"Yes." Si Luo walked in. "Please, Duke Jing."
Xiao Yan's expression was rather unpleasant.
That brat Gu Heng is truly heartless.
"Your Majesty, I have not seen the Empress Dowager for a long time. Before leaving the palace, I hope that I may see the Empress Dowager one last time," he suddenly said.
Gu Heng glanced at him and refused without hesitation, "The Empress Dowager is unwell and cannot be disturbed. Let the Duke of Jingguo come to the palace to see her again when she is feeling better."
Xiao Yan had expected him to refuse, so he wasn't too surprised.
"Then I shall take my leave." He said, raising his hand to put it on Si Luo's shoulder. "Vice Commander Si, let's go."
Si Luo waved his hand away and said calmly, "Duke Jingguo, please go first."
Xiao Yan shrugged and was the first to leave the Imperial Study.
Si Luo then led his men to "escort" him out of the palace.
At this moment, in Jingci Palace, Atuo Jianghua, carrying the little prince, followed the palace servants into the main hall.
She kept thinking about what Xiao Yan had said, so she deliberately brought the little prince over, making people think that she wanted to use the little prince to get closer to the Empress Dowager.
Before entering the main hall, she had her wet nurse wait outside and went in alone, carrying the little prince.
After not seeing her for a few days, the Empress Dowager looked much worse.
When Atuo Jianghua saw this, his heart sank.
"How is the Empress Dowager's health now?" she asked, taking two steps forward while holding the child.
"I'm fine." The Empress Dowager's expression softened upon seeing her. She paused, noticing the infant in her arms, and asked, "Who is this child...?"
“This is the prince that Consort Liu gave birth to a few days ago. The Emperor has registered him under my name,” Atuo Jianghua explained.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager beckoned and said, "Bring him here so I can have a look."
"Yes." Atuo Jianghua quickly took the child over to show her.
The infant, still in swaddling clothes, is oblivious to everything and sleeps soundly.
The Empress Dowager smiled kindly, "Look at this child, how well he's sleeping."
“Indeed, this child is very well-behaved and doesn’t cry much, which makes people… feel very sorry for him.” A-Tuo Jiang Hua sighed softly.
She didn't want to take on this troublesome task, but after taking care of the child for a few days, she found him to be so well-behaved that it broke her heart. She wondered if he was aware of her situation.
The Empress Dowager noticed the unusual tone in her voice and asked, "What's wrong?"
Atuo Jianghua said, "This child was not born at full term. His birth mother... is gone."
The Empress Dowager paused, thinking of Wen Ruyi's cautious yet scheming face, and sighed softly, "She really is a pitiful child." As she spoke, she stretched out her hand, "Let me hold her."
Atuo Jianghua handed the child to her as instructed.
"Has this child been named yet?" The Empress Dowager took the child, placed it on her lap, and asked softly.
Atuo Jianghua shook her head, "His Majesty is probably too busy and hasn't had time to name the child yet."
The Empress Dowager paused for a moment, then said kindly, "Before he was born, his birth mother often came here, so I feel a connection with this child. In that case, I will give him a name."
Atuo Jianghua knew perfectly well that the Empress Dowager was aware of Wen Ruyi's purpose in visiting Jingci Palace. However, even though she knew that Wen Ruyi's intentions were impure, she could still remain so calm and composed, which made Atuo Jianghua admire the old lady's magnanimity.
"It would be a blessing for the child if the Empress Dowager could name him," she said sincerely.
Being personally named by the Empress Dowager is an unparalleled honor. In the future, even if this child has no birth mother, no one in the palace will dare to look down on or bully him.
The Empress Dowager shook her head. "His birth mother was also pitiful..." She thought that after completing the task, she would be able to rise to prominence, but she never expected that she would end up dying a tragic death. She sighed and said kindly, "Let's name him Siyuan. When drinking water, remember the source. Think of the source."
Upon hearing this, Atuo Jianghua immediately praised, "This name is quite meaningful and sounds nice."
The Empress Dowager smiled slightly. "You think it's good too?"
"Hmm, it sounds quite nice." Atuo Jianghua nodded, then took something out of her sleeve and handed it to her. "Does the Empress Dowager recognize this?"
The Empress Dowager paused, not answering directly, but instead asking, "Where did you get it?"
“It was a gift from the Duke of Jingguo,” Atuo Jianghua replied. “The Duke of Jingguo said that the Empress Dowager would understand when she saw this.”
The Empress Dowager looked at the jade pendant in her hand. She naturally recognized the jade pendant. It was the one she had personally put on Xiao Yan when he was born.
"What did the Duke of Jingguo say to you?" she asked after a long pause.
"The Duke of Jingguo asked me to tell you that the Emperor has forbidden him from entering the palace to see you during this period. Please cooperate with me when the time comes."
As A-Tuo Jiang Hua spoke, she quickly added, "He said that he recently received news that Nong Nong is pregnant and the baby will be born in a few months."
Xiao Yan had asked her to say those words. He didn't actually know if Wen Nong Nong was pregnant, but he knew that the Empress Dowager cared about Gu Linchao and Wen Nong Nong and had long hoped that the two could have an heir as soon as possible. After learning about this, he took the opportunity to propose that they go to Xiangzhou together, and she would definitely be tempted.
Sure enough, after hearing her words, the Empress Dowager's face lit up with joy. "Really?"
“It’s true, absolutely true,” Atuo Jianghua said immediately.
The Empress Dowager's expression was full of excitement.
Nong Nong is pregnant? That's wonderful!
Atuo Jianghua seized the opportunity to say, "Doesn't the Empress Dowager want to go to Xiangzhou to see for herself the birth of her grandson?"
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