The Empress Dowager never lost her dignity. Her displeased rebuke made Princess Linhuang turn pale immediately, and she dared not say another word, lowering her head in fear.
Huo Chengche glanced at Princess Linhuang indifferently, his deep eyes, though seemingly calm, brimming with intense disgust.
The little dumpling looked up at the angry Empress Dowager, then quickly scrambled up to her lap, reached out his little hands to pat her chest, and said in a childish voice, "Don't be angry, Empress Dowager. A beautiful girl isn't pretty when she's angry!"
The Empress Dowager looked at the little baby who had snuck in, with his delicate, rosy face and sweet, adorable little voice, and felt incredibly warm inside. Her anger from before dissipated considerably. "Good, Niannian is such a good girl. Grandma is not angry anymore!"
Princess Linhuang looked at the little boy who had pleased the Empress Dowager with just a few words, her eyes flickered, and she looked at the little boy carefully with a puzzled expression.
There weren't many princesses who were favored by the Empress Dowager. Although the Empress Dowager liked children, she disliked seeing princesses being raised by the concubines like tools for vying for favor.
In recent years, only the Fifth Princess Wenlian has been favored, and Princess Linhuang naturally recognizes her.
She was about to ask which concubine's princess this was when she suddenly remembered that the little boy had come in with Huo Chengche. Her expression immediately became extremely complicated, and she had obviously guessed the little boy's identity.
Especially when she saw the Empress Dowager affectionately embracing the little baby, her expression immediately turned ugly, and a strange look appeared on her face.
The little dumpling immediately sensed Princess Linhuang's gaze, puffed out his cheeks uncomfortably, turned his head to look over, met the princess's complicated and strange gaze, and tilted his head in confusion.
The Empress Dowager's gaze was entirely on Huo Chengche at this moment. She glared at him with annoyance, "You should go and sit down. You've just recovered from a serious illness and you're already causing yourself so much trouble. Do you want to worry your grandmother to death?"
Huo Chengche met the Empress Dowager's displeased gaze, but put on a good-natured smile, listened attentively to the reprimand, and quickly agreed, "Grandmother is right, I will definitely pay attention next time."
"Next time? What next time? There will be no next time! Starting tomorrow, you will stay in your palace and recuperate peacefully!" The Empress Dowager's face darkened immediately, and she slammed her hand on the small table next to her.
Not content with reprimanding Huo Chengche, she angrily raised her voice, "Guards, go to the Imperial Study, no, go to the Gan Tai Palace and deliver an imperial decree: the Crown Prince is exempt from all his studies this month! Anyone who dares to send the Crown Prince to the Imperial Study or the training ground is disobeying my imperial decree!"
"yes."
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's decree, Huo Chengche helplessly touched his nose. He was about to speak when he met the Empress Dowager's gaze, and the words that were about to come out immediately became, "Grandmother's arrangements are correct. Your grandson will certainly listen to Grandmother and rest peacefully!"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager let out a cold snort, and her expression softened slightly.
Huo Chengche smiled wryly to himself, then quickly and discreetly changed the subject, "What brings Aunt Linhuang to the palace today?"
These casual words immediately snapped Princess Linhuang back to reality, who was lost in thought. When she saw the Empress Dowager's gaze sweeping over her, she immediately felt as if she were being pricked by needles.
Before she could reply, the Empress Dowager spoke coldly and displeasedly, "It's no wonder you asked this question. Although your aunt Linhuang is married nearby, she never remembers to come to the palace to visit unless there's something to do."
Princess Linhuang's birth mother had already passed away, so she was naturally not close to the Empress Dowager, her legal mother.
It's not hard to tell from the Empress Dowager's displeased words that this Princess Linhuang is someone who only visits the palace when there's a reason. She's rarely seen by the Empress Dowager's side to please and show filial piety, and only remembers this "easy-going" stepmother when there's a problem.
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