bookcurios Chapter 1185 Do You Miss Your Mother?
Chapter 1185 Do You Miss Your Mother?
Fuqiu immediately stepped forward to take it.
The hall was brightly lit and the stove was warm as if it were spring.
Nanny Xiao and Nanny Lin, who had been waiting in the hall for a long time, led several neatly dressed, humble and pleasant wet nurses to kneel down and salute, their voices filled with excitement and respect for a long-awaited reunion.
"Your servants respectfully welcome the Queen back to the palace. May Her Majesty be blessed with good health!"
"Everyone, get up."
Shen Zhinian's voice carried a hint of relief at returning home, but his gaze had already passed over the kneeling crowd and landed on the small figure carefully held in the wet nurse's arms.
The Fourth Prince was wearing a festive red brocade jacket and wrapped in soft fox fur, looking like a round glutinous rice dumpling.
He seemed a little confused by the sudden silence and the kneeling of the crowd. His big black eyes looked around curiously, and his pink little mouth was slightly open, revealing a few pearly little teeth.
"Axu."
Shen Zhinian's voice softened instantly, like the melting snow in early spring, with a tenderness that could drown people.
She walked quickly forward, almost impatiently taking the warm little body from the wet nurse's arms.
The Fourth Prince was enveloped by the familiar fragrance. He was stunned at first, and then his big eyes like black grapes suddenly lit up, and he instantly recognized who was holding him!
His little body twisted excitedly in Shen Zhinian's arms, and his little arms waved upwards hard, trying to reach Shen Zhinian's cheek.
He uttered an indistinct but joyful babbling sound: "Ah...ah...mother, mother..."
This soft and vague call, like the purest rain, instantly extinguished all the coldness and hostility in Shen Zhinian's heart caused by the previous dynasty and the harem.
She hugged the Fourth Prince tightly, feeling the warmth of his little body nestled in her arms, the sense of security. It was like a drifting ship finally returning to the safest harbor.
At this moment, all the fatigue and calculations of the past few days were soothed by the pure warmth in his arms.
"Mother's Ah Xu... do you miss Mother?"
Shen Zhinian lowered her head and gently rubbed the Fourth Prince's soft and fragrant head with the tip of her nose. Her voice was so soft that it seemed water could drip out.
She held the child in her arms as if she were holding a rare treasure, and walked briskly into the hall to the warm couch covered with a thick velvet blanket.
Nanny Xiao and Nanny Lin looked at each other and saw relieved smiles in each other's eyes.
Nanny Xiao calmly directed the palace servants to put away the boxes and crates that Shen Zhinian brought back.
Nanny Lin quickly signaled the wet nurse to go to the small kitchen and bring back some warm milk soup and soft and glutinous snacks.
Shen Zhinian held the Fourth Prince in her arms and sat down on the warm couch. He immediately found the most comfortable position in her arms.
A small hand tightly grasped the silk ribbon hanging from the front of her palace dress.
The other little hand curiously touched the pearl tassel hanging from her bun.
He was babbling words that only he understood, and his little face was full of satisfaction and attachment.
Shen Zhinian looked down with a smile, her fingertips gently brushing the Fourth Prince's delicate cheek, her eyes filled with undisguised doting and cherishing.
The flickering candlelight in the hall gently cast the embraced figures of mother and child on the polished floor, creating a tranquil scene that was shielded from all the turbulent storms of the outside world.
Shen Zhinian rested for a moment, showered, and changed clothes, washing off the dust and dirt on her body. She put on a comfortable apricot-yellow palace dress and reclined on a soft couch in the warm room of Zhongcui Palace.
The fourth prince has been taken away by the wet nurse to rest.
Inside the hall, the warm stove glowed, the air filled with the elegant aroma of benzoin. Only Madam Xiao and Madam Lin, two of his trusted associates, remained, answering questions.
"...Everything is fine in the palace these days since Her Majesty left."
Madam Xiao spoke in a steady and clear voice, "Empress Xuefei is in charge of the palace affairs. She handles things very fairly and properly. All the staff dare not slack off."
"The accounts are clear and the expenses are measured. I haven't heard of any mistakes or disputes. The ladies in each palace are also well behaved."
Nanny Lin added, with a touch of respect for Concubine Xue: "Although Concubine Xue has a cold personality, she is very methodical in her management of affairs, with clear rewards and punishments, and everyone under her respects her."
"Even those in the Imperial Household Department, who are used to judging people by their behavior, behaved well and didn't dare to cause any trouble."
Shen Zhinian listened and nodded slightly.
Xue Fei was born into a military family. She has a cold and aloof personality and doesn't like making friends, but she has a calm and composed demeanor.
She is in charge of the harem, and does not seek to achieve anything, but only to avoid mistakes, which is the safest way.
This result was within Shen Zhinian's expectations.
……
Xuanpin had just put away her luggage and didn't even have time to drink a sip of hot tea. She took Zhu'er and hurried straight to the Yanx Palace.
Her heart had already flown to the infant Sixth Prince.
The Yanx Palace is as cold and plain as ever.
Xue Fei was sitting on the warm kang by the window, holding a chess book in her hand and reading quietly.
On the thick velvet blanket beside her, the second princess was being teased by her wet nurse and playing with toys together.
The little girl was delicate and graceful, but her expression was quiet, not as lively as other babies. Occasionally, she would let out a few soft, thin laughs, like timid flower buds on a branch in early spring.
"I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Snow Queen. May Her Majesty be blessed with good health and happiness!"
Before Concubine Xuan arrived, her voice, filled with anxiety and gratitude, had already been heard.
She walked quickly into the hall and bowed deeply to Concubine Xue.
Concubine Xue put down the chess manual, looked up at Concubine Xuan, and nodded lightly: "No need to be so polite."
"The Sixth Prince is in the warm room of the side hall. He has just been fed and is sleeping soundly."
Her voice was clear, like the sound of jade colliding, without much emotion.
Upon hearing this, Concubine Xuan missed him even more, but etiquette could not be abandoned.
She suppressed the urge to rush to the side hall and her eyes fell on the Second Princess, who was playing quietly. A sincere smile spread across her face, with undisguised affection: "After not seeing you for a month, the Second Princess has become even more lovely!"
"Look at this little one, he looks just like the fairy child in the painting! Empress Xuefei really knows how to take care of children."
Xuanpin paused, her tone filled with sincere gratitude: "Your Majesty, you have worked so hard these days!"
"Jin'er is so young and can't be left alone. She must have caused Her Majesty a lot of trouble. I feel really sorry and grateful!"
Having said that, Concubine Xuan bowed solemnly again.
Concubine Xue's gaze lingered for a moment on Concubine Xuan's face, which was filled with gratitude and anxiety. She remained as cold as ever, and only shook her head slightly, "You're welcome, sister."
"Jin'er was very well behaved and didn't cause any trouble. The wet nurses were also very dedicated."
She paused, her eyes sweeping towards the side hall. "Mother and child are connected by heart. After being separated for so long, Jin'er must be missing her sister. Now that she's back, go get Jin'er."
After hearing this, Concubine Xuan felt as if she had been pardoned. She thanked him and walked towards the warm room in the side hall with Zhu'er, walking lightly and quickly.