Chapter 254: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
Chapter 254: Useless Thing
Suisui’s soft voice snapped the Empress Dowager back to reality from her wandering thoughts. She lowered her head and gazed at the child before her with a gentle expression.
The little girl had her head bowed, leaving only the cute little hat on top of her head in view.
The Empress Dowager instinctively raised her hand and lightly touched the tassel of Suisui’s hat, her voice even warmer: “Good child, raise your head so that Imperial Grandmother can take a good look.”
Suisui wasn’t sure if she should raise her head, but since her mother had told her that she should obey whatever the Empress Dowager said, she decided to listen.
With that thought, Suisui slowly lifted her head.
Her round eyes met the Empress Dowager’s gaze immediately.
It was… strikingly similar!
The resemblance was almost uncanny!
In that moment, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but wonder if there was some hidden familial connection between the Marquis Jinyang’s family and the royal family that she didn’t know about.
But no, there wasn’t.
At least, not that she could remember.
If it were from several generations ago, perhaps she would need someone to investigate.
But... could such a resemblance persist after so many generations?
That shouldn’t be the case.
Could this child really be the result of some past affair of her ninth son?
Although she trusted her son, there was still doubt when it came to men’s reliability... especially regarding their carefree indulgences!
With those thoughts, the Empress Dowager gently reached out and touched Suisui’s soft little face, smiling as she said, “Good child, you are truly beautiful.”
It was clear that Suisui, standing before her, was a bit nervous. The Empress Dowager raised her hand again in a light gesture, “Go on, return to your mother.”
Such a small child, in the palace for the first time, must be feeling uneasy.
The Empress Dowager didn’t want to frighten the child, so she quickly signaled for Suisui to go back.
Suisui wasn’t sure what to do, so she quietly glanced at the Empress Dowager, then at her mother. When she saw her mother give a subtle nod, Suisui obediently curtsied, “Yes, Imperial Grandmother.”
Her mother had told her that the Empress Dowager, though a grandmother, was also the Empress Dowager.
This meant she wouldn’t behave like an ordinary grandmother who would playfully dote on her grandchildren.
Therefore, Suisui needed to observe proper etiquette and decorum in front of the Empress Dowager.
Suisui didn’t quite understand everything, but she listened to her mother.
Since her mother had nodded, she obediently returned to her place.
Today, Prince Qi had brought Suisui into the palace mainly to show her face, so the Empress Dowager could see what his new granddaughter looked like.
It was also to let others know that the Empress Dowager and the Qi family placed great importance on Suisui, the little princess.
So, it was certain that they would be staying for lunch.
Suisui returned to her place beside her mother and sat quietly. Qi Wangfei gently coaxed her to eat the pastries from the palace kitchen.
The imperial kitchens were carefully chosen, and the chefs’ skills were top-notch, so the pastries were naturally exquisite.
The various pastries in the Empress Dowager’s palace had been prepared with her age and health in mind, so they were easy to digest.
The sweetness wasn’t overwhelming; the sugar was modestly used, but the aroma was rich and satisfying.
As Suisui ate, she couldn’t help but sneak glances at the Empress Dowager.
She thought...
The Empress Dowager was impressed by how imposing Suisui appeared, though the little girl didn’t dare to meet her gaze directly.
However, she could sense no ill will from her, and the Empress Dowager didn’t seem to dislike her at all.
This realization made Suisui feel happy. She thought, as long as she wasn’t disliked, that was good enough.
With this thought in mind, Suisui ate a little faster, her cheeks puffing up adorably, looking like a mischievous little fox.
The Empress Dowager, who had been speaking with Prince Qi, caught a glimpse of Suisui’s actions and thought to herself: *Even more alike!*
However, even when the late Emperor was young, he could never have made such a playful gesture.
Now, seeing the late Emperor’s likeness in Suisui, the Empress Dowager didn’t feel too emotional. Instead, it felt more like an intriguing discovery.
She thought to herself: This child...
Not only is she connected to the Qi family, but she also has ties to the royal family.
Why else would her eyes resemble the late Emperor’s?
Moreover, in the end, it was the ninth son who brought this child back to his household, raising her as his own.
It must be fate.
Thinking about this, the Empress Dowager’s lips curled into a faint smile, and her expression softened.
As noon approached, the various consorts of the palace received the news and sent gifts.
The higher-ranking consorts sent trusted servants from the palace, showing their esteem for Suisui, while the lower-ranking ones brought the gifts themselves.
The Empress Dowager’s Yi Shou Palace hadn’t been this lively in a long time. As she watched people coming and going, she signaled for Qi Wangfei to handle the guests. Once the visitors had left, she leaned in closer to Prince Qi and lowered her voice, asking, “Suisui… is she really not a child you had out of wedlock?”
Prince Qi: ???
Prince Qi had been keeping an eye on Suisui, who was walking further away. When he heard his mother’s words, he was shocked and quickly responded, “Oh, Mother, you can’t say that…”
He was halfway through his words when he suddenly slapped his forehead and added, “Actually, if you think about it that way, she’s my daughter. In the future, no one from the Marquis Jinyang’s household can claim her. Even if the heavens themselves come, this child is still mine! She looks like me!”
Others had mentioned before that Suisui’s eyes looked like his, and Prince Qi had noticed it too.
Although the rest of Suisui’s features didn’t resemble him, her eyes...
Were exactly like Xiao Liu’s when he was a child.
And Xiao Liu’s eyes were exactly like his.
So, could she not be his child?
If he didn’t remember so clearly that he had never had an affair, Prince Qi might even have started to suspect that this child was something he had fathered outside his marriage!
But the truth was, he had never been unfaithful.
In his younger years, he didn’t care for beauty, and his harem was filled with distinct personalities: the gentle Concubine, the spoiled side Concubine , the docile Concubine Meng, and several concubines, each unique in their own way. He didn’t need to seek excitement elsewhere.
Thus, this couldn’t possibly be the result of an extramarital affair.
Moreover, everything about the Marquis Jinyang’s troubled family was documented and clear.
If there was anything wrong with Suisui’s birth, how could the Marquis Jinyang’s household have sent someone to fetch her?
Prince Qi, in fact, secretly hoped that the child’s origins were questionable. That way, if he fought for her custody in the future, he would have a stronger case.
Seeing the shocked expression on Prince Qi’s face, the Empress Dowager thought about his character and sighed: “Such a good child, how could she not be your own?”
Then, looking at him with disdain, she added, “Useless thing. Can’t even fool around properly.”
Prince Qi: …!
“Mother, if you talk like this, we can’t have a proper conversation anymore!”
Meanwhile, Suisui, who was accompanying her mother and greeting the consorts, had no idea about the conversation between her father and the Empress Dowager.
She obediently followed her mother, first greeting Consort Zhen, Consort Kang, Consort An, and other consorts, before meeting Consort Ye and Consort Wen.
Finally, she was introduced to Consort Yue and Consort Lian.
Consort Yue was gentle and obedient, while Consort Lian was charming and seductive, each with their own charm.
The beautiful aunties were all fragrant, and though some didn’t bother to look at her when speaking, Suisui still thought they were all so lovely and sweet-smelling.
She watched them enviously, wishing she could grow up to be as tall and elegant, with a scent like theirs. That way, no one would think of her as the country bumpkin who came from the countryside!
Empress Dowager: When in a bad mood, she scolds her late husband and her useless son; when in a good mood, she teases her grandson and granddaughter.
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