FID – Chapter 900

Chapter 900: The Empress Dowager Is Just Testing the Feeling 

The two little ones on the soft couch blinked their big, shiny black eyes at the Empress Dowager, as if helping their mother plead on her behalf.

The Empress Dowager sat upright and composed, lightly coughing, “I’m feeling better now, no more dizziness.”

“If  Xiao Feng’er angers you again, just tell me. I’ll definitely teach him a good lesson!” Grandma Liu immediately put away the feather duster, patting her chest as she promised.

The Empress Dowager glanced sideways at Grandma Liu and snorted softly. What kind of lesson? She could see clearly this was a strategic retreat to protect the young emperor.

Still, since the young emperor was chased so badly, she wouldn’t press the matter any further.

Meanwhile, Feng Mohan, who had narrowly escaped, came over and weakly squatted in front of the soft couch, “Xiao Badou, Hongdou, listen to your cousin’s advice: it’s better to offend a petty person than to offend an old lady. There’s no way to survive otherwise.”

Just as he finished speaking, he got smacked on the butt, causing him to yelp and jump up, clutching his behind and staring in disbelief at the Empress Dowager.

The culprit was holding the ‘weapon’ in hand—the very feather duster Grandma Liu had just set down.

Calmly placing down the weapon, the Empress Dowager said lightly, “I’m just testing the feeling.”

“How does it feel?” Feng Mohan asked with a deadpan expression.

“Not bad.”

Everyone: “……”

“Pfft—” Laughter erupted in the hall.

Liu Yusheng laughed so hard she nearly rolled onto the couch.

Seeing their mother like this, the two little ones waved their arms and legs excitedly, making cute baby sounds and grinning as if cheering her on.

Even the Empress Dowager herself, thinking about that smack just now, had to try hard to hold back the laughter threatening to burst out.

With a long sigh toward the sky, Feng Mohan, still holding his behind, walked to the farthest spot from the Empress Dowager and sat down. Oh well, since no one else saw it, he’d just consider it as entertaining the elders.

Could he really quarrel with these two old ladies?

He didn’t dare.

He had a feeling that the emperor’s title on his head would probably just be a decoration in this Yangxin Hall from now.

After the laughter died down, Liu Yusheng re-examined the Empress Dowager and took out some newly made pills. “The toxin has been cleared, there’s nothing serious, but Your Majesty’s constitution is weak and needs proper care. In the future, please pay more attention to health maintenance.”

“This pill is for health maintenance?” The Empress Dowager curiously picked up the bottle and opened it, looking at the mung bean-sized pills inside.

She had never seen such small pills before.

“Yes, just take a few each day,” Liu Yusheng said with a smile.

These were made by her using the remaining spiritual spring water in her space, mixed with medicinal herbs, specially tailored to the Empress Dowager’s constitution.

The Empress Dowager did not thank her but naturally accepted them.

She was always happy to receive gifts from Nannan.

Grandma Liu sat beside her. With each of them holding Xiao Badou and Hongdou, she said, “Now that your health is recovering, I can rest assured. Take good care of yourself from now on. Keep your body strong, and don’t be weak like this next time I come to the capital.”

“Are you leaving?” The Empress Dowager paused.

“Yes, we have to go back. It’s already June, and the farm work back home can’t be left unattended. It’s not right to leave the villagers to watch over it all the time.”

“It’s just planting some things in the fields, what money can that bring? I’ll give you some money.”

Grandma Liu was surprised. “Why do you want to give me money? It’s not like I’m short of it.”

That old lady thought she was reluctant to leave the crops in the field because she was worried about losing money?

The Empress Dowager pursed her lips and remained silent, her fair face faintly flushed, clearly holding back the words to say, “Don’t leave.”

“Alright, I’m not gone for good. Besides, if you really miss me, you can visit me in Xinghua Village. You can also take a little trip to clear your mind. There’s no need to be stuck in the palace all the time.”

“Who would miss you?” the Empress Dowager snorted.

Hongdou in her arms waved her little hands, gently rubbing the back of the Empress Dowager’s hand. The soft, warm touch penetrated deep, dissipating the sorrow of parting that had just begun to rise.

The Empress Dowager’s stiff expression softened. The wild woman was leaving, but she still had the two little beans.

She wouldn’t be lonely like before anymore.

Seeing the change in her expression, Grandma Liu knew this old woman was stubborn. She handed over Xiao Badou to her and stood up, brushing off her clothes. “We’ll be leaving in a few days, but today I’ll stay here with you. I remember last time when you went to Xinghua Village, you really liked our family’s pickled vegetables. I’ll pickle some for you, so when you crave it, you can just take it out and eat.”

“Granny, take the old lady to the small kitchen and keep an eye on her. Don’t let her burn down my kitchen.”

“Letting granny help me is helping, not just flattering me. You really are so stubborn.”

The stubborn Empress Dowager’s face darkened, embarrassed.

Liu Yusheng and Feng Mohan could only pretend not to see, so as not to make the Empress Dowager angry and embarrassed.

“Aunt, I have something I want to tell you.” Feng Mohan only now remembered the purpose of his visit, his tone turning a bit pitiful. This drew a sideways glance from the Empress Dowager.

“What is it? Just say it,” Liu Yusheng said with amusement.

Judging by his expression, he probably felt wronged and came here to act cute and seek comfort.

Feng Mohan immediately stood up and sat down beside the soft couch, blinking his eyes as he told everything about Shan Lai being pregnant and his suspicions about Feng Qingbai.

He completely ignored the fact that the Empress Dowager was nearby and that he should be more discreet.

“Shan Lai, that young female doctor?” Liu Yusheng was surprised. She had some impression of that person from a brief encounter when she stayed at the Yangxin Hall before.

She was a clever and smart woman.

“That’s her,” Feng Mohan said, extending his wrist. “Aunt, please check my pulse and see if I’ve been poisoned or if I have some hidden illness that’s hard to detect. I still have to put on a fake front with her every day. Life really is like a play.”

His last sentence was self-mocking.

Besides being able to be himself in front of his imperial uncle and aunt, he had to wear a mask every day in front of everyone else.

He had to act most of his life. Maybe one day, he would become so numb that he couldn’t tell the difference between acting and reality.

Liu Yusheng furrowed her brows and placed her fingers on Feng Mohan’s wrist.

After a moment, she withdrew her hand.

“How is he? Is he alright?” the Empress Dowager immediately asked.

Feng Mohan grinned, “I knew it, Imperial Grandmother is starting to care about me now.”

The Empress Dowager retorted, “I just don’t want you to truly be harmed, and for the land of Nanling to fall into outsiders’ hands.”

Feng Mohan’s smile didn’t fade. The Empress Dowager was tough on the outside but soft-hearted.

He was beginning to feel it.

“There are no problems found so far, but if Shan Lai really is a deep schemer, she might be guarding against me,” Liu Yusheng pondered, “In the next few days, you arrange a gathering of the palace concubines under some pretext. I’ll take the opportunity to check if any of them have been drugged.”

“Gathering the concubines is easy; no pretext needed. They come to pay respects to me every day. Sometimes I even refuse to see them when I find it annoying. Tomorrow when they come, I’ll have them stay for tea. Then you can come and examine them in one go,” the Empress Dowager said.