Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

Seeing that the old emperor's expression was a little off, Lian Rongrong immediately changed to a docile demeanor and asked softly:

"Father, what's wrong?"

The old emperor sighed heavily, as if he had a great deal of pent-up frustration in his heart.

"It's nothing, I just think you look so much like her! Back then, she stood before me with the same pride, saying she would protect me!"

"Her? Is she the Empress Dowager?" Lian Rongrong asked tentatively.

The old emperor nodded: "Yes, it's your mother! Just like you, she lived a vibrant and carefree life!"

Sometimes I truly regret that if I hadn't been so fixated on the throne, would our fate, and Qi'er's, have been different?

"There are no 'what ifs' in this world." Li Yuanqi's voice came from outside the door. As soon as he finished speaking, his straight figure appeared in front of Lian Rongrong.

"How is it? No one gave you any trouble, right?" Li Yuanqi looked Lian Rongrong up and down nervously.

This prompted the old emperor to click his tongue twice. "What could possibly happen to your wife? With her around, you should be worrying about others, shouldn't you?"

I just heard Yuan Shu say that she has already defeated all those old hags in Cixi Palace!

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanqi's lips curled up slightly, and if he wasn't mistaken, there seemed to be a hint of pride in his eyes.

"My wife is amazing! Those old geezers should have been dealt with a long time ago!"

"You're pretty proud of yourself, aren't you?"

When they were alone, the three of them spent their time together in this comfortable manner. In truth, both Li Yuanqi and Lian Rongrong knew that what the old emperor lacked was not obeisance or reverence.

What he lacks is the joy of family life, surrounded by loved ones and children and grandchildren.

"Your Majesty just mentioned Mother." Li Yuanqi didn't finish his sentence, but Lian Rongrong already understood his thoughts.

"Father, please tell us more about Mother's youth." Lian Rongrong looked at the old emperor with anticipation.

The old emperor glanced at her, then turned to look at Li Yuanqi: "You want to hear it?"

"Yes, I want to hear it!" Lian Rongrong nodded readily, and Li Yuanqi also nodded slightly.

"Your Majesty, I can hardly remember what you look like anymore!"

"Your mother is the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Impossible! My wife is the most beautiful woman in the world!" Li Yuanqi said, leaving Lian Rongrong speechless.

"You unfilial son, you've forgotten your mother now that you have a wife!"

The old emperor glared at Li Yuanqi, while Lian Rongrong chuckled to herself, finding it amusing to watch the two love-struck, unfilial sons and fatherly figures.

"Anyway, my empress is the most beautiful!" the old emperor emphasized again.

"Alright, alright, Mother is the most beautiful, Mother is the most beautiful, please continue!" Lian Rongrong urged with a smile.

The old emperor remained silent for a few moments, his thoughts seemingly returning to his youth.

"Your mother is a very special woman. Like you, she has clear likes and dislikes and dares to take responsibility for her actions!"

I remember one time…

When the late empress was mentioned, the old emperor seemed to have endless things to say. He spoke for almost half an hour.

After the old emperor finished speaking, Lian Rongrong suddenly realized that her mother-in-law was indeed no ordinary person.

Or perhaps, she doesn't seem to belong to this era.

Judging from her ability to invent many new things and her belief that all people are born equal, this former empress was indeed very different.

However, all of this can only be speculation at the moment, since the person is gone and the past is now a mystery.

"Father, are you saying that Mother also tried to run a girls' school?"

The old emperor shook his head: "She only thought about it, but at that time her body was already on its last legs."

She had the idea, but never had the chance to realize it. So, you, little girl, fulfilled her unfulfilled wish.

At this point, the old emperor's eyes reddened slightly. As if afraid the two children would see, he casually got up and walked to the table.

Lian Rongrong and Li Yuanqi exchanged a glance but didn't follow. After all, some emotions are best processed alone.

The old emperor stood in front of the desk for a while, and when he turned around again, his expression was normal.

"Girl, come here and grind ink for me."

Lian Rongrong responded and walked over slowly.

What are you going to write this time?

"You'll find out soon."

Li Yuanqi stood silently with his arms crossed, as if he already knew what the old emperor was going to do.

"Do you know what Father Emperor wants to write?"

"I roughly know."

What does "know roughly" mean?

"Just knowing something roughly means knowing something roughly!"

Seeing Li Yuanqi's smug and irritating appearance, Lian Rongrong couldn't help but raise the ink stick in her hand.

Little did the emperor know that the ink residue on the inkstick nearly spilled all over his face. Had the emperor not dodged quickly, he might have ended up with a smeared face today.

"Grind the ink properly, then go home and flirt!" The old emperor scoffed; he couldn't bear to watch his two lovable rascals.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Lian Rongrong simply said "oh" and obediently began grinding the ink.

"Mission accomplished!" After grinding the ink, Lian Rongrong put the ink stick aside and patted the ink powder off her hands.

Then he stood obediently to the side, wanting to see what the old emperor was going to write.

The old emperor reached out and picked up a wolf-hair brush from the side. Then, with a slight lift of his arm, the brush touched the paper, and the ink instantly spread out.

His brushstrokes were fluid and powerful, and the three characters "Mingyue Hall" were completed in one breath.

"Mingyue Hall? Father, is this the plaque you inscribed for our Mingyue Hall?" Lian Rongrong was overjoyed.

"Otherwise what? In this vast Holy Capital, is there another Bright Moon Hall?"

"Father is afraid that Grandmother will make things difficult for you again! With the imperial inscription, it's as if Mingyue Hall has a 'get-out-of-jail-free card,' and even Grandmother can't do anything to you!"

Lian Rongrong looked at the old emperor with a fawning expression, shamelessly flattering him:

"Father is wise! Father is mighty!"

"Hurry up and take your wife back home, she's too noisy!"

The old emperor waved his hand dismissively, and Li Yuanqi immediately stepped forward and took his wife away.

The old emperor was alone in the empty study, but this time, he seemed no longer lonely.

It turns out that having loved ones around you feels so warm.

Inside Cixi Palace, Hua Ling stayed by the Empress Dowager's side the whole time. The Empress Dowager was furious that the old emperor had taken Lian Rongrong away, and Hua Ling was even more furious.

Just when she was about to teach that bitch a lesson, she managed to escape right under her nose again. How could Hua Ling not be furious?

But Hua Ling, with her intelligence, naturally understood one thing: with the old emperor's deliberate protection, it would be no easy task to touch Lian Rongrong.

However, Hua Ling was no ordinary woman. She was shrewd and patient, and knew that only by waiting for the right opportunity could she strike a fatal blow.

"Your Majesty, it seems His Majesty intends to support Princess Qi."

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly: "Do you need to tell me? His Majesty dotes on Li Yuanqi like the apple of his eye."

Because of their affection for the princess, they naturally wouldn't let Princess Qi be left unattended.

But that girl is truly arrogant. I'll teach her a lesson sooner or later!

"Your Majesty, there's no need to wait. Ling'er has a good idea right now..."