This matter is not a secret and no one is taboo about it, so there is no harm in talking about it.
The current Empress Dowager is Prince Cheng’s biological mother. To the Emperor, she is not even his adoptive mother, but just one of his concubines.
The emperor's biological mother passed away before he ascended the throne. The emperor was benevolent and filial, and was grateful for the support of his mother's good sisters, so he specially honored them as empress dowager, which is also a good story.
Why did the Empress Dowager support the Emperor instead of supporting her own son? The reason was simple: Prince Cheng had an illness and was born without a hand, so the late Emperor never considered making him the heir.
The emperor also knew this reason, so after he ascended the throne, he directly promoted Prince Cheng to the throne, making him Prince Cheng, to preserve his life of wealth and glory.
Xu Yixing always felt that the empress dowager was afraid that the emperor would be unhappy, so she had been living in seclusion for many years.
"Then what does the Empress Dowager like on a daily basis? I'll be there later. How can I talk to her appropriately?"
Lu Anyuan looked at Xu Yixing and couldn't help laughing in his heart: "Why are you still worried about saying the wrong thing? Just look at your usual face!"
"Tsk! That's not about leaving a good impression."
Arriving at Yian Hall, the young eunuch trotted in with small steps to report. After a while, the old nanny beside the empress dowager came out in person and took the two of them into the hall to pay their respects.
"Your humble servant/grandson pays respects to the Queen Mother. May the Queen Mother live a thousand years!" It is really comfortable to kneel on the thick carpet in the Queen Mother's Palace.
"Oh, oh! Get up quickly, get up quickly!" The Queen Mother looked kind and happily told the two of them not to bow.
Xu Yixing looked up and saw the empress dowager sitting high in the front. Her face was full of wrinkles and she seemed to look even older than a sixty-year-old. He didn't know why.
"You are Xu's second daughter, right? What's your name? Come forward and let me see you."
Xu boy? Uh... The Queen Mother is twenty years older than Dad, that's okay!
Xu Yixing walked forward a bit and realized that the Queen Mother's eyesight was not very good, and perhaps her hearing was not very good either, so he replied loudly:
"Your humble servant, Xu Yiyan, pays homage to the Queen Mother once again, wishing her eternal peace and prosperity."
"Good, good, good!" The Queen Mother seemed even happier. She raised her hand, and the nanny beside her brought a plate down. Xu Yiyan took a closer look. Wow! A hairpin made of red gold and rubies, the body of the hairpin was as thick as a little finger. If it was placed on the head, it would probably pull out a lot of hair.
"Thank you, Queen Mother. This is too precious. I am overwhelmed."
Lu Anyuan also came forward and said, "Just take this gift from the Empress Dowager. It's rare for her to be so happy."
"Okay." Siqin walked to the front and took away the plate. Another palace maid held a large box, which was a gift prepared for the empress dowager.
"My father specifically instructed me to give this to you. It's aged mountain ginseng from the northern border, and it's the most suitable gift for the Queen Mother."
"Great, your father is so thoughtful! Yixing, I've always thought you were a good person since you were little. I never thought you would have such a good marriage with Yuan'er. Great, great!"
Xu Yixing shuddered and looked at Lu Anyuan. Lu Anyuan waited until the Queen Mother finished speaking before smiling faintly: "Grandmother, you are confused! This is Yiyan, not Yixing. Please take a closer look!"
"What? Isn't it Yixing?" The Queen Mother seemed a little confused. She took the reading glasses from the nanny, put them on, looked carefully for a few times, and nodded: "Look at the look in my eyes, I thought it was Yixing, hahaha!"
Xu Yixing smiled, but his mind was still reeling. He had only seen the Empress Dowager once or twice, and both times from as far away as possible. How could she have called him Yixing the moment she opened her mouth? It seemed the Empress Dowager's absence was likely due to her age and confusion. No wonder.
After the greetings, the two naturally took their seats. In front of the Queen Mother, Lu Anyuan really acted like a good grandson. He told two little jokes, which made the old lady laugh heartily. She kept asking them to stay for lunch.
"Grandmother, I have to meet the other palace mothers today. When I'm free, I'll let Yi Yan accompany you every day!"
Haha, he's already arranging work for me before I even get married. This Lu Anyuan really doesn't treat me as an outsider.
"Oh, okay, okay. Yi Yan, you've been here for half a day, and I forgot to ask why your sister didn't come with you? She's been busy competing with people everywhere."
Oh, the old queen is quite concerned about me. "No, my sister..."
Lu Anyuan gently put down the teacup and tapped it on the table to indicate that he would speak.
"Grandmother, you've forgotten that Yixing is already married. How can she still be causing trouble like she did when she was little?"
"Really?" The Queen Mother pressed her hand to her temple, as if recalling something. "I remember now, she married the eldest grandson of the Sun family, right? Oh, I'm not saying, they don't seem to be a good match. This is Yixing..."
Just as the Queen Mother was about to go off track, the old maid interrupted, "Queen Mother, it's time to take the medicine. The Queen and the other concubines are waiting to see them. Why don't you just stop here today?"
"Oh, okay, then you guys go first!"
Lu Anyuan took Xu Yixing away, and the old queen mother kept looking at their backs. When the nanny brought the medicine over, the queen mother seemed to remember something:
"I remember Yuan'er liked the eldest daughter of the Xu family. Now he's going to marry the second daughter. I'm afraid he's not happy about it."
The maids who followed the Queen Mother began serving her as soon as they entered the palace, so they had no taboos when speaking:
"Marriage is something that cannot be forced; it is fate. Your Majesty, please stop worrying. Look at you, your confusion is getting worse. How could you mistake Miss Xu for Miss Xu?"
"Eh? Wasn't that Yixing who was looking at me just now?"
Okay, I’m confused again!
After leaving Yi'an Hall, the two walked along the long corridor and were now heading to the Queen's residence. The Queen lived in the easternmost part, close to the East Palace prepared for the future Crown Prince, just opposite the Queen Mother's residence.
"Empress Dowager, do you recognize me...sister?" Xu Yixing looked at the eunuch leading the way in front, but still didn't dare to speak casually.
"Of course I know him." Lu Anyuan took long steps forward, seemingly taking a long stride, but in fact he would take a half step back with each step. He was taking care of Xu Yixing's speed. "Xiao Youzi, please walk faster. The Queen must be waiting anxiously."
The young eunuch responded, realizing he was being told to leave, and hurried over a dozen steps to create some distance. Seeing this, the palace servants behind him also retreated, leaving enough space for the two men.
"Do you remember the first time we met?"
"Why are you asking this question again? I didn't think about it last time."
"It's in the study." Lu Anyuan turned his head, hoping to give her some hints.
"Well... go to the study, let me think..." She had indeed been there a few times, but after being punished by her father, she got angry and never went to the palace again.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
