Pampered By All In Different Planes-Chapter 163 - : The Lucky Farmer is at Ease, While the Husband with No Heirs is Busy Pursuing His Wife 23

Chapter 163 -163: The Lucky Farmer is at Ease, While the Husband with No Heirs is Busy Pursuing His Wife 23

In the corridor, Zhezhi and Zheye, the two children, were discussing the flavors of various pastries in their childlike voices—a conversation so loud it could be heard even from the main hall.

“Your majesties honor us with your presence in this humble abode. Please forgive this commoner for not meeting you from afar,” Su Zhiruan rose and bowed once more. These two figures of noble birth and exalted status—following the death of the Empress Dowager, the Imperial Palace housed an Emperor and Empress deeply in love, with no other Concubines. In all the land, their positions were unmatched.

And now, unexpectedly, they were guests in her residence, entertained no less by her own children, Zhezhi and Zheye.

Should outsiders learn of this, they would likely faint from shock.

“Please, rise. You are called Su Zhiruan, aren’t you? Would your Ladyship mind if I called you Ruanruan?” The Empress, having seen her precious grandchildren and now meeting her well-mannered, pretty and fair daughter-in-law whose tastes aligned with her own, wore a series of smiles upon her well-maintained face. “Huaichu has been quite secretive. Over the years, every marriage I arranged for him, he refused, without exception. It turns out he already had a place for someone in his heart, and even children. Ruanruan, once you enter the palace, the Empress Dowager will have company as well.”

“Ahem.” The Emperor coughed, struggling to keep listening. With a couple of coughs, he signaled the Empress to moderate her remarks. In just a few short sentences, she had already addressed herself as ‘mother.’ Although he was pleased with Su Zhiruan as his daughter-in-law, he maintained his composure. “What transpired between you and the Crown Prince? How did you come to meet?”

Su Zhiruan had anticipated this question and replied calmly and respectfully, “I was once a lone girl from Su Family village, before I chanced upon the gravely wounded Crown Prince…”

Before she had spoken much, the Emperor and Empress already knew of the Crown Prince’s assassination attempt from years past, and how he had vanished for over a month. What they hadn’t realized was that Su Zhiruan was the one who saved him, and that their acquaintance began during that period.

“Zhezhi and Zheye were also from that time…” The Empress showed an expression of realization.

Su Zhiruan nodded in confirmation.

In the corridor, the two children were still sharing pastries. Born of the same mother and beginning to grow up, Su Zhiruan noticed they had inherited the looks of both herself and Fu Huaichu.

The resemblance was so striking that, upon entering, the Emperor and Empress did not even need to inquire closely to be certain these children were those of Su Zhiruan and Fu Huaichu.

Zheye was the spitting image of a mini Fu Huaichu, and though the boy had not seen his father since he was very young, his mannerisms and the way he spoke were eerily similar to Huaichu’s. Zhezhi was a bit clingy, but she was fair and beautiful, with eyes identical to those of Su Zhiruan.

“So, the Crown Prince gave you money and then left?” The Emperor grew furious when he heard this part of the story, puffing up with indignation. “This boy, is this how he treats his own wife?”

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“His Highness came looking for me later on, but by that time, I had already departed,” Su Zhiruan clarified.

She recounted the truth in front of them, for lying was futile; they would have already been aware of the essentials.

As she sat in her place, she suddenly thought back to the night a few days earlier. Fu Huaichu had questioned her almost frantically. Even now, she could recall the injured and painful crimson in his eyes.

She took a sip of tea.

Maybe she was slow to recognize her feelings, or perhaps she was solely focused on completing her mission and raising Zhezhi and Zheye, leading her to neglect others. She couldn’t quite understand why, in only two short months, he would remember her so profoundly, why he returned to dig for three days and nights, trying to find something that belonged to her, why after her departure, he looked all over for her.

Su Zhiruan just didn’t get it. Holding her cup of tea, she listened to the Emperor and Empress speak.

