Chapter 22: Women, Sharpen Your Wits

Chapter 22: Women, Sharpen Your Wits

"The Empress Dowager has a blood clot near her brain; we need to find a way to remove it!" Ruo Xi looked at the kind-faced Empress Dowager and silently thought of a plan: "Hmm, first, I should give the Empress Dowager a pill, and then have her drink some of my medicinal spring water every few days. It will definitely cure her!"

The Empress Dowager lowered her head and looked at the little girl, unable to resist picking up Baby Ruo Xi and giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Too adorable! What am I going to do with you?" The Empress Dowager smiled at Baby Ruo Xi and said, "No, I must keep all three of you in the palace. No going back, no matter what!"

"Empress Dowager!" The housekeeper beside her chuckled and said, "Of course you adore the young prince and princess, but General's Mansion will have something to say about this!"

"Hmph, General's Mansion!" Thinking of the General's Mansion filled the Empress Dowager with anger.

"Yes, right now, I don't know how my emperor uncle is doing. First, I need to cure the Empress Dowager so she can stop some villains from causing trouble. Otherwise, in three years, Great Wei will fall... How tragic for the Empress Dowager!" Baby Ruo Xi said.

"..." This time, the Empress Dowager couldn't hold back; her hand trembled violently, and she froze.

Their eyes met, and Baby Ruo Xi curiously looked at the Empress Dowager: "Hmm, could the Empress Dowager hear my thoughts?"

"Why did Little Treasure suddenly look unhappy? Your little brows are furrowed. Is it because I'm holding you wrong?" The Empress Dowager was startled, fearing that if Xiao Xi'er knew she could hear Baby Ruo Xi's thoughts, Xiao Xi'er might stop talking.

After all, this was a matter of national importance and life or death, which ordinary babies wouldn't discuss.

So, the Empress Dowager made an excuse.

Baby Ruo Xi secretly sighed: "Oh, just a false alarm!"

Xiaoyao went to redo her makeup, taking quite some time.

When she came out, she saw the Empress Dowager sipping tea.

"Oh, I need to get this pill into the Empress Dowager!" Baby Ruo Xi held a pill in her small hand, trying to figure out how to give it to the Empress Dowager.

"Mother!" Hearing her daughter's thoughts, Xiaoyao gently called out to the Empress Dowager.

She believed her daughter was trying to heal someone, knowing that her mother had always suffered from headaches and was weak. Her baby was a magical baby who could even heal her brother, so the Empress Dowager would be fine too.

The Empress Dowager looked up at her daughter.

Aiming at the Empress Dowager's teacup, Baby Ruo Xi used her mind to drop the pill into the cup.

"Have a sip of tea!" Xiaoyao said.

"Mm!" The Empress Dowager nodded and drank the entire cup of tea.

Putting down the teacup, she looked at her daughter and smiled, "Now you look much better. Remember to dress beautifully every day."

"I understand, Mother!" Xiaoyao sat next to her mother and pouted, "Mother, I want to eat the osmanthus cakes made by Auntie Qiu."

"If the princess wants them, this old servant is delighted. After today's banquet, I'll make them," the housekeeper immediately said with a smile.

"If you want them, stay in the palace and have them every day!" the Empress Dowager said.

"No, Mother, I'll stay here for a few days and then return to the General's Mansion!" Xiaoyao said.

"Tell me your plans!" The Empress Dowager looked at Xiaoyao and glanced at Auntie Jin.

Auntie Jin waved her hand, and the servants all left, leaving only the housekeeper, Dong Ju, and Hongmei.

Xiaoyao picked up the sleepy little girl from her mother's arms and said, "Mother, he controls one-third of Great Wei's military tokens. If he joins forces with some treacherous people in the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel, it would be a great threat to the Emperor."

"But what can you do if you go back? You'll be in danger," the Empress Dowager said.

"I'll talk to the Emperor about it. We shouldn't confront him directly. Our country has been through so much turmoil and is just stabilizing. We can't afford more upheaval. Public trust is the foundation, and if there's unrest, the Emperor might lose the trust of the people!" Xiaoyao said.

"Mommy is amazing! Indeed, only when women regain their senses in the palace can they become sharp and insightful!" Baby Ling Yue couldn't help but clap her hands to applaud her mother.

Xiaoyao's eyelids drooped, feeling happy inside but not showing it, not wanting Xiao Xi'er to know she could hear the baby's thoughts.

She also didn't want her mother to know that Xiao Xi'er was a special baby, fearing it might shock her.

The royal family never believed in ghosts and spirits. If they did, there wouldn't be so much killing!

The Empress Dowager remembered that her daughter's sudden awakening began on the day she gave birth.

Perhaps it was related to this little fairy!

Thinking this, the Empress Dowager stood up and said, "Alright, it's about time. Go to the Nourishing Heart Palace first and let the Emperor see the two children. I'll join you after I tidy up."

Xiaoyao bid farewell to her mother, carrying her daughter and followed by her son, heading to the Nourishing Heart Palace.

The Emperor was handling state affairs. Since his ascension, his schedule had been tight, rarely visiting the concubines' palaces at night, focusing solely on his work.

This led to no new imperial offspring since his ascension, worrying the Empress Dowager, but the Emperor wasn't concerned.

"Father, regarding the military supplies at the border, the Minister of Personnel suggests increasing taxes by another ten percent during the autumn harvest and winter storage period to support the troops defending our nation," the fifteen-year-old boy sitting at the side desk said, looking at the memorial in his hand.

"What do you think?" The man with a handsome face behind the main desk glanced outside, then looked back at his son and asked coldly.

"I believe this is inappropriate!" Xiao Yuting sat straight and shook his head, "Our tax rate is already forty percent, regardless of whether the cities are poor or wealthy. The people are suffering. Increasing taxes further will make it impossible for them to survive the winter and the coming spring!"

The Emperor nodded, acknowledging his son's insight.

"Very well, respond to the memorial accordingly!" The Emperor nodded.

Outside, the figure waiting for summons appeared.

Since absorbing plenty of spiritual energy, Baby Ruo Xi's senses were heightened, and she heard everything that happened in the hall clearly.

"These two men are impressive. Their voices exude righteousness. Which one is my uncle? I really want to see a handsome man!" Baby Ruo Xi thought, blowing bubbles.