Chapter 519

Chapter 525: The First Birthday Grab Ceremony (Part 2)

Xu Lingxiao's sentiment lasted only a night. By the next morning, he had regained his usual composure and calm. He handed Eleven Miss several pouches filled with silver taels: "Don’t hesitate. Reward generously when needed. Don’t let yourself or the child face any difficulties..."

Eleven Miss nodded repeatedly and carried Jin Geer into the palace.

Aunt Huang, the palace stewardess serving the Empress, greeted them at the eastern gate.

Upon seeing Jin Geer’s lively and intelligent face, she couldn’t help but pat the child’s head: "The sixth young master is growing so well..."

"You flatter him, Auntie..." Eleven Miss exchanged pleasantries as they made their way to the Kun Ning Palace.

Just as they entered the palace gates, they encountered a young palace maid hurrying past. Spotting them, the maid hastily bowed to Aunt Huang before rushing toward the Empress’s inner chambers.

This was a rather discourteous gesture!

Eleven Miss was surprised.

Aunt Huang quickly explained with a smile: "That’s the Eldest Princess’s maid..." She added, "The Eldest Princess heard that the sixth young master was coming today and stayed overnight at the Kun Ning Palace. She must be impatient and sent someone to check..."

Eleven Miss inwardly sighed in frustration.

The palace had strict rules, and adherence to protocol minimized unexpected incidents, making it relatively safe. But if they encountered the unruly and undisciplined Eldest Princess, who knew what might happen?

She steeled herself and followed Aunt Huang to the warm room.

The Empress sat on her throne, dressed in a casual emerald-green brocade robe with wide sleeves. Beside her sat the Eldest Princess, clad in a bright red embossed silk jacket—her posture straight, hands folded on her lap, a slight smile on her lips, and an air of regal poise. She looked every bit the epitome of nobility and elegance, much to Eleven Miss’s surprise. However, this surprise didn’t last long. As Eleven Miss bowed to the Empress, she noticed the Eldest Princess’s feet, hidden beneath her pleated skirt, swinging restlessly.

It seemed that despite her young age, the Eldest Princess had already learned to conceal her emotions, having grown up in the palace.

Eleven Miss couldn’t help but smile faintly. Then she heard the Empress’s gentle voice: "Offer Eleven Miss a seat..."

She quickly composed herself, curtsied in gratitude, and sat lightly on the brocade stool.

The Empress then instructed Aunt Huang: "Bring the sixth young master here for me to see..." Her voice carried a hint of anticipation.

Even as the exalted Empress, at this moment, she was simply a doting aunt.

Eleven Miss felt reassured and handed Jin Geer to Aunt Huang with a smile.

Aunt Huang carried Jin Geer to the Empress, who reached out and took him into her arms, studying him carefully.

Jin Geer, unafraid of strangers, tilted his head and stared at the Empress with wide, gleaming eyes, as if wondering who this person was.

The Empress’s heart melted.

"Look at this little one..." she said with a smile, gently stroking Jin Geer’s head. "He’s growing so well!" Her tone was sincere, clearly showing her fondness for the child.

The Eldest Princess craned her neck to get a better look.

Aunt Huang subtly flattered the Empress: "Indeed! When I first saw him, I didn’t notice it as much. But now that his features have filled out, he looks just like the Yongping Marquis. He even resembles our Third Prince a little..."

The Empress’s expression softened further, and she nodded with a smile: "Cousins share flesh and blood—even if bones break, the ties remain. Of course they look alike!" As she spoke, she stroked Jin Geer’s head again.

The Eldest Princess, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Jin Geer, tugged at the Empress’s sleeve and whispered, "Imperial Mother..." as if pleading for something.

Elevenniang felt a pang in her heart.

Could the Empress have had Jin Geer brought to the palace at the request of the Eldest Princess?

The thought flashed through her mind when she saw the Empress gently shake her head and say softly, "You're too little to carry Jin Geer..."

Elevenniang let out a quiet breath.

But the Eldest Princess wasn’t ready to give up, still clutching the Empress's sleeve. "Empress Mother, Empress Mother..."

The Empress shook her head tenderly. "Furong (the Eldest Princess’s name), you mustn't. Remember, Jin Geer is your uncle's son, not just anyone. You should take good care of him..."

"Empress Mother, Mother..." The Eldest Princess pouted, looking up with teary eyes at the Empress.

A hint of hesitation passed through the Empress's eyes.

Seeing the situation take a bad turn, Elevenniang was about to rise when Auntie Huang, standing beside the Empress, spoke up. "Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess loves her little cousin so much. Why not let her hold Jin Geer for a moment? We'll all be watching closely—nothing will go wrong..." She then turned to Elevenniang with a smile. "What do you think, Lady Yongping?"

"Auntie Huang speaks wisely," Elevenniang replied calmly. "However, the Eldest Princess is still young and lacks strength, while Jin Geer is a sturdy little thing. It wouldn't do if she hurt herself..."

The others in the room shot each other uneasy looks, their eyes darting toward the Empress.

Yet the Empress nodded slightly, a glimmer of relief in her eyes, and handed Jin Geer to Auntie Huang, signaling her to return the child to Elevenniang.

Elevenniang’s nerves eased.

