Chapter 257: Inexperience
Chapter 257: Inexperience
Only with Qi Wang's response did the Emperor feel relieved. He then asked Calendar if she had eaten any cakes or drank anything, and if she was hungry.
...
The Emperor wouldn't trouble a child too much, especially one favored by the heavens. He definitely wouldn't dare to cause any chaos.
The questions weren't complicated, and Calendar answered obediently with a soft voice that warmed the hearts of those who heard it.
At that moment, the Emperor had a strange feeling...
It was as if the Emperor, who had once loomed over him, was now under his control.
There was no other reason for this strange sense of satisfaction than the fact that Calendar's eyes resembled the previous Emperor's so closely!
The Emperor couldn't share this bizarre feeling with anyone, lest they spread rumors of his disrespect for the former Emperor.
He knew the imperial kinsmen would inevitably nag him about it, and he certainly didn't want to hear that.
So, he kept these thoughts to himself.
With the Emperor's arrival, the Empress Dowager signaled for the meal to be served.
She usually lived a simple life and wasn't one for extravagance.
While she couldn't be described as frugal, she also didn't indulge in excessive waste.
However, today was different. With both her sons by her side and her newly arrived granddaughter, the Empress Dowager thought...
...that a little extravagance was in order!
Calendar was such a timid child, and the Empress Dowager worried that if the child felt her imperial grandmother lived too austerely, she might lose her appetite.
So, bring on the food, the dishes, and the meat!
The Emperor stayed at Yishou Palace for the meal, and the array of dishes was surely abundant.
During the wait, the Emperor continued to hold Calendar and spoke softly to her.
At first, Calendar was quite afraid of her Imperial Uncle, as the Emperor's aura was still too intimidating.
However, his gentle words and the smile on his face soon put her at ease, and her voice gradually grew louder.
The Emperor felt a sense of satisfaction as he watched the little child become bolder in his embrace.
"I'm quite good with kids, it seems," he thought with a sense of pride.
Perhaps it was Calendar's transformation that inflated the Emperor's confidence.
Surprisingly, he even volunteered to hold Calendar while they ate.
Queen Consort of Qi wanted to object but didn't dare to voice her concern.
Qi Wang was also uneasy about it. How could he let someone else hold his precious child?
Not even his brother!
Qi Wang wanted to snatch her back, but a cold glance from the Emperor made him hesitate again.
The Empress Dowager watched from the sidelines, unable to hold back her laughter. She didn't stop the bickering brothers, though.
Seeing the close relationship between the brothers and the Emperor's care for the Ninth Prince, her heart finally felt truly at peace.
The Emperor intended to hold Calendar and feed her properly.
However, it was rare for the Emperor to personally hold and feed his royal nephews and nieces. Usually, it was either the children of the Empress, whose status was revered, or the offspring of a favored concubine, to whom the Emperor wanted to display special favor.
Due to his inexperience, the Emperor's attempt to feed Calendar was rather clumsy, and she had to be careful to coordinate with him to avoid making a mess.
Finally, the Empress Dowager couldn't bear to watch anymore and gently interrupted the Emperor's embarrassment with a smile: "Alright, alright, if you continue like this, Calendar's ears will be full of food. Hand her to me."
The Emperor was already feeling awkward, and he didn't want to admit defeat directly.
At that moment, the Empress Dowager's interjection essentially saved him from the awkward situation.
Although the Emperor wasn't exactly eager to give up, he did pass Calendar back to her mother rather promptly.
Not wanting the child to overthink, the Emperor quickly smiled and said, "Your Imperial Uncle is clumsy and has big, clumsy hands. It's better if your Imperial Grandmother feeds you, isn't it?"
Indeed, the Imperial Uncle's feeding technique left much to be desired, and Calendar wasn't sure what she had just eaten. She only felt tired from craning her neck to follow his movements, lest the food end up everywhere but her mouth.
At that moment, Su Su finally felt relieved. She gently nodded her head. "I'll listen to Royal Uncle."
Although he knew he was being rejected, the way Su Su phrased it still made the Emperor feel comforted. He raised his hand and gently patted Su Su's head, his voice deep yet filled with pleasure. "Good child."
The Empress Dowager had raised three children in total. Although she hadn't personally tended to each one, she had ample opportunities to care for them.
Especially with Qi Wang and the late Princess Jiaoyang, the Empress Dowager had personally fed, bathed, and taken care of them.
Although it had been many years, and her skills might have gotten rusty, the memories remained.
So, when the Empress Dowager took Su Su, she quickly got the hang of it and fed the child skillfully.
Watching Su Su eat with gusto, her cheeks puffed up, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but smile broadly.
She rarely smiled so happily, but seeing Su Su eat well filled her with joy.
Due to Princess Jiaoyang's death, the Empress Dowager had been feeling depressed for the past few years, and her overall well-being had declined.
Now, although the knot in her heart remained, her mindset had broadened considerably.
Especially gazing at Su Su's eyes, the Empress Dowager felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
It was as if she had the late Emperor under her control.
The other party's hunger and thirst depended on her, and at the very least, they had to seek her assistance.
Not to mention...
Thinking this way, it indeed felt very satisfying.
However, such satisfaction was not something to be shared with others.
The Empress Dowager thought it best to keep these thoughts to herself, and she certainly didn't want to frighten the child.
Su Su was innocent, and she had nothing to do with the late Emperor. She shouldn't bear the burden of an adult's dark thoughts.
The Empress Dowager quickly adjusted her mindset and gently touched Su Su's puffed-up cheeks.
They were soft and smooth, and it felt delightful to touch.
Su Su looked at her with curiosity, but it didn't affect her chewing.
The little girl's eyes widened, and her cheeks puffed up as she ate. She looked absolutely adorable!
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but feel happier and happier, and finally, she couldn't resist asking Qi Wang, "Little Ninth, how about letting Su Su stay in the palace for a few days to accompany this old lady?"
Qi Wang, who was in the middle of eating, suddenly lifted his head, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at his mother. His entire being seemed to shatter at the thought.
Qi Wang thought, "Ah?"
Was his precious child going to be taken away just because he had entered the palace?
Qi Wang felt reluctant but couldn't bring himself to disagree with his mother. In the end, he could only silently lower his head, shattering into pieces.
Watching her son like this, the Empress Dowager couldn't hold back her laughter. She sighed helplessly, "Alright, alright, let's say I'm the bad guy. But you have to send her back to the palace later so I can enjoy her company."
Hearing this, Qi Wang's heart leaped with joy.
It was good that he didn't have to send away his precious child.
However, soon a sense of guilt emerged within Qi Wang.
Ever since his imperial sister had passed away, his mother's mood hadn't been the best, and her health had declined significantly.
Now, with a child she finally liked, Qi Wang felt guilty about taking Su Su away from her.
But leaving Su Su in the palace also made him uneasy!
(End of Chapter)
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