Chapter 5 Empress Dowager Urges Them to Quickly Bear a Grandson

The Empress Dowager lived in the East Bright Hall.

No sooner had Chu Baihan and Yan Lin entered than the gentle-looking Empress Dowager hurried over.

Her eyes were slightly red, her face full of sympathy. "Linlin, your grandmother has finally seen you."

"Great Grandmother," Yan Lin stood still and softly called out.

His tone was still somewhat cold, but it was clearly better than how he treated the Emperor.

"Ah, your Great Grandmother is here." The Empress Dowager took the initiative to take Yan Lin's hand, her tone extremely kind.

She did not ignore the presence of Chu Baihan, smiling and saying, "This must be Baihan, truly graceful."

Baihan? Chu Baihan stiffened slightly.

Even the Empress Dowager knew her real identity?

But then again, it was not surprising; in the Imperial City, how many secrets could escape the eyes and ears of the Royal Family?

"Come, sit down and let's talk." The Empress Dowager, without any hint of reprimand, gently pulled both Chu Baihan and Yan Lin's hands, asking them to sit.

"You child, you've grown up so nicely, just like your mother." The Empress Dowager smiled, her eyes narrowing.

It was clear to any discerning eye that she was very pleased with Chu Baihan.

"Empress Dowager, you..."

"Why still call me Empress Dowager? Call me Great Grandmother." The Empress Dowager patiently corrected Chu Baihan.

"Yes, Great Grandmother," Chu Baihan glanced at a certain prince, finding he had no intention of interjecting, she then relaxed and continued to ask, "Great Grandmother, from what you said, it seems you knew my mother."

"Of course. Your mother was originally the foster daughter of Marquis Xu Yuan. Marquis Xu Yuan married only one wife and had no children of his own, so later he adopted your mother. They truly loved your mother from the bottom of their hearts. Whenever Lady Xu Yuan visited the palace, she would bring your mother along, and I, too, watched her grow up."

The Empress Dowager spoke with a tone filled with emotion.

Chu Baihan was slightly stunned; why had she never heard about this from her mother

"Your mother was one of the few intelligent women I have met, but her temperament was too stubborn. Back then, she was solely devoted to your father, and at that time, your father was just a minor Deputy General, she defied opposition to marry him, and later lived a secluded life. After Marquis Xu Yuan and his wife passed away, you were born, a few years later, I heard of your mother's death as well…" The Empress Dowager spoke, her voice both complex and regretful.

The dirty tricks of the inner court, she was all too familiar with.

It is a pity that a woman like Lady Xu could not escape a fate of being harmed.

Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Chu Baihan felt a pang in her heart.

She had known since childhood that her maternal grandfather was Marquis Xu Yuan, but unfortunately he had passed away early, her mother was unprotected, and thus suffered much bullying in the Chu Residence, eventually even losing her life.

"Enough of this, knowing that you are marrying Linlin, I also feel relieved," the Empress Dowager waved her hand, quickly steering the conversation back.

She did not forget to turn her head and earnestly reminded Yan Lin, "Linlin, now that you are married to Baihan, you must treat her well."

Yan Lin frowned, making no response.

"You do not answer me; could it be that you have bullied her?" The Empress Dowager looked a bit anxious.

"No, Great Grandmother, the Prince treats me very well, really well," Chu Baihan hurriedly explained.

"Really?" The Empress Dowager was a bit skeptical.

Chu Baihan nodded calmly, "Yes, truly."

Apart from suspecting her and wanting to kill her, a certain Prince was indeed quite good to her.

When he heard what she had said to the Empress Dowager, Yan Lin's expression changed slightly.

Was she defending him in front of the Empress Dowager?

"Very well, very well," the Empress Dowager, looking at Chu Baihan's face, smiled even more deeply, "You both must take good care of yourselves, and then give me a healthy, chubby great-grandson."

At these words, Chu Baihan's expression stiffened again.

"Empress Dowager, I am now a broken man, no need to curse others," Yan Lin said coldly.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager quite disagreed, speaking sternly, "How can you say such a thing? I have already ordered people to find a famous doctor. There must be a way to cure the poison in your body."

"Right, I've heard that there is a divine doctor in Jiangnan, a woman with extraordinary medical skills. I will send someone to Jiangnan immediately to find her to treat your eyes."

Suddenly remembering something, the Empress Dowager quickly grabbed Chu Baihan's hand, asking urgently, "Baihan girl, you came back from Jiangnan, have you heard anything about this divine doctor?"

A divine doctor from Jiangnan?

Chu Baihan's gaze was somewhat strange, but soon she stabilized.

She spoke softly, "Jiangnan is too large, and I seldom hear about outside matters, so I don't know much about it."

Hearing her words, the Empress Dowager appeared somewhat disappointed.

"Empress Dowager, the Imperial Physicians in the palace have said there is no possibility of restoring my sight, you should stop worrying," Yan Lin said, his tone cold and firm.

"You child, you..." The Empress Dowager's eyes reddened in urgency.

But seeing Yan Lin's resistant expression, she compromised, sighing deeply, "Well, everything is dictated by fate."

"Baihan girl, the palace scenery is quite nice, would you like to take a walk?" she asked, turning her head kindly to Chu Baihan.

Chu Baihan instantly understood her intention, and she hurriedly said, "Yes, Empress Dowager, I will go for a walk first, you can talk with the Prince."

It was only after Chu Baihan had left that the Empress Dowager straightened her face, saying patiently to Yan Lin, "The Chu Family has indeed gone too far this time, but I don't think Baihan girl has any bad intentions. You must not vent your anger towards the Chu Family on her."

"Empress Dowager, you have only met her today, how could you understand her character?" Yan Lin frowned, clearly disagreeing with her.

The Empress Dowager spoke calmly, "I have been in the harem for so many years, I still possess some judgment. Moreover, I think the Baihan girl really appeals to me; she is exactly the granddaughter-in-law I have been hoping for."

Yan Lin's brow furrowed even more, he had not expected that the Empress Dowager, from just one glance at Chu Baihan, would like her so much.

"I am old and don't have much time left, and I just want to see you settle down, with children all around you, during my lifetime…" The Empress Dowager sighed, her expression melancholic.

"Empress Dowager, you..."

"There's no need to comfort me. I know my own body best. The Empress and Crown Prince consider you a thorn in their side. As long as I am alive, they dare not touch you. But one day..."

The Empress Dowager could not continue, her voice choked with emotion.

"I only want to plan ahead for you now. You have suffered so much since you were a child; I don't want you to be burdened by hatred anymore. Let go of the hate in your heart, and live a good life with Baihan girl," she said softly, persuading.

"Empress Dowager, some things can't be resolved by my stepping back; as long as I live, the Crown Prince probably won't sleep soundly," Yan Lin said with a cold laugh.

"But..."

"Moreover, I have no feelings for that Chu Baihan," he said, his tone becoming assertive.

"Are you still waiting for that girl who disappeared? I know there has been someone on your mind for many years. But so many years have passed, her appearance has certainly changed, you don't know anything about her, how will you find her?" the Empress Dowager said, her expression both helpless and sympathetic.

"I have a premonition, she will appear," Yan Lin said, remaining unmoved by the persuasion.