Chapter 294: Qin Wanwan Enters The Palace To Meet The Empress Dowager
“Wanwan, let’s go to the palace together! The Empress Dowager has wanted to see you for a long time.”
Early in the morning, Princess Zhaohua excitedly ran to find Qin Wanwan.
She used to not dare to come to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, but now she had an excuse.
Although she rarely saw Chancellor Rong, it was good to see Wanwan.
Qin Wanwan, eating a fragrant roasted sweet potato, asked with bewilderment, “Why do they want to see me?”
“It smells so good, what is this?”
Qin Wanwan handed her one, “Roasted sweet potato, soft and very sweet.”
This thing was still a bit hot to the touch. A servant nearby suggested she use a spoon to scoop it out and eat it, but she didn’t, and imitating Qin Wanwan, she peeled it and took a bite directly.
Her mouth was a little burned, but it was really delicious!
“I’ve never had this before, it’s delicious!” She ate it with little sips, not forgetting to answer Qin Wanwan.
“Because I often mention you to the Empress Dowager, she became interested in you and asked me to ask if you want to enter the palace to play. Go on, go! It’s not fun to stay in the Imperial Palace for too long, but it’s still quite nice to go a few times.”
The way she spoke of the Imperial Palace made it sound like visiting her own backyard.
Princess Zhaohua was a person with strong principles. She had power and status, her parents doted on her, and even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor in the Imperial Palace favored her greatly.
However, she never used this favor and power to force someone she liked, namely Rong Zhi, to marry her.
Even the Empress Dowager, upon learning of her affection for Rong Zhi, had asked if she needed an imperial decree, but Princess Zhaohua declined.
Qin Wanwan also quite liked this personality of hers, which was clear in both love and hate, and capable of both taking and letting go.
Although there was a significant age difference between them, they got along very well, like best friends.
Of course, Qin Wanwan considered them best friends, while Princess Zhaohua wished Qin Wanwan were her own daughter.
Such a beautiful little child, it was a pity she wasn’t hers.
Princess Zhaohua stared at Qin Wanwan’s beautiful and delicate little face for a long time, and the little fatty was used to it.
“We still have some honey sweet potatoes growing at home, do you want some, Sister Zhaohua?”
Princess Zhaohua nodded, “Yes, yes, yes! Only a fool wouldn’t want something so delicious. This is soft and mellow, the Empress Dowager will surely like it too. Her appetite hasn’t been good lately. Wanwan, do you have any more? Let’s take some to the palace for the Empress Dowager.”
Qin Wanwan nodded, “Yes, I do.”
It just so happened that she also wanted to go to the Imperial Palace to find Brother Yuanli, and see if she could meet Imperial Advisor Daddy. She had written many letters to Imperial Advisor Daddy, but he hadn’t written back.
Qin Wanwan had her servants pack the remaining roasted sweet potatoes, and got into the same carriage as Princess Zhaohua to go to the palace.
Generally, ministers’ carriages were not allowed to enter the Imperial Palace, but Princess Zhaohua’s carriage was.
The Imperial Guards at the gate inspected it and let them pass.
Princess Zhaohua said to Qin Wanwan, “You don’t need to be nervous. The Empress Dowager is a very kind person. You’re so good-looking, she’ll definitely fall in love with you at first sight, just like I did.”
Qin Wanwan nodded, “Mhm, I’m not nervous.”
Keke nodded by the side. Compared to other empress dowagers of the past, this Empress Dowager was indeed quite kind.
After all, other empress dowagers were winners of harem struggles; they had ascended through their own vicious means.
But this one was different. Her son had stumbled upon the emperorship, and she, as his mother, had naturally stumbled upon the title of Empress Dowager.
Those who survived in the harem were naturally not fools, but this Empress Dowager was not a cruel or ruthless person.
Upon arriving at the Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace, Princess Zhaohua held Qin Wanwan’s hand and walked in.
