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Honestly, the taste was really quite unpleasant. If not for the fact that she had experienced Xiao Heng"s culinary skills, Empress Dowager Zhuang wouldn"t have been able to drink it.
Seeing Empress Dowager Zhuang reluctantly finish the soup, Eunuch Qin showed a genuine smile.
Sure enough, no matter how unappetizing or unpleasant something was, as long as it was instructed by Young Miss Gu, Empress Dowager Zhuang would accept it without complaints.
"You were around when Ning"an was young, right?" Empress Dowager Zhuang suddenly asked.
Eunuch Qin was unsure how the topic shifted to Princess Ning"an. He was stupefied for a moment before replying, "Yes, yes. This old servant entered the palace shortly after Your Majesty did, though this servant was still not serving by your side."
Empress Dowager Zhuang looked at the snow-covered crabapple tree outside the window and said, "Do you still remember Ning"an"s temperament when she was a child?"
"Yes! This old servant remembers!" Eunuch Qin said with great familiarity, "Sweet-tongued, lively, energetic, always unable to sit still. Otherwise, how could she have b.u.mped into Your Majesty’s phoenix palanquin in the imperial garden?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang said nonchalantly, "It was just the scheming of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing. How could it be so coincidental for her to encounter Aijia’s phoenix palanquin? Unfortunately, at that time, Aijia was young and ignorant of the dangers of the imperial palace, mistaking a villain for a trusted friend."
Eunuch Qin, observing her expressions, asked, "Does Your Majesty regret it?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang tapped the tabletop, and Eunuch Qin promptly poured a cup of hot tea for her. Empress Dowager Zhuang picked up the cup, saying, "Regret what? Regret befriending Imperial Concubine Jing, or regret treating her two children kindly?"
The Emperor wasn’t the flesh and blood of Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, but since he was recorded under her name, he was indeed considered her child.
Empress Dowager Zhuang continued, "There"s nothing to regret. The Emperor and Ning"an were indeed adorable when they were young. Because of them, Aijia was able to emerge from the darkness after losing my own child. In fact, instead of saying it was Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing"s scheme, it"s more like a mutually beneficial arrangement."
"Then, now..." What’s the point of discussing these matters?
Eunuch Qin couldn"t quite grasp the tune Empress Dowager Zhuang was singing. He felt that something seemed off.
There was Princess Ning"an acting weird earlier, and now Empress Dowager Zhuang"s peculiar demeanor.
Taking a sip of tea, Empress Dowager Zhuang said, "Ning"an is just a paper tiger. She relies on Aijia to have the courage to act arrogantly, making a fuss as if she fears nothing. In reality, she"s very timid, afraid of the dark, thunder, pain, and death."
At the mention of this, Eunuch Qin seemed to see little Ning"an crying before him. He chuckled, "Princess Ning"an must have a lamp lit when she sleeps. This habit is the same as His Majesty"s."
The siblings were both afraid of the dark.
Empress Dowager Zhuang watched Little Nine flapping its wings, clearing snow from the crabapple tree. She said, "But one night, she suddenly stopped being afraid. Aijia remembers it clearly. It was when Aijia was sent to the cold palace by the late Emperor, and you were being punished in the dungeon, not by my side. Aijia had been sick for a few days, and that night, amid a thunderstorm, Ning"an unexpectedly came to the cold palace to see Aijia."
"That happened?" Eunuch Qin was surprised.
Empress Dowager Zhuang continued drinking her tea and speaking her mind, "Usually, the two of them are always together. If only one person comes, it must be Hong"er. That’s why Aijia was surprised at that time. Aijia asked her, "Why are you here?" She said, "Imperial mother, I came to see you. You"re sick." Aijia hadn"t told anyone that I was sick, and I don"t know how this child found out. I asked her, "Aren"t you afraid of the dark?" She said, "Not anymore.""
Eunuch Qin chuckled in agreement, "The princess genuinely cares for you. For you, she even overcame her fear."
Little Nine, in the process of sweeping snow, accidentally swept itself off the tree. It flapped twice on the snowy ground, seeming a bit pitiful, then flew over and perched by Empress Dowager Zhuang"s hand.
It seemed to be waiting for Empress Dowager Zhuang to stroke its feathers.
Empress Dowager Zhuang, with a disdainful expression, used her cup to push Little Nine away.
The rejected Little Nine: "..."
