CHAPTER 26
When Chu Yu brought Shu Yanyan back to the palace, the Empress Dowager had been secretly observing from a corner. However, she couldn't see Shu Yanyan's appearance as Chu Yu held her in her arms all the way back to the chambers. The Empress Dowager was prepared to knock on the door, but then she saw the doctors arriving.
After thinking for a moment, the Empress Dowager considerately held back.
But she was still worried after all. She feared that the girl in Chu Yu's arms might encounter some problem, and the newly "snatched" Empress of the Empire would fly away out of thin air. So she had someone call for Xiao Yun and asked about the specific situation.
Xiao Yun was not very clear about it either.
"That woman had met Her Majesty once before. Do you remember during the previous celebration when Her Majesty saved a little girl while parading through the streets? That woman is the mother of that little girl."
The Empress Dowager's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this.
She was aware of that incident, but at that time, her mind was fully occupied with preparing for Chu Yu's selection of concubines. She only heard a passing mention of it and didn't have a detailed understanding, not even knowing what the little girl looked like.
Now, hearing Xiao Yun's words, she quietly marveled at how she had overlooked such an important detail.
She confirmed, "She is a mother? Is it confirmed that the child is indeed her biological daughter?" the Empress Dowager asked.
Xiao Yun nodded, "At that time, considering Her Majesty's safety, I had someone investigate the mother and daughter. The records do indicate a biological mother-daughter relationship."
The Empress Dowager was dumbfounded.
She considered herself open-minded enough, thinking that even if Chu Yu brought back a commoner, she wouldn't have any objections. But she didn't expect that Chu Yu would fall in love with someone who already had a child.
After regaining her composure, she asked again, "So, is she... divorced?"
Xiao Yun denied, "No. She came from the Chaotic Federation, where their marriage contracts are not recognized in our Empire. But I remember her Alpha seems to be missing."
The Empress Dowager covered her forehead.
The amount of information was overwhelming, and she needed some time to digest it all.
Observing her state, Xiao Yun thought for a moment and couldn't help but speak up for their Emperor, "Your Highness, there's no need to worry. Her Majesty has always been sensible and cautious in her actions."
"Perhaps... perhaps there's some misunderstanding." the Empress Dowager sighed. "But what kind of misunderstanding could there be?"
She rubbed her temples, feeling somewhat aggrieved. "I've only been to that child's bedroom a few times. And as soon as she brings this person back, she sends them into the bedroom. Do you think she would just throw the person on the floor? When have you ever seen anyone else touch that little brat's bed?"
Her boss's mother scolding her boss as a little brat...
Xiao Yun shrank back, not daring to speak, wishing she could turn into an emotionless sculpture right there.
The Empress Dowager continued to complain, "Sigh, if Chu Yu were an ordinary person, it wouldn't matter if she liked someone. But if this becomes a real thing, I don't know how much the media will twist the story about the royal family. I recall... in the neighboring Empire, there was a prince who married a widow. I wonder how things are now."
She pondered, "What do you think I should do from now on? Maybe I should hide away and never accept media interviews again. Let those people say whatever they want."
As she spoke, she rubbed the corners of her eyes, afraid that this would result in two more wrinkles.
Xiao Yun was at a loss, not knowing how to respond or what to do with her hands and feet.
Unable to stay any longer, Xiao Yun thought of an excuse and prepared to make her escape. "I understand your concerns, Your Highness, and I will inform Her Majesty about all your worries."
"Um... I still have some matters to attend to, so I should take my leave."
The Empress Dowager immediately glared at her.
She knew exactly what Xiao Yun was up to.
She knew she had a tendency to nag, but now that she couldn't catch Chu Yu, the main character, she couldn't resist making things difficult for Xiao Yun.
She calmly sat back down, adopting a look of "I don't want to let you go" and inquired, "Matters? They are staying in Her Majesty's chambers to take care of the future Empress. What do you need to handle over there?"
Xiao Yun explained in a small voice, "No, it's not that."
She took a deep breath. "The little girl has also been brought here. She is still with my assistant, and I need to find a place to settle her."
