Pampered By All In Different Planes-Chapter 347: After Disguising Herself as a Man, the Rabbit Spirit Ran Away with a Baby in Her Womb 57

The Emperor clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "After so many years, my Princess has finally been found!"

The Empress lifted her head in delight, "Your Majesty, this is my wish as well. Since that is the case, from now on, Miss Su should come to the palace and live with us."

Su Zhiruan was very clear, the Emperor might be grasping at straws, wanting to see if her claims about governing the country were true, but the Empress seemed quite interested in her four children, even showing her a kind smile as soon as she stood up.

"You said your name is Su Zhiruan, then from now on, I shall call you Ruanruan," the Empress stood amidst the four nannies, her tone earnest, "It must be hard for you to manage the children alone, the Empress has given birth to the Crown Prince and has experience in raising children, if you are willing to trust me, I shall often visit to check on them."

"It was quite the effort to raise them from birth, if the Empress does not mind, I will be grateful for the help," Su Zhiruan thought to herself with a smile. Speaking of experience in raising children, the Empress was far from her match, but it was apparent that the Empress, who hadn’t had children around her for many years, very much wanted to have babies nearby to watch over and occasionally play with. With someone to help take care of them, Su Zhiruan was naturally willing to agree.

No sooner had she spoken than a smile appeared on the Empress’s face, "It’s no trouble at all, rest assured."

Once everything was settled, the Emperor issued an imperial edict, bestowing the title of Princess upon Su Zhiruan. The Palace Attendants who witnessed the scene also started to weigh their options.

This Miss Su had convinced the Emperor with her words and won over the Empress’s heart with her four children. Even though everything had happened so quickly, those who were able to serve before the Emperor were all shrewd, and from then on, the mistress of the harem wasn’t going to be limited to just the few, but would also include the new Princess.

Shen Qingman, having changed into a fresh set of clothes, rushed into the Imperial Palace. He hadn’t even reached Zichen Hall when he heard about Su Zhiruan being conferred as Princess. He was taken aback, "Can’t be, that quick?"

"Your Highness, this servant also thinks it was rather fast. The Princess went in and persuaded the Emperor and the Empress with just a few words. Now, the royal decree has been proclaimed to all under heaven, and the courtiers are also aware," the Chief Eunuch described the situation briefly to Shen Qingman, who had only just arrived.

"She’s that formidable?!" Shen Qingman’s mouth twitched, "I just changed my clothes, and without any tokens or proof, just holding the children, she gets named a Princess?!"

Shen Qingman was immensely shocked.

He had originally thought that it would require his own pleading to succeed, yet there was no need for him at all, Su Zhiruan had managed everything on her own!

"And what about the courtiers? Was there any reaction?" Shen Qingman thought about the second thing he was most concerned about—if the court ministers collectively opposed, then Su Zhiruan’s seat as Princess would certainly be unstable.

At that moment, a little eunuch following the Chief Eunuch exclaimed "ah" and, bowing, said, "You really don’t have to worry about that. The courtiers thought it was just His Majesty acting on a whim and bestowing the title of Princess, and not a single one has submitted a petition."

The court ministers of Shen Kingdom were split into two groups. One believed that their country was on the brink of collapse and simply laid back, not meddling in more affairs. Hearing that the Emperor had conferred a Princess, they also just took it as his spontaneous decision—after all, a Princess couldn’t stir up much trouble, there was no need to rush to become disliked. The other group, stuck in their old-fashioned ways, thought that if the Emperor chose to confer a title of Princess at this time, there must be a reason, perhaps to facilitate a future marriage alliance and curry favor with the surrounding great nations. They regarded her merely as a tool for an alliance and thus also did not bother.

After coming to grips with the situation, Shen Qingman suddenly felt all his efforts over the past few days were in vain. Scratching his head, he hesitated about whether he should still enter the palace.

He had anticipated many potential difficulties before taking on the matter, but none of them had occurred. Su Zhiruan had smoothly become a Princess, and by now, the proclamation had already spread far and wide.

"Father and Mother didn’t call for me?" Shen Qingman, still hopeful, asked again.

The Chief Eunuch shook his head firmly, "Your Highness, rest assured, the Emperor and the Empress did not mention you."

"Then can I... can I go Demon Hunting with peace of mind now?" His face gradually brightened, and even his fingers started to itch with anticipation.

The Chief Eunuch: "..."

"I’ll wait a few more days, let me see what this sister of mine is capable of." He rubbed his hands with eagerness, wishing he could go Demon Hunting right then and there.

"Your Highness, this servant will withdraw now," the Chief Eunuch said as he hurriedly left with the little eunuch.

*

In just one day, the news spread throughout the entire Imperial Palace.

The Emperor had many concubines in his harem, but apart from the Empress, none of the other concubines had children. Over the years, this had kept jealousy and competition at bay. But when word got out that the Princess, recently returned from among the common folk, had given birth to four children, the entire harem was abuzz. Nearly everyone rushed to the Empress’s bedroom to see the children.

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Concubine Shu held her breath and stood at a distance, but her eyes were fixated on the children.

When Xiaxia awoke and caught her gaze, she did not cry. Instead, she looked at her with clear, bright eyes like grapes, and grasped at the air with her tiny, soft fingers.

Concubine Shu’s heart was captured in an instant, "My heavens... they’re too adorable!"

"If you like them, why not go over and take a look?" Noble Consort De twirled a string of Buddha Beads as she watched her, then stepped forward to pinch the little feet of the third child, and turned to look at Concubine Shu, "Come closer, dear."

"I’d rather not," Concubine Shu said firmly, shaking her head, "I’m wearing scented powder; I fear it might irritate the children."

"Very well," the Empress decreed, "If you have on scented powder, stay back, Concubine Shu is right."

"Then we’ll come again tomorrow!" said Concubine Shu, immediately rising to take her leave upon hearing this.

Several concubines on good terms with her also stood up to take their leave.

As they left the Empress’s bedroom and walked along Qianli Pond, they chatted leisurely.

"Sister Concubine Shu, whose children do you think they are?" a concubine of lower rank and innocent nature inquired.

"They are the children of the Emperor’s recently found common-born Princess; everyone knows that," replied another concubine walking on the other side of Concubine Shu, "You surely don’t think they belong to the Emperor?"

"Of course not." Concubine Shu, having listened for a while, finally chimed in decisively, "Anyone with eyes can see that they must belong to the common-born princess; so fair and tender, and pretty, too."

"With the arrival of this Princess, could she pose a threat to us?" the lower-ranking concubine spoke up timidly, "What if she is exceptionally capable and decides to give us trouble?"

"Just a Princess, a mere princess of a crumbling little nation; it doesn’t matter whether there’s one more or one less," Concubine Shu concluded, fiddling with her armor.

*

That’s what they thought, and naturally, so did everyone else.

After all, she was just a princess from a minor, crumbling nation. Whether there was one more or one less of her, related by blood or not, these details were trivial and not worth opposition.

It was like when a waiter was added to a restaurant; to the patrons, it hardly made any difference.

That’s what they thought.