Xiaosuisui blinked, looking a bit confused.
The Empress Dowager chuckled lightly, saying, "Nanny Xiao, I’m feeling a bit dizzy today, probably due to the sumr heat. Ask the small kitchen to prepare a Bitter Gourd Banquet for tonight’s dinner!"
Upon hearing this, Nanny Xiao hesitated and tried to dissuade the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty! A banquet entirely of bitter gourd might not be very..."
"You heard right. I want to eat bitter gourd today, and nothing else!"
Nanny Xiao turned around and left silently.
What could she do when a mother wanted to discipline her own son?
Nanny Xiao then went to give instructions to the small kitchen.
Prince Yi looked uneasy and stood up to take his leave.
He had intended to discuss the Princess’s talents with the Empress Dowager to see if there were any suitable young n in the royal family for marriage. However, now...
"Your Majesty! I have so matters to attend to in my Mansion. I’ll take my leave now and pay my respects to you another day!"
The Empress Dowager blinked, suddenly recalling that when Prince Yi ca to pay his respects earlier, she had offhandedly invited him to stay for dinner in the Palace.
Although Prince Yi’s expression had shown a mont of hesitation at the ti, he ultimately hadn’t refused.
Now...
"Don’t misunderstand, my dear brother. I’ll tell Nanny Xiao to have the small kitchen prepare a separate dinner for you."
Prince Yi was quick to decline.
"Your Majesty, I should not trouble you. I haven’t returned to the capital for many years, and my Mansion has most likely received news of my return by now. If I don’t head back, my wife will start worrying."
The Empress Dowager sighed, recalling Prince Yi’s wife.
"You’re right. All these years, your wife has led a quiet and secluded life. During the last Double Ninth Festival Palace Banquet, I invited her, but she declined, claiming she was not feeling well."
"Your Majesty, please forgive , but my wife..."
"Don’t say any more, dear brother. I understand. Your wife is not one for socializing, and I won’t bla her."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Prince Yi left, the Empress Dowager canceled the preparation for his separate al. Instead, she ordered a al of Xiaosuisui’s favorite dishes to be made for her.
The nu was provided by Xie Pan’Er, with Nanny Zhang, who entered the Palace later, overseeing the taste.
Even before the little Emperor arrived, the food was already prepared.
The Empress Dowager sat upright and did not allow anyone to summon the little Emperor. Instead, she had soone bring out a Nine Linked Rings toy she had specially ordered for Xiaosuisui.
"Co, my precious! I had these little trinkets specially made. It’s said that those who can solve them are the cleverest people in the world and are destined for great things!"
Xiaosuisui looked at the interlocking rings in her hand. Listening to the Empress Dowager’s words, she tilted her head and asked in confusion.
"So, if I solve this, I’m considered very smart?"
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Yes! This is called the Nine Linked Rings. It’s said that the fastest person to solve it took a month. When your Imperial Father was your age, he held this toy, studying it day and night, and solved it in twenty-eight days!"
"The fastest person took a month, but Imperial Father took twenty-eight days?"
Xiaosuisui’s little brows furrowed. She felt there was sothing slightly off about her Grandma’s words.
Oh dear! In her eagerness to boast about her son’s intelligence, she had tangled herself up!
"Princess! What the Empress Dowager ant was that since the Nine Linked Rings ca into existence, the fastest anyone had ever solved it was one month. But when your Imperial Father got his hands on it, he only took twenty-eight days."
Xie Pan’Er quickly clarified for Xiaosuisui!
Xiaosuisui nodded in understanding, then asked Xie Pan’Er in her childlike voice.
"So, does that an Imperial Father, who solved the Nine Linked Rings in the shortest ti, is the smartest person in the world?"
Xie Pan’Er nodded. "That’s exactly right."
"So, the person who solves the Nine Linked Rings the fastest is the smartest person in the whole world!"
The Empress Dowager and Xie Pan’Er both smiled and said, "Yes, that’s exac—"
The rest of their words caught in their throats!
Their eyes widened in disbelief!
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