Although Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling were very worried, nothing happened for a short time, and the days passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the New Year arrived, and west Xiu did not appear from beginning to end.
The kitten grew up well in the palace. Hai Ling didn't find him a wet nurse; she fed him milk herself. Although Ye Lingfeng protested, he couldn't stop her because she always felt indebted to the kitten, having had his blood drawn from his urine at such a young age. So she wanted to make it up to him. The kitten grew more and more adorable, and soon he would be three months old. He had changed dramatically since he was born, becoming a chubby little pink dumpling with plump hands and feet.
Many people come to see him. He will let anyone he likes hold him, and he will giggle when teased. His eyes are deep and clear, very beautiful, and he will also watch adults' movements with great agility. Now he rarely sleeps and spends most of his time playing. Sometimes when no one is around, he will play with his own fingers, which is very amusing. Hai Ling has been training him since he was little. Children's early hands-on activities are beneficial to brain development. When she has free time, she will teach the kitten many actions. For example, he can already roll over before he is three months old and can also make whimpering sounds in response. When his mother speaks, he will occasionally whimper in response. Watching the mother and son talk is the most fun thing. When the Empress Dowager has free time, she will come to visit them. Recently, she has reached the point where she cannot sleep if she does not see them for a day.
It's the start of a new year again. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Empress hosted a banquet in the side hall of Liuyue Palace to entertain the noblewomen of the court, while the Emperor also hosted a banquet in Guangyang Palace to entertain the ministers of the court.
The entire palace was bustling with activity, and the banquet lasted until late at night.
Ye Lingfeng led the people back to Liuyue Palace. Although it was already late at night, the two of them remembered that today was the first day of the new year and they had not yet paid their respects to their mother. So, carrying the little cat dressed like a small dumpling, they went to Lanqing Palace to pay their respects to their mother.
The family of three walked along the corridor toward Lan Dian Qing. Ye Lingfeng held the kitten and asked Hai Ling about it.
"Ling'er, are you cold?"
"I'm not cold," she said. She was wearing a soft coat with a long fur scarf, so she didn't feel cold. It was the first day of the Lunar New Year, and the weather was unusually cold, so she and her cat had been wearing thick clothes since early morning, and they didn't feel cold.
The three of them quickly arrived at Lanqing Palace. Outside the palace, there were eunuchs and palace maids guarding the area. As soon as they saw the Emperor and Empress, they quickly curtsied and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty and Your Majesty."
Ye Lingfeng nodded, gesturing for them to get up.
Hailing asked the palace maid, "Is the Empress Dowager asleep?"
If they are asleep, they can come to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager tomorrow. Anyway, the Empress Dowager always dotes on them and won't mind.
"Your Majesty, it seems the Empress Dowager hasn't slept yet. It's a bit cold today, and the Empress Dowager took a nap at noon, so she can't sleep tonight. Earlier, Granny Qingzhu instructed us to send over some snacks."
"Oh, that's good."
Hai Ling smiled and followed Ye Lingfeng toward Lanqing Palace. The little cat was awakened by their voices and opened its big eyes, which darted around. When it saw that it wasn't its beautiful mother holding it, it became unhappy and reached out to pull its father's long hair. Its expression clearly said, "You have to hold me, you have to hold me."
Although the kitten couldn't speak, the mother and kitten were connected at heart, so as soon as the kitten made a sound, Hailing knew what it was thinking. She was both annoyed and amused, and reached out her hand.
"Let me hold the kitten."
However, Ye Lingfeng didn't bother with the kitten. He was most afraid that Hailing would get tired. Even though the kitten was still a little short of three months old, it was already quite heavy. He couldn't bear to let Ling'er hold it. So Ye Lingfeng looked at the kitten and spoke with a forced smile.
"Little kitten, are you itching for a beating?"
He snorted, and the kitten's little mouth pouted, as if it wanted to cry. Its two eyes were filled with tears as it looked at its mother, looking like it had been bullied. Hai Ling found it hilarious. This father and son had already started their battle of wits. She wondered what kind of battle they would have when they grew up.
