"Raise your head!" The Emperor's stern voice echoed through the grand hall.
Song Shuyu felt a poke from Princess Consort Ling beside her, and only then did she realize the Emperor was speaking to her.
She raised her head in trepidation and looked up at the Emperor seated above.
The Emperor's countenance was highly imposing.
There was not a trace of a smile on his face, and the two deep laugh lines around his mouth made him look somewhat fierce.
Seeing the Emperor's fierce appearance, Song Shuyu trembled with fear.
Her demeanor greatly displeased the Emperor.
"Speak! What exactly happened?" The Emperor's voice carried the absolute authority of a ruler.
Utterly terrified, Song Shuyu burst into loud wails.
"I didn't mean to! I was just nervous, it was an accident!"
Song Shuyu's basic instinct told her she could not admit to this matter.
The Emperor watched Song Shuyu bawling, his gaze lingering on her for a moment.
Although Song Shuyu's eyes kept darting away evasively, it was normal for a child of only a few years old to be frightened upon entering the imperial palace.
It seemed that all of this was indeed an accident she had carelessly caused.
And that was why she dared not confess on her own initiative.
However, this child's manners were rather terrible.
Compared to the other child, this one was far too disappointing!
The Emperor's gaze swept over Prince Ling and his family.
"Enough, I have other matters to attend to. You may all withdraw."
Prince Ling and Noble Consort Li quietly exchanged a glance. After bowing to take their leave, they exited.
Sitting high above, the Emperor saw the expressions of the people below with absolute clarity.
In his heart, he felt deeply disappointed.
Duoduo followed her parents out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, letting out a sigh of relief.
Her first confrontation with Song Shuyu had finally come to an end.
It was a total victory for her!
Duoduo felt a little leap of joy in her heart.
This was the first time in her life that she had dared to speak up for herself.
She had become brave!
Happy at heart, Duoduo's footsteps became light and brisk.
Xiao Yi, sitting in his wheelchair, acutely sensed this.
He turned his head and glanced at Duoduo.
"In the palace, you must speak and act cautiously!"
Duoduo's bouncing steps and curved lips immediately restrained themselves.
She did not like the imperial palace!
She had only been here for a little while, and she already wanted to leave.
Although the pavilions and terraces here were beautiful, it was incredibly oppressive.
Duoduo did not like it.
With her little face pulled long, Duoduo looked very unhappy.
Xiao Yi patted the back of Duoduo's hand.
"Great-grandmother is very kind. We will stay and accompany her for a meal before heading back."
Duoduo suddenly felt all the joy drain out of her life. They actually had to stay for lunch?
Nevertheless, she nodded obediently. "Okay."
It was not suitable to say too much in the palace. Xiao Yi patted Duoduo's head, then withdrew his hand and said no more.
The group soon arrived at the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
As they entered the hall, Duoduo caught sight of her mother kneeling from the corner of her eye, and she immediately knelt down as well.
"Rise."
A peaceful voice came from the seat of honor above.
Duoduo kowtowed once more before slowly standing up.
Standing beside Xiao Yi's wheelchair, Duoduo quietly peeked at the Empress Dowager above from the corner of her eye.
"Was your journey smooth, Yi'er?" The Empress Dowager's voice was calm and unruffled.
"To answer Grandmother, it was quite smooth," Xiao Yi replied very respectfully.
"And this little girl is..." The Empress Dowager looked at Duoduo, who was standing obediently by the wheelchair.
"To answer Grandmother, this is Changle. Her pet name is Duoduo."
"Changle, go and kowtow to your Great-grandmother," Xiao Yi said, glancing at Duoduo.
Duoduo obediently walked forward and knelt down.
"Great-granddaughter Changle pays her respects to Great-grandmother!"
Although the Empress Dowager ignored worldly affairs, she still knew somewhat of the rumors circulating in the palace.
"Good child, rise. Come here, come to Great-grandmother."
"Yes."
Duoduo obediently stood up and took small steps straight to the Empress Dowager without looking sideways.
The Empress Dowager took Duoduo's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"She is an obedient one! Yi'er, since she has an affinity with you, you must treat her well."
"Yes, Grandmother, your grandson understands."
Hearing her father being unusually docile and obedient, Duoduo curiously stole a glance up at the Empress Dowager.
What met her eyes was a woman with kind brows, benevolent eyes, and a smile on her lips.
However, her hair was completely white.
But even so, her hair was combed immaculately, without a single strand out of place.
She wore no gold or silver jewelry on her head, only a simple wooden hairpin.
Duoduo smelled a strong scent of sandalwood, which made her chest feel a little stuffy.
The Empress Dowager was also appraising Duoduo. When she saw Duoduo's clear, flawless eyes and a face that somewhat resembled the late Empress, her gaze flickered.
"Duoduo," Su Xian called out softly, seeing that Duoduo was staring at the Empress Dowager without moving.
The Empress Dowager's face retained its faint smile.
"It is no matter. This is the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility; there is no need for so much formality."
Duoduo snapped back to reality and blinked her big eyes.
"Great-grandmother is even prettier than Mother said!"
Amusement reached the Empress Dowager's eyes.
Anyone who could enter the palace and become a consort of the Emperor naturally possessed a fair share of beauty.
However, being praised by a child still put the Empress Dowager in a very good mood.
"Is it because I praised you just now, so you are returning the courtesy?"
Duoduo revealed an obedient smile.
"To answer Great-grandmother, Duoduo genuinely thinks Great-grandmother is pretty, just like..."
Duoduo tilted her head and looked the Empress Dowager over.
"Like the Buddha in the temple!"
The Empress Dowager was taken aback for a moment, then gently patted the back of Duoduo's hand.
"You must not speak nonsense. Be careful, lest the Buddha take offense!"
Su Xian worried that Duoduo's careless words might displease the Empress Dowager.
She reminded her, "Duoduo, didn't you bring a gift for the Empress Dowager?"
Duoduo's eyes lit up, and she looked at the Empress Dowager.
"Great-grandmother, Duoduo brought you a meeting gift. Please don't dislike it!"
The Empress Dowager's curiosity was piqued.
It was the first time a younger generation had brought her a gift upon meeting her.
In her memory, it had always been her bestowing rewards upon others.
The Empress Dowager assumed it was Xiao Yi trying to show his filial piety in a disguised manner.
"Forget it. I lack nothing here; you should take it back."
"As long as you have time, coming into the palace to accompany me is the best gift of all."
Xiao Yi pursed his lips.
"Imperial Father received one as well."
The Empress Dowager's gaze flickered.
Did Xiao Yi's words mean that Duoduo had prepared a gift for the Emperor too?
In that case, did it mean this gift was truly prepared for her by the child?
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but feel a bit curious.
Duoduo took a paper tube from Xiao Yi's wheelchair and carried it in both hands over to the Empress Dowager.
"Great-grandmother, this is a gift prepared by your great-granddaughter. Please kindly accept it!"
The Empress Dowager took the paper tube. Just as she was about to open it and take a look, she saw a eunuch come in to report.
"Your Majesty, Prince Ling, Princess Consort Ling, and Noble Consort Li are outside the hall. They have come to pay their respects to you!"
