Chapter 656 - 241: End of the Banquet
Chapter 656: Chapter 241: End of the Banquet
The Empress was truly not a difficult person to get along with. Perhaps it was because Chen Wanqing benefited from her grandfather’s influence, forcing the Empress to treat her with leniency and warmth. In short, after this interaction, Chen Wanqing had a very good impression of the royal matriarch.
As the sun rose higher, the weather outside grew increasingly warm. The palace maids brought over stools and a tea table. The two women sat in the sunlight, chatting about everyday life while watching the Young Crown Prince try to coax a plump orange cat down from a nearby tree.
However, the plump orange cat had seen too much of the sinister nature of humans to easily come down. Even though the little brat below posed no threat to it, there were so many people hovering around him. Falling into any of their hands would mean a bad end. The plump orange cat yawned again and, in no time at all, actually fell asleep on the branch.
The Young Crown Prince looked left and right. When the plump orange cat failed to come down and play, he tightened his little face in frustration and took his nanny’s hand to look for the Empress. Ultimately, he still had the heart of a child. Upon reaching the Empress and seeing the refreshments on the table, his eyes lit up, and he instantly forgot his earlier displeasure.
The Empress handed the Young Crown Prince a piece of plum cake. The pink pastry was only the size of an adult’s bite. Shaped like a delicate blossom, it looked incredibly appetizing.
Holding it in his hand, the Young Crown Prince took a sweet bite and narrowed his eyes, clearly enjoying the taste. He then offered the half-bitten plum cake to the Empress’s lips. "Mother, Mother, eat."
A pure smile appeared on the Empress’s elegant face. She stroked the soft hair on her son’s head. "Sheng’er, you eat. Mother isn’t hungry."
The Young Crown Prince took another bite, then suddenly realized there was someone else nearby. He looked at Chen Wanqing, tilting his head left and right. After observing for a moment, he suddenly held out the plum cake to her. "Bro... brother, eat."
The Empress burst into laughter. "What brother? This is the biological granddaughter of Mr. Xu, whom you see often. You should call her Mrs. Zhao."
Chen Wanqing hurriedly waved her hands. Before the Crown Prince of a nation, how could she be considered a Madam?
"Madam flatters this commoner too much..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Young Crown Prince stubbornly took two steps forward and pushed the plum cake closer. "Bro, brother, eat."
The Young Crown Prince had already turned one year old. Perhaps it was truly because he possessed the bloodline of a true dragon; not only did he walk steadily at an early age, but he also spoke more fluently than toddlers his age. Chen Wanqing had heard her grandmother mention in passing that everyone, both inside and outside the court, praised the Young Crown Prince for his early wisdom. Though he had just turned one, he could already recite the entire *Three Character Classic* and *Hundred Family Names*.
Such a highly intelligent young master only strengthened the officials’ desire to support the Emperor in taking full control of the government as soon as possible. If they could have two successive wise rulers, why worry that the Wei Dynasty wouldn’t prosper? Why worry that their names wouldn’t go down in history?
But that was a matter for another day. Simply put, the Young Crown Prince had been exceptionally well-educated since birth; both rules and etiquette had been ingrained in his very bones. He was not a talkative child, either. Leaving the palace today had perhaps made him a little excited, leading to some slightly inappropriate actions, but overall, the toddler perfectly embodied the dignified demeanor of a little Crown Prince.
Yet, such a proper and intelligent little fellow had offered Chen Wanqing his plum cake twice, both times insisting it was for a brother to eat?
Where would a brother come from? How could there be a brother?
The people around them, who initially hadn’t paid attention to the toddler’s words, grew serious after he repeated himself. They looked at Chen Wanqing, then looked at the Young Crown Prince, oscillating between surprise and frowning speculation.
The Empress also couldn’t help but scrutinize Chen Wanqing for a few moments. As if thinking of something, her eyes lit up, and she leaned in closer to ask, "Are you..."
With a slightly bashful expression, Chen Wanqing nodded. "I just had the Imperial Physician check my pulse today. He said it’s been a month and a half."
"I knew it!" The Empress clapped her hands in pleasant surprise. "People say that children have clear eyes and bright hearts, allowing them to see things adults cannot. Since Sheng’er repeatedly insisted on offering the plum cake to a brother, barring any surprises, the child in your belly must be a little Lang."
Hearing this, the observing nannies and palace maids couldn’t help but agree.
"That must be the case."
"The Crown Prince has such a sharp eye. If His Highness hadn’t pointed it out, none of us would have noticed."
"His Highness wanted the younger brother to eat the plum cake, which shows how much he likes the child..."
Laughter and cheerful chatter filled the air, and even Chen Wanqing couldn’t help but wear a radiant smile. She wasn’t happy simply because the baby in her womb might be a little Lang, nor did she feel honored that the Crown Prince liked her unborn child so much. It was purely because, out of superstition, she felt this was a wonderful omen. It meant her child would be safe and healthy, and would surely be brought into the world without harm.
Afterward, the conversation between Chen Wanqing and the Empress centered entirely on the baby.