The Empress sat at the head of the table in the hall, seemingly lost in thought. Her gaze was vacant as she stared in one direction without uttering a word.
She didn't even notice when the two people entered the palace. If it weren't for their greetings disturbing the Empress, she would probably still be lost in her thoughts.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress (Imperial Aunt), may Her Majesty the Empress (Imperial Aunt) be blessed." The two women gave the Empress a proper bow. [This isn't to say that An Ke's status is different from Qing'er's, but rather that An Ke's father had a closer relationship with the Emperor. An Ke was also raised under the Emperor's watchful eye, so their bond was naturally extraordinary. An Ke's father frequently brought her to the palace. It could be said that the Emperor sometimes saw An Ke more often than the less favored princesses. An Ke was also very sweet-talking, always cheerful, so she made an exception and addressed everyone in the palace as "Imperial Uncle," even declaring that they were all family.]
The Empress hurriedly rubbed her eyes with a handkerchief; they were dry and sore from staring at one spot for so long. She quickly rose from her seat, supporting each of them with both hands, and gently said, "An'an, Qing'er, what brings you to Kunning Palace today?" [When the author watched the drama, she felt that the Empress wasn't actually that wicked. On the contrary, just like what she said to herself and the Emperor at the end, she simply loved too much.]
"I just returned to the palace yesterday, and today I was already thinking about the pea flour cakes in my aunt's palace. So I got a craving and pestered Qing'er to come over. Aunt, you can't find Qing'er and An'an annoying, okay?" An Ke said playfully.
"How could that be? I'm overjoyed that you're here with me, how could I be annoyed? No wonder the Empress Dowager said you're a mischievous monkey. Aren't you a mischievous monkey? Always trying to climb up the ladder." The Empress patted An Ke's hand and said with a soft laugh.
Even Qing'er, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but cover her nose with her handkerchief and chuckle softly.
"Oh dear, why is even the Empress Dowager making fun of her? And in front of so many people, An'an will never be able to show her face again." An Ke said, feigning annoyance.
"Oh, really? You still can't come out?" The Empress had practically watched Anke grow up. The Empress had also had a daughter, but her daughter died young, and she had felt depressed and resentful for a time, until one day, she saw the pink and tender Anke at a palace banquet.
An Ke was not shy at all. She said a few auspicious words to the Emperor from below, and then the Emperor summoned her to the upper level. The Emperor held her affectionately. Although the Empress also had some fondness for this little dumpling, it wasn't much.
However, the palace banquet that night was anything but joyful. It was supposed to be the day the Emperor would visit Kunning Palace. At the banquet, Consort Ling, who was not yet Consort Ling, said she was feeling unwell and returned to Yanxi Palace first.
The Empress's eyes were fixed on the Emperor, and it seemed his thoughts had followed Consort Ling to Yanxi Palace. The Empress was filled with sorrow, believing the Emperor showed no regard for her daughter's passing. At the banquet, she drank cup after cup of wine.
Drowning your sorrows in alcohol only makes them worse!
At this moment, Anke suddenly slid off the Emperor and walked to the Empress's side, gently hugging her arm with her little arms. In her childish voice, she whispered in the Empress's ear, "You must be An'an's aunt, why are you drinking so much? Mother says alcohol is no good. If Father drinks too much, Mother will definitely send him to sleep in the outer room."
The moment Anke hugged her arm, the Empress felt an overwhelming urge to cry. Hearing her mother's comforting voice again warmed her heart. Yes, even the Emperor, her husband, hadn't noticed her drowning her sorrows in alcohol. Yet Anke, who was always the center of attention, had quietly noticed. How could this not deeply move her?
On that same day, the Empress witnessed the Emperor's change of heart.
Because Anke slid down from the Emperor to the Empress's side, the Emperor's attention naturally shifted to her. The Emperor was in his prime at the time, with sharp hearing and eyesight, and was very close to the Empress. He could naturally hear Anke speaking to the Empress.
He involuntarily looked at the Empress, whose eyes were already brimming with tears. He then remembered that his own daughter had only recently passed away. Instantly, sorrow and guilt overwhelmed him.
