53 Empress Dowager (2/2)

She also had an errant thought that she didn't even know what Imperial etiquette one had to follow while partaking in a meal but that problem could be solved later on.

When Empress Dowager Xie saw how her son was engulfing the food without an end, her heart tinged with acute pain. He had left her side for so long.

Even before he was sent away, the Late Emperor never allowed her any personal time with her son.

Her son must have suffered untold miseries in all his time away and from the way, he was wolfing down his food, it was clear how those despicable Northern barbarians must have starved him.

A small child, how had he endured his hunger?

On the other hand, Su Li was thinking that the Imperial cooks were really masters of their craft.

The food was so appetizing. Even though it didn't have the flavour of all the modern day spices and was prepared with their own methods, it still didn't lack in terms of presentation and taste.

After she filled her stomach with all that delicious food, Su Li looked at The Empress Dowager and saw her sighing to herself.

Since the lady had given her timely assistance in regards to the hunger pangs assaulting her, Su Li was even more amicable and docile towards the other person.

Su Li questioned, ”Queen Mother, what is it? Is something the matter?”

The Empress Dowager didn't want to say to her son that she was mourning all the time they had missed with each other and that she was feeling saddened at all the troubles he must have faced all these years.

Therefore, she evaded the question by saying that she just hadn't slept well last night.

After talking about a few inconsequential things, the Empress Dowager lead the conversation to the main reason as to why she had called His Majesty over to her place.

”Your Majesty, I would like to talk to you about something important.”

Su Li wondered what could it be that the lady wanted? Until a few minutes ago she was calling her son and now this about-face in terms of address was alarming.

Hopefully, she wouldn't say that she knew her secret identity. Hoping for the best, Su Li replied, ”Queen Mother, you don't need to feel apprehensive. I am your child. Tell me what is it?”

Even though her words were full of reverse, Su Li had her hands clenched into right fists, waiting for the axe to fall down.

Empress Dowager's next words didn't push her to the guillotine but they certainly pushed her into an electric chair. The only thing left was to switch it on.

”Your Majesty, I have a younger niece who greatly admires your civil and military expertise. She knows her place well and realises that she is nothing extraordinary, and seeks only to be a concubine, even a low-ranked one.”

The Empress Dowager didn't want her niece to be someone's concubine, let alone her sons. That child had kept her company when she was all by herself in this vast Imperial Palace without the support of her husband and son. Now, that child had asked her for this favour, she couldn't reject her in good conscious.

Therefore, she had to take this last option of a thick-skinned request in front of the Emperor.

Su Li's thoughts came to a screeching halt, her vision flashed white, her smile stiffened on her face and she almost fainted from this unexpected request.

Oh, God! Was there another mother in this world, who was so eager to push their child off the cliff with such enthusiasm?

The Empress Dowager witnessed how the emperor's expression darkened and hehurriedly said: ”That would be inappropriate.”

The Empress Dowager refused to back down. It was a matter of repaying someone's kindness, she wouldn't take no as an answer from her son.

She wasn't even asking him to marry that girl as a higher ranked concubine.

What was he so unsatisfied with?

Couldn't he simply grant her this favour?

Why was her son fidgeting around as if he was sitting over a pan of hot coals?

Su Li saw the lady's expression and knew that she wouldn't back down without a fight, therefore, she deflected by saying that they would talk about it after the mourning period for the Late Emperor was over.

She herself was on thin ice as things stood.

Why would she pull someone else into hot water alongside her?

Thin ice - hot water, had she turned to idioms and sarcasm once again, Su Li wondered.

Anyway, she would try everything in her power to avoid wasting the lady's life for nothing.

The very next moment, Su Li bid farewell to Empress Dowager and ran away with her metaphorical tail tucked away.

If she waited any longer, the lady might start discussing finding an appropriate girl for marriage and the now vacant Empress position.

The Empress Dowager saw her son rush out like a whirlwind.

Looking at his anxious and shy face, her heart warmed.

Even if he had the highest position in the dynasty, he was still her small child, even so, wasn't it too much?

Empress Dowager dismissed the servants, sat at her seat with half closed eyes and a thousand thoughts flashed through her mind.