The next morning, the little dumpling got out of bed and ran to Mu Tingzheng's room.
The little dumpling climbed barefoot onto Mu Tingzheng's bed, jumping and shouting:
"Daddy, wake up! The sun's shining on your bottom!"
Mu Ting opened his eyes groggily and saw his daughter wearing a thin nightgown. He quickly reached out and pulled her into the quilt.
Touching her feet, which were icy cold, Mu Ting grabbed them and warmed her cold little feet with his belly.
Mu Ting tidied the little dumpling's messy hair and said unhappily, "Why didn't you wear a fur coat when you ran out? What if you catch a cold!"
The little bundle crawled out of the blankets again, tugging at Mu Tingzheng's arm and saying:
"Father, get up quickly."
"We're going to the palace today, but Father is still sleeping in!"
Mu Ting sighed helplessly as the little dumpling pulled him up.
It wasn't that he was sleeping in; it was clearly that the little guy was too excited to sleep and woke him up early in the morning.
Last night, the little dumpling was curious about what kind of people her uncle and aunt were, and kept talking to Qiuqiu until the little dog was so sleepy that her eyes were filled with tears before she finally stopped.
This morning, I woke up my father first, wanting to go to the palace as soon as possible to see my mother's brother.
Mu Ting called in a maid to help the little girl get ready.
He took a flowing fairy dress and instructed the maid to dress the little dumpling in it.
This dress was specially commissioned by the Empress to be made by a famous craftsman from Jiangnan. It is said that in the sunlight, the dress will shimmer like the surface of water, and at night, it will be like a sky full of stars.
Mu Ting was having the little girl wear this dress, not only because the dress itself was extremely valuable, but also because of the affection between the Empress and his wife.
Inside the Duande Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Empress Su Ruiling was sitting in front of the mirror, carefully selecting hairpins and rings.
Su Ruiling was elegant in demeanor and beautiful in appearance, especially her gentle and tender eyes.
But now there was a hint of tension in his eyes.
Su Ruiling looked around for a long time but couldn't find anything she liked. She turned to the palace maid behind her and said:
"Go and bring me the phoenix crown I wore when I was crowned empress."
Then, Su Ruiling pressed down on the hand of the palace maid next to her and took the lip rouge from her hand.
"This lip rouge is too bright, let's go for a softer color."
Seeing how meticulous the Empress was in handling everything, her head maid, Granny Chang, couldn't help but smile and say:
"Your Majesty, you are being far too meticulous."
Su Ruiling: "Of course! I'm about to meet my little niece, how could I not be careful!"
What if her lip color is too dark and scares her little niece?
In addition, to show that she was being honored as empress, she had to wear the phoenix crown.
Su Ruiling clutched her chest and said to Granny Chang, "Granny Chang, my heart is pounding with nervousness. Have you prepared the gift for Xiao Tuan'er? I don't know if she'll like it."
After Su Ruiling finished speaking, she still felt uneasy and got up to check again.
Granny Chang quickly pressed Su Ruiling down, "My lady, the hairpins and rings aren't on yet, you're just confused because you're nervous."
Su Ruiling patted her head and said, "Yes, yes, I was really confused."
Su Ruiling had no choice but to calm herself down and let the palace maids around her put the phoenix crown on her head as empress.
Su Ruiling clenched her hands nervously. The person she was about to meet was none other than Mu Jintuan, her best friend and the daughter of Princess Yuening!
Su Ruiling grew up with Princess Yuening since childhood. The two were sisters, best friends, and confidants who shared hardships. This friendship was the most precious thing in Su Ruiling's heart.
During the years since Princess Yuening disappeared, Su Ruiling had not been happy for a single day. Only when she learned that her little dumpling had been found did she feel a glimmer of light in her gloomy life.
So she discussed with the Emperor about holding this banquet to welcome the little dumpling back.
As Su Ruiling was thinking, a palace maid rushed in anxiously.
"Your Majesty, Consort Xin has arrived and says she wishes to pay her respects."