Even before the banquet began, the Emperor took the Empress's hand and said tenderly, "Empress, excessive drinking is bad for your health, and it will only cause headaches. Please drink less." He then looked at Rong Mama, who was serving him, and said, "Rong Mama, go to the Imperial Kitchen and fetch the Empress a bowl of plum juice and a bowl of hangover soup from the Imperial Physician. Otherwise, the Empress will have a headache tomorrow." Rong Mama, of course, was loyal to her mistress and immediately carried out the Emperor's orders, bringing the soup and hangover soup. The Emperor insisted on watching the Empress drink both bowls of soup before turning to face the princes and ministers below.
Although the Empress was slightly moved, she remained resistant. She said, not what she truly felt, "Consort Ling was also unwell just now. Would Your Majesty like to visit her at Yanxi Palace tonight?"
The Emperor, who had thought he and the Empress had reached a harmonious relationship, was furious when she humiliated him in front of the palace servants. He immediately became even more agitated, his face contorted with anger. "Since the Empress is so virtuous and kind, then tonight I will stay at Yanxi Palace," he said curtly. Not only was the Emperor enraged, but these words also pierced the Empress's heart.
Just then, An Ke ran to the Emperor again. Grabbing at the Emperor's dragon robe and clinging to his dragon throne, she tried to sit down.
Prince Rui, sitting below, looked anxious. "An'an, come down quickly! What kind of behavior is this?" He then walked from his seat to the center, clasped his hands, and said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I've spoiled An'an too much. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
To everyone's surprise, the Emperor embraced An Ke's small body and pressed her onto the dragon throne. Only then did he raise his eyes to Prince Rui, who was standing in the center, and say, "It's alright, it's alright, Your Highness. Several years have passed, and your temper is still the same as before! Are you willing to punish An An? Ask your Princess Consort if she is willing." The Emperor seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold, and he even specifically pointed at Princess Consort Rui.
Princess Rui's piercing gaze swept directly at Prince Rui, who stood in the center. Prince Rui, who had been so composed at first, quickly ran to his princess's side and knelt down.
"Haha, alright, today's banquet is both a palace feast and a family feast. My brother, why are you so reserved? Back when you were in the Imperial Study, you didn't speak to your elder brother like this." Seeing that Prince Rui was about to speak again, the Emperor quickly raised his hand to stop him. "Alright, what do you want to say? I know it perfectly well. Today, I hereby announce that An'an is hereby granted the title of Princess Yong'an, to receive the salary of a prince, and to freely enter and leave the palace without having to perform any grand rites to anyone."
"Isn't this inappropriate?" Prince Rui glanced around, and the princess beside him looked up at An'an. But his tone was only slightly unsatisfied, indicating that he also thought it was quite good.
"Do it the way you want! What are you refusing for?" The Emperor pretended to puff out his beard and glare. "What's the difference between you and me? We're family. From now on, bring An'an to the palace often. I'm happy to see An'an. From now on, no matter the occasion, An'an shall always call me Imperial Uncle. It's settled then."
"Yes, Your Majesty understands." Prince Rui seemed to have reverted to his childhood self, treating the Emperor as if he were of equal rank.
The ministers who attended the palace banquet were utterly astonished. They immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise, Princess Yong'an is long-lived!"
The emperor waved his hand, and the ministers quickly sat up again, then clinked glasses and talked about singing and dancing.
"An'an~ Is there anything you want to say to your uncle?" The Emperor almost raised his voice. To be honest, he was immediately delighted with this little dumpling, as if he were seeing his own daughter, Hejing. He couldn't help but want to be close to her.
"Uncle, are you going to the palace of that empress who was feeling unwell tonight?" An Ke asked, her eyes wide open, looking particularly innocent.
"Yes! How does An'an feel?" Upon hearing the Emperor say yes, An Ke's little brows furrowed. The Emperor couldn't help but rub An Ke's brows with his hand.
"But isn't your aunt your wife?" An'an asked, puzzled.
"Do you know what a wife is?" The emperor looked at the scoundrel who spoke so eloquently and couldn't resist teasing him.
“Yes, I know. An’an’s father and mother are husband and wife. Her mother is her father’s wife. They sleep together every day,” An’an said, counting on her fingers.
"Really? But that lady wasn't feeling well. Your Imperial Uncle wanted to go see her, and your Imperial Aunt agreed." The Emperor continued to look at An'an, who was fiddling with her little hands, anticipating her next words. "An'an, what do you suggest?"
"Hmm, well, how about An'an goes to see that lady for the Emperor?" An Ke said, frowning. "But Father has to wait for An'an in the palace, otherwise An'an won't be able to go back." An Ke said with a worried look.
