After the young Emperor dismissed his court, he left a crowd of princes, ministers, eunuchs, and palace maids in a state of panic.
After searching most of the Imperial Palace from dawn until midday, they finally found the young Emperor in a corner of the Fengxian Hall, sobbing inconsolably while hugging the late Emperor’s morial tablet.
Ever since, whenever soone petitioned the Emperor to appoint an Empress, the young Emperor would simply disappear and mourn the late Emperor.
Every ti the Duke of Jingguo and the others thought about this, they felt a headache coming on.
"Empress Dowager, I have a daring conjecture, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to voice it!"
The Duchess of Jingguo wore a solemn expression and spoke softly.
Empress Dowager Xiao glanced at her. "At a ti like this, if you have sothing to say, say it quickly. Is there any need to beat around the bush?"
Hearing Empress Dowager Xiao’s words, the Duchess of Jingguo finally mustered the courage to voice her speculation.
"Empress Dowager, do you think His Majesty might have been traumatized by what happened to the late Emperor..."
"How audacious! You foolish woman! Are His Majesty’s affairs sothing you can casually speculate on? Are you trying to bring ruin upon our entire Duke of Jingguo’s Mansion?"
Before the Duchess of Jingguo could finish speaking, she was abruptly cut off by her irate husband, the Duke of Jingguo.
"Enough! Let her speak. We’re all family here. Everyone listen carefully: you are not to breathe a word of what happened today to anyone outside. If I find out you have, there will be severe consequences!"
Once the Empress Dowager had spoken, the Duchess of Jingguo boldly continued.
"I was just thinking, could it be that because of the late Emperor’s passing, His Majesty has lost all interest in harem affairs? Is that why he elevated a commoner to the rank of Princess? Perhaps he intends to adopt an heir from the Clan. Then, if he waits for this commoner Princess to mature, he could marry her to that adopted heir... In that way, His Majesty would have a legitimate successor."
As soon as the Duchess of Jingguo said this, everyone present gasped.
Empress Dowager Xiao, in particular, felt a suffocating tightness in her chest, and a wave of panic washed over her.
"Keep this matter under wraps. No one is to leak a word of it."
The Empress Dowager sternly instructed her maternal family, then had them escorted out of the Palace.
「That night, Empress Dowager Xiao went to the Fengxian Hall and stood before the late Emperor’s morial tablet for the entire night.」
「On the way back to the capital, the old grandmother held the little girl in her arms, fearing that the shaking of the carriage would bump or bruise her.」
Because the old grandmother was old and the little girl was young, they treated the journey as a leisurely sightseeing tour.
Zhu Xiuxiu knocked on the carriage from outside. "Mom! We’ll be in Yang City soon. It’s getting late; shall we stay the night there?"
The old grandmother knew Yang City. It was there, years ago, that she had missed finding accommodation, which led to her precious daughter getting lost. By the ti she found her daughter again, she had already t Xiaosuisui’s father.
"Alright!"
The old grandmother responded, gently holding the little girl even tighter.
"Grandma, are you unhappy?"
A lot had happened recently, and the little girl was still sowhat bewildered by it all.
Thanks to the subtle guidance from the Ji Family during this ti, the little girl could sense the moods of her relatives!
"No, Grandma just rembered so old stories."
"If Grandma is unhappy, you should tell Suisui. Suisui can make Grandma happy!"
Hearing this, Grandma Ji’s interest was piqued.
"Oh? My little sweetheart has such an ability? Tell Grandma, how do you plan to make Grandma happy?"
Xiaosuisui tilted her head, pondering. Before she could speak, Zhu Xiuxiu’s voice interjected from outside.
"What your grandmother truly desires is grandchildren, dear! Among all your aunts in our family, only your eldest aunt can give your grandmother a grandchild. So, tell , when do you think your eldest aunt will finally give your grandmother that grandchild?"
Xiaosuisui blinked. Before she could say anything, she heard Grandma Ji scolding Zhu Xiuxiu.
"Pah! You foolish girl! Our sweetheart is so young. How could you talk about such things in front of her? If she doesn’t grow up to be a proper lady, it will be your doing!"
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