The majestic palace gates swung open, their vermilion walls and golden tiles reflecting solemn light under the sun.
Luo Luo followed obediently (for now) behind Xiao Lin’s tall figure.
The eunuchs and palace maids lining the corridor held their breath and bowed deeply upon seeing the distinctive black-and-gold python-patterned robe, chanting in unison:
“Your Highness!”
The little toddler remained full of energy, looking around curiously as they walked.
She even raised her small face to sweetly smile at passing palace maids, waving her chubby little hand: “Hello, big sisters!”
(◕‿◕)
Only after the imposing figure had passed did the palace servants dare to whisper among themselves.
Several maids of similar age, while pretending to wipe the corridor pillars, kept glancing at the bouncing little figure behind the prince.
“Did you see that? His Highness has a three- or four-year-old girl with him?”
“Yes! If you look closely at her features, doesn’t she somewhat resemble His Highness? Heavens, could she be His Highness’s…”
“Don’t talk nonsense! How could that be!”
Another quickly interrupted, lowering her voice.
“Isn’t the one in His Highness’s heart Miss Su from Spring Breeze Pavilion? They say he’s even willing to discard all dignity, insisting on breaking off the engagement with Miss Pei to marry her as his official consort. How could he suddenly have such a grown daughter now?”
Cining Palace.
Threads of clear smoke rose from the golden incense burner.
Empress Dowager Rong leaned against the soft couch embroidering a handkerchief, her brows carrying a trace of lazy nobility. Only upon hearing the announcement from outside the hall did genuine joy spread across her face.
“Mother.”
Xiao Lin, dressed in black brocade casual wear with python patterns subtly embroidered in gold thread at the collar and cuffs, stood straight as he paid his respects.
Behind him, a small figure like a sticky rice ball came dashing out, “tap tap tap,” rushing straight to the Empress Dowager and wrapping her chubby little arms around the Empress Dowager’s legs.
ε==(づ′▽)づ
“Grandmother~”
Her voice was sweet and bright, drawn out with a toddler’s lilt.
Empress Dowager Rong was startled by this sudden assault, looking down at the exquisitely carved little girl by her legs.
As delicate as a doll from a New Year’s painting, her heart first softened, then filled with confusion.
“This is… Lin’er, whose toddler is this?”
This little child called her “Grandmother”?
Luo Luo tilted her small face upward, only then remembering that the grandmother before her didn’t yet know her five-years-older good granddaughter.
She hurriedly pointed at her father beside her with her chubby hand: “Grandmother, I’m Daddy’s daughter!”
Empress Dowager Rong’s smile instantly froze, her gaze shifting uncertainly between Xiao Lin and the little child.
“What did you say? You’re Lin’er’s daughter? He has never married, how could he have offspring?”
The Empress Dowager’s voice suddenly deepened, carrying a barely perceptible authority.
The little child showed no fear at all, straightening her small chest as she declared clearly:
“Grandmother, I’m Xiao Luoning, Daddy’s real daughter! Look at my eyebrows and eyes, they’re exactly like Daddy’s!”
Xiao Lin nodded appropriately, his voice low: “Mother, she is indeed my blood.”
At these words, the well-maintained face of Empress Dowager Rong changed colors several times, finally settling into gloom: “Foolish! Truly foolish!”
She pointed at Xiao Lin, her fingertips trembling slightly.
“Where did you incur this romantic debt? You actually brought the child into the palace. How do you expect me to explain this to the Pei family later? How will you marry Qingci into our family?”
Her most desired daughter-in-law was Pei Qingci, the talented and beautiful eldest daughter of the Pei family who was famous throughout the capital – this sudden offspring must not ruin this marriage alliance.
Xiao Lin slightly frowned, about to explain his intention to break off the engagement.
“I wish to break off the engagement with the Pei daughter.”
“No!”
“No!”
Two voices, one large and one small, exploded almost simultaneously.
Luo Luo turned and threw herself at her father’s expensive brocade robe, like a bristling little kitten, tightly clutching the robe’s edge as she looked up angrily to accuse:
“Bad scummy daddy, no breaking the engagement! Don’t break the engagement with my mommy! If you break the engagement, what will happen to baby?”
Her childish voice carried anxiety, her large eyes seeming ready to shed golden tears at any moment.
The Empress Dowager was astonished: “Who did you just say Qingci is?”
“Pei Qingci is my mommy!”
The little one answered decisively.
Empress Dowager Rong drew a sharp breath, finding this utterly unbelievable: “Stop talking nonsense! Qingci is still unmarried, waiting in her chambers. How could she have a daughter your age? Someone!”
She said sternly, her liver aching from this “nonsense.”
“Take this wildly chattering child out and slap her mouth properly! Teach her some manners!”
“Waa!”Upon hearing that her most doting grandmother wanted to hit her, the grievance she had been brewing instantly overflowed, golden tears falling pattering down as she cried in hiccupping sobs, her small face crumpled into a ball.”
“Wah… wah Grandmother… I’m your most beloved Luo Luo… You’re going to hit Luo Luo now… wah wah wah…”
Xiao Lin looked at the little devil’s face covered in tears and snot, finally stepping forward to say in a deep voice:
“Mother, please calm your anger. Though the details are difficult to fully explain, what this girl says is not false. Her birth mother is indeed Pei Qingci.”
“Enough!”
Empress Dowager Rong looked at the crying, yet increasingly exquisite small face before her – especially those facial features that, upon closer inspection, actually resembled seventy to eighty percent of Xiao Lin’s childhood appearance.
The anger in her heart inexplicably dissipated somewhat.
She ultimately doted extremely on this son, and love for the house extended to the crow within it.
The Empress Dowager reached out, her tone much gentler: “Come, let Grandmother take a look at you.Luo Luo sniffled, carefully edging closer, feeling wronged: “Grandmother… you love Luo Luo the most…”
ω
Not forgetting to offer a little flattery.
Empress Dowager Rong sighed helplessly, using her personal silk handkerchief to carefully wipe the tears and snot from the little child’s face. Looking at the small likeness of her son, her heart simply couldn’t harden.
“Alright, alright, no more crying. Granny Gui, bring that box of newly-tributed pearl milk cakes.”
“Wow! Thank you, Grandmother!”
Instantly clearing from overcast to sunny, Luo Luo’s tears turned to smiles as she unceremoniously climbed to sit at the other end of the soft couch, waiting for her delicious treats.
Xiao Lin watched from the side as the little foodie hugged the cakes, nibbling until her small mouth shone with oil, her cheeks stuffed full and bulging.
Without any of the grace of a noble lady, let alone a royal princess, he couldn’t help but feel a vein throb at his temple as he silently facepalmed.
Those dirty little hands held out a crumb-covered cake before him, accompanied by a muffled offer:
“Silly daddy (munch munch)… want some? Grandmother’s milk cakes are (gulp) a hundred times better than the Wangfu’s osmanthus cakes!”
Xiao Lin glanced at the cake with its unidentified shiny stains, quickly turning his gaze away, his stern face full of disgust:
“This prince declines.”
An elderly matron quietly entered Cining Palace, bowing to Empress Dowager Rong on the soft couch as she reported: “Your Majesty, Miss Qingci has come to pay respects and is waiting outside the hall. What are your instructions…”