"Oh, why can't An'an go back?" The Emperor looked at the small child before him and continued, "Is it because she's afraid?"
“No, An’an isn’t scared at all!” An Ke sat on the dragon throne, not hiding her arrogance. “An’an is afraid that Father won’t be able to pick her up and that Mother will scold her when she gets back. Besides, An’an won’t be able to find her way.”
"Haha, since An'an can't find the way, does An'an still want to go see that lady for her uncle?" the Emperor said with a hearty laugh.
“Hmm…” An Ke hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the Empress behind her before nodding firmly. “Yes, I’m going, An An is going. Uncle should spend more time with Aunt.”
"Haha, alright, I'll stop teasing An'an. An'an doesn't need to go see that empress. Tonight, your uncle will go to your aunt's place, okay?" For the first time, the Emperor was so eager for a child's answer.
"What about that lady? Didn't she say she wasn't feeling well?" An'an frowned again, puzzled and feeling that nothing she did seemed right.
"Then, according to An'an's opinion, what should be done?" The Emperor grabbed An'an's small hand that was pulling her hair.
“At home, when An’an isn’t feeling well, Mother always sends a doctor to check on her. Uncle, why don’t you send a doctor to check on that lady too? That way, she won’t feel unwell.” An’an said in her childish voice. “Oh, Uncle, how come you can’t even think of such a simple method? You’re not as good as An’an!”
"Haha, yes, Your Majesty is not as good as An'an." The Emperor chuckled self-deprecatingly. He immediately changed the subject. "This is too cold, you can't eat it. Otherwise, when we get back, your mother will send the doctor to see you again." Seeing that An'an was about to put the decorative ice cube into her mouth, he quickly stopped her and pulled the ice cube from her hand.
"No, no. An'an doesn't want to see that old man with the white beard, and she doesn't want to drink bitter water." An'an covered her mouth and sobbed.
"Since you don't want to drink bitter water, then An'an, don't touch this cool thing anymore. If you do, you'll definitely have to drink that bitter water when you get back." The Emperor was just trying to scare the child.
"Okay, fine." An'an didn't insist.
The Emperor looked at the little girl sitting to the side and couldn't help but feel curious. Children of this age usually believe whatever they think. How could he have persuaded her so easily?
"An'an, are you just going to give up like this? Why don't you keep trying? What if your uncle takes pity on you and gives that thing back to you?" The Emperor couldn't help but poke An'an's little hand with his finger.
“Yes, Mother told An’an that adults always make sense. And adults wouldn’t stoop to deceiving a child. Besides, Uncle is An’an’s family. He wouldn’t lie to An’an, would he?” An’an said helplessly, spreading her hands. “Besides, An’an has nothing on her. Even if Uncle wanted to deceive An’an, she wouldn’t have anything to give him.”
"Haha, you're such a clever little devil!" The Emperor ruffled Anke's fluffy little head. He looked at Anke with obvious joy. He couldn't help but glance enviously at his younger brother below the stage, just in time to see his brother beaming beside his princess.
For a moment, she was somewhat dazed. Her younger brother and his princess were still so close. Years had passed like never before. Looking at her brother, she seemed to recall the day he ran to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to beg their father, the Emperor. This princess was someone her brother had gone through so much trouble to obtain.
The Emperor turned to look at his Empress, then instructed Li Yu, who was waiting beside him, "Find a royal physician to examine Consort Ling. Since Consort Ling is unwell, remove her nameplate for now. Put it back when she recovers."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will take care of it immediately." Li Yu beckoned to a young eunuch beside him. He whispered a few words to the young eunuch, who then hurriedly headed out of the hall.
"Empress, I was wrong just now. Today is according to ancestral rules, so I will go to your palace instead." The Emperor gave the Empress a way out, which also gave himself a way out.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey." The Empress could hardly believe her eyes. The Emperor had actually been persuaded to come to her palace by this little child with just a few words.
Not only the Empress found it unbelievable, but even Rong Momo, standing nearby, found it incredible. Deep down, she felt a calling that this princess was her mistress's lucky star. And it's understandable; Anke added a layer of filter.
From that moment on, An Ke began her glorious period of dominance in the harem. She was doted on by the Empress Dowager, favored by the Emperor and Empress, and even the usually stern and stern Rong Momo showed her great favor.
If even one or two people in the palace get together and talk about the princess, Rong Mama will punish them.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com