Upon hearing the name Consort Xin, Su Ruiling's expression immediately turned displeased, but she still maintained her composure.
"As I have already said, Consort Xin is pregnant and has been exempted from paying her respects."
The palace maid said, "I have reported to Her Majesty the Empress, but Consort Xin is still pregnant and refuses to leave, insisting on seeing Her Majesty."
Granny Chang snorted coldly, "This scoundrel, taking advantage of her pregnancy, acts arrogantly everywhere, and now she even dares to cause trouble in Duande Palace. Your Majesty, this servant will go and drive her away right away."
Although Su Ruiling disliked Consort Xin, she still managed to stop Granny Chang.
"The little dumpling will be entering the palace soon. Just let her go back to the palace and stay there. Don't have any conflicts with her. After all, she is carrying His Majesty's child."
"If she still persists, then tell her that I am not in a position to see her right now. If she still refuses to give up, then say that you are going to invite His Majesty."
Granny Chang agreed and, after leaving the palace, relayed Su Ruiling's words to Consort Xin.
Consort Xin, who had been lingering in front of the Duande Hall, changed her expression upon hearing that His Majesty was to be invited to come down, and immediately left with her entourage.
Granny Chang spat at Consort Xin's retreating figure.
"Bah! If it weren't for the big day of welcoming Miss Mu today, this old servant would have cursed your face to pieces."
Around noon, the Mu family and their entourage were already standing in front of the palace gates.
The little dumpling was dressed in a flowing fairy dress, the hem of which shimmered in the sunlight, as beautiful as the rippling sea.
Many carriages of princes and nobles were parked in front of the palace gates; they were all invited to attend the court banquet.
The little dumpling was being held by Mu Ting, and people came up to greet him from time to time.
"Daddy, there are so many people." The little dumpling whispered in Mu Tingzheng's ear.
As soon as the little dumpling finished speaking, the towering palace gates slowly opened, and the emperor and empress, dressed in dragon robes and phoenix cloaks, slowly walked out of the palace gates.
The princes, nobles, and civil and military officials at the palace gates all knelt down and shouted in unison:
"Greetings, Your Majesty; greetings, Empress."
To be greeted by the emperor at the palace gate—that must be an incredible honor!
Many people are extremely envious of the Mu family.
"All of you, rise." The emperor, who was about the same age as Mu Tingzheng, waved his sleeve and went straight to Mu Tingzheng.
The Emperor helped Mu Tingzheng up and said in a tone like that of an old friend, "General Mu, it's been a long time."
"This must be the little dumpling."
The Emperor looked at the baby in Mu Ting's arms and gently stroked her little face with affection.
The little girl sized up the emperor before her. His handsome face was filled with majestic imperial authority, but his eyes were smiling as he looked at her. His eyebrows and eyes were very similar to her mother's, only with an added touch of imperial sharpness.
"Uncle," the little dumpling called out.
She didn't call him Emperor, nor did she call him Uncle Emperor; she simply addressed him as "Uncle" in the most peaceful tone.
Just those two simple words brought tears to the emperor's eyes.
The bond of blood ties was awakened by her calling him "uncle".
"Little dumpling, my precious niece." The emperor picked up the little dumpling and kissed her chubby little cheek.
The little dumpling giggled and reached out its tiny hand to touch the dragon pearl on the emperor's crown.
"Uncle, the beads on your head are so big and beautiful."
The civil and military officials stared in shock at the little boy's actions.
That's the Emperor's crown! How dare she touch it?!
They're like a newborn calf that's not afraid of a tiger.
All the officials craned their necks to watch, eager to see how the emperor would handle the situation.
But to their utter surprise, after hearing what the little dumpling said, the emperor actually reached out and took the dragon pearl off.
And he even put the Dragon Ball into the little dumpling's hand.
The Emperor said, "Since the little dumpling likes it, then the uncle will give this big pearl to the little dumpling."
Civil and military officials: ? ? ?
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