"I don't have that much free time."

Qin Su was taken aback, not expecting the Empress Dowager to say such things, which seemed to dispel the seriousness from before.

Suddenly, the Empress Dowager leaned back on the cushion and relaxed completely.

Qin Su was completely stunned.

This... seems different from the Empress Dowager I remember.

"Sit here. Are you hot? I'll have Granny Qin get some shaved ice." The Empress Dowager asked Qin Su, her gentle expression causing a dramatic change in her overall demeanor.

She seems like an older sister.

Qin Su blinked blankly.

"A little," she said instinctively, then remembered she wasn't alone and waved her hands repeatedly, "No shaved ice, I can't eat that."

The Empress Dowager nodded and instructed Granny Qin to prepare.

Qin Su was even more stunned as she watched the Empress Dowager enjoying her smoothie.

The Empress Dowager... is quite extraordinary.

"It feels good. When it's hot, you need to eat something to cool down."

Qin Su: "..."

She had begun to become numb and gradually started to accept the unusual Empress Dowager.

"You were right not to marry that Xue boy. I've known for a long time that he's no good. Look at those eyes, full of scheming and ambition." The Empress Dowager began to ramble on, all her authority gone.

The Empress Dowager then said to Qin Su, "I think your personality is quite good. You're not coy or pretentious. It's just right, and I like it."

Qin Su: "..."

"Does Empress Dowager Xie like it?" Her voice rose slightly at the end, as if in doubt.

"Cheng'an mentioned you when he came over a few days ago, saying that you are quite different from the noble ladies in the capital. I was curious about you at that time. Yesterday, the Emperor came over and mentioned you again."

Qin Su: ? ?

She couldn't quite keep up with the Empress Dowager's train of thought. How to put it? The Empress Dowager gave her the impression that her so-called calmness, detachment, and aloofness were all a facade. Her mentality was no different from that of a young girl.

Do you want to enter the palace?

Qin Su stood up instantly, utterly astonished.

She understood what the Empress Dowager meant.

"This humble woman is of lowly status; how could she possibly enter the palace? This humble woman is unworthy."

The Empress Dowager pulled her arm. "Sit down and talk. It's just a question. If you're not happy about it, then so be it. Who would be happy about this? Competing for the emperor's favor with so many women, no one with a sound mind would be happy about it."

Qin Su remained silent, "That's true."

But Your Majesty, you are one of them. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to say this?

"Then what do you think of Prince Chen?" The Empress Dowager winked at Qin Su and said, "The capital is full of proper noble ladies, it's really boring."

"They look like they were made from the same mold."

Qin Su paused for a moment, then said, "They all grew up in similar environments and received similar educations, which is normal."

Qin Su recalled the Empress Dowager's background. Strangely enough, neither the late Emperor nor Emperor Mingyang could find any information about the Empress Dowager's family.

She was brought back by the late emperor during his hunting trips and had been with him since his time as a prince. Her views and personality were quite different from those of women today, and upon closer examination, she did possess a certain chivalrous spirit.

"As for His Highness Prince Chen, I am not in a position to judge."

The Empress Dowager pushed the shaved ice aside, rested her chin on her hand, and said, "Just say it, I won't blame you."

Qin Su smiled and said, "Your Highness is wise and brave, loyal and righteous, and exceptionally handsome. You are naturally excellent. The Empress Dowager doesn't even need to ask me this question."

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow and said, "What I mean is, don't judge him as a prince. Just look at him as a person."

Qin Su said that even without considering his status, His Highness was still very kind.

"Then how about you become Prince Chen's wife? He's getting too old, and if he doesn't get married soon, people will gossip about him."

Qin Su's eyes widened, then she rubbed her forehead, thinking that the Empress Dowager should act as a matchmaker.

"Your Majesty, I only admire and respect Your Highness, and I have no romantic feelings for you. I believe Your Highness also has no such thoughts."

The Empress Dowager recalled that yesterday morning when Prince Chen came to pay his respects, lovingly stroking the forbidden belt hanging at his waist; it was clear that he had someone he admired.

She really likes Qin Su, but if she were to play matchmaker, her son would probably get angry with her.

That's enough.

"If you don't want to enter the palace, you should hurry up and find a reliable person to marry."

She knew her son well enough to know that if Qin Su really married someone who posed no threat to him, he would give up on her.

"Thank you for informing me, Your Majesty."

Qin Su took the Empress Dowager's words to heart.

She never expected that Emperor Mingyang would want her to enter the palace. How could she possibly agree?

Since that's the case, we might as well listen to the Empress Dowager. She asked her mother to see if there were any suitable, honest, and upright men who could marry into their Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness's household.

Qin Su had long since given up on the so-called feelings, so if this could solve the problem, that would be fine.

The Empress Dowager didn't keep Qin Su for long. After she left, Granny Qin stepped forward and said disapprovingly, "It's Qin Su's good fortune to be able to enter the palace. Why did Your Majesty push her away?"

She felt that entering the palace was the best option compared to betrothing him to Prince Chen.

The Empress Dowager fiddled with the shaved ice that had melted into ice water. "Do you think all emperors are as devoted as the late emperor? Look at how many women are in the emperor's harem now?"

Granny Qin still didn't understand, "But we can't just say she's betrothed to His Highness Prince Chen. His Highness's principal wife should be someone of equal social standing..."

The white jade spoon fell into the bowl, and the Empress Dowager's originally kind face turned expressionless.

"Ziyu doesn't need to be a good match in terms of social status; he just needs to marry the woman he wants."

Granny Qin immediately dared not speak again.

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