Chapter 97: My son is interested in...making Yan'er his queen
Empress Dowager Jiang is over fifty years old this year. She is of medium height and in good spirits. She has a round face with kind eyes and a very amiable smile.
But the slightly raised corners of her eyes revealed a hint of ruthlessness, which revealed the extraordinary past of this empress dowager.
Meng Yan was slightly startled. Empress Dowager Jiang did treat her well, but she wasn't as warm as she was now.
Seeing her in a daze, Empress Dowager Jiang chuckled and said, "It's been a while since we last met, and you've become even better. Come, come to me."
Meng Yan said yes according to the etiquette, lowered her head and walked slowly to the side of the empress dowager.
Empress Dowager Jiang held her hand, examined her carefully for a moment, and nodded, saying, "Well, I heard news from the palace on the way that you were ill, and indeed you've lost some weight. Child, you're so young and you don't know how to take care of yourself. I'm still counting on you to give me royal grandchildren!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Meng Yan felt several gazes on her back, as if being pricked by needles.
She lowered her eyes and smiled softly, "Your Majesty the Queen Mother has shown great love to me. It is my fault that I have failed to live up to my expectations. Over the years, I have had no children. Fortunately, there are many new sisters in the palace now, who will surely be able to give birth to more children for Your Majesty."
A very displeased look fell on her. It was Lu Haozhi.
Today he was wearing a black dragon robe with a golden dragon and auspicious cloud patch, and he looked extremely handsome and elegant.
Lu Haozhi stood beside the empress dowager and said calmly, "Since my mother has instructed you, don't blame others." Then he said to the empress dowager, "My mother is teaching me that I have been childless for many years. This is unfilial and dereliction of duty as a ruler. Fortunately, the imperial concubine has recovered. When the war in the southwest eases slightly, I will order her nameplate to be put down again."
Empress Dowager Jiang was quite satisfied and nodded with a smile, "That's very good, that's very good." Then she took Meng Yan's hand and walked towards Shoukang Palace.
Meng Yan was a little at a loss as to what to do. The empress dowager had just returned to the palace and before she even sat down, she was already concerned about giving birth.
For some unknown reason, she looked up at Lu Haozhi, only to see that Lu Haozhi was also looking at her with a deep gaze, as if he wanted to say something.
Her heart trembled slightly, and she quickly looked away.
This time, if the Queen Mother spoke up, how could she avoid sleeping with him?
After entering the room, Empress Dowager Jiang sat down on a chair and accepted the respect from the concubines. She then ordered that a few important people be given seats, and the rest had to stand.
Lu Haozhi naturally asked the empress dowager about her health and what she had seen and heard along the way, fulfilling his filial duty as a son.
After exchanging greetings, Empress Dowager Jiang asked, "Where's Doukou? It's been a while since I last saw her."
Meng Yan was well prepared and quickly ordered the palace maids to bring Princess He'an in.
After a while, Doukou arrived in the main hall.
Meng Yan had previously taught her the etiquette for meeting the empress dowager. Although the child could not speak yet, she performed the greetings in a very formal manner.
After Meng Yan's careful care for a period of time, Doukou is no longer as stiff as the little bean sprout she used to be. Her little face is round and white, and her little arms are plump like lotus root nodes. Empress Dowager Jiang, who is now a grandmother, is filled with joy at the sight of her.
She immediately called Doukou to her side, held her on her lap, pinched her little face, and smiled and sighed to the emperor, "I gave birth to you two brothers, but your eldest brother passed away early, leaving behind such a child. I was away, and every night when I fell asleep, I dreamed of this child's two eyes. It really made me sad to death!" As she spoke, she looked at Meng Yan and smiled, "Look at little Doukou today. Her body has become much stronger, and her manners are appropriate. She has the airs of a royal branch and jade leaf. It shows that you have raised the princess well. I did not entrust her to the wrong person. When I was away, I heard people say that you let the princess have a high fever and just left her alone. I got angry when I heard that, and thought to myself that Yan girl is definitely not that kind of person. Seeing her today, I can see that people's words cannot be trusted."
These words made Meng Yan's heart suddenly tremble.
Empress Dowager Jiang smiled kindly, but her eyes gleamed with a gleam of brilliance. Although she was not in the palace, every move in the palace was under her control.
Jiang was the late emperor's first wife. She followed him on his campaigns, eventually establishing his rule. She also balanced power and regulated the harem. Such a woman was certainly not simply a pampered old woman, enjoying her retirement.
She knew everything about what happened to her in the palace. It was no wonder that the previous empress dowager was not very friendly to her after returning to the palace.
Meng Yan stood up, bowed to the empress dowager, and said with a gentle smile, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Since you entrusted the princess to me that day, I will never let you down." As she spoke, she added with sadness, "Doukou's life story is truly pitiful. I have been childless for many years, and in my heart, I truly regard the princess as my own daughter."
These words were not entirely meant to please the Queen Mother; most of them were her true feelings.
Just these words really touched the empress dowager's heart.
Empress Dowager Jiang was slightly moved, nodded and sighed, "I was not wrong about you, you are really a good child."
Lin Yanrong was listening below, secretly laughing at Meng Yan for being so stupid. She raised other people's children as her own and raised them so well. What would she do if her own children were outdone in the future?
Yes, it is impossible for her to have children.
According to the plot, she will later become pregnant, but lose the baby for unknown reasons, and then she will become hysterical like a madman.
Lin Yanrong also didn't know how Meng Yan lost her baby. The book was very vague about it. It only said that she had been arguing with the original owner, worrying about it day and night, and was jealous, which led to her miscarriage.
According to modern medicine, this is called natural fetal arrest. In this book, it means that she is not allowed to give birth.
Even if she has excellent medical skills, how can she, a person in a book, resist the author's pen?
Thinking about what was written in the book, the sweet joy of Meng Yan when she was pregnant and the madness after the miscarriage, Lin Yanrong couldn't help but want to laugh.
What child? That's her death warrant.
However, she didn't expect that Meng Yan was actually taking good care of Princess He'an.
Lin Yanrong's gaze fell on the small figure on Empress Dowager Jiang's lap, and a hint of unwillingness appeared on her face.
She had little interest in raising children, but this and Princess Ann were supposed to be hers.
After a few more irrelevant family chats, Empress Dowager Jiang said she was tired from the journey and wanted to rest for a while, so she dismissed them.
When everyone dispersed, the smile on Queen Mother Jiang's face suddenly faded. She looked at Lu Haozhi and said, "I heard about it on the way. During the time I was away, the palace was in turmoil. Yan'er fell out with you, and you demoted Liang. Why do you make me so worried?"
Lu Haozhi's face was slightly embarrassed. He had been a king for several years, but in front of his own mother, he was still a son who bowed his head and listened to her instructions.
"Mother, I intend to... make Yan'er my queen."
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