"Greetings to the Empress Dowager, may the Empress Dowager be blessed."
When Consort Shu arrived at Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager was copying Buddhist scriptures.
"Get up quickly." The Empress Dowager put down her pen and looked up at Consort Shu kneeling before her.
The moment I saw Mu Qianqian.
The Empress Dowager's expression softened instantly, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
Mu Qianqian smiled ingratiatingly at the Empress Dowager and reached out for a hug.
Even if the Empress Dowager disliked Consort Shu.
She still had no resistance to Mu Qianqian.
The Empress Dowager held Mu Qianqian in her arms.
Upon seeing this, Consort Shu hurriedly explained her purpose: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, His Majesty has asked me to arrange your birthday banquet. Previously, these matters were handled by Her Majesty the Empress. Now that Her Majesty the Empress is unwell, I am indeed at a loss as to where to begin. I would like to hear your opinion."
"I was talking to the Emperor about this just a couple of days ago. The national treasury is tight right now, and the court needs money everywhere. So let's keep everything simple. It doesn't matter whether we hold the birthday banquet or not," the Empress Dowager said awkwardly.
"The Empress Dowager is compassionate towards the common people, and the Emperor is also showing filial piety," Consort Shu said softly. "The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet is equally important."
The Empress Dowager didn't know if it was because of Mu Qianqian or because Consort Shu's words touched her heart.
Her expression seemed even softer than before.
"Oh dear, I'm getting old. You young people can handle these things yourselves. I'm capable of it," the Empress Dowager said gently.
She took a grape from the plate, peeled it, and put it in Mu Qianqian's hand.
Mu Qianqian was taken aback.
Grandma, you're such a good grandma! How did you know I wanted to eat those grapes?
Wow, I still want to eat that watermelon. Can I have a bite of it too?
Consort Shu: ...
She was frantically trying to figure out how to organize the birthday banquet.
All Mu Qianqian knows is how to eat.
I can't help at all.
It seems the Empress Dowager cannot hear Mu Qianqian's true feelings.
Instead of taking the watermelon, she had an apple on the plate cut in half, then used a spoon to scrape it into a puree and fed it to Mu Qianqian bite by bite.
This grandma is so kind!
One world, one grandma.
Every grandmother in the world feels that her grandson is hungry.
Consort Shu: ...
Consort Shu looked at the harmonious scene between the grandmother and grandson, and her expression instantly became somewhat indescribable.
"Your Majesty, Consort Liang has come to my palace to discuss the birthday banquet. I find her idea very innovative," Consort Shu said slowly.
"Oh?" The Empress Dowager finally raised her head, drawing out her words, and glanced at Consort Shu: "What method?"
"My sister, Consort Liang, said she wants to hold the banquet in the Imperial Garden so that people can eat while watching fireworks and performances. What does Your Majesty think?" Consort Shu asked softly.
In the Imperial Garden?
The Empress Dowager's eyes lit up.
"However..." Consort Shu paused, "There has never been a banquet held in the Imperial Garden before. I'm afraid it's not safe when night falls."
The Empress Dowager's smile froze.
She was the previous champion of palace intrigue, having dodged countless open and covert attacks.
Now is the time to enjoy a peaceful and comfortable life.
Let alone safety concerns, she would avoid anything with even the slightest potential danger.
Who would turn down wealth and status that they've already secured?
But the idea of holding her own birthday banquet in the Imperial Garden was so ingenious that she really wanted to try it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com