Auntie Huang stepped forward with a smile, bending to pick up Jin Geer—but the Eldest Princess suddenly hopped off her stool and dashed over, wrapping her arms around Jin Geer's waist. "I'll carry him to Lady Yongping!" she declared, attempting to pull him from the Empress's embrace.

Jin Geer lurched forward and bumped into the princess’s forehead.

The Empress quickly caught Jin Geer and scolded the Eldest Princess gently. "Furong, don't be so rough!"

Jin Geer leaned back, nestling into the Empress's arms.

Then, the Eldest Princess let out a loud wail, holding her ears and pressing her face against Jin Geer. "Empress Mother, it hurts, it hurts!"

The room froze.

Auntie Huang immediately knelt beside the Eldest Princess. "Your Highness, where does it hurt?"

The Empress also asked anxiously, "Furong, what's wrong?"

Meanwhile, Elevenniang, alarmed that the Eldest Princess was crying in pain while leaning on Jin Geer, rushed forward without hesitation, arriving beside the Empress just as the Eldest Princess's nurse did. There, she saw Jin Geer's tiny finger caught in the Eldest Princess's crescent-moon gold earring.

"Jin Geer!" Elevenniang quickly grasped his hand, afraid any movement might tear the Eldest Princess's ear.

Auntie Huang and the others noticed as well.

The Empress stroked the Eldest Princess's head soothingly. "Furong, stay still. Jin Geer has your earring caught."

The Eldest Princess froze, sobbing against the Empress's lap.

Auntie Huang carefully tried to free Jin Geer's finger from the earring.

But the moment she tugged, Jin Geer wailed loudly, his soft little finger turning red instantly.

Elevenniang's heart ached. "Auntie Huang, we must find another way. His finger is stuck!"

Now, Auntie Huang was at a loss—whether to pull or not, she hesitated, frozen in place. The Empress also panicked. "What do we do now?"

Perhaps they were too flustered with worry, but for a moment, no one knew what to do.

The adults' anxiety affected the two children, and both the eldest princess and Jin Geer started wailing loudly.

It was the eldest princess's nurse who timidly suggested from the side, "Maybe we should take the earring off?"

Hearing this, Aunt Huang brightened at the idea and carefully removed the earring.

The eldest princess let out a loud wail and buried herself in the Empress's arms, while Jin Geer cried out and clung to Eleven Miss.

The warm room echoed with a chorus of loud cries.

The Empress held the eldest princess, and Eleven Miss patted Jin Geer as she walked, each soothing their own child.

Fang Jieer arrived.

She glanced at the eldest princess, who was sniffling quietly in the Empress's arms, then at Jin Geer, who was sniffling with tears in his eyes and resting his head on Eleven Miss's shoulder. She asked in surprise, "What... what happened?"

"It's nothing, nothing," Aunt Huang dismissed it lightly. "The sixth young master accidentally got his finger caught in the eldest princess's earring. Just a false scare."

Fang Jieer had long known better than to ask questions.

She smiled and stepped forward to comfort the eldest princess.

The eldest princess turned her face away, insisting on being held only by the Empress. The Empress, completely absorbed in comforting her daughter, said nothing more.

Fang Jieer smiled and turned to Eleven Miss.

Jin Geer peeked at her before sullenly laid his head back down on Eleven Miss's shoulder.

His eyes still wet with tears were clear and transparent, as if reflecting her image within them.

Fang Jieer couldn't help but reach out to pat Jin Geer's head.

Eleven Miss smiled at her.

Aunt Huang brought an embroidered stool for Fang Jieer.

Eleven Miss looked slightly surprised.

Fang Jieer whispered, "I'm with child again!"

It took Eleven Miss a moment to process this. Noticing the lack of joy on Fang Jieer's face—instead, a hint of sadness—her gaze darkened slightly, and she reached out to squeeze Fang Jieer's hand.

Understanding, Fang Jieer shook her head lightly and managed a small smile.

She signaled Eleven Miss not to worry about her.

Eleven Miss thought for a moment, then said softly, "Would you like to hold Jin Geer?"

Fang Jieer was surprised.

Eleven Miss smiled. "He helped Fifth Sister-in-law bring a Shen Geer. Maybe he'll bring you a son too!"

Fang Jieer's eyes welled up slightly as she gently took Jin Geer into her arms.

On the way home, Lord Xu said to Eleven Miss, "You shouldn't meddle in these things!"

Eleven Miss adjusted the blanket around the sleeping Jin Geer and murmured, "I just wanted to comfort her. Ten months of pregnancy—if she stays as melancholy as she was today, I fear she could make herself sick before the birth."

Lord Xu said nothing further.

As the carriage entered Lotus Lane, he suddenly murmured, "The third prince is of age now. It's time to arrange a marriage for him!"

Eleven Miss was stunned.

She sensed deeper meaning in his words at that moment.

She wanted to ask him, yet hesitated with trepidation, afraid to hear a cold answer.

After several days of such hesitation, Lady Zhou came to visit.

"You already know." Her perfect makeup and elegant clothes could not conceal her despondency. "We don't know if this child will be a boy or girl, so our family doesn't dare announce it."

Eleven Miss could only comfort her: "Sister, rest assured. The Crown Princess is blessed. Naturally, things will turn around!"

But Lady Zhou lacked such confidence.

She gave a bitter smile, "I hope so!"