Chapter 511 The Queen Mother Adopts a Daughter

The queen was so angry that she could no longer maintain her usual dignified appearance. She stood up suddenly and spoke angrily.

"City Lord Su, this is the Tianyuan Palace."

Upon hearing this, Su Hanchu stopped, turned slightly, and glanced at Queen Tianyuan with a faint smile on his face.

"Of course I know. So what? Empress Tianyuan, instead of wasting time with me, why don't you think about how to restore the reputation of Crown Prince Tianyuan?"

Then he raised his hand and placed it accurately on Caixing's arm.

When the Queen heard this, her expression turned even uglier. She gritted her teeth and glared at Su Hanchu. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Nanny Xue coming over.

Nanny Xue bowed respectfully to Su Hanchu.

"This old servant has met City Lord Su. The Empress Dowager learned that City Lord Su had entered the palace, so she asked this old servant to invite City Lord Su over for a chat. Madam Li is also accompanying the Empress Dowager."

Su Hanchu nodded slightly when he heard this.

"Then I'll trouble Madam Xue to lead the way."

At this time in the Queen Mother's palace.

Lin Hanzhi and her son were making tea for the empress dowager.

"Your Highness, this flower tea tastes even better when you add a little honey to it. This is a new tea from Yue Manting, and I wanted to make it for you, Your Highness."

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother took the teacup, savored the aroma of the tea, slowly brought it to her lips, and took a sip.

"Well, this taste is indeed unique. Madam Li is really talented. She can always come up with so many strange and bizarre things."

Then he waved to Ning Shuang.

"Ningshuang, you should sit down and try it too, and learn more from Madam Li."

Ning Shuang had increasingly gained the Queen Mother's favor these days, and her current status was different, so she hurriedly sat down with a smile on her face.

"Yes, then I will taste it carefully and remember the taste. If you want to drink it in the future, I will cook it for you."

The Queen Mother smiled and nodded when she heard this. She looked at Ningshuang's face with a smile on her face. It was great that she was as considerate as Wenhua. It must be that God had eyes and knew that she missed Wenhua, so he sent Ningshuang to her side.

"You, I've already told you that you don't need to call yourself a slave anymore."

Ning Shuang heard this and quickly smiled and spoke.

"Empress Dowager, I am truly fortunate that you love me, but etiquette must not be abandoned. If I were to become arrogant because of your favor, wouldn't that bring shame upon you, Empress Dowager?"

As he spoke, he sat closer to the Queen Mother and gently leaned his head on her arm.

"I am already contented to be able to accompany the Empress Dowager for the rest of my life. I have been an orphan since childhood. When I was in the flower house, I was occasionally bullied and even punished. It was only after I came to the Empress Dowager's side that I finally had a good life. The Empress Dowager is like my adopted parent to me."

Lin Hanzhi looked at Ning Shuang and the Queen Mother being intimate, and there was a hint of satisfaction in her eyes as she lowered her head while making tea. Ning Shuang performed well, and it was worth the effort to train her.

"Empress Dowager, I often come to the palace to accompany you. Why do I feel that you favor Ning Shuang more?"

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother pointed at Lin Hanzhi and spoke with a smile.

"You're even jealous of Ning Shuang. Look at you, you're already a mother, and you're not afraid of being laughed at by others."

Lin Hanzhi smiled and spoke when she heard this.

"That's the Queen Mother's palace. I'm not afraid of gossip."

Then he looked at Ning Shuang.

"I think Miss Ning Shuang is not much younger than me."

Ning Shuang smiled and said after hearing this.

"I am seventeen years old this year."

Lin Hanzhi spoke in a joking tone after hearing this.

"Ah, you're seventeen now. You're almost at the age to be married. Given how much the Empress Dowager loves you, it's impossible for her to keep you in the palace and become an old maid. But if you were to get married in the future, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager would be reluctant to let you go."

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother also looked at Ning Shuang.

"Well, she's seventeen. Most girls at this age already have a husband..."

Ning Shuang hurriedly spoke upon hearing this.

"Oh, Empress Dowager, I don't want to marry. I want to stay by your side all my life. No matter how good my in-laws are, they won't love me as much as you do."

The Queen Mother smiled and patted her head upon hearing this.

"You silly girl, how can a girl not marry? Since I think you are a good girl, I will naturally arrange a good marriage for you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Hanzhi spoke attentively from the side.

"Yes, Miss Ning Shuang is beautiful and intelligent, and is deeply loved by the Empress Dowager. We really need to choose a good in-law. Empress Dowager, what kind of in-law do you want for Ning Shuang? Is there any place where I can be of service?"

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother looked at Ning Shuang again.

"Does Madam Li think of a suitable candidate?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Hanzhi looked a little troubled and spoke.

"Your Highness, Miss Ningshuang is quite good herself, and she's a favorite of yours. I'm afraid there are many who would like to marry her. However... I'm going to say something I shouldn't say. No matter how much you like Miss Ningshuang, she's still a palace maid. If her in-laws are of lower status, they won't be worthy of her. If they are of higher status, I'm afraid she'll have to rely on others' opinions once she gets married."

Seeing the person's expression, a few words came out. The empress dowager's face, which was originally smiling, also restrained a little. She did not protect Wenhua back then, and she would never let Ningshuang suffer any grievances.

"I want to see who dares to show disrespect to Ning Shuang when I'm protecting them."

Seeing this, Lin Hanzhi spoke as if she suddenly had an idea.

"Your Highness, I know you're attracted to Miss Ning Shuang, but you'll have to live in the palace. If Miss Ning Shuang marries someone outside the palace, it's inevitable that someone will pretend to obey you. I have a rather unpleasant suggestion."

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother looked at Lin Hanzhi.

"You've always been a smart person, why don't you tell me about it."

Lin Hanzhi looked up at the Queen Mother, making sure she was not angry before continuing.

"Since you, the Empress Dowager, like Miss Ningshuang so much, why not adopt her as your adopted daughter? That way, she can choose any young man in the imperial city. With your status as her adopted daughter protecting her, Miss Ningshuang will only be respected by her husband's family in the future, and won't suffer any grievances."

The Queen Mother nodded upon hearing this and looked at Ning Shuang.

"Ningshuang, I have always liked you. I feel much happier having you by my side these days. Are you willing to accept Madam Li's proposal just now?"

Seeing that the Queen Mother actually asked about her wishes, Ning Shuang hurriedly knelt down in surprise.

"Your Majesty the Queen Mother has bestowed upon me a great favor. I am truly delighted. I am willing, a thousand times, ten thousand times willing. However, Your Majesty the Queen Mother, I would rather stay by your side than marry."

The Queen Mother extended a hand toward Ning Shuang.

"You, come and get up first. Didn't I tell you not to kneel down so easily..."

Seeing this, Lin Hanzhi cleverly brought a cup of tea to Ning Shuang.

"Then, Empress Dowager, why don't you let Ning Shuang serve tea to you today..."