“You little rascal, you’re so indifferent to your Imperial Grandmother. Watch out, or I’ll spank your little butt.” Xiao Yuling looked at the little round baby who was spitting vigorously and kissed his tender little face.
Seeing Gu Qingli busying herself like this, Xiao Yuling was quite touched. Her dear grandson has been raised so well. Her dislike for Gu Qingli lessened a bit, and in this light, Gu Qingli looked much more pleasing to the eye. When viewed this way, Gu Qingli isn’t a bad mother after all, she thought.
Thinking of herself, also a mother, she realized that when Xiao Yunjing was still a baby, she hadn’t been nearly as careful in taking care of him. No wonder her son isn’t close to her. As for her son not taking any concubines, she couldn’t blame Gu Qingli; the fault lay entirely with her son. Sigh, for the sake of her adorable grandsons, she would forgive them. They had suffered so much in the past. Now that good times were here, there was no need to keep making a fuss. Wasn’t it better to live a peaceful life? She would also stop meddling in the affairs of the Imperial Palace and let them handle things themselves. That way, she could enjoy some peace and quiet and avoid being a nuisance.
Having come to this realization, Xiao Yuling’s heart felt suddenly lighter, and her gaze towards Gu Qingli even became visibly gentler.
She said in a gentle voice, “Empress, you’ve been busy for so long, and your body has only just begun to recover. You should go rest. Leave the rest to Wuqing and the others.”
Gu Qingli was astonished to hear Xiao Yuling speak so gently to her. She looked at Xiao Yuling in surprise. What’s gotten into my mother-in-law? Is she not stirring up trouble? Possessed by a ghost? To think she’s actually showing concern for me. Wonders never cease.
She nodded.
Xiao Yuling saw Gu Qingli’s incredulous expression and laughed awkwardly. Have I been too much of a drama queen before? For my daughter-in-law to look like she’s seen a ghost just because I changed my attitude a little?
“Look at you. You don’t need to doubt it. Your Mother-Empress has thought things through. You two live your own lives from now on; Mother-Empress will no longer interfere.”
Gu Qingli blinked, looking at Xiao Yuling in disbelief. This mother-in-law of hers is a habitual troublemaker, one drama today, another tomorrow. Who knows how much of what she says can be believed?
However, since Xiao Yuling had put it that way, Gu Qingli certainly wouldn’t argue.
“That’s wonderful. It truly wasn’t easy for you to think things through, Mother-Empress,” Gu Qingli deliberately teased.
Xiao Yuling glared at her. This daughter-in-law! Give her an inch, and she’ll take a mile! She’s really pushing it!
She thought this, but she wouldn’t say it aloud. Otherwise, wouldn’t the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, which was just starting to thaw, freeze up again? That would be as pointless as taking off one’s pants to fart—utterly superfluous. She wasn’t full and looking for trouble.
“Hmph! This old lady is only doing this for the sake of Our Imperial Son and Grandsons, not wanting him to suffer so. You take good care of him in the future. If you fail to do so, see how this old lady will call you to account!”
“Alright, alright, we’ll listen to you, esteemed elder. Whatever you say goes. How’s that?”
“Hmph! Such sweet words. Why didn’t you say them before?”
If she had spoken like this before, wouldn’t I have still tried to bring in a few concubines for my son, just to spite this daughter-in-law? Xiao Yuling thought.
Gu Qingli raised her eyebrows. “Well, that was then, and this is now. The current Mother-Empress is much more pleasant to look at, much more beautiful.”
“So, you’re saying this old lady wasn’t pleasant to look at before? Wasn’t beautiful?”
Gu Qingli nodded very seriously. “Of course. A kind-hearted elder always commands respect and looks beautiful, no matter how you see them.”
Since Xiao Yuling genuinely wanted to discuss these things, Gu Qingli decided to have a frank talk with her. Whether Xiao Yuling listened or not was her own affair. This mother-in-law of hers was, in truth, quite selfish. Her decisions were based on her own mood—whether she was happy or not—without any consideration for others’ feelings.
