Chapter 318 Keep a Thought
After sitting for a long time, the snow outside the palace gradually became lighter, and the queen ordered Fu Liu to bring Xiyue over.
"Hug your daughter."
Looking at her daughter in Fu Liu's arms, Liu Yuetang's eyes suddenly became warm.
Xiyue was sucking her chubby little hand at the moment. Her bright black eyes rolled around, and when she saw her, she suddenly grinned, revealing two newly emerged baby teeth. She felt a pang of pain at the sight of his adorable look.
She hurriedly reached out to take it, and when her fingertips touched her daughter's warm little body, tears fell.
Xiyue raised her little hand and stroked the beads on Liu Yuetang's lapel, full of curiosity, and she jumped twice in her arms while babbling.
The Queen's brows softened as she looked at him. "Don't blame the Emperor."
"During the time you were away at Lanyue Kingdom, the Emperor neglected state affairs and drank every day to drown his sorrows. It was only thanks to Xiyue that he gradually recovered. Xiyue is the apple of his eye. He was reluctant to let you take her away."
At this point, the Queen's heart ached: "Not to mention the Emperor, even I, the Queen, would be deeply reluctant to let him go."
Hearing the Queen's words, Xiyue turned her little head, stared at the Queen, and stretched out her hands to throw herself into the Queen's arms.
Seeing this, the Queen reached out and took her in, gently rubbing her forehead against Xiyue's, "You little clingy girl."
She looked up at Liu Yuetang and smiled very kindly, "Yuer, you're so clingy. When she first came to Weiyang Palace, she wouldn't let me hold her. But after she got to know me, she clung to me and wouldn't let me go. Sometimes she even refused to let her wet nurse hold her."
"She's also very stubborn. I've been wondering how it is possible that someone as gentle and docile as you could have given birth to such a stubborn daughter."
"But... they say that the more stubborn a child is, the more independent and clever they will become in the future."
Seeing the Queen's love for Yue'er from the bottom of her heart, Liu Yuetang was filled with gratitude and leaned over: "Thank you for your help during my absence, Your Majesty."
"What is this? Get up!"
The queen gave her a light touch.
"The arrival of this little fellow has made Weiyang Palace a lot more lively."
"In the future, if she can follow her sister out of the palace, it will be a blessing."
The Queen's fingertips gently brushed Xiyue's soft hair, her voice as soft as falling snow, "Outside the palace, the sky is vast and the land is open. It's better to be able to cultivate a free and easy temperament than to be trapped in this square city and learn all those twisted and complicated schemes."
When Xiyue saw her mother stroking her forehead, she immediately narrowed her dark eyes and giggled with her little mouth wide open. Her two tiny teeth were so adorable that the queen's heart softened and her eyes gradually became hot.
"Sister...I personally embroidered a lot of clothes for Yue'er. The weather in Lanyue is cold, not as warm as in the palace, and those quilted jackets are just right for her."
"If the Emperor really lets Yue'er go with you, I will make a few more clothes for her, from her first birthday to her coming-of-age ceremony, and prepare one for each of her birthdays. Then, please give them to her on her birthday."
After she finished speaking, she suddenly felt funny again, and tears rolled down her eyes.
The Queen quickly turned her face away and wiped her tears with her sleeve, but the sobs still leaked out through her breath, "It's just... when she grows up, she won't even know who I am anymore."
A baby of a few months old doesn't need her to grow up. I'm afraid that if she leaves for a month or two, she won't know who she is.
Thinking of this, the queen felt as if something was tightly gripping her chest, causing her to ache.
"Empress..." Liu Yuetang felt unhappy.
Although Yue'er is his daughter, she is more importantly Xiao Heng's daughter, which is equivalent to the queen's daughter.
Yesterday, Lan Yue sent a letter by carrier pigeon, saying that if she wanted to take Yue'er away, her uncle would help her with all his strength and give everything he had.
But now, if she really takes Yue'er away, it will affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries and hurt Xiao Heng and the Queen's feelings.
The queen smiled tearfully: "I am sorry to have made my sister laugh at me."
"I love children very much. When I think about Yue'er leaving, I feel really reluctant."
Liu Yuetang lowered her eyes, took Yue'er's little hand, and stroked her tender skin repeatedly.
Yue'er's mouth and eyes look very much like himself, but her nose and ears are very much like Xiao Heng's.
She is just a child now, she doesn't know how to make choices yet.
If I take her away, will she blame me when she grows up?
She was forced to leave her loving father and mother.
Made her lose her status as the legitimate Princess of Jingyuan?
After thinking about it for several days, at this moment, Liu Yuetang finally made up her mind.
She couldn't be so selfish—doing everything according to her own wishes.
She should think about the Queen and Xiao Heng.
At least it leaves Xiao Heng with something to think about.
After a long moment, Liu Yuetang raised her eyes to look at the Queen, a layer of tears in her eyes, "Your Majesty, I once said that I would always stand by your side and hold tightly to the umbrella you hold for me."
"Now, let Yue'er stay by your side and hold the umbrella in your hand, okay?"
The queen was slightly stunned and almost couldn't recover from her surprise.
"Sister...you..."
The two looked at each other, and Liu Yuetang raised a faint smile.
"You are also her mother, and the Emperor is also her father. I cannot deprive her of her family affection. After a few years, when the Emperor has let go of his grudge, I will ask my uncle to take Yue'er to Lanyue."
The queen smiled suddenly, and tears fell on her cheeks, leaving two clear marks.
*****
Suddenly it is New Year's Day again.
As soon as the sun rose, Wanqiu came to pay her respects with Liuzheng, Amber, Xiaozhongzi and Xiaokangzi.
Several people kowtowed in unison on the felt mat, their voices filled with the joy of the New Year: "Your servants (servants) wish the Queen a happy New Year! I wish the Queen good health and all the best in the new year!"
Amber was lively and smiled as she finished her kowtow. "Look, Your Majesty, we've been the first to do so! The old maid said that the first person to pay their respects in the New Year will receive good fortune for the entire year!"
Liu Yuetang was amused by Amber's words, "You clever guys, get up!"
Xue Ji distributed lucky money purses to everyone with a smile, "The Queen had me prepare them yesterday, and we're waiting for you to come and pay your New Year's greetings."
Everyone took the purse and smiled from ear to ear.
It’s not that they care about the money in their pockets, but they didn’t expect that they could still pay New Year’s greetings to the Empress this year.
Liu Yuetang handed a purse from her sleeve to Xueji, "Why did you forget your own?"
Xue Ji was slightly startled, then smiled brightly and took it with both hands: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Liu Yuetang said softly, "Okay, go have some breakfast first. I'll call you in later."
Xue Ji bowed and said, "Yes, then I will close the palace gate."
After Xue Ji left, Liu Yuetang looked at the people in front of her who had spent four Spring Festivals with her, and warmth filled her eyes.
From being awkward and reserved when she first entered the palace to being so comfortable and familiar now, it seems like just a matter of a moment.
She stretched out her hand to Liu Zheng, "Liu Zheng... come here."
Liu Zheng quickly placed her hand in Liu Yuetang's palm.
Liu Yuetang held her hand and said, "You followed me when you were ten years old. Now you are nineteen years old. It's time for you to get married."
Hearing this, Liu Zheng realized something and her nose felt sore. She opened her mouth and was about to say something with a sob, but Liu Yuetang gently pressed the back of her hand.
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