Empress Dowager Zhao stood up and forced a smile. “Our Emperor… he is far too clever. If he had brought it up plainly, I would have had to refuse. This way, all entanglements are avoided.”
Before this, the Empress Dowager had indeed considered the matter.
After all, he was the eldest son and had lost his birth mother. There was no suitable person in the palace to raise him.
For others, the prince was a hot potato, but to her, it was different.
The supervising attendants could not comment freely.
The Empress Dowager always worried that after her death, her children might not be treated well by the Emperor, so she wanted to find some support.
Yet such measures could easily arouse the Emperor’s suspicion.
“Enough,” she sighed and slowly walked inside.
The Emperor left Cining Palace and returned directly to Qianqing Palace.
By evening, Li Sheng carried the attendants’ plaques from various palaces to the Emperor’s side.
Chu Ze glanced at them but said nothing.
Lately, he found these matters rather dull.
“Take them away,” Chu Ze waved.
Seeing the Emperor disinterested, Li Sheng quickly withdrew. After a while, he noticed the Emperor walking out.
“Your Majesty, are you going somewhere?” Li Sheng asked softly.
Chu Ze walked ahead, hands behind his back, saying nothing. Li Sheng understood—his Majesty just wanted a casual stroll.
Following behind, Li Sheng recalled the milk pudding from earlier that day.
The Emperor had seemed pleased to eat it, yet he never mentioned going to the Empress.
Could it be deliberate?
Li Sheng thought about it, then shook his head—surely the Emperor wouldn’t be that awkward, and the Empress was no fierce demon. Visiting her would require careful consideration.
Just as they left Qianqing Palace, they saw a few people walking toward them.
It was Consort Shu, accompanied by the eldest prince.
The eldest prince, upon seeing the Emperor, ran forward.
Tears wet his cheeks, yet he still gave a proper bow.
“Your servant greets Father Emperor. May you be blessed and safe!”
Chu Ze watched the little boy’s movements, and a trace of a smile appeared on his usually stern face, though it was barely noticeable.
Li Sheng slightly bowed to the eldest prince.
The prince slowly lifted his head, gazing at his father.
In truth, he had no clear impression of his father, only a sense of immense height—something unreachable.
Though eager to see him, he still felt shy in this moment.
“My father… I miss you, I miss Mother Consort,” the prince said softly.
Tears rolled down his cheeks, big and sorrowful.
The wet nurse Qin Shi knelt and quickly explained, “Your Majesty, forgive us. The eldest prince often cries, missing you terribly. To comfort him, I brought him out. I did not dare disturb you, but happened to meet Consort Shu, who, out of pity, led him here to see you.”
Consort Shu also arrived and bowed properly. “I could not bear to see the eldest prince so sorrowful, so I acted on my own. Your Majesty, please do not blame me.”
Chu Ze nodded without much comment, bending slightly to look at the eldest prince, Chu Zhiyuan.
He reached out, slightly awkwardly, to wipe the boy’s small face.
Zhiyuan was his first child, and he had placed his hopes on him.
Though not yet grown, he had already suffered due to his mother’s misfortune.
Chu Ze’s gaze gradually softened. He knew what it was like to lose a mother.
Therefore, he would not let the child suffer because of others.
“All right, come with Father,” Chu Ze said, ruffling his hair, then allowed the wet nurse to lead him toward Kunning Palace.
Consort Shu bowed slightly and prepared to leave.
“I am going to Kunning Palace. Since Consort Shu has come, she shall accompany me,” Chu Ze said.
To most, Consort Shu was one of the few worthy of raising the eldest prince.
Consort Shu nodded and walked beside the Emperor, her gaze hesitant, as if wishing to speak but holding back.
Chu Ze looked at her. “If you have something to say, speak plainly.”
Consort Shu finally spoke, “Your Majesty, if I go, I fear the Empress might think I intend to raise the eldest prince. But I have no such intention. You know me—I dislike competing for anything.”
Hearing she had no wish to raise the eldest prince, Chu Ze was slightly surprised. He had assumed her journey was for this very reason. Could it be that she truly felt pity for the boy?
“I have always been uneasy in my heart. If I had been more careful back then, perhaps nothing would have happened to the Emperor’s child,” Consort Shu said, tears sliding down her cheeks.
This was her deepest sorrow—impossible to hide.
Chu Ze had not realized that, after all these years, she still could not let it go.
He understood now that she truly did not wish to raise the eldest prince.
Arriving at Kunning Palace, the Empress came out to greet them.
She wore a purple-gold gown, with a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin. The drop-shaped jewel at her forehead swayed gently as she walked.
Her aura had become even more extraordinary.
Consort Shu withdrew her gaze slightly and bowed formally.
Huashu noted the scene—seeing them together, it was clear that today the matter of the eldest prince must be settled.
Chu Ze’s gaze lingered on her.
She behaved obediently this time, even coming out to greet him.
Having deliberately avoided him previously, he could not help feeling a slight displeasure.
He walked forward, lowering his gaze to examine her. “Rise, I have business to discuss with you.”
Huashu complied.
They went inside. The eldest prince stared wide-eyed at her, showing no sign of bowing.
The wet nurse, noticing the Empress’ gaze, hurriedly pulled the prince to bow. “Your Highness, forgive him! The eldest prince is young and ignorant. Please pardon him!”
The Empress glanced at her, then turned indifferently and entered.
The Emperor and Empress sat together, Consort Shu at one side, and Qin Shi led the eldest prince to wait nearby.
“Zhiyuan, the Empress is your mother. Why do you not pay respects?” Chu Ze asked, recalling that earlier the boy had greeted him but now remained silent before the Empress.
The eldest prince shifted slightly toward the Emperor, voice small, “Father… the Empress does not like me. I am afraid.”
Hearing this, Huashu’s lips curled into a faint smile. “The eldest prince is only five, yet he is so perceptive, even noticing people’s expressions.”
Her words carried a teasing tone as she cast a cold glance at Qin Shi.
Qin Shi lowered her head, silent.
Seeing this, Chu Ze gestured for Qin Shi to take the eldest prince outside to play for a while.
Once they left, Chu Ze turned to the Empress. “The eldest prince must have a proper placement.”
Being the central palace, she was the one he came to consult about matters in the harem.
Of course, he also came because he had not yet decided and wanted to hear her thoughts.
Huashu’s gaze shifted to Consort Shu. “Doesn’t the Emperor have a decision already? Consort Shu has no children and is gentle and attentive, most suitable to raise the eldest prince. I have no objection.”
Consort Shu quickly stood, “Your Highness misinterprets. On the way, I only saw the eldest prince and, feeling pity, acted out of compassion. I did not intend to raise him. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”