Gu Sui seized the opportunity. Gu Tingsong’s lips moved, showing some hesitation.

“Mother will remember this matter and won’t let you owe her a favor. But Suizhi, why did you have to set your sights on her of all people?”

“There’s no reason. I just like her.”

Gu Tingsong felt a headache coming on.

“Let’s not talk about this for now. What did the Empress Dowager say to you in the palace today? Were you mistreated there?”

Upon hearing this, Gu Sui straightened his expression and recounted the promises the old man in the Yongning Palace had made to him. Gu Tingsong was even angrier than he had anticipated.

“Damn him! He dares to have designs on my son. Does he not want to live in peace anymore?”

Gu Sui was utterly shocked. He truly didn’t expect his mother to dare curse even the Empress Dowager!

“No wonder Emperor An disfavors him. A foolish person with ambitions but no brains. Does he think letting you enter the palace will allow him to control me?”

Gu Tingsong was so angry that her eyebrows stood up, her face fierce.

“He should think about it. If I truly had disloyal intentions, with my son’s intelligence and wit, controlling a ten-year-old little emperor would be a piece of cake. Isn’t he afraid of handing over the Mu family’s empire on a silver platter?”

“Mother! It’s better to keep your voice down when saying such things.”

Only then did Gu Tingsong suppress her anger a little, but her expression remained very serious.

“Suizhi, you must not enter the palace. It’s not a good place. Do you hear me?”

“I know. So the Prince Regent’s residence…”

Gu Tingsong: “…Can’t Suizhi choose someone else?”

She hesitated. There was hope. Gu Sui pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Then Mother, what do you think of His Highness, the Prince of Shu?”

Gu Tingsong’s voice was so impassioned that it startled the birds on the trees.

“He’s even more of a scoundrel! He’s not as good as the Prince Regent! No way!”

Gu Sui’s eyes curved. So, it still had to be Mu Jiulu.

Gu Tingsong: “……”

*

“Achoo!”

Mu Congfeng, who had been summoned to the yamen by her imperial sister, couldn’t help but sneeze, causing the person in front of her to glance at her.

“What bad thing did you do again to be cursed by someone?”

“How is that possible? It must be some young gentleman in the residence missing me. Imperial Sister, why did you call for me?”

Mu Jiulu gave her a task.

“That person in the Yongning Palace has been a bit idle lately. Find something for him to do.”

Mu Congfeng smiled helplessly. “No way, Imperial Sister. Again? His Venerable is already annoyed to death by my group of concubines.”

Mu Jiulu said coldly, “This is the extent of his abilities.”

Mu Congfeng, this younger sister, might not be good at other things, but she had a unique skill in this matter. Mu Jiulu felt at ease entrusting this task to her.

After handling some government affairs at the yamen, she returned to the royal residence in the evening.

Jiang Fu was holding the little kitten that Yan Wu had brought back, inquiring about how to arrange for its care.

Mu Jiulu glanced at the kitten, and the scene of Gu Sui crashing into her embrace in the carriage flashed through her mind.

“Take good care of it.”

Jiang Fu, who had already become familiar with the little furball that afternoon, brightened upon hearing this.

The Prince seemed to have become more personable, even starting to keep a pet!

“Then, Your Highness, does this cat have a name?”

Jiang Fu asked. Mu Jiulu’s movements paused for a moment. After a while, she parted her red lips lightly.

“Suisui.”

Before Jiang Fu could speak, she saw her master nod with apparent satisfaction and repeat.

“Yes, call it Suisui.”

Mu Jiulu pinched the little kitten’s scruff again.

“Meow, meow!”

“Has it eaten?”

Jiang Fu: “Answering Your Highness, it was fed one and a half cups of milk this afternoon.”

Mu Jiulu continued pinching the soft and boneless little Suisui, her eyes showing disdain upon hearing this.

“What an eater.”

Jiang Fu: “……”

It needs to grow, after all.

“Have someone build a nest in the main courtyard and send someone over.”

Jiang Fu: So does Your Highness want to keep it or not?