“Empress Dowager, I’m here. I’ve also brought Rong Zhi’s daughter, the one I told you about who I wanted to be my daughter.”
Qin Wanwan: “???”
You never told me that!
“Hahahaha… You mischievous girl. If you really want a daughter, why don’t you find someone to marry.”
A voice, aged but not lacking in kindness, came from the main seat. As Qin Wanwan entered Cining Palace, she looked up and saw a wealthy old woman seated there.
“Greetings, Empress Dowager.”
“Good, good, good, come here, let me have a look.”
Princess Zhaohua skillfully went to the Empress Dowager’s side, hugged her arm, and acted spoiled, like a little daughter.
Qin Wanwan also walked over. The Empress Dowager held her small hand and looked her up and down.
Qin Wanwan tilted her head slightly, not flinching from the scrutiny, and instead, she smiled.
“No wonder this girl thinks of me daily. She truly knows how to grow up beautifully. I’ve never seen such a good-looking child. It makes me want to recognize her as a granddaughter.”
Princess Zhaohua’s eyes widened, “Then there’s no generational gap. I want to recognize her as my goddaughter.”
“Hahaha…”
Laughter echoed through the room again.
“Oh, and Empress Dowager, Wanwan also brought you a gift.”
“Oh? What gift? Let this empress dowager see.”
Qin Wanwan handed over three roasted sweet potatoes.
“Roasted sweet potato, it’s food, and it’s very delicious.”
Qin Wanwan had brought a total of eight roasted sweet potatoes and only took out three.
The Empress Dowager asked curiously, “Then who are the rest of Wanwan’s roasted sweet potatoes for?”
Qin Wanwan replied earnestly, “For Daddy, and Emperor Uncle, because he helped Daddy drive away the bad guys who bullied him, and for Brother Yuanli.”
The Empress Dowager was not surprised by the first one, but she was genuinely surprised by the others.
Although the gift was not valuable, the child’s earnest remembrance of the Emperor and her sincerity touched the Empress Dowager deeply, making her feel very cared for.
“Are you referring to the Crown Prince?”
Qin Wanwan nodded, “Mhm.”
The Empress Dowager embraced Qin Wanwan. The little one carried a sweet, fresh scent that the Empress Dowager found very pleasing.
And she was so well-behaved and soft. Who, as they grew older, wouldn’t like such a child?
“So Wanwan actually knows the Crown Prince.”
“Someone, go and see what the Crown Prince is doing and tell that child to come to Cining Palace to sit for a while.”
“Speaking of which, the Crown Prince brought me quite a few gifts when he returned some time ago. That child is filial. How did Wanwan and the Crown Prince meet?”
Qin Wanwan recounted how she was kidnapped by kidnappers at the border pass and encountered Yin Yuanli.
However, she omitted Father Xie from the story.
Keke had said that it was unreasonable for an outsider to have so many fathers, and their identities were not simple. Appropriately concealing some information could reduce unnecessary trouble.
The Empress Dowager listened without suspicion, only hating the kidnappers.
“Those damned kidnappers are truly audacious. This world truly never lacks those who have lost their conscience.”
As they spoke, the Crown Prince entered, wearing a python robe.
“Your grandson pays his respects to his Imperial Grandmother.”
The Empress Dowager’s face immediately broke into a smile, “Crown Prince, come here quickly and see who this is.”
Yin Yuanli had already seen Qin Wanwan. Upon entering Cining Palace and seeing the beautiful little dumpling, his eyes lit up.
However, he was polite and first paid his respects to the Empress Dowager.
“Sister Wanwan.”
Qin Wanwan took a roasted sweet potato and sweetly handed it to him with a smile.
“Brother Yuanli, this is the roasted sweet potato I brought for you to eat. If you like it, I’ll have Daddy bring you some next time. Oh, right, I had Daddy send you a return gift, do you like it?”
The two equally beautiful children, one handsome with an air of nobility, the other delicate and soft, looked pleasing to the eye standing together.
The Empress Dowager watched them, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
