Chapter 259: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
Chapter 259: Everyday Talk Between Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law
Suisui was soon escorted by the emperor to the side chamber to sleep. Aunt Xu and Aunt Xiang stayed close by, with other palace servants in the outer hall, so there was little worry about any unexpected incidents.
The emperor returned shortly and took a seat. The family sat together, and for a while, they exchanged casual conversation.
Most of the time, it was the empress dowager who spoke, with Prince Qi responding occasionally, while Qi Wangfei would add a few words now and then.
The emperor, however, remained mostly quiet, listening attentively.
After chatting about household matters, the topic shifted to the gifts from the imperial concubines.
Qi Wangfei seized the opportunity to mention that when Suisui woke up, she would have to bring the child to each palace to thank them for their gifts.
Upon hearing this, the empress dowager immediately waved her hand. “There’s no need for that. Are you saying that my niece should kneel three times and bow nine times to thank them?”
She laughed as she spoke, her tone carrying an ambiguous meaning. “They didn’t show their faces, and I didn’t make an issue out of it. Now they want to make an issue with me?”
Despite her words, the empress dowager did not intend to be too harsh. She didn’t want the harem to hold a grudge against Suisui.
After speaking, the empress dowager gestured for Aunt Ma to come closer. “Go to the storeroom and select some items. According to the standards for each palace, send them over in the afternoon with a message saying that the weather is nice and I’m in a good mood, so I’m rewarding them.”
Aunt Ma quickly agreed and hurried off.
Qi Wangfei understood that this meant there would be no need to thank the other concubines in person.
In truth, she was not keen on taking Suisui to the other palaces to kneel.
As for the empress, given the situation with the Tang family, Qi Wangfei wasn’t sure how she would be received. Even if there was no overt hostility, what about behind the scenes?
And then there was the imperial consort...
Her personality was quite proud and difficult to deal with, and there was also the matter of the special-status Princess Shunyang in her palace.
Among children, there were those who got along easily and those who didn’t. If they didn’t hit it off, it wasn’t uncommon for them to start fighting.
Qi Wangfei was genuinely concerned.
As for the other palace ladies, she couldn’t gauge their attitudes either.
So, she had hoped that the first meeting could take place in the empress dowager’s palace, where her presence would ensure that even if others didn’t like Suisui, they wouldn’t dare to show it.
However, now that the gifts from the various palaces had arrived, it was necessary to show some response.
With the empress dowager’s refusal to have them thank anyone and her own arrangements, Qi Wangfei felt relieved.
As the family continued to chat, the topic shifted to the banquet for Suisui’s public announcement of her identity.
This banquet was definitely going to happen.
Although there was an imperial edict, Prince Qi’s residence still needed to make an official statement and announce Suisui’s identity to the outside world.
Turning to the emperor, the empress dowager asked, “Has the Bureau of Astronomy calculated the date?”
This matter was something the emperor cared about, so when the empress dowager asked, he quickly responded with a smile. “It’s already been decided. The date is a bit far off—June 6th. The Bureau of Astronomy suggested this date because it’s a double month, double day, symbolizing good fortune, and it also happens to be an auspicious day for rituals and moving. It’s very suitable.”
Upon hearing this, the empress dowager felt that the timing was indeed a bit late.
There was still the long month of May before the banquet.
However, a good day is never something to fear waiting for.
Suisui had suffered a lot in the past, so Qi Wangfei thought that her future should be filled with smooth and prosperous events. Hence, they needed to choose the best days for everything.
After considering this, the empress dowager turned to Prince Qi and asked, “Xiao Jiu, what do you think?”
Prince Qi also felt that the timing was a bit far off, but his precious child was not one to fear waiting.
After thinking for a moment and glancing at Qi Wangfei, he nodded and said, “I think it’s fine.”
Qi Wangfei agreed, as June was an auspicious month, so she naturally had no objections.
With that, the date was tentatively set.
Next, preparations needed to be made by the Prince’s residence.
After discussing the banquet, they moved on to other topics, with the empress dowager and Qi Wangfei talking softly to each other while the emperor and Prince Qi occasionally exchanged words.
The empress dowager was, of course, concerned about matters at Prince Qi’s residence.
She may not have paid much attention before, but ever since Prince Qi had gotten into trouble, the empress dowager wanted someone to keep a close eye on the residence.
She had already learned about the dismissal of several concubines and even one sent to the temple.
At this, she spoke in a deep tone, “You should have been more decisive. They’re not peaceable people, and keeping them around is useless.”
What could Qi Wangfei say in response?
She could only smile and agree.
Was she supposed to say that the prince had once been obsessed with a woman and that she had sent them away? If she said that, they would definitely quarrel.
Seeing her gentle response, the empress dowager couldn’t help but add, “You’re too soft-hearted, that’s why they bullied you. If something like that happens again, be stricter, fiercer. Why be afraid? You’re the mistress of Prince Qi’s residence, and those concubines are just things to pass the time. If they don’t please you, just get rid of them, or sell them off. If Xiao Jiu likes them, you can always bring in a new batch. You can always find some obedient ones.”
Qi Wangfei smiled and responded, “You’re right, Mother.”
The softer Qi Wangfei was, the more the empress dowager felt frustrated, wishing she could personally clean up the rear courtyard of Prince Qi’s residence.
However, because of Xiao Jiu’s health issues, the empress dowager thought his mood might not be very good lately.
Besides, they had already dismissed a group of people from the residence.
The empress dowager thought to herself, *I’ll leave it for next time.*
Once she came to this conclusion, the empress dowager nodded and said, “By the way, the one in the temple, the one who calms the mind, let her pass away in three to five months. Don’t bring her back. I don’t want her to harm my good grandson.”
Qi Wangfei was not surprised by the empress dowager’s decision and smiled in agreement.
...
As the conversation drew to a close, the empress dowager’s brow furrowed slightly. She looked toward her two sons and noticed they seemed to be talking, not paying attention to her. She then asked in a deep voice, “Has Ren been behaving recently?”
Because of past conflicts, the empress dowager did not think highly of Concubine Ren, and Qi Wangfei was well aware of this.
It wasn’t surprising for the empress dowager to ask about Concubine Ren. Qi Wangfei quickly smiled and replied, “The last time the prince and I entered the palace, it was Concubine Che who was causing trouble at the residence. It was Concubine Ren who protected Suisui and prevented that aunt and niece from bullying her. I think, since Concubine Ren protected Suisui, she must be wise and prudent by now.”
The empress dowager was not surprised by Qi Wangfei’s defense of Concubine Ren.
She thought to herself, *Xiao Jiu’s wife is too soft-hearted.*
Fortunately, over the years, she had given Concubine Ren and Concubine Meng a stern warning, which had kept them from acting against Qi Wangfei.
But this time, Qi Wangfei defended Concubine Ren because she had protected Suisui.
The empress dowager thought, *I am not someone who can’t distinguish between kindness and hatred. Since Concubine Ren has done well, I am willing to reward her as a sign of the imperial favor.*
After all, she had reprimanded them when needed, but when it came to rewarding someone, she would not shy away from it.
With these thoughts in mind, the empress dowager nodded and said, “Since she protected Suisui, she deserves a reward. I’ll have Aunt Ma choose something for her…”
Originally, the empress dowager had intended to say that they could bring the reward back to the residence, but she was afraid Concubine Ren might not believe it was truly from her, so she quickly changed her words, “I’ll have someone else deliver it.”
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