Chapter 1839: Chapter 1777: A Mother’s Heart

Empress Dowager Mo was concerned for her son, but seeing him return safely set her mind at ease, so she urged him to go back to the residence to freshen up and rest.

"Royal Mother, what about Wufu?"

"Look at you, why the hurry? Wait a few days, and I’ll summon her to the palace to meet her. Then, I’ll have your Imperial Brother issue a decree, so there won’t be any gossip," Empress Dowager Mo said.

Ah Jiu sheepishly grinned and bowed, taking his leave, glancing at Nanny Shui before he left.

Nanny Shui’s heart skipped as she was about to say to send him out, but Empress Dowager Mo instructed a Palace Maid to escort Ah Jiu, while she took Nanny Shui to look at the jewelry and other things found earlier.

Ah Jiu had no choice but to temporarily set aside his doubts and leave the palace to return to the residence.

When Emperor Yan came to Cining Palace to pay his respects, Ah Jiu had already left. Empress Dowager Mo, upon seeing him, said, "I was just about to have someone invite the Emperor over."

"Did Royal Mother summon your son for anything urgent?" Emperor Yan asked.

"It’s nothing else, just a matter concerning Ah Jiu," Empress Dowager Mo said with a smile. "Ah Jiu is set on Madam Zhou, and now she has entered the Royal Mansion. They’ve conducted the wedding ceremony, and in the eyes of the people, they’re husband and wife. But since this is the marriage of a descendant of the Imperial Family, it can’t be so hastily considered complete. Their grand wedding needs to be formally conducted, and Madam Zhou must be listed in the Imperial Jade Scroll."

Emperor Yan replied, "Ah Jiu spoke with me about wanting to use the merits gained from the Northern Region to give Madam Zhou an official name."

"As for merits, in the two cases of the Northern Region, Madam Zhou has a part, so there’s no question of whether the name should be changed or not. But since Ah Jiu says so, just let him be," Empress Dowager Mo said. "My intention is to summon Madam Zhou to the palace in a few days, as a gesture to the families throughout the capital. Then, the Emperor can issue a decree to find an auspicious day for their grand wedding ceremony to fulfill the rituals, how about it?"

She didn’t want her daughter-in-law to be the subject of gossip behind their backs; she disliked hearing talk about improper status and unjustified words.

"Royal Mother, I’ve heard that Madam Zhou is still in mourning."

"I never said to choose an auspicious day now. Let the Imperial Astronomical Observatory calculate according to the days after Madam Zhou’s mourning period," Empress Dowager Mo replied. "A prince’s grand wedding is for the world to see. The two of them already married in the presence of Beiyan officials and those from Nanyue. They’ve bowed to the heavens and their ancestors, which means they’re already wed. Now that autumn has arrived, and with the Imperial Family’s ancestor worship in a few months, the royal members born this year need to be recorded in the Jade Scroll. We might as well have Madam Zhou listed at the same time."

Emperor Yan saw Empress Dowager Mo’s meticulous arrangements and laughed, "Royal Mother hasn’t yet seen Madam Zhou but has already recognized her. Aren’t you afraid she might not be suitable for Ah Jiu? Her background isn’t prominent."

"Once a son grows up, a mother can’t control him. Ah Jiu is set on her, and since he is willing and happy, what can I say?" Empress Dowager Mo took hold of the celadon teacup and said, "Ah Jiu’s happiness is my happiness. If I were to force a noble lady onto him that he doesn’t like, no matter how prestigious her status, what good would it do?"

Empress Dowager Mo was open-minded, knowing that high status often concealed unseen dirt. As a mother, she just wished for her dear son to be joyful and content.

Emperor Yan said, "Royal Mother’s affection for Ah Jiu makes your son quite envious!"

Empress Dowager Mo paused with the tea lid in her hand, while Nanny Shui pretended not to hear anything, gazing at her nose and then her heart.

"I have only two sons—you are one, and you’re already the Emperor. It’s said that ordinary folks adore their youngest child, and it’s not different for me," Empress Dowager Mo looked at Emperor Yan and scolded, "As the Emperor, how can you behave like a child?"

Emperor Yan gazed deeply at her and said, "Royal Mother should know, your son didn’t wish to be..."

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