Chapter 1888: 1876: Ninth Prince
Chapter 1888: Chapter 1876: Ninth Prince
The journey was rushed due to the envoy’s urging.
Except for necessary rests, there was no time to pause.
A month’s journey was shortened to over half a month. Upon reaching Zhili, because they were to enter the Capital City to meet the Emperor, the envoy suggested resting briefly in Zhili to avoid being exhausted when meeting the Emperor.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, having traveled from the Grasslands Royal City back to the Capital City with little rest, even an iron man would be unable to bear it.
The inn in Zhili was the largest and most comfortable, and there had already been someone to notify them ahead, so the inn had hot water and hot meals prepared.
As soon as everyone arrived, they were assigned accommodations, had a steaming hot meal, and took a hot bath, finally feeling alive again.
There was nothing more that night, and everyone slept soundly.
Early the next morning, carriages from the Capital City came to pick them up.
Everyone boarded the carriages and entered the Capital City. Taking advantage of no one paying attention, Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look outside.
The Capital City was as lively as ever, showing no signs of unusualness.
The two were slightly relieved, as it meant that even if something were wrong, it wasn’t too serious, otherwise, the outside wouldn’t be so calm.
However, along their way, once they got on the carriages, they were escorted by the Imperial Forest Army. Though it was said to be an escort, it felt like they were being monitored, preventing them from contacting others.
So they couldn’t really get useful information.
By the time they entered the Capital City, it was already afternoon. At this time, unless there was an emergency, the Emperor would not summon anyone into the palace, as the palace gates would be locked at the appointed time, and unless it was a major national affair, the gates would not open.
Seeing that the time was near the gate-locking hour, everyone was ready to meet the Emperor the next day.
However, the envoy directly took Song Chongjin and his wife, along with Fu Jian, into the palace. Naturally, other people were arranged accommodation elsewhere.
The guards at the palace gate, upon seeing the envoy’s waist tag, did not even verify, just let them through.
They went directly to the Imperial Study Room, where Fu Jian and Song Chongjin were first summoned inside.
Wang Yongzhu, waiting outside, was soon called by someone from the Empress’s side, an acquaintance, Little Luzi, came to invite Wang Yongzhu over.
After all, in front of the Emperor, Wang Yongzhu hesitated for a moment, looking at Chief Steward Su standing at the entrance of the Imperial Study Room.
Chief Steward Su got the message, went inside, probably reported to the Emperor, then returned and nodded to Wang Yongzhu, indicating that she could go.
Only then did Wang Yongzhu follow Little Luzi towards the Changchun Palace.
Along the way, Little Luzi was still respectful towards Wang Yongzhu, but Wang Yongzhu could see that palace maids and chamberlains they encountered showed more reverence towards Little Luzi than before.
It seems the Empress now holds significant power in the back palace, so those around her have also risen in status.
Upon reaching Changchun Palace, as soon as they entered the courtyard, a chubby little white dumpling in a big red robe rushed up to them, like a little red packet.
The little red packet hugged Wang Yongzhu’s leg, then looked up, realized it wasn’t someone he recognized, blinked, and asked in a childish voice, “Who are you?”
No need to guess, Wang Yongzhu knew this must be the Ninth Prince, whose nickname was Qing Que and real name was Egg.
She immediately found it amusing.
Squatting down, she picked up the Ninth Prince, weighing him a bit in her arms, feeling his heft.
The Ninth Prince quickly extended two lotus root-like arms, wrapped them around Wang Yongzhu’s neck, and smiled with squinting eyes, “Sister smells nice——”
As he spoke, he leaned in, and sniffed with his little nose.
Beside them, Little Luzi stomped to remind, “Little Highness, this is Lady Dingguo, not your elder sister.”
The remaining words were stopped by Wang Yongzhu with her hand.
Carrying the Ninth Prince with one arm, as she walked into the hall, she pinched his chubby cheek lightly with the other hand, smiling like a sly granny, “The Ninth Prince has grown so big. Come, call me elder sister a few more times, and I’ll give you candy.”
As soon as she finished speaking, laughter was heard, “You mischievous one, don’t tease him.”
Looking up, she met the gaze of the smiling Empress, who then reached out to take the Ninth Prince.
The Ninth Prince looked at the Empress, then at Wang Yongzhu, thought for a moment, and tightened his little arms around Wang Yongzhu’s neck, showing he intended to stay in her embrace.
The Empress wasn’t angry; instead, she looked gratified, “When Little Ninth was born, he didn’t cry only when you held him. I said back then, you two had a connection, and now it seems true.”
“This little one, usually, apart from his father and me, only allows a few people here in Changchun Palace to hold him, yet he acts like nothing with you.”
She then said to the Ninth Prince, “This Lady Dingguo here is the aunt I’ve often mentioned, your mother’s and your savior. You haven’t seen her because she was away, but now you’ll see her often. When you do, you must be respectful and polite, understand?”
The Ninth Prince blinked, looked at Wang Yongzhu, and broke into a bright smile, “Qing Que knows!”
At this age, children are adorably lovely, full of cuteness, like little angels when not crying.
Especially the Ninth Prince who inherited the good looks of the Emperor and Empress, among the chubby ones of his age, he was high in the ranks of appearance.
Even Wang Yongzhu couldn’t resist the cuteness, and lowered her head to give the Ninth Prince a kiss on his chubby cheek.
The Ninth Prince found it amusing, thinking that this beautiful benefactor elder sister was playing with him, and mimicked by kissing Wang Yongzhu’s cheek.
The two were having a merry time, kissing back and forth.
The Empress, seeing this, got a little envious, having never been so closely kissed by Little Ninth herself.
She couldn’t bear it any longer, grabbed the Ninth Prince, rubbed his face, and handed him to the nursemaid who was waiting, “It’s getting late, take the Ninth Prince for his meal.”
The nursemaid took the Ninth Prince, disregarded his kicking, bowed, and left.
Only then did the Empress pull Wang Yongzhu into the hall, studied her for a while before saying, “I was originally thinking that after your trip to the grasslands and being summoned back to the Capital City, the journey must have been dusty, and you probably look worn out. I intended to make some polite remarks about how you’ve gotten thin and dark, to express sympathy.”
“But after looking at you for a while, I only feel that your complexion is even better than before, so it seems you’re quite well.”
This was a joke, also showing that the Empress was not a stranger to Wang Yongzhu.
The palace attendants nearby, knowing the Empress’s attitude toward Wang Yongzhu, listened with smiles on their faces.
Wang Yongzhu also jested with the Empress, despite the long time apart, they felt no estrangement.
The Empress, at ease, looked at the time outside and ordered, “Serve the meal!”
She then turned to Wang Yongzhu and explained, “At this time, His Majesty over there will definitely be having a meal too, don’t worry about Lord Song. Tonight, His Majesty will probably be discussing affairs with them through the night, so you can rest assured to stay here with me.”
Wang Yongzhu tasted the Empress’s words; it seemed the Empress knew, and with her relaxed tone, it was likely not something bad.
So she nodded, “Then I shall intrude.”
She turned and instructed, “Quick, bring out the specialty dishes from the madam’s little kitchen, I’m lucky to have such a treat today.”
The attendants below, before the Empress could give orders, excitedly responded and went to make arrangements.
The Empress couldn’t help but feign a few complaints, but one look at her smiling face showed she didn’t mind at all; in fact, she was very pleased.