Chapter 253: The Empress Dowager
Chapter 253: The Empress Dowager
Having requested an imperial audience in advance, the Empress Dowager was ready and waiting. She had even prepared snacks and tea, including portions suitable for a child.
Upon hearing that the Qi King's family had arrived, the Empress Dowager grew restless. She thought to herself that she wasn't particularly eager to see this child, Su Su; she was simply curious.
After the incident with the Qi King, the Empress Dowager had some time to reflect on her own. Su Su, this child… She seemed to carry a fortunate destiny.
Perhaps it was Heaven's way of blessing the simple-minded, bestowing upon them a precious child. And so, the Empress Dowager's curiosity about Su Su grew. Now that she finally had the chance to meet her, she felt a sense of anticipation.
Before long, a palace servant reported that the Qi King had arrived with the Queen and the young county princess.
The Empress Dowager nodded, acknowledging the news, and instructed Aunt Xu to personally greet them at the door.
Aunt Xu smiled as she welcomed the Qi King's family into the inner palace, quietly observing Su Su as they walked.
She was a very slender young girl with beautiful eyes.
Aunt Xu's first impression of the child was that she was too thin. But it was Su Su's eyes that captured her attention on the second glance.
They were lively, beautiful, and pure.
Captivated by the unusual familiarity of those exquisite eyes, Aunt Xu found herself stealing a few extra glances.
Su Su sensed someone looking at her and quietly glanced up, meeting Aunt Xu's loving smile. Su Su politely smiled back.
"Follow Mother closely after entering the palace," her mother had instructed. "Don't look around too much. Your Father and Mother will handle everything."
Su Su was obedient and refrained from looking around too much. However, the intensity of Aunt Xu's gaze made her steal another glance and smile again before looking away.
She thought…
The people around the Empress Dowager didn't seem that intimidating after all.
The night before, her seventh brother had teased her, saying that the Empress Dowager was very stern and that the people around her looked scary, too. He had added that he, for one, didn't like going to the palace.
Su Su had been nervous then, but now, Aunt Xu's warm smile had helped her relax a little.
The family of three soon entered the inner palace.
The Empress Dowager had been waiting, and after they entered, the Qi King and his family bowed to her.
Su Su had been learning etiquette from Aunt Xiang recently and had picked up the basic courtesies quite well. Now, following her mother's example, she first performed a squatting ritual.
Then, at her mother's gesture, she knelt down and paid her respects to the Empress Dowager: "Su Su greets Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Her Majesty enjoy peace and good health."
Su Su didn't know many auspicious phrases, and the Qi Queen didn't want to pressure her child. So, the night before, she had taught her just a simple greeting.
The Qi Queen thought that the Empress Dowager doted on the Qi King, her youngest son, and was relatively gentle toward the people of their manor.
Additionally, given Su Su's pitiful background, she believed that even if Su Su didn't follow all the rules perfectly, the Empress Dowager wouldn't be too harsh.
The Qi Queen couldn't bear to tire her child out.
As Su Su politely paid her respects, the Empress Dowager gazed down at the tiny figure before her. She was indeed very small.
She seemed even smaller than the youngest prince of the manor, Feng Xuanbin, whom the Empress Dowager hadn't seen in a while.
Although it had been some time since she last saw him, she remembered the manor's youngest son as a chubby child. He may not have been very old, but he certainly had plenty of baby fat, indicating a fortunate life.
Now, looking at Su Su, she appeared as fragile as a paper cutout, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.
Those heartless idiots!
The Empress Dowager cursed them in her mind, trying her best to maintain a loving expression. However, she usually preferred to maintain a serious demeanor, upholding the dignity of her position.
A slight stiffness lingered on her face as she forced a smile. Eventually, she gave up on smiling, casually raising her hand in a dismissive gesture. "Alright, my dear, you may rise now."
Su Su obediently expressed her gratitude before climbing to her feet. She wanted to get a good look at the Empress Dowager but felt too intimidated, so she timidly stayed close to her mother, her adorable head lowered slightly, not daring to glance around.
Witnessing this scene, the Empress Dowager sighed inwardly. "This child has had a pitiful past, and she's so timid."
"However, as a county princess of the manor, she can't continue to be so reserved."
With that thought, the Empress Dowager beckoned, "Su Su, come closer. Let your grandmother take a good look at you."
Her voice was slightly deep, making it hard to discern her mood, and her expression remained neutral.
The Princess of Qi guessed that she probably wasn't displeased, so she gently patted Su Su's shoulder to reassure her. "Go on, Su Su. Go to your grandmother."
She wanted to give her child a sense of courage and security. As long as Mother was here, there was nothing to fear. Even if this was Mother's mother-in-law, it was alright.
Su Su obediently walked over, keeping her head down the entire time, not daring to look around.
The King of Qi felt a pang of heartache, wanting to say something to comfort her, but he was afraid of displeasing the Empress Dowager, so he ultimately held back, his eyes fixed anxiously on Su Su.
Empress Dowager: ...
You fool!
I'm her grandmother. How could I possibly eat her?
I personally bestowed her title, an honor greater than that of a princess. Isn't that proof enough?
The Empress Dowager berated her son in her mind, feeling a bit better after venting her frustration. She adjusted her expression, forcing herself to smile gently.
Su Su obediently approached the Empress Dowager, her big round eyes sneaking a glance upward. What she saw were the Empress Dowager's slightly stern phoenix eyes.
Su Su was a little scared, but she didn't sense any malicious intent, so she instinctively widened her eyes.
The Empress Dowager had intended to soften her expression to appear less intimidating and avoid frightening the child on their first meeting.
However, when she met Su Su's gaze, she froze.
Those eyes...
They resembled the King of Qi's so much.
No, that's not quite right.
They were like the Emperor's! They were exactly like the Emperor's eyes! The King of Qi's eyes were the most similar to the Emperor's.
But now, with Su Su's eyes for comparison, the King of Qi's eyes only seemed about seventy percent alike.
Su Su's eyes were the most similar.
When the Emperor aged, his gaze lost the clarity of his youth, and the shape of his eyes became less attractive.
However, as the Emperor's wife who had accompanied him since their youth, the Empress Dowager naturally knew how lively and beautiful his eyes had been when he was young.
Previously, she had thought that her youngest son's eyes were already very similar to the Emperor's.
Even the Emperor himself had said that the King of Qi's eyes resembled his the most.
But now, someone who looked even more like the Emperor had appeared.
Seeing those eyes, the Empress Dowager even felt as if she were seeing a glimpse of the young Emperor.
Although the Emperor had become senile in his old age and made numerous foolish decisions, the two of them had been childhood sweethearts, and their bond had deepened over the years.
Now, seeing such similar eyes, the Empress Dowager subconsciously froze.
Su Su sneaked another glance and noticed the Empress Dowager's stern expression, frightening her. She quickly lowered her head, pretending she hadn't been looking around, and meekly spoke up. "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. I am Su Su."
Second watch update:
(End of Chapter)
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