The Empress chuckled twice. She not only resented Qin Su, but also the Empress Dowager, though she wouldn't show it on her face at the moment.

The Empress Dowager is getting old; who knows how much longer she'll live? As for Qin Su… there will be plenty of opportunities to kill her.

How about... we start with this little princess?

The Empress's smile deepened, and she smiled, "What are you saying, Mother? If the abbot of Yuntai Temple really said that, I would definitely abdicate and give way to a more worthy person."

Qin Su gently patted the baby in the swaddling clothes, ignoring the Empress.

The Empress Dowager snorted, turned the white jade prayer beads in her hand, and looked at the child with a face full of love.

The Empress had been childless for years, though there were several princes in the palace, none of whom were born from her womb. This made the Empress uneasy, but there was really nothing she could do.

The emperor would visit her palace on the first and fifteenth of each month, but she still couldn't have a child.

"What name does Your Majesty think would be suitable for the little princess?" The Empress seemed oblivious to the fact that she was making a fool of herself by offering her warm welcome to someone who was being snubbed. She leaned closer again, smiling broadly, thinking herself very kind.

Yuan Yuan pouted when she saw her, but she didn't cry; it was just that she acted very differently from how she acted when she faced other people.

Qin Su, holding Yuan Yuan, slightly distanced herself from the Empress.

The Queen was very displeased with her actions.

What does she mean? As the mother of the nation, it should be her honor to be able to see the children.

Truly befitting a lowly bastard born of weeds, even facing the Empress Dowager with such an expression.

The Empress Dowager said indifferently, "Let the parents choose the name. Why should I get involved?"

"Instead of using this time, the Empress should take good care of her health so that she can give birth to a child."

The Empress Dowager was actually quite open-minded. Whether the Empress had children or not, there were plenty of concubines in the harem who could have children. She could just adopt one when the time came.

Years ago, the Empress Dowager said the same thing to the Empress. Unfortunately, the Empress was a petty person who not only disliked the children of the concubines in the harem, but also resented that the Emperor did not visit her palace often.

"The Empress Dowager?"

A soft, alluring voice suddenly came from the side.

Qin Su and the Empress Dowager both looked over.

The newcomer was dressed in a peach-colored palace gown, wearing a gold and jade hair crown, and a tassel necklace at her waist. A two-finger-wide belt perfectly accentuated her slender waist.

It's Tao Rong.

It's been a while since Qin Su last saw her.

"Consort Rong." The Empress Dowager's expression visibly improved.

The Empress gripped her handkerchief, growing increasingly displeased.

Previously, that old hag disliked this wretched woman, but who would have thought that she would win over the Empress Dowager's heart so soon after entering the palace? It's truly hateful! Utterly hateful!

Since Consort Rong entered the palace, Emperor Mingyang has visited her palace more often than any other palace.

Emperor Mingyang was not a lecherous man. Apart from taking care of his daily physiological needs in the harem, he mostly stayed in the Wolong Palace. Even in the Empress's palace, he only went about his daily routine on the first and fifteenth of each month.

But things changed after Tao Rong entered the palace. Even if Emperor Mingyang didn't favor Tao Rong, he would still rest in her palace.

This kind of honor is extraordinary.

If it's just about satisfying physical needs, then it doesn't matter; nothing lasts forever, and Tao Rong will eventually fall out of favor. But if she falls in love, then the outcome is completely different.

Tao Rong bowed to the Empress Dowager, then looked at Qin Su and nodded slightly, "It's been a long time since I've seen Princess Consort Chen. How have you been lately?"

"Thank you for your concern, Consort Rong. I am doing well."

Tao Rong withdrew her gaze and took out a longevity lock she had prepared from her bosom. The longevity lock was carved from white jade and was quite small. This was not because Tao Rong was not generous; the jade she had chosen was of excellent quality, and its superior quality was evident even in its small size. Moreover, it was not jade from Da'an.

The reason it was made small was because I was worried that if it were too big, it would be a burden for Yuanyuan.

"I haven't been feeling well these past few days, so I'm a little late. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Although her voice was soft and charming, and her clothes were bright and eye-catching, she kept a humble posture and did not appear obsequious, which pleased the Empress Dowager greatly.

Even a concubine is still family. Tao Rong's behavior made the Empress Dowager feel that she was acting like family.

"This is a piece of jade that I have been searching for for a long time, and it has only just been carved. I'm giving it to Princess Yuanyuan." She looked at Yuanyuan, her eyes full of smiles.

She also loves children and always feels that children are the best gift from God.

But the fact that she doesn't want children is not contradictory.

She was Qin Su's woman, but at the same time, she had to be wary of Xue Huai'an. Having a child meant having a weakness. Tao Rong believed she lacked the ability to protect her child. Therefore, it was better not to have one.

Qin Su knew what she was thinking, but thought she was overthinking it.

Given how much Emperor Mingyang cared about her, protecting one of her children would be quite easy.

Qin Su took the longevity lock from her and gently coaxed her daughter, "Yuanyuan, this is a longevity lock given to you by Consort Rong~ Do you like it?"

The little girl babbled and reached out to grab the longevity lock, her grape-like eyes brimming with joy.

"Yuanyuan likes it very much, thank you Consort Rong."

Tao Rong said gently, "I'm glad that Princess Yuanyuan likes it."

She actually preferred Yuanyuan to call her aunt, but since she wasn't the empress, the title of aunt wasn't quite rightful.

"Yuanyuan, this is your aunt."

Tao Rong was stunned by Qin Su's words, and felt a strange feeling in her heart.

She was all too clear about her own position; she knew she was a pawn, a pawn to both Qin Su and Xue Huai'an.

What does it matter if a pawn has a high status? It's still a pawn. What right does it have to be close to one's own children?

Of course, perhaps in their eyes she would always be an orphan girl who couldn't be brought into the public eye.

But now Tao Rong thinks it probably isn't.

When Tao Rong was in the Marquis of Zhongyi's mansion, she was Qin Su's younger sister, so she naturally called her "Auntie".

"Auntie~" Qin Su taught Yuan Yuan again and again, but Yuan Yuan was too young and could only make "ee-ee-ya-ya" sounds.

The Empress was furious. What was Tao Rong anyway? Just a concubine? So what if she was one of the Four Concubines? She was still just a concubine. Only she was the one most qualified to have that bastard call her aunt.

No wonder he came from a bandit background; he has absolutely no sense of respect or etiquette.

She couldn't bear to watch any longer, so she simply sat back down in her own seat.

Tao Rong wiped her eyes and then said to the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, I am not feeling well, so I will return first."

She's just here to make an appearance; giving away longevity locks is just an excuse.

Xue Huai'an is currently in Kyoto, so it's not convenient for her to meet Qin Su privately. This occasion, however, is quite suitable.

It won't arouse suspicion.

The Empress Dowager was also getting tired, especially since she hadn't been very interested in the banquet. She left as well.

People were starting to leave the banquet, but Qin Su was waiting for Yu Shuo, so she didn't leave immediately.

Not long after, a palace maid came over. She bowed to Qin Su and said, "Princess Consort Chen, this servant is from the Empress Dowager's palace. The Empress Dowager said she wanted to see the young princess and specially sent this servant to carry the young princess over."