The Empress Dowager suddenly perked up.
"The little girl has been brought here too? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
The Empress Dowager stood up and walked over to Xiao Yun. "Let's go! Take me to see her."
Xiao Yun wore a bitter expression.
"It's already late. Shouldn't you go back and rest?"
The Empress Dowager asserted herself, "Have you seen the Emperor resting? Even though I'm not in charge anymore, I still want to share some of the Emperor's worries occasionally."
With the conversation reaching this point, Xiao Yun didn't dare to refuse any longer.
In her heart, she thought that the Empress Dowager couldn't possibly make things difficult for a two-year-old girl. Feeling slightly relieved, she obediently led the way to where Shu Yunmiao was being kept.
Shu Yunmiao was lying in the arms of Xiao Yun's assistant.
The royal hover car was both fast and smooth, and the commotion from earlier didn't manage to wake her. She closed her eyes, but a slight smile formed at the corners of her mouth, making her look adorable and gentle.
A few young guards stood around the assistant, unable to resist whispering to each other.
"She's so adorable! I want to have a daughter in the future too! I'll buy her lollipops and little dresses every day!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! If you want a daughter, find a wife and have one yourself. Don't get too close to this little cutie."
"Who do you think she is, anyway? How did the Emperor bring this little one back?" someone asked.
In response to this question, the assistant suddenly blurted out, "Maybe she's a lost princess from the Empire."
Upon hearing this, there was a momentary silence among the crowd, followed by synchronized laughter filled with good-natured mockery.
"Hahaha—"
"How is that possible? You're just talking nonsense."
"You have quite the imagination."
The assistant initially felt that she had been too bold, but in the face of her colleagues' ridicule, she suddenly felt a sense of defiance in her heart. So she stubbornly continued, "What nonsense? Don't you all think this little girl looks a bit like the Emperor?"
The crowd fell silent again.
Slowly, different voices emerged from the group.
"Well, now that you mention it, her eyes do resemble her. I wonder what she looks like with her eyes open."
"Oh, come on, don't good-looking people usually have those features? Big eyes and a slightly upturned nose."
"No, look at the corners of her eyes. They're just like the Emperor's, pointing upwards. Hmm... but the Emperor's eyes seem to be more slender, while this little girl's eyes should be round."
"..."
As they continued their discussion, they suddenly heard footsteps outside.
They quickly returned to their positions, standing behind the assistant.
Soon, the Empress Dowager entered with Xiao Yun.
The assistant was taken aback and stood up to bow to her. The Empress Dowager's gaze immediately fell on the little bundle in her arms.
At first glance, the Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief—
Not bad, quite cute.
She waved her hand. "No need to bow. Sit down, I just came to have a look."
The assistant replied, "Understood." but she didn't dare to actually sit down. She remained standing in place, looking at her superior, Xiao Yun, with some confusion.
Xiao Yun could only helplessly wave her hand at the assistant, indicating that she should trust her own judgment.
The Empress Dowager had already approached them.
As the distance between them shortened, Shu Yunmiao's face became clearer in her sight. Initially, she just thought the little girl was indeed beautiful, even in her sleep, one could see that her facial features were outstanding in every aspect.
But gradually, a strange feeling arose in the Empress Dowager's heart.
She grabbed Xiao Yun's arm and confirmed once again, "Is this really that woman's child?"
Xiao Yun scratched her head. "Um... yes. I would never dare to deceive you."
The Empress Dowager's eyebrows furrowed.
"This, this... could such a coincidence really happen? How is it possible that they look so alike?!"
Xiao Yun became even more puzzled. "Empress Dowager, what do you mean?"
The Empress Dowager didn't respond to her.
The Empress Dowager hurriedly took two steps forward and extended her arms, saying, "Give me the child."
The assistant glanced at Xiao Yun and, upon receiving her consent, carefully transferred Yunmiao from her arms to the Empress Dowager's.
The Empress Dowager immediately turned to leave with the child in her arms.
Now Xiao Yun couldn't agree with this—
The child was entrusted to her by the Emperor, and she could accept anything under her watchful eyes. But if the Empress Dowager wanted to take the child away, she couldn't just let it happen without reporting to Chu Yu.
