Chapter 371: Calling the Queen Mother Every Day
When Yan Shixu stepped into the Bixi Palace, Wen Li'er was lazily leaning on the chaise longue, holding a little baby wrapped in an exquisite swaddling cloth in her arms.
There was a gentleness like water in her lowered eyes, and a quiet and satisfied smile at the corner of her lips.
Next to her on the carpet, there were four children sitting in a row.
The youngest one was currently being held in Nanny Qin's arms.
Nanny Qin bent slightly and gently handed the baby in her arms to Wen Li'er.
She whispered, "Look, Your Majesty, the little prince has just eaten and is sleeping soundly."
When Wen Li'er heard this, the smile on her face became even bigger, like the warmest sunshine in spring.
Yan Shixu stood at the door, looking at the warm scene of "children around his knees" in front of him, and a hot current instantly surged into his heart, stirring his chest.
Five children! All of them were his and Li'er's flesh and blood.
He felt a hint of guilt and a guilty conscience.
Since returning to the palace yesterday, he has not come to see the two children until now.
When the palace maids standing in the hall saw him, they bowed hurriedly to greet him.
"Your Majesty!"
When Xiaoxiao and Miaomiao heard the sound, they turned their heads in exactly the same way.
When they saw the person coming, surprise immediately appeared on the faces of the two little guys.
"Father!"
"Father~~~"
Two small figures, like young swallows, pounced over excitedly and hugged Yan Shixu's thighs tightly on the left and right.
Yan Shixu felt warm in his heart. He leaned over and rubbed the furry heads of the two little guys. Then, wearing the two "leg pendants", he walked towards Wen Li'er.
Wen Li'er raised her eyes, and her clear, autumn-water eyes were instantly filled with shyness the moment they met his gaze.
She subconsciously tried to stand up with the help of the handrail, but the man had already strode over to her and gently pressed his warm palm on her shoulder.
"Don't move, take a good rest, let me hold the child."
As he spoke, he carefully took the swaddled little daughter from her arms.
The small body was tightly wrapped in brocade, with only a round little head exposed.
Although his eyebrows and eyes have not yet fully grown, his outline already reveals some of his mother's shadow.
At this moment, the little girl's eyes were half closed, and her thick and long eyelashes were like two small feather fans, densely covering her face and casting a faint shadow on her pink cheeks.
Yan Shixu moved his little daughter steadily onto his left arm, and then extended his hand towards Nanny Qin.
"Come, let me hold Xiaowu too."
Nanny Qin quickly handed the little prince in her arms over.
The little guy was also sleeping soundly, with one of his little fists clenched next to his ear, his little mouth slightly pouting, and his humming voice looking equally adorable.
Wen Li'er looked at His Majesty, who had one bend in his left arm, one bend in his right arm, and two "small weights" hanging on his legs. She tried hard to purse her lips to prevent herself from laughing out loud.
This scene really looks like a towering tree with branches full of heavy, sweet fruits.
But... her gaze turned to Tiantian who was sitting quietly on the stool.
Why doesn't this child get close to his father?
She gently rubbed Tiantian's head, and Yan Shixu's gaze fell on this exceptionally quiet second son.
His tone was gentle, with a hint of expectation: "Tiantian, come to father."
Tiantian's small body seemed to stiffen slightly, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his obsidian eyes.
Wen Li'er gently nudged his little shoulder, her voice as soft as a feather:
"Tiantian, this is Father. He is the best father in the world to Tiantian."
Tiantian pursed her pink lips, finally stood up slowly, and walked to Yan Shixu with her short legs.
He grabbed the hem of Yan Shixu's drooping bright yellow dragon robe, raised his little face, and called out calmly, "Father."
His voice was not loud, but it exploded in Wen Li'er's ears like thunder.
She suddenly sat up from the chaise longue, her beautiful eyes wide open, filled with disbelief and ecstasy.
"You little guy, you finally speak!"
For two years, Tiantian could clearly understand and speak, but he didn't like to speak.
When she suddenly heard his voice at this moment, Wen Li'er felt a sour and hot feeling rushing to her eyes.
When Yan Shixu was at Zhennan Pass, he learned from Wen Li'er's worried letter that Tiantian was silent.
Hearing this call with my own ears at this moment, my heart was also stirred.
He carefully handed the two swaddling clothes in his arms to the two wet nurses standing respectfully beside him, then bent down and steadily picked up Tiantian in front of him.
Wen Li'er had also stood up and snuggled up to Yan Shixu, looking expectantly at her son in his arms.
"Tiantian, you haven't called me mother yet."