As the family of three talked, they passed through the main hall of Lanqing Palace and headed towards the inner palace behind it.
The sleeping quarters of Lanqing Palace are connected to the main hall. The sleeping quarters are at the back. The group walked along the long corridor and soon arrived at the sleeping quarters of Lanqing Palace. Outside the palace, there were palace maids on night duty. As soon as they looked up, they saw the Emperor and Empress with the little prince coming. They hurriedly paid their respects.
"Greetings to the Emperor and Empress."
Is the Empress Dowager asleep?
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager just sent something in, so she's probably not asleep yet."
As soon as the maid finished speaking, the Empress Dowager's voice came from inside the palace: "Has Ling'er arrived? Come in."
Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling smiled at each other, then carried the kitten into the palace together. Inside the palace, it was very warm. The Empress Dowager was leaning against the couch, on which were some snacks, but she hadn't touched them much. She looked listless and had little energy.
Upon seeing Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling appear, her eyes lit up, and she greeted the family with a smile.
"Why did you bother to come all this way so late at night?"
Ye Lingfeng respectfully said, "Today is the first day of the New Year. Your Majesty, I should come with Ling'er to pay our respects to you. I wanted to come earlier, but this afternoon there was a banquet for ministers and noblewomen, so we are a little late. Please don't blame your son and daughter-in-law, Mother."
"What's so strange about it? I forgot to send someone to remind you not to come. The weather is terribly cold, and my poor little cat has to suffer like this."
"It's alright, Mother. The kitten is dressed warmly enough, it won't be cold."
Hai Ling smiled and sat down next to the Empress Dowager. Then Ye Lingfeng, holding the kitten, sat down on the other side of the Empress Dowager. They both looked at the snacks set on the low table but didn't touch them. "My mother doesn't seem to be in good spirits," Hai Ling asked with concern.
"Mother, what's wrong? You don't seem to be feeling well."
"It's too cold today. I'm getting old, so I'm feeling a bit listless and don't really want to move."
"Yes, Mother, please take good care of yourself and make sure you don't catch a cold."
Ye Lingfeng spoke calmly, reminding the Empress Dowager that he did not want anything to happen to his mother.
"You guys should go back quickly. It's late at night and quite cold. Don't catch a cold."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand and yawned, seemingly a little tired. Ye Lingfeng and Hai Ling stood up and said at the same time, "Then, Your Majesty, Hai Ling'er, will return."
"Let's go back."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and Ye Lingfeng, carrying the kitten, was about to leave when the Empress Dowager suddenly spoke up: "Ye, let the kitten stay with me tonight."
The Empress Dowager allowed the kitten to stay in Lanqing Palace. In the past, she often left the kitten in Lanqing Palace to spend the night, so Ye Lingfeng did not object. He was actually eager to leave the kitten in the palace so that he could enjoy some time alone with her. So he picked up the kitten, put it in his mother's arms, and then left the palace with Hailing.
However, just as the two reached the door, they heard the little cat crying inside the palace. Hai Ling raised her eyebrows. Why was the little cat crying? He used to love staying in Lanqing Palace because his mother loved to find all sorts of little toys for him to play with. So, as soon as he entered Lanqing Palace, he was always overjoyed and never cried. But now he was crying.
Hearing her son cry, Hai Ling felt heartbroken and took Ye Lingfeng's hand.
"The kitten doesn't seem willing to stay. Let's take him back to Liuyue Palace."
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingfeng reached out and grasped Hai Ling's hand: "It's alright. Mother loves kittens. She opened her mouth to let the kittens stay. If we go in and take them out again, wouldn't that make Mother sad?"
After Ye Lingfeng finished speaking, the kitten inside the palace had stopped crying, and Hai Ling was relieved.
It seemed the kitten was a little upset because he had just been separated from his mother. Now that his mother had soothed him, she finally relaxed her brow and nodded with a smile, "Alright, let's go then."
The two, accompanied by several maids, left Lanqing Palace and headed towards Liuyue Palace.