“Ruanruan, bring Zhezhi and Zheye to the Capital City. The Emperor has some gifts for you,” the Emperor suddenly remembered he had hurried over this time without bringing much, so he spoke up, “Zhezhi and Zheye are Huaichu’s children, and they should be formally recognized as the Young Crown Prince and Commandery Princess.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Su Zhiruan had nearly guessed as much. Now that they knew Zhezhi and Zheye were Fu Huaichu’s children, they wanted to take them back. She thought for a moment before speaking up, “Your Majesty, Your Ladyship, Zhezhi and Zheye are still young and cannot be separated from this commoner. I may not be able to leave my duties these days and must beg your forgiveness.”

“Don’t take your father’s words to heart; we’ve only just arrived in Jiangnan and haven’t had a chance to stroll and enjoy ourselves here yet.” The Empress waved her hand dismissively, “We’re off to find Huaichu now, and we’ll come to see you and the children another day. Take care, Ruanruan.”

After Su Zhiruan paid her respects, she watched as the imperial couple mounted their carriage and departed through the throng of people.

*

The Emperor and Empress were sitting in the carriage, speaking endlessly in praise of Su Zhiruan.

“Although she is not from a family of great lineage, be it her demeanor or appearance, her way of handling matters or educating children, all are very commendable.” The Emperor nodded in agreement.

The Empress lifted the curtain and took one last glance towards the residence of Su Zhiruan before letting the curtain fall, settling back and saying, “Nowadays, with the peace and prosperity of the era, it doesn’t matter whether one is from a prestigious family or not, besides, Huaichu doesn’t need a woman from such a family to stabilize the court.”

The Emperor found her comment very gratifying; a harmonious and orderly world was indeed the result of his governance.

After a busy day, Fu Huaichu returned to his temporary residence, only to see his parents, the Emperor and Empress, sitting calmly in the hall drinking tea.

At first, he thought his eyes were deceiving him, just as he had often felt Su Zhiruan was by his side in the recent past.

However, after a closer look, he realized it was indeed his parents. He quickly stepped forward to pay his respects, “Your son pays his respects to Father Emperor, Mother Empress.”

“Rise,” the Emperor and Empress exchanged a glance, both could see the surprise on Fu Huaichu’s face from their visit.

Since that was the case, they might as well give him an even bigger shock.

Seeing Fu Huaichu stand up and take a seat to one side.

The Empress asked with a smile, “Huaichu, guess who we met today?”

Fu Huaichu looked at his mother, a smile he knew all too well, naturally he knew who they had gone to see.

He sighed deep in his heart, “Her, and Zhezhi and Zheye?”

“That’s right, guessed correctly,” the Emperor said with a smile, “You’ve rejected so many noble ladies, we were worried that you preferred the company of men, but who would have thought, without any fanfare, you would have Ruanruan and two children?”

On hearing this familiar name, Fu Huaichu appeared lost in thought for a moment. These past few days, he had been restraining himself from seeking her out, and from seeing the children.

He kept himself busy, trying to finish all the official duties he had in Jiangnan Prefecture, so afterwards he would have time to properly express his feelings for her.

Of course, there was another reason; he didn’t know how he should face Su Zhiruan, nor did he know how to talk to her about the past without any barriers, and to freely imagine the future.

“I wronged her; when I left the village to return to the Capital City, I did not know she was already pregnant.” Fu Huaichu gulped down a mouthful of tea, then placed the cup down; the empty cup spun where it was before rolling to rest by the side of his hand. He stood up, conveying apology, “Father Emperor, Mother Empress, I’ll go instruct the servants to prepare the evening meal.”

Fu Huaichu bowed and left the room.

The hall was then left with only the imperial couple.

The Emperor watched his retreating figure with a chuckle, “The boy has completely fallen.”

“I have a good idea—” the Empress said with a sly smile.