So she blocked the doorway and said, "Empress Dowager, this child was entrusted to me by the Emperor to take care of. Where do you intend to take her?"
The Empress Dowager frowned. "What? Are you afraid I will harm her?"
Xiao Yun quickly lowered her stance. "I dare not. It's just..."
The Empress Dowager interrupted her. "Enough with the back and forth. I'll take the child back to the palace. When Chu Yu has the time, she can come to me and ask for the child herself."
Xiao Yun gritted her teeth and refused, "I'm sorry, but I cannot comply. The Emperor has instructed me not to give the child to you in this manner."
The Empress Dowager was starting to get a little angry.
Just as she was about to speak again, she suddenly felt a wriggle in her arms.
After the recent transfer, although Yunmiao didn't wake up, her sleep had become lighter. At this moment, while the Empress Dowager and Xiao Yun were arguing beside her, the little girl slowly regained consciousness and opened her eyes, looking around in confusion.
All she saw were unfamiliar faces, which made Yunmiao a little scared, but she was very well-behaved and didn't cry immediately.
As for the Empress Dowager, she was truly taken aback—
When Yunmiao was sleeping, she already felt that the girl resembled Chu Yu to some extent when she was young. Now, with the girl opening her eyes, the resemblance increased to about seventy to eighty percent. However, Chu Yu was naturally not an affectionate person, while the girl in her arms had a round face and round eyes, the kind of appearance that would make people feel particularly fond and protective.
The Empress Dowager had always regretted that her own daughter had never been cute when she was growing up. But now, seeing Yunmiao, she felt as if the missing piece in her heart had been filled—
Wasn't this the adorable and obedient appearance she had always dreamed of?
She stared in a daze, and Xiao Yun didn't dare to speak out of turn. Yunmiao stayed curled up in the Empress Dowager's arms, and the two of them stared at each other for several seconds.
Yunmiao couldn't hold it in any longer.
She spoke up voluntarily, "Who..who are you?"
The Empress Dowager finally snapped out of her daze.
She took a deep breath and said, "Sweetie, call me 'Grandma'."
Yunmiao pouted, "But you're not old, why should I call you Grandma?"
She began to look around, and when she didn't see any familiar figure, a hint of disappointment tinged her eyes.
She softly pleaded with the Empress Dowager, who was holding her, "I... I want my mommy..."
The Empress Dowager was even willing to pluck a star from the sky right now to make the child happy.
But unfortunately, the baby's mommy was still in the hands of that stingy person, Chu Yu. There was no chance of retrieving her at the moment. All she could do was pat Yunmiao's back and comfort her, saying, "Mommy is asleep. Tomorrow, I'll take you to see her, okay? Be a good girl, Grandma will take you to play."
Yunmiao sniffled, "Yunmiao doesn't want to play. Yunmiao... Yunmiao wants to sleep..."
"Okay! Grandma will take you to sleep!" The Empress Dowager firmly decided.
She continued walking towards the door, caught sight of Xiao Yun, and thought for a moment before giving an instruction, "If you're really worried, come along. Oh, and..."
She leaned towards Xiao Yun's ear and whispered, "Arrange for Dr. Lin Nan to come over, say that I requested it."
Xiao Yun couldn't comprehend her sudden change of heart.
However, since the Empress Dowager had already conceded and was willing to let her accompany them, Xiao Yun couldn't continue to oppose her. She nodded and followed in the Empress Dowager's footsteps towards the Empress Dowager's sleeping chambers, while using her smart device to send a message to her assistant to carry out the orders.
Meanwhile, Yunmiao was even more confused and couldn't comprehend what was happening.
But she had been awakened from her sleep, and her drowsiness hadn't completely faded away. Her mind and emotions weren't particularly sensitive at the moment. In her hazy state, she simply believed she was having a strange dream.
Fortunately, the people appearing in her dream were all kind-hearted, and she sensed that they had no ill intentions towards her. They even seemed overly concerned. So Yunmiao chose to ignore her inner nervousness and confusion, obediently cooperating and allowing herself to be manipulated.
