However, no matter how angry the Empress Dowager was, she would not interfere in such important court matters. She could only glare at Emperor Chongjin several times and order He Wan to take the little baby back from Emperor Chongjin's arms.
Looking at the father and son with their identical cunning smiles, the Empress Dowager lowered her head and whispered to the little baby in her arms, "Niannian, you must not learn from your godfather and Crown Prince in the future."
"Okay!" The little boy blinked his silly eyes and obediently agreed, although he didn't quite understand what his grandmother meant.
Hearing his grandmother's words, Huo Chengche smiled helplessly, quickly suppressed his sly smile, straightened his back, and got down to business, "Your Majesty, this newly appointed Prefect of the Capital is quite clever; he might have some clever ideas."
After hearing Huo Chengche recount what had happened at the Jingzhao Prefecture government office that day, Emperor Chongjin gave a cold laugh and nodded. "Che'er has grown up. After the New Year, he should be old enough to attend court and participate in government affairs. I will entrust this matter to you."
Huo Chengche nodded slightly, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fu Man's figure outside, and knew that he had brought the little girl Hua Xiao over.
The matter concerning the eldest princess should be discussed with the Empress Dowager. He looked at the Empress Dowager and said, “Grandmother, I encountered something while leaving the palace today, which I was about to report to you. This matter is not trivial, so please do not be upset.”
The Empress Dowager had just heard him panting as he was tearing down the wall, which still made him feel uneasy. Even though the little baby was nestled in the Empress Dowager's arms, he was still a little worried.
The Empress Dowager knew what her grandson was worried about, and gave him a disapproving look. "As long as you don't anger me, I'm not so easily angered!"
"Alright," Huo Chengche smiled helplessly and quickly reassured the Empress Dowager, "Grandson understands, and will certainly not let Grandmother worry anymore!"
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, "Alright, speak now, what is it this time?"
Huo Chengche looked at the Empress Dowager with some concern and said cautiously, "Today, when I took Niannian to the Pear Garden, we ran into..."
At this point, Huo Chengche suddenly stopped—the Empress Dowager was drinking tea.
The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea, glanced at Huo Chengche who seemed hesitant to speak, and asked curiously, "Hmm? What did you run into?"
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager took another sip.
The little boy looked at his older brother, the Crown Prince, who was standing there dumbfounded and not responding, and then looked up at his grandmother, the Empress Dowager, who was waiting for an answer. He immediately and considerately helped the Empress Dowager answer, "Human trafficker! Niannian has encountered a human trafficker uncle!"
He spoke with great enthusiasm.
When Huo Chengche saw the little boy's expression, he immediately sensed something was wrong, but in the end, he didn't have time to stop him.
"puff--"
Sure enough, the Empress Dowager spat out her tea and choked on it, as expected.
Immediately, chaos erupted once again.
"Mother, Mother..."
Emperor Chongjin hurriedly went over to pat the Empress Dowager, but she brushed him away.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager had no place for her son. She grabbed the little boy in shock and looked him up and down, exclaiming, "Niannian, you've been kidnapped?! These bastards, they've hurt you!"
The little girl hadn't quite figured out what "human trafficker" meant, but she remembered the older brothers and sisters who were locked in cages.
She shook her head, pouting in her childish voice, and complained, "Niannian isn't hurt! It's the older brothers and sisters who are locked in the cages who are hurt. Many of them are bleeding and crying in pain. Sister Huaxiao is also covered in injuries!"
The Empress Dowager doted on her child, and upon hearing the little boy's words, even though she had never seen him in person, her brows furrowed.
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