"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Greetings, Mother!"
Xie Yuan and Helian Jue bowed in unison.
"No need for formalities!"
Suppressing her disgust for Xie Yuan, Empress Dowager Ashina smiled and said, "We're all family, why be so polite?"
After saying this, Empress Dowager Ashina shifted her gaze to the strangely shaped "toys" in the room.
"What are these things? Why are they so strange?"
When Empress Ashina first met them, she didn't recognize many of them.
What is that colorful mat?
It looks like it's inflated!
But why doesn't it break?
She clearly saw two chubby little babies, giggling and bouncing around energetically.
The chubby little boy, who is a little over one year old, must weigh at least 20 pounds.
It kept jumping around; if it were made of burlap or something, it would probably tear.
The cushion wasn't broken, and it even seemed quite bouncy.
There are also those little houses, slides, swings, etc., which are a bit strange in shape, but inexplicably cute.
Xie Yuan: ...The cartoon-style mushroom houses, spiral slides, etc., are all about being "cute".
Add some eye-catching colors and wrap it with rubber cartoon patterns, and not only kids, but adults will love it too.
"Mother, these are all toys that A-Yuan had the craftsmen make for the children!"
When Helian Jue spoke, his brows were full of pride and joy.
When Empress Dowager Ashina heard the name "A Yuan," a sinister glint flashed in her eyes.
This Xie woman is indeed a vixen skilled at bewitching people.
Even a cold-hearted wolf cub like Ah Xi was completely bewitched by her.
"We must get rid of her! She's far more powerful and terrifying than the Xiao family!"
"If she's in the palace, even if Ah Xue enters the palace, she still can't compete with her!"
Empress Dowager Ashina thought to herself, but forced an even more amiable smile onto her face. "Good! Empress Xie is indeed a woman of the Xie clan of Chen Commandery. She is knowledgeable and well-traveled, and even knows about these little trinkets!"
Xie Yuan raised an eyebrow: ...Oh wow, not bad! He didn't scold me for tinkering with weird and wonderful things.
"Your Majesty flatters me!"
Xie Yuan smiled modestly, displaying impeccable manners.
"..." Empress Dowager Ashina felt heartbroken when she saw her.
She turned her head and focused her gaze on the four little ones.
"These are A-Ping and the others?"
Jealousy and resentment flashed in Empress Ashina's eyes.
Both of them were empresses, yet neither of them had children of their own, while Xie Yuan gave birth to four children in one pregnancy.
The auspicious symbolism of two dragons and two phoenixes is rarely heard of.
This is the first time such a thing has happened in the Helian royal family.
The key point is that all four children are exceptionally good-looking.
They either resemble their mother, their father, or a combination of the best traits from both parents.
With such looks and such a background, she is simply God's favorite.
Such a fine child, yet he was born to the Xie family!
She clenched her hands tightly, her sharp nails digging into her palms. The pain reminded Empress Ashina that at least she hadn't let jealousy cloud her judgment.
"She's so beautiful!"
Empress Dowager Ashina uttered these words stiffly. She glanced at the wet nurses, palace maids, and others serving her around her, "You are all good. You have not disappointed the Empress's high regard for you!"
Upon hearing this, everyone knelt down, saying they dared not.
“Well done, well done! I am a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment.”
"If you do well, you'll be richly rewarded!"
"But if I don't do it well, I may be old and no longer be able to handle things. But I am still the Empress Dowager, and dealing with a few lowly maids and their families is no problem for me!"
Empress Dowager Ashina seemed like a loving grandmother who doted on her grandchildren; when she spoke, she was merely reprimanding the servants.
Helian Jue and Xie Yuan both frowned.
It's quite obvious that this restless old lady seems to be implying something.
Xie Yuan, in particular, felt a bad premonition when he thought about the situation he had recently investigated.
She raised her head and looked at Helian Jue.
Helian Jue gently shook his head at her, his eyes silently conveying, "Don't worry, I'm here!"
His Imperial Guards were no pushovers.
Moreover, if we were to say who in this world understands Empress Dowager Ashina the most, Helian Jue would definitely be one of them.
His adoptive mother was somewhat clever, but also self-righteous.
They're not stupid, but they do some stupid things.
Although it may not cause too many consequences, having such a "relative" is still a major headache for the family.
Helian Jue kept thinking about how to calm down Empress Dowager Ashina.
He had already chosen a temple and wanted to use the late emperor's name to "invite" Empress Dowager Ashina to go there for meditation.
Or, like the late emperor, he might contract an illness that renders him unable to care for himself, leaving him too preoccupied to cause trouble.
Helian Jue was secretly using both methods.
However, it still lacks a trigger, or rather, a "catalyst".
Yes, the gunpowder is ready, and the fuse is drawn; all that's left is for Empress Dowager Ashina to set off the fireworks herself.
Then--
BOOM!!
Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, all troubles are completely resolved!
...
A few days later, the Turkic delegation arrived in the capital.
Helian Jue didn't take it too seriously and, as was customary, simply let the Court of State Ceremonial handle it.
Helian Jue's message was simple: "The nature of the mission is unimportant, as long as they bring the ransom!"
He only cares about money, not people!
What Turkic princess? How can she be compared to cattle, horses, gold, and silver?
Empress Dowager Ashina: ...You unfilial son! Where is your manners?
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