During this period, Yunmiao's grandma carried her to a beautiful room and called a doctor wearing a white coat to examine her. She didn't know how long it took, but when all the people temporarily left and the room quieted down, she couldn't resist anymore. She closed her eyes and let drowsiness engulf her, returning to the land of dreams.
On the other side, the Empress Dowager's heart was pounding in her throat.
"How is it, Dr. Lin?"
Lin Nan had been called to conduct a genetic examination, so she naturally knew what the Empress Dowager was asking.
Her excitement was overwhelming from within: "Your intuition is incredibly accurate. The possibility of the child being the Emperor's daughter is over 99.999%."
The Empress Dowager pressed her hand against her forehead.
"Ah, I... I knew it."
This startled the people around her. Lin Nan supported her, saying, "Are you alright? Feeling dizzy? Would you like to undergo some tests?"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager pushed her away abruptly, saying, "Why would I need tests? I'm perfectly fine now! There couldn't be a better time than now!"
Throughout this night, she went from surprise to shock, and from shock to the current ecstatic joy. Her emotions could be described as an incredibly thrilling rollercoaster ride. But upon hearing the confirmation from Dr. Lin, she felt that everything was incredibly worthwhile.
Calming herself down, the Empress Dowager said to the people around her, "It's fine now, you can all go back."
"Remember, this matter must not be leaked. After I discuss it with the Emperor, we will consider how to announce the news."
Xiao Yun also regained her composure from the shock and bowed, saying, "Rest assured, Empress Dowager. I will take care of this matter."
Empress Dowager nodded.
After dismissing the idle bystanders, she returned to her chambers with excitement, intending to have an intimate time with her own granddaughter. However, upon returning, she discovered that little Yunmiao on the bed had fallen asleep again.
The Empress Dowager suppressed the urge to wake her up and took off her outer garments. She gently lay down beside little Yunmiao, pulling her into her embrace.
As the moon reached its zenith, the entire palace was enveloped in tranquility and serenity, except for the occasional strange noises coming from Chu Yu's room.
During this night, Shu Yanyan found a moment to wipe away her tears and pleaded with Chu Yu, "No, I can't do it anymore."
Her head was spinning, and she instinctively used Yunmiao as an excuse, saying, "Tomorrow, Yunmiao has to go to school, so I have to get up early."
Chu Yu grabbed her hand reaching towards the edge of the bed, refusing to let go and pulled her back into her embrace.
She was extremely satisfied with the marks she left on her body, especially the disordered pink tooth marks on her neck gland.
But after all, her wife needed to be comforted.
Chu Yu spoke, "Yanyan, be good. You're currently in the estrus phase, and if we don't thoroughly resolve it, it will be even more difficult later on."
Shu Yanyan didn't quite understand and timidly confirmed, "Is it... not thorough enough yet?"
Without exaggeration, in the past two to three hours, she felt like she had been thoroughly devoured from the outside to the inside and vice versa.
Chu Yu smiled, "Of course, it's not enough."
She pretended to be aggrieved, saying, "What? Does Yanyan think I would deceive you?"
Shu Yanyan was on the verge of tears.
Chu Yu kissed the corner of her lips, "I'm only helping you, Yanyan. I'm not asking for Yanyan's gratitude, but at least cooperate with me, okay?"
Shu Yanyan felt tired.
Emotionally exhausted.
"...You're right, just do as you say."
Chu Yu curled her lips. "You sure know how to throw a tantrum."
While teasing her with her words, her hands didn't stop their movements. Watching Shu Yanyan's flushed cheeks, Chu Yu revealed her devilish fangs once again.
"Then, Yanyan say 'thank you' to me."
Shu Yanyan relaxed her body in comfort.
She started crying again, tears streaming down her cheeks, eventually drowning in the scent of Chu Yu on the bedsheets.
"T-Thank... thank you..."
"Thank who?"
"Th-Thank... thank you, thank you, Ah Yu."
Only then was Chu Yu satisfied.
"Good girl, Yanyan."
🥵
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