Xiao Yuling huffed at her, “This old lady has always been very beautiful!”
“Mhm, yes, you, esteemed elder, are indeed very beautiful,” Gu Qingli said with a smile, sensing Xiao Yuling understood the underlying meaning of her words.
Wuqing, the others, and Nanny Fu couldn’t help but suppress smiles as they watched the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law bicker.
After a bit more playful sparring, Xiao Yuling’s mood had greatly improved. She stayed in Fengqi Palace to have a meal with Xiao Yunjing and his wife, played with the three little ones for a while, and then returned to her Happiness and Longevity Palace.
“Did the sun rise from the west today? Mother-Empress actually stayed in Fengqi Palace for dinner?”
Later, after they had finished eating and gone to bed, Xiao Yunjing couldn’t help but ask. He knew his mother’s temper all too well; she would never normally get along peacefully with his wife.
“It really is like the sun rising from the west. I also never expected our Mother-Empress to have a change of heart and make peace with me.” For origınal chapters go to 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
However, it remains to be seen. Who knows how long this warmth will last? Gu Qingli thought.
“As long as she’s happy and doesn’t come looking for trouble with us, it’s fine,” Xiao Yunjing said.
If she behaves, he would treat her as his Mother-Empress. Otherwise, even as her biological son, he wouldn’t indulge her. So what if she was his birth mother? He would absolutely not allow her to act recklessly and harm Li’er and their three children.
“By the way, Li’er, Daoist Master Sanqing arrived at the Imperial Palace today. Do you want to meet him?”
After speaking with Daoist Master Sanqing earlier today, I felt he wasn’t some trouble-stirring charlatan, but rather gave off the air of a reclusive master with profound understanding, Xiao Yunjing thought.
Gu Qingli shook her head. I’m certain the Original Host has completely vanished. There’s no need to meet Daoist Master Sanqing and invite unnecessary trouble.
“No need. If you feel he can be of use, let him stay in the Qin Tianjian.”
As long as they are talented, they can be employed.
“I was thinking the same. I met him today, and his conversation was remarkable. Rather than calling him a Daoist cultivator, it’s more apt to say he’s like a sage who has withdrawn from the world. His perspectives are quite unique. I invited him to stay in the Imperial Palace, and he said he would consider it.”
“If he said he’ll consider it, then let him. However, for a reclusive master like him, don’t you dare send anyone to monitor him.”
Anyone with any real ability dislikes being watched.
Xiao Yunjing grinned. “I understand that. When dealing with such a master, one must use methods befitting a master.”
“Li’er, give me one of those lotus seeds. I believe he will appreciate it.”
Daoist Master Sanqing’s martial skills are also considerable. Anyone who practices martial arts would find it impossible to refuse an Ice Lotus Seed.
“Certainly,” Gu Qingli said. With a flip of her hand, a snow-white lotus seed appeared in her palm.
Xiao Yunjing quickly found a box to store it.
“Then let’s rest,” he said.
“Alright.”
They embraced and fell asleep.
「The next day」
When Gu Qingli awoke, Xiao Yunjing had already left for the morning court session.
She took her medicine and slept a little longer. Feeling much better today, she instructed Wuyou to prepare some breakfast, intending to take it to the Imperial Study for Xiao Yunjing later.
That fellow is probably too busy to eat. I have to take good care of my man. I don’t understand matters of state; all I can do is look after his physical well-being.
Gu Qingli had never been to the Imperial Study before. She and Wuqing each carried a food container, and she had Wuqing lead the way.
Along the route, numerous eunuchs and palace maids knelt in greeting.
Gu Qingli asked, “Wuqing, are there really that many eunuchs and palace maids in the Imperial Palace?”
In the palace, there’s only their family as masters, plus the former imperial consorts—altogether only about twenty people. Why would they need so many servants?
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