The Empress Dowager chuckled.
"Good, sturdy!"
"Imperial Son, you’ve been sturdy since you were little!"
As she said this, she reminisced about Zhao Junyao’s embarrassing moments as a child. The Empress Dowager became happier and happier as she spoke.
Zhao Junyao saw that the Empress Dowager was in high spirits and didn’t feel it was right to keep a straight face, so he joined in the laughter for a while.
Before long, it was time for the midday meal. The Empress Dowager was still in a very good mood and said directly, "Imperial Son, it’s been a long time since you’ve accompanied this old palace for a meal. Don’t leave today! This old palace will have the small kitchen prepare a few of your favorite dishes, so you can accompany this old palace for a meal!"
Zhao Junyao also laughed and said, "Then I’m grateful to Mother Empress!"
Actually, he was very pleased in his heart. His own mother finally held him close to her heart for once. If she had continued to ignore him as before, he would have begun to doubt whether he was her biological child. Now it seemed beyond doubt. After all, the Empress Dowager still remembered what foods he liked.
The midday meal was quickly served. Indeed, it consisted of the very dishes Zhao Junyao cherished as a child. There was even less reason to doubt now.
Seeing those dishes, he felt quite nostalgic for a moment. "Time really flies; in the blink of an eye, so many years have passed!"
Looking at the wrinkles in the Empress Dowager’s smiling face, Zhao Junyao’s heart softened considerably. The barrier between mother and son seemed to diminish imperceptibly. Zhao Junyao was fairly satisfied with this meal.
「When he left Ningshou Palace, it was already late afternoon.」
The Empress Dowager’s kindly and compassionate appearance made Zhao Junyao feel a bit wistful for that affection and somewhat in a trance. How long has it been since Mother Empress was so good to me! A very long time, indeed! We are mother and son by birth; why should there be such strife? Is this how it should be?
Zhao Junyao was very happy in his heart. As a son, I believe in the deep bond between mother and child; I also trust in familial affection. Mother Empress seems to have had an awakening! Perhaps Mother Empress also feels they are beyond redemption. That’s better; at least, my position in Mother Empress’s heart has risen significantly.
His mood wasn’t affected at all by the Shih Family’s mess. Thinking this way, Zhao Junyao smiled all the way.
The heart of the seemingly invincible emperor actually housed a child yearning for sweets. Now, having tasted a bit of sweetness, he felt quite content. Mother Empress, how wonderful it would be if you were always like this!
However, what he didn’t know was that after he left, the Empress Dowager leaned against the window, her gaze filled with malice as she watched him depart.
He longed for familial affection so much that even he, usually astute and decisive, lost all judgment in the face of this rare display of kinship, becoming utterly confused. The principle that abnormality indicates trouble had also been cast from his mind! He was human, not an unfeeling, ruthless god. Therefore, he was destined to be unable to escape any of this!
And it was not just him. Familial affection, romantic love, the myriad troubles and frustrations of the mortal world—how many can truly escape? Even heroes find it hard to overcome the allure of a beauty! Zhao Junyao was no hero, but neither was he heartless.
Zhao Junyao was in high spirits. He walked towards Zhaochen Palace with his entourage, passing through the Imperial Garden. As they traversed a certain path, he noticed a figure swaying back and forth ahead.
He frowned instantly. "Who’s there?"
Li Shengan’s face turned pale as he quickly stepped forward to check. "Shih Jieyu? What are you doing here!"
"Ah? Emperor..." As soon as Shih Jieyu turned around, she saw Li Shengan. Not far away was the Emperor’s palanquin. Frightened, she immediately knelt.
"This concubine did not know of the Emperor’s arrival and failed in courtesy. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Junyao looked at her and didn’t think she was pretending, so he asked, his tone very authoritative, "What are you doing here?" Don’t tell me she’s here to enjoy the scenery! It’s so cold outside, and the flowers and trees are all bare—what scenery is there to enjoy?! Or has she come to make her presence known again?
Zhao Junyao squinted, and the temperature around him suddenly seemed to drop. Shih Jieyu hung her head low, her hands trembling as they fiddled with a handkerchief. She bit her lip, afraid to speak. Zhao Junyao’s face turned even darker.
Li Shengan prompted from the side, "The Emperor graces this place with his presence, Shih Jieyu, you should..." He trailed off, implying she should choose her words carefully, knowing the consequences of angering the Emperor.
Of course, Shih Jieyu knew Eunuch Li was giving her a hint! But... she dared not speak!
Li Shengan was exasperated. Honestly, what great secret could she possibly have that the Emperor must not know?! He has already seen her, yet she stubbornly refuses to speak. What’s the point!
Shih Jieyu looked at Li Shengan and the Emperor’s dark face. Perhaps it would be alright to speak out, she thought. Perhaps the Emperor won’t even blame me at all?
So, Shih Jieyu, trembling, revealed the reason.
As it turned out, this place was close to the back courtyard of Jiaofang Hall. Standing here, she could occasionally hear the Third Princess’s voice. Although it was cold now and the Third Princess would not be taken outside by the Wetnurse Sister, and her voice could no longer be heard, Shih Jieyu, yearning for her daughter, still couldn’t help but come here frequently to wander around. Just in case! What if the Little Princess made a sound and I missed it? How could I bear that?! So, under various coincidences, the previous scene had occurred.