Empress Dowager Zhuang said indifferently, "Aijia feels the same way. So, Aijia was truly moved. Aijia then made a vow in my heart that Aijia would cherish this child for a lifetime."
The more Eunuch Qin listened, the more confused he became. What Empress Dowager Zhuang said made sense, but her expression seemed a bit off.
Did Lord Xiao say something to Empress Dowager Zhuang today?
……
Xiao Heng sent Minister Xing off in a carriage before returning to Bishui Alley.
The entire alley was filled with Little Jing Kong"s little voice.
"So excited?" Xiao Heng shook his head and stepped over the threshold.
When he entered the house, he discovered that Gu Changqing and Gu Chengfeng had come.
Gu Chengfeng came to buy hair tonic, and Gu Changqing came to visit his younger siblings.
Both Gu Changqing and Gu Jiao went to the border, leaving Gu Yan here alone. Baby Gu expressed his anger, but he couldn"t bear to be angry with Gu Jiao, so Gu Changqing endured all of his little tantrums.
Gu Changqing had to accompany Gu Yan in horseback riding and archery to finally appease him.
Next was Gu Xiaobao.
Gu Changqing wasn"t in the capital when Gu Xiaobao was born. After that, due to military matters, he hurried to the borderlands, so today was the first time he met Gu Xiaobao.
However, Gu Xiaobao seemed quite afraid of him. When he was held by him in his arms, his small body trembled.
Gu Chengfeng, rarely witnessing his eldest brother"s pitiful appearance, said with a sneer, "Eldest brother, you"re not doing it well. Xiaobao doesn"t like you."
Gu Changqing coldly replied, "You do it then!"
"Sure thing!" Gu Chengfeng effortlessly took Gu Xiaobao, and as expected, Gu Xiaobao stopped trembling.
Gu Changqing"s face darkened.
"Hahaha! I told you!" Gu Chengfeng laughed three times.
The next second, he couldn"t laugh anymore.
Because Gu Xiaobao suddenly wriggled into his arms and, opening his mouth, bit his——
Gu Chengfeng jerked!
I"m not a wet nurse!
Throughout the entire night, whenever Gu Chengfeng held Gu Xiaobao, the latter would nestle into his arms and breastfeed.
Gu Chengfeng, who was just mocking his eldest brother, finally experienced what it meant to "stay grounded, or you"ll get hit by a knife"!
The Gu Family brothers returned back from Bishui Alley after dinner.
Before leaving, Gu Changqing taught Little Jing Kong a set of martial art techniques. Little Jing Kong enjoyed learning it, tirelessly practicing alone in the backyard, ignoring calls to take a bath.
"Forget it. Let him play for a while, he doesn"t have school tomorrow." Gu Jiao told Yuya"er.
Yuya"er said, "Then I"ll take hot water to the young master"s and Xiaoshun"s rooms and let Xiaoshun wash up first."
The bathing order in the house went from the youngest to the oldest, and Gu Xiaobao was already done taking a bath.
"Go ahead." Gu Jiao replied.
Yuya"er carried the hot water away.
Gu Jiao went to the kitchen to help Grannie Fang tidy up, but Grannie Fang wouldn"t let her do anything. "I"m not so old that I can"t move! I"m constantly doing this and that all day. I"m not just sitting around eating for nothing!"
This wasn’t an exaggeration. Everyone in the family didn’t act like a big shot. Even the laziest Gu Yan knew to peel corn and water the vegetable garden. The household ch.o.r.es were divided among everyone, and Grannie Fang was truly not tired.
Seeing this, Gu Jiao didn"t insist on entering the kitchen. She went to the east room to pack up some things. Later, she had to go to the medical hall, and before leaving, she wanted to say goodbye to her family.
She saw everyone else, but Xiao Heng was not in the study or the west room.
Gu Jiao wondered, "Strange, where did he go?"
Xiao Heng went next door.
In fact, Gu Changqing was there too.
With the major incident at Heavenly Music House, Gu Changqing couldn"t be oblivious. After Gu Chengfeng got on the carriage back home, he lied to Gu Chengfeng, saying he was going to the military camp, but he actually went next door.
"Liu Quan, go outside and keep watch. Don"t let anyone hear us." Old Chief told Liu Quan.
"Yes, my Lord."
Liu Quan vigilantly stood guard at the door.
The three people sat in the study.Raz P."s Thoughts
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