Yuan Zi looked stunned, clearly not expecting to run into him here.
“Granny Cui…” she called out, frowning.
Coming to her senses, she quickly stepped forward: "What are you doing here?!"
Instead of answering Yuanzi's question, Cui Mama bowed to her.
Before the ceremony was even finished, the latter hurriedly helped her up. The princess, who had been so arrogant just moments before, now spoke with an unusual humility, saying, "Granny, please get up quickly. Aren't you making me feel uncomfortable?"
She didn't even have to kneel before her father, the emperor, so how could she dare to ask him to kneel before her?
Seeing this, Wei Zhao was completely bewildered.
He subconsciously looked at Shen Qiyin beside him, only to see her calm expression, as if she had known this would happen.
Thinking of this possibility, Wei Zhao moved closer to her and asked in a low voice, "Senior Sister, what exactly is Aunt Cui's background?"
"She is His Majesty's wet nurse."
"Wh-what?!" Wei Zhao exclaimed in astonishment.
He never imagined that Aunt Cui had this other identity.
In fact, Shen Xiyin didn't know this at first.
During the Lunar New Year, on the first day of the new year, Aunt Cui came back and brought them some snacks. At that time, although she recognized that they were from the palace, she only guessed that she had some connection with the palace.
But she had no idea what kind of relationship they had.
After she brought Yuan Zhan and Empress Si to stay with her, fearing that Aunt Cui might come and see them and the news would reach the palace, she told Xiao Yan about her concerns and asked him to have someone carefully investigate Aunt Cui's identity.
That's how she learned from Xiao Yan that this seemingly ordinary old woman actually had such a terrifying identity.
In fact, if Aunt Cui was merely Emperor Xuanwu's wet nurse, even if she was respected, it wouldn't have caused a princess as arrogant as Yuan Zi to show such awe.
The problem is that Aunt Cui had risked her life to protect Emperor Xuanwu several times.
Not only that, her two sons also lost their lives because of Emperor Xuanwu.
Her eldest son, who had once been a bodyguard to Emperor Xuanwu, died protecting him during an assassination attempt.
Her second son was imprisoned by Emperor Xuanwu, who later ascended the throne, for supporting his political enemies.
Emperor Xuanwu was originally prepared to spare Cui's life out of respect for her, but Cui refused after learning about the matter.
Ultimately, her second son committed suicide in prison.
Emperor Xuanwu originally intended to bestow upon her the title of Lady of Imperial Decree and keep her in the palace to live out her remaining years, but she insisted on leaving the palace.
If it weren't for the lessons learned from Empress Si and Yuan Zhan, and if Shen Qiyin hadn't known about Xiao Yan's mother's experiences, she might have thought that Emperor Xuanwu was a very humane emperor who would choose to keep Cui Da Niang's son out of compassion.
Knowing those things, she couldn't help but overthink Emperor Xuanwu's behavior.
Maybe……
He was only trying to gain a reputation for being kind and benevolent.
Pulling herself out of her memories, Shen Qiyin heard Yuan Zi ask Aunt Cui again, "I never expected to run into you here."
Aunt Cui smiled and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This servant never expected to meet the princess here."
"You and them..."
“Oh, I’m their neighbor. These children are kind-hearted and have always taken good care of me.” After a pause, Aunt Cui added, seemingly unintentionally, “On New Year’s Eve, when I went to the palace, I mentioned it to His Majesty, and he said he would thank them properly for me.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Zi's face immediately darkened.
The person her father wanted to thank, she wanted to punish; wasn't that a blatant slap in his face?
Just then, as if oblivious to her presence, Aunt Cui asked, "I haven't asked yet, what brings the princess here?"
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