The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 416 - 383: The Conditions to Return to the Palace, The Grand Emperor is Loathed by Susu

Chapter 416: Chapter 383: The Conditions to Return to the Palace, The Grand Emperor is Loathed by Susu

Shen Chuwei was sleeping soundly when she felt someone nudging her persistently, a sensation that felt remarkably familiar.

In her slumber, she thought it was still last night, with Xiao Jinyan keeping her awake.

She hummed, "Jinyan, stop it..."

Purring like a kitten, Xiao Jinyan looked down at his daughter, busy nursing, and couldn’t help but laugh.

Unheeded by Xiao Jinyan, Shen Chuwei strained to open her eyes only to be met with a handsome face staring back at her; she paused in surprise.

Then she noticed something was off and looked down to see her daughter.

It was her daughter all along; she had mistaken her for Xiao Jinyan~

Shen Chuwei glared at Xiao Jinyan, "Did you do that on purpose?"

Xiao Jinyan, trying to stifle his chuckles, said, "I saw you sleeping soundly and couldn’t bear to wake you."

Remembering the half-awake words she had just mumbled, Shen Chuwei’s face flushed slightly.

After Susu had her fill, she turned over; one little hand grabbed Xiao Jinyan’s hair while the other took hold of Shen Chuwei’s, and the well-fed Susu laughed especially heartily.

Shen Chuwei, seeing this, laughed too, "Susu really likes to smile."

Xiao Jinyan lifted her chin with his long fingers and leaned down to kiss her lips, "Susu looks a lot like you."

Shen Chuwei thought looking like her wasn’t that bad – she lived without worries, mooching food and drink.

The next morning

They say couples who fight at the head of the bed make up at the foot, but the Empress neither undressed him nor paid him any attention.

The Emperor had been annoyed all night; after dressing neatly, he looked towards the Empress sitting at the vanity. Unlike in the palace, she wore simple yet elegant clothing, which shined even brighter than the Phoenix Robe and crown.

"Return to the palace with me now."

Turning around, the Empress gazed at the dog Emperor. The overnight silence had quelled the previous day’s fury in both of them.

"Does Your Majesty not trust your concubine?"

The Emperor took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, "If you say there’s nothing, I will believe you."

"Your Majesty still doesn’t trust his concubine," said the Empress, turning her gaze back to her reflection in the bronze mirror. Even with the best maintenance, she was old enough to be a grandmother.

"Your Majesty, when we first met, you knew I was General Chang’s legitimate daughter, right?"

At her words, the Emperor faltered, but as the Empress looked up at him again, he responded, "We’re an old couple now, why would you bring up this question?"

"Is it the case or not?" the Empress pressed, trying to get a definitive answer.

After a long stare at the Empress, the Emperor finally nodded.

"Your concubine understands," the Empress said, drawing her gaze away to look at the plum blossom hairpin in her hand, which had fallen from the Emperor’s embrace the night before.

Indeed, it had been her own wishful thinking all along.

Love at first sight? It was nothing but a long-plotted scheme.

She couldn’t help but find it a little laughable.

The Emperor, seeing the indifference in the Empress’s eyes, felt a flicker of panic: "What do you understand?"

"I understand it was not easy for Your Majesty back then," the Empress replied, opening the box, placing the plum blossom hairpin inside, and then locking it.

The Emperor was momentarily stunned.

The Empress pulled open a drawer, placed the box inside, and secured it with another lock.

After doing all this, she slowly stood up and looked at Xiao Qi, "Your concubine is willing to return to the palace with Your Majesty, but I have conditions."

"What conditions?" the Emperor asked urgently. "As long as you willingly return to the palace, I will grant you anything."

One word at a time, the Empress declared, "Appoint Lady Shen as the Crown Princess, your concubine knows Your Majesty has ways to silence those censorious officials."

Running away from the palace was originally because she couldn’t stand the dog Emperor’s consistent actions.

She thought very highly of Lady Shen; she would make a fine Crown Princess, and her grandchildren would be the legitimate heirs.

That was better than her situation, where she was used as a pawn by those relying on the power of her family.

The Emperor hadn’t expected the Empress to bring this up; before finding her, he had already pondered this matter.

He agreed readily, "I promise you."

Having settled the matter, the Empress quietly sighed in relief.

Worried about the Empress, Shen Chuwei came early in the morning with Susu to find her and saw the Emperor and Empress walking out of the side chamber.

She stepped forward and curtsied, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, I wish you peace and good health."

After two months without seeing the babies, the Emperor, seeing Lady Shen holding one, guessed by the pink attire it was Susu.

He stepped forward, "Let me hold Susu."

When the Emperor asked to hold her, Shen Chuwei dared not refuse, allowing the Emperor to take Susu from her arms.

Once in his embrace, he didn’t immediately notice how much heavier Susu had become compared to two months before.

She also seemed a bit bigger, and even cuter than she had been two months prior.

Susu, who had just been smiling, burst into tears upon seeing the Emperor, crying with heartbreaking sadness.