Tiantian looked up at her, his deep eyes, which were very similar to his father's, were particularly focused.
He opened his mouth slightly and uttered two words clearly: "Mother... Queen."
Wen Li'er was stunned, and then startled.
She had never taught her children to call her that.
The air in the hall seemed to freeze in an instant. All the palace servants gasped in shock, hunched their shoulders, and lowered their heads deeply to reduce their presence.
Mother Concubine - Queen Mother.
A difference of one word can make a huge difference.
Even though their master is now the only person in His Majesty's heart and is unparalleled in honor and favor.
But she usurped the title of queen before she was officially crowned. This is a crime of treason!
Yan Shixu's handsome eyebrows raised slightly, but instead of getting angry, he held his son in his arms higher.
He looked deeply into his son's clear yet unusually calm eyes.
Tiantian looked at his father without fear, and there was no panic on his little face.
After a moment, Yan Shixu's chest vibrated and he let out a low and hearty laugh.
"Good boy."
His tone was relaxed and cheerful, and he said with a smile: "You are born with a sharp mind, with the ability to predict the future?"
Yan Shixu's words contain a huge amount of information.
Predict the future?
The Third Prince called his mother...
So, Your Majesty is... going to enthrone the Queen as Empress?!
The palace servants in the hall were so excited that their hearts were beating wildly.
If the master becomes the queen, the status and position of those who serve her closely will naturally rise.
Whether you are released from the palace when you reach a certain age, or continue to work in the palace, your future is bright!
Wen Li'er looked at him.
Although she has not yet worn the phoenix crown, her status in the harem is already equivalent to that of the queen.
At this moment, hearing him so naturally acknowledge the child's call of "Mother", the happiness of being firmly chosen and fully recognized surged in my heart like honey.
Yan Shixu also turned his gaze to Wen Lier and no longer hid it from her.
"Li'er, prepare well. We will be married in a month. By then, you will be my rightful empress and the mother of Dayan."
"A month? So soon?"
Wen Li'er opened her eyes wide in astonishment: "Is the Ministry of Rites...still able to prepare in time?"
Yan Shixu laughed out loud, a bit complacent. "Before I left the capital, I ordered the Ministry of Rites to begin preparations for our wedding. Today, the Minister of Rites reported to me that all preparations have been completed."
"The Imperial Astronomical Observatory has also calculated an auspicious date. The eighth day of next month is an auspicious day for marriage."
Wen Li'er was stunned.
She never expected that he had already made all the arrangements when he went to the battlefield a year ago.
And what he was talking about was not the enthronement ceremony, but the wedding of the emperor and empress, which symbolizes the highest standards and complete wedding ceremony.
According to the regulations of our ancestors, there were no "six rites" for the succession of a queen. There were only ceremonies of conferring titles and treasures and the congratulations of all officials. There was no need for a wedding ceremony and no wedding symbols were involved.
Only when the emperor first married his original empress would he marry her formally with the complete "Six Rites". The process was the same as that of folk marriages and was of great significance.
Wen Li'er was moved and tears welled up in her eyes.
Seeing this, Yan Shixu immediately put Tiantian down, stretched out his long arms, and pulled her into his arms.
He kissed the corner of her eye distressedly, his tone a little nervous: "Why are you crying? Are you not happy?"
Wen Li'er shook her head vigorously in his arms, choking with sobs, "No... I'm just too happy..."
Yan Shixu smiled softly and kissed her blushing cheek lovingly.
At this moment, Qingzhu came in lightly and reported respectfully: "Your Majesty, the carriage to Huguo Temple is ready."
Upon hearing this, Wen Li'er raised her head slightly from Yan Shixu's arms and looked at him with her watery eyes.
"Your Majesty, will you go with me?"
Yan Shixu nodded, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "Of course I'll go together. This wish was inspired by me, so we should go together to thank the Buddha."
Miaomiao tilted her little head, as if trying to understand what "Huguo Temple" was and what to do there.
Xiaoxiao, who was standing by, jumped up excitedly and hugged Wen Lier's legs.
He raised his little face and shouted excitedly: "Mother! Xiaoxiao wants to go too! Can you take Xiaoxiao with you?"
Wen Li'er looked at Yan Shixu with a smile and left the decision to him.
Yan Shixu looked at his son's expectant face and nodded, "Okay, the fourth and fifth children will stay, and the three older ones will follow."
As for what to name the two little ones in swaddling clothes, he would need to think about it carefully after returning to the palace.
When Xiaoxiao heard that he could go with them, his little face lit up with joy and he clapped his hands and nodded repeatedly.
…
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