amaotonovel Chapter 185 Foster Mother
Chapter 185 Foster Mother
Empress Dowager Li suddenly thought, if Emperor Shenwu was more suspicious, would he think that he was also responsible for this matter?
Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Li's heart skipped a beat. "Emperor, if your uncle truly harbors such treasonous intentions, I will certainly not let him off so easily! I have always remembered your father's last instructions: to prioritize the Dasheng Dynasty and the Emperor above all else!"
Emperor Shenwu's expression softened slightly. "Mother, I have always known your temperament and understand that you are not the same as Duke Cheng'en. I do not want these matters to bother you, but Duke Cheng'en is very eager to exploit you, so I have no choice but to tell you a few things."
Emperor Shenwu came out of Quanhe Pavilion with a bad look on his face. The palace maids and eunuchs standing on both sides bowed their heads and knelt on the ground to salute, not daring to look up.
In the Jingyou Pavilion, Lan Qingwu sat quietly on the chaise longue, waiting for someone to arrive.
A moment later, Ruhan walked in from outside the hall: "Master, Miss Jiang is here."
Lan Qingwu hurriedly said, "Please come in."
A six-year-old girl slowly walked in from the entrance of the hall. It was Jiang Niannian, the daughter of Gao Lanyan and Jiang Qi.
Lan Qingwu looked at Nian Nian taking small and cautious steps, and couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart: "Nian Nian, come here."
Nian Nian looked up at Lan Qingwu and bowed first: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Lan Qingwu stood up and walked to Nian Nian, helping her up. "Nian Nian, don't you recognize me? I'm your Aunt Qing."
Nian Nian lowered her eyes, and there was no trace of the lively spirit of a child in them. "They said that when you see the Empress, you must be polite and not lose your manners."
"They? Nian Nian, who are they? You forgot, when you're with me and your mother, you don't need to be so polite."
Nian Nian froze for a moment. "Mother? They never mention Mother, and they don't let me mention Mother. Father gets sad when she mentions Mother. Nian Nian doesn't even dare to mention Mother. Everyone has forgotten Mother. I..."
Lan Qingwu only felt heartbroken and helpless when she heard this: "No one has forgotten your mother. Come here, your aunt will show you something."
Lan Qingwu asked Ruhan to present a scroll. The scroll slowly opened, revealing a woman in green sitting comfortably among the flowers. The sea of flowers behind her was as beautiful and colorful as mist.
Nian Nian was stunned for a moment: "Mom, it's Mom!"
The grief and pain that had been oppressing Nian Nian's young heart finally made her unable to bear it: "They don't let me mention mother. Mother doesn't want Nian Nian anymore. Nian Nian will never have a mother again! They said Nian Nian will have a new mother in the future, but Nian Nian doesn't want anyone else. Nian Nian only wants her own mother! They all want me to forget my own mother..."
Jiang Niannian's tears seemed to burn Lan Qingwu's heart. She held Niannian in her arms and said, "You don't have to forget your mother. Gao Lanyan is your mother! No one can replace her!"
Nian Nian cried heartily in Lan Qingwu's arms. After she calmed down a little, Lan Qingwu gave her the scroll and said, "Can I teach you how to paint today? When you finish the painting, I'll give it to you."
Nian Nian nodded, and followed Lan Qingwu to the study with complete relaxation.
Lan Qingwu watched Nian Nian sitting next to the desk and ordered, "Ruping, go find Prince Jiang and tell him that Nian Nian will be staying with me for a few days."
"Yes." Ru Ping took her leave.
Nian Nian lingered at Lan Qingwu's place for several days in a row. She painted, read, and danced here... Nian Nian finally felt the mother's embrace and tenderness again. Here, she could talk about her mother with Concubine Yi anytime and anywhere, and learn about her mother's childhood stories from Concubine Yi. She no longer had the sighs of her wet nurse and the sadness of her father when he looked at her.
The next time Jiang Qi saw his daughter was when Ruhan brought Nian Nian back to the residence of Duke Rong. Jiang Qi took Nian Nian from the palace maid's arms, and he felt Nian Nian's whole face turn rosy.
Ru Han said solemnly, "Prince Jiang, Concubine Yi said that children need a relaxed environment to grow up in. You can't talk about this or that. It will only make Nian Nian more confused and depressed. It's better to let nature take its course."
Jiang Qi quickly said, "I'm sorry to trouble Concubine Yi."
At this time, Nian Nian poked her little head out from her father's arms: "Aunt Ruhan, I have an appointment with the Queen. Next time I will bring her a gift. Please let the Queen wait for me."
Ruhan nodded with a smile, and handed the exquisite mahogany box in his hand to Jiang Qi: "Prince Jiang, this is a gift from the Queen to Miss Jiang, please keep it."
Jiang Qi looked at the exquisite, translucent, and smooth jade, and was slightly surprised: "This is too precious..."
Ru Han shook her head gently: "Prince Jiang, the Queen said that this is a mother's heart. It is not precious, but it is rare. If you still want Nian Nian to feel the mother's love again, then accept it. Otherwise... next time you come to the palace, just let Nian Nian take it back. Please consider it carefully!"
Jiang Qi was stunned. He suddenly understood what Concubine Yi meant. If he wanted to remarry, Nian Nian would naturally have a stepmother, and she would no longer need Concubine Yi to care for her all the time. If he did not marry again, Concubine Yi would adopt Nian Nian as her adopted daughter, and Nian Nian's future would be extremely smooth.
Jiang Qi paused for a moment, and Ruhan didn't wait for his reply, but bowed and left.
Jiang Qi carried Nian Nian back to the house. He watched Nian Nian order someone to open the painting that she couldn't let go of, and couldn't help but be stunned again: "This is..."
Nian Nian raised her head and said, "It's Mother! Daddy, is the painting of Concubine Yi good? Does it look exactly like Mother?"
Jiang Qi was speechless for a moment as he looked at the person in the scroll. After a while, he came back to his senses: "Yes! Exactly the same!"
Nian Nian said seriously, "Daddy, Concubine Yi said that Mommy hasn't left us. She turned into a star in the sky and is always watching over us. When we miss her, we can look up at the stars. Mommy will always bless us! Concubine Yi also taught Nian Nian to paint. Nian Nian also wants to paint Mommy!"
Jiang Qi looked at Nian Nian seriously. "What if Concubine Yi became your mother? Your mother would bless you in heaven, and Concubine Yi would be by your side to love and take care of you. How about that? Nian Nian, are you willing?"
Nian Nian lowered her head and then raised it again: "Nian Nian is willing! It feels so comfortable and warm when Concubine Yi holds me. It has been a long time since anyone has held Nian Nian like this."
Jiang Qi held the exquisite jade in his hand and made up his mind.
Lan Qingwu obtained Jiang Qi's consent and officially recognized Nian Nian as his adopted daughter. Nian Nian's status as the eldest daughter of a widowed woman was also greatly improved by the Empress Yi, who was deeply favored by the emperor. Even the wife of the Duke of Rong, who did not take this granddaughter seriously, became more restrained from then on.