Volume One, Chapter 14: At Last, a Fool Comes Along to Help You Raise the Child

Little Ping’an tilted his head and looked at the Empress Dowager with a sweet smile. “You must be Father’s mother, right? You look so kind and loving. Father is surely the happiest child in the world to have a mother like you.”

“Oh my, what sweet words! You must have smeared honey on that little mouth of yours,” the Empress Dowager said fondly, pulling Little Ping’an into her embrace with a hearty laugh.

Since the emperor had fallen seriously ill, the palace had been rife with peril. It was only with the Grand Tutor’s fierce protection that they had fought their way through the chaos to the throne. The emperor had not seen the Empress Dowager genuinely smile in a long time.

Unexpectedly, this son she had won by catching the silk ball turned out to be so remarkable!

Could it be that he had accidentally stumbled upon a treasure?

Little Ping’an rubbed his little belly and coquettishly said to the Empress Dowager, “Grandmother, the child is hungry. I haven’t eaten since early morning, and my stomach’s growling.”

“Quick, send the meals!” The Empress Dowager and the emperor ordered simultaneously.

Mother and son exchanged a glance and both laughed.

Sure enough, with family in the palace, the efficiency of the prime minister and others shot up. Within half a day, they had produced the necessary regulations, and that very afternoon, the first batch of disaster relief grain and frontier supplies were dispatched from the capital.

Though the amount was small and far from enough to solve the problem, the court had shown its stance. At least all the people and soldiers knew the government had not abandoned them but would endure the hardship together.

After breakfast, the legitimate sons of the second-rank officials were gradually brought into the palace.

The Empress Dowager, in high spirits, watched Little Ping’an directing a group of children catching crickets in the imperial garden. The air was filled with cries of joy and laughter.

“Empress Dowager, a lady bearing the Grand Tutor’s token requests an audience outside the palace,” a young eunuch hurried in to report.

The Grand Tutor’s token!

The Empress Dowager suddenly stood up.

If it were not for the Grand Tutor’s full support, how could they have survived amidst so many ravenous princes?

He was truly their family’s greatest benefactor!

Yet, on the very day the new emperor ascended the throne, the Grand Tutor had vanished without a trace, leaving them unable to express their gratitude.

“Hurry, invite her in!” the Empress Dowager said excitedly. “Quick, go to the study and bring the emperor here to meet her!”

The emperor hurried over and saw a graceful woman, ethereal as a celestial consort, approaching him with measured steps.

For a moment, he was captivated, lost in admiration.

The Empress Dowager also stared at the woman for a long time, spellbound. Having lived in the palace for over twenty years, she had seen countless beauties, yet none had ever commanded such attention at a single glance, captivating and hard to look away from.

Yet this woman bore no trace of seductiveness—her purity and dignity made her seem like a lofty fairy, inspiring only reverence, never jealousy.

“I am Yan Weiyu, a humble subject, paying respects…” Yan Weiyu stepped forward, about to bow, but her arm was suddenly caught by large hands.

“No need for formalities, Miss Yan. Please don’t kneel,” the emperor quickly said, his urgency unmistakable. Yan Weiyu blinked, somewhat puzzled.

This emperor was surprisingly approachable.

“Miss Yan holds the Grand Tutor’s token. Do you know where he is now?” The Empress Dowager interrupted, more anxious than polite.

Yan Weiyu shook her head. “Your Majesty, this token was given to me by the Grand Tutor four years ago. I have not seen him for over four years.”

How would she know the Grand Tutor’s whereabouts?

She had taken the token casually years ago.

Had she not known the Grand Tutor was long absent from the capital, she would not have brought this token out today when she had no other credentials to enter the palace.

Although the Grand Tutor often traveled outside the capital, he spent most of his time there. The Empress Dowager hadn’t expected that this woman hadn’t seen him for over four years, so she certainly wouldn’t know where he had gone. It was impossible not to feel disappointed.

Nonetheless, since the Grand Tutor gave her the token personally, she must be someone he valued. The Empress Dowager treated her with great respect and would not neglect her.

“Miss Yan, please have a seat. Someone, bring tea and refreshments,” the Empress Dowager personally ordered.

“May I ask why Miss Yan has come to the palace today?” the emperor also asked with curiosity.

Yan Weiyu felt a bit shy, cleared her throat, and said, “This morning, the little boy brought back by Your Majesty is my son.”

“My son is mischievous and unruly, causing trouble for Your Majesty. I wish to take him back.”

The emperor’s eyes widened in shock.

So this was the woman who had originally been supposed to throw the silk ball? The ball had landed on him, which meant...

Just thinking this made his heart pound uncontrollably.

“Mother!” Little Ping’an, sweating from playing in the imperial garden, heard from the palace maids that a lady with the Grand Tutor’s token had entered the palace. Guessing it might be his mother, he hurriedly abandoned his new friends and ran over.

Sure enough, it was her!

He hadn’t seen his real mother in nearly a month, and here she was.

He had known all along—without drastic measures, his carefree mother wouldn’t have remembered she had two hungry children waiting!

Look, he had brought an emperor father into the picture, so his mother couldn’t sit still anymore, right?

But before he could reach her, Little Ping’an furrowed his brows deeply.

He looked once, then again.

There was no trace of little Happy by his mother’s side—not a single shadow.

How could that be?!

Why hadn’t she gone to bring little Happy back?

Yan Weiyu reached out, ready to embrace her son with a mother’s love, but saw him stop dead in his tracks some ten steps away.

That piercing, scrutinizing gaze raised her heart high with tension.

This little master wasn’t about to spring some big surprise on her, was he?

Yan Weiyu instinctively withdrew her hand and straightened up.

Little Ping’an looked up at Yan Weiyu, snorted coldly, and asked angrily, “Mother, what are you feeling guilty about?”

Yan Weiyu shook her head reflexively. “I’m not. I’m not feeling guilty at all!”

Little Ping’an twisted his body, turned away from Yan Weiyu, and threw himself into the emperor’s arms. Once the emperor lifted him so his eyes could meet Yan Weiyu’s, he asked clearly, “Mother, where is my sister?”

Yan Weiyu felt a twinge of guilt, but quickly regained her composure and snorted coldly in return.

“That heartless little one took a father of her own and doesn’t want a mother anymore. I want to bring her back, but she has to want to come with me!”

Little Ping’an sneered. “Mother, don’t you feel a pang of conscience saying that? Be honest with yourself—do you really want to bring sister back?”

“Or are you just happy having finally found a sucker to help you raise the children, so you’re relieved?”

The emperor, also a sucker in this matter, was speechless.

Was there something slightly off about this mother and son’s way of talking to each other?