagrees, I won't let anyone deny her this status."
After all, that child had saved Little Liu's life, not once but twice.
Just based on this alone, she deserved the status of a county princess!
At that moment, Suishu, who had woken up, washed her face, and was now playing with Meng Meng, had no idea that she would soon be given a proper name and a formal status.
The gaps in her childhood were slowly being filled, and she was about to regain what she had lost.
The two little girls had initially planned to play with bamboo kites.
Suishu was getting the hang of it and was now quite adept at it.
She was also good at playing a game of chance, often rolling six points.
Anything below five points was considered a bad roll.
Of course, such occasions were rare.
Liu Hemeng exclaimed in frustration, "Ahhh, this isn't fair!"
However, children could easily get bored of a single toy.
Noticing Suishu's waning interest, Liu Hemeng looked at the pond in the distance and suggested, "Why don't we go watch the fish instead?"
(End of Chapter)
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