dognovel Chapter 897: One Trip Outside the Palace!
Chapter 897: One Trip Outside the Palace!
Mu Xin Nuan was slightly taken aback. Why would she want to visit her maternal grandfather's house when it's neither a holiday nor a festival?
Could it be that there's some thorny issue at court?
Or is it that he really misses his maternal grandfather?
The next day, as Mu Xin Nuan was talking to Duanmu Zong Hua, someone came over and said that the Emperor had sent people to search for her everywhere and wanted to take her out of the palace with him.
Mu Xin Nuan paused for a moment, then, seeing the Empress Dowager's questioning look, smiled and said, "It's nothing serious. It's just that my maternal grandfather is getting old, and I heard recently that his health isn't very good. Perhaps His Majesty is worried and wants to go and see him."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "He is also a veteran meritorious official of our Great Yong Dynasty. We should go and visit him."
"Yes, Mother. Then I will take my leave."
"Go."
Unexpectedly, Duanmu Zonghua tightly grasped her clothes, saying, "Mother, I want to go too."
Mu Xin Nuan looked down at him, somewhat embarrassed, "Didn't your royal grandfather say he was going to teach you calligraphy?"
Duanmu Zonghua's eyes reddened. "Mother, don't you love me anymore?"
After all, he's still just a child. No matter how clever and bright he is, he's only a few years old. The Empress Dowager chuckled and said, "Go ahead. It's good for the child to go out and see the world. Besides, it's not like it's someone else's house. It's good for him to come along with his son and have a look around."
"Yes, Queen Mother."
Mu Xin Nuan left Fu Shou Palace with Duanmu Chu Ze, where they found a sedan chair already waiting.
The mother and son were seated when they arrived at Chengqian Palace, where Chief Eunuch De greeted them, "Your Majesty the Empress has finally returned. Please come in quickly. His Majesty has been waiting anxiously."
Mu Xin Nuan chuckled softly, took Duanmu Zonghua's small hand, and entered the main hall.
Mu Xin Nuan's attire wasn't particularly luxurious, but it was acceptable, so she didn't change her clothes and left the palace directly with the Emperor.
The General's Mansion was not informed beforehand, so it wasn't until their imperial carriage was almost at the General's Mansion that someone discovered the source of the pollution and hurriedly went back to call for someone to pick them up.
The main gate of the General Zhenguo's Mansion was wide open, and almost the entire family, starting with the old master, knelt down at the entrance to welcome him.
Duanmu Chuze disembarked from the imperial carriage first, then carried Duanmu Zonghua in one arm and supported Mu Xinnuan with the other.
"Rise. The Empress and I have nothing to do today, so we're just taking a stroll. You don't need to be so formal."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Haoran's wife, Fang, passed away a year ago, leaving behind only one son.
Right now, Liu is scrambling to find a suitable candidate—not too bad, not too good. It's really giving her a headache.
Li Feng and Li Gang are both currently in Beijing, while Li Haoran is far away in Yanzhou. However, fortunately, Li Haozheng can keep the old man company.
“Grandfather, please sit down. Today I am not an emperor, and you do not need to act as subjects. Since we are family, let’s sit together and talk. I don’t see any outsiders here, so there’s no need to be too reserved. What do you think, Grandmother?”
The old lady understood; this meant there was no need to distinguish between men and women anymore, since they were all family anyway.
"The emperor said so."
Liu had tea served and then personally brought Li Haozheng's wife over to pay her respects.
"Your Majesty, this is my second daughter-in-law, Madam He."
After He Shi performed a deep bow, Mu Xin Nuan noticed something amiss with her stomach and quickly called out, "Get up quickly, is Second Cousin-in-law pregnant?"
Liu chuckled, “Your Majesty truly lives up to her reputation as a divine physician; you recognized it at a glance.”
Mu Xin Nuan smiled and said, "Auntie, there's no need to praise me like that. Judging from my second cousin's figure, she's probably about four months pregnant, right?"
He replied somewhat shyly, "Your Majesty, it's exactly four months."
Mu Xin Nuan turned her head and glared at Duanmu Chu Ze, "I told you not to come. Look, now that you're here, everyone who used to call me A Nuan is now calling me Your Majesty."
Duanmu Chuze was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Alright, alright, it was my fault. I will never hinder you again."
The old lady was naturally delighted to see how much the Emperor doted on the Empress.
"Anuan, look at you, you're being disrespectful again. How can you speak to the Emperor like that?"
Overjoyed, the old lady unconsciously called out to Ah Nuan.
Mu Xin Nuan was delighted to hear this and tugged at Duanmu Zonghua, "Come on, let's see if you recognize it?"
"Zonghua pays his respects to his maternal great-grandfather and maternal great-grandmother."
The little boy's manners were so proper that the old man and woman couldn't stop smiling.
"Good! Little Zonghua, you're such a good and sensible boy. Here, your great-grandfather has a jade pendant here. Do you want it?"
Unexpectedly, Duanmu Zonghua shook his head, "No!"
The old man was taken aback. "Oh? Why?"
"I've often heard my grandfather say that you were once a peerless hero, and that your storehouse had more swords and other fine things than the palace. So, today, I only want one weapon."
That little mouth of hers really does talk a lot.
Zi Yi and Chun Yu found it amusing. Was this little prince here specifically to trick the old man into giving away his precious weapon?
"Good! Zonghua truly lives up to his title as a prince; such insight at such a young age. Alright, let's go, your great-grandfather will take you to choose a weapon. How about it?"
"it is good!"
In his excitement, the old man forgot that the Emperor was still there, picked up little Zonghua, and walked out.
Duanmu Chuze gave a wink, and Zi Yi led six or seven people to follow. Although they weren't outsiders, they still had to be careful.
"Aunt, did you make walnut paste today?"
"Ah Nuan's gluttony is incurable. Alright, you sit down first, I'll go to the kitchen to make it. We'll eat it hot in a bit."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Auntie."
He wanted to go with them, but Mu Xin Nuan stopped her, saying, "Second sister-in-law, why don't you just sit here? I'm here to take your pulse. There are a lot of things a woman needs to be careful about during pregnancy."
"Yes, ma'am."
Li Gang also accompanied them to the armory, leaving only Li Feng and Li Haozheng to talk.
"Second cousin, where is my little nephew?"
"Oh, ever since my sister-in-law left, my brother has had no intention of remarrying, so my nephew has been raised by my mother. Just yesterday, someone from the Fang family came and took him over."
The old lady couldn't help but look a little sad. "The Fang family lost their daughter, so naturally they are heartbroken. Being able to see this little grandson from time to time can at least ease their sorrow."
"So, will my older cousin's wedding just be delayed like this forever?"
"The Fang family intends to marry another daughter into the family, but this one is a concubine's daughter, and your eldest uncle and aunt are somewhat opposed to it."
Mu Xin Nuan nodded. For a family like the Li family, if her eldest cousin were to marry a concubine's daughter as his second wife, it would indeed be easy for people to look down on them.
The Fang family's original intention was to ensure their grandson had a good life.