Empress Dowager Xiao was clear-headed yet selfish, and had no desire to get involved in the messy affairs of her children and grandchildren.
She was like a somewhat senile old woman, only casually asking some trivial questions, such as—
"The cat looks like it's gotten fatter again. The princess has done a great job."
"How is Sanlang? His Majesty specially ordered the Imperial Workshop to make a wheelchair for him. Is he finding it convenient to use?"
"I heard the concubine is pregnant? It's a good thing to have children! I happen to have some bird's nest here, take it back, you and the concubine can both have a good nourishing meal!"
Although Empress Xiao loved herself the most, it was also this "self-love" that made her very carefree.
She never felt jealous of her daughter-in-law, nor did she ever try to be a wicked mother-in-law caught between her son and daughter-in-law.
To be honest, Empress Dowager Xiao was definitely a good mother-in-law to Princess Yan.
They did not allow him to take concubines, nor did they pressure him to have children.
They just let things take their natural course; whatever the young couple wants to do, that's their choice.
Empress Dowager Xiao would only offer slight assistance or bestow some gifts within the limits of her ability.
That's all.
But for a daughter-in-law, such a mother-in-law is already a goddess.
Countless daughters-in-law in the capital envy Princess Yan.
Princess Consort of Yan: ...What's there to envy?
A good mother-in-law doesn't force concubines or pressure her to have children.
She doesn't care!
Princess Yan never cared whether her husband took a concubine or had children.
Born into a wealthy family, the children were taught from a young age that men could have multiple wives and concubines.
Moreover, to say something that might infuriate the Third Prince, the Princess Consort of Yan was very willing to let her husband take a concubine after giving birth to her legitimate son.
In ancient times, production was like passing through the gates of hell.
If one is unlucky, they could end up losing both their child and their unborn child.
Besides the dangers, the process of conceiving a child is also extremely difficult.
A loss of body shape, an ugly appearance, morning sickness, frequent urination, and other problems are all very distressing.
Princess Yan didn't want to suffer these things all the time. Since she had a legitimate son, she felt confident and wanted to shift the risks onto other women.
If Empress Dowager Xiao were a wicked mother-in-law, the Princess Consort of Yan would actually benefit.
As a result, Empress Dowager Xiao completely disregarded these matters, leaving Princess Yan without the confidence to make any other requests.
My mother-in-law is so good to me, yet I'm still not satisfied.
Princess Yan knew perfectly well that if she were to clash with Empress Dowager Xiao, the outside world would overwhelmingly condemn her.
"But this isn't the kind of 'good' I want."
Princess Yan was ambitious; she wanted to become the most honored woman in the world.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans, and her husband became disabled.
He was so frightened by the Fifth Prince next door that he lost his courage and dared not show his face again.
Princess Yan disliked both the Third Prince's disability and his incompetence.
The only purpose this person served was probably to give her a son, a prince of Yan surnamed Helian.
Since her husband was unreliable, Princess Yan wanted her son to "make something of himself".
"Mother, the fox has begun its education!"
Tired of listening to Empress Dowager Xiao's ramblings about trivial family matters, Princess Yan quickly interrupted and shifted the topic to her son.
She looked eagerly at the little boy, who was just over two years old, and urged him with her eyes, "Li Nu, quickly recite the 'Grandfather's Family Instructions' that your mother taught you to your grandmother!"
"Taigong's Family Instructions" is a primer, just like the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Classic that came hundreds of years later. They were all books used to enlighten young children.
Empress Dowager Xiao was somewhat speechless. "How old is Li Nu? Many young men his age can't even speak clearly."
Boys tend to learn to speak later, so it's already quite remarkable for a two-year-old to be able to speak clearly and fluently.
Princess Yan actually made such a young child memorize primers!
Even books aimed at early childhood education are relatively simple and easy to recite.
But it is a "book" after all, a proper article. Even if a child memorizes it, he still can't remember it.
Even more incomprehensible!
"Li Nu may have inherited the intelligence of the late emperor and the empress dowager; he is extremely talented!"
Hearing Empress Dowager Xiao's speechlessness, Princess Yan did not take it seriously.
She deliberately mentioned the late emperor, intending to remind Empress Dowager Xiao, a woman whose heart belonged only to her husband:
Dear Mother-in-law, my son, your grandson, possesses both the wisdom of the late Emperor and your intelligence!
Empress Dowager Xiao: ...If you act too well, it can also cause trouble.
People in the palace, and even in the capital, probably all thought she deeply loved the late emperor and was a foolish woman whose eyes and heart were only for her husband.
It is estimated that even the late emperor, if Empress Xiao had not spoken up herself, would have mistakenly thought that Empress Xiao loved him deeply!
After silently grumbling, Empress Dowager Xiao didn't bother to remind her again.
When the Princess Consort of Yan saw that Empress Dowager Xiao remained silent, she thought she had guessed her mother-in-law's actions correctly.
She urged again, "Li Nu, hurry up!"
Two-year-old little bean, so cute and well-behaved.
"Yes, Mother!"
The little guy straightened up and began to recite: "He who gains an ox must return a horse; if he goes but does not return, no, no—"
Being so young, he couldn't memorize more than two lines.
Princess Yan's eyes immediately turned sharp.
However, she did not lose her mind and remembered that Empress Dowager Xiao was sitting in front of her.
She tried her best to be patient, lowering her voice and gently reminding him, "This is not a proper ceremony!"
"Oh! It's not a proper ceremony!"
The little boy looked timidly at his mother while trying hard to recall the rest of the text.
However, perhaps they were too young to remember, or perhaps they were too scared and nervous to memorize it.
He repeated the phrase "not a proper ceremony" several times.
Princess Yan clenched her fists tightly, and the veins on her slender, fair hands bulged out.
Empress Dowager Xiao could no longer stand it.
She really didn't want to get involved in these messy affairs, but as the Empress Dowager and the mother-in-law of the Princess of Yan, she couldn't bear to see the Princess of Yan forcing her own grandson like this.
"Wow! Tanuki is amazing, she can even recite articles now!"
Empress Dowager Xiao was angry, but she didn't show it. She smiled kindly and generously said, "The cat did a good job, Grandma will reward you!"
As she spoke, Empress Dowager Xiao turned to the palace maid beside her and said, "Have the small kitchen make some pastries. Go and watch over the cat, and make sure it eats plenty!"
The palace maid quickly agreed and reached out to pick up the cat.
The cat instinctively looked at the Princess of Yan.
Princess Yan was unaware that Empress Dowager Xiao was already angry; she only thought that her son had performed well and truly pleased Empress Dowager Xiao.
"I knew it! The youngest son and the eldest grandson are the old lady's lifeblood."
"Even if she becomes the Empress Dowager, she is still an elder. How could she not truly cherish her grandson?"
"Especially since my cat is so intelligent—"
Princess Yan thought to herself smugly that Empress Dowager Xiao really liked the cat and wanted to give it special treatment, so she didn't stop her.
Seeing his mother's beaming smile, the little boy obediently followed the palace maid.
After dismissing the child, Empress Dowager Xiao looked at Princess Yan and said, "If you don't want to keep the cat, I'll find it a different mother!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
