"Yes, what about you? Grandmother Empress, besides being the Father Emperor's mother, our grandmother, and the Dowager Empress of the entire Li Chao, you are still yourself!"

Fujujiao said seriously.

A flicker of surprise crossed the Empress's eyes, "Myself?"

Under these identities, she had long forgotten herself.

At this moment, when Fu Jiujiu spoke, she was both shocked and moved.

"Chirp, Grandma even forgot about herself."

Fu Jiu knew how much this woman had sacrificed for the entire empire. She was a respected Empress Dowager by all, but when it came to achievements, they always praised Emperor Chengde's wisdom and martial prowess.

But they all forgot that without this strong-willed, intelligent and learned mother, there would be no such excellent son.

"Grandmother, then you quickly think about it, what do you wish for, and I'll help you fulfill it with Brother Tang Qi."

Minghui, her eyes red, said these words, which meant that the Empress Dowager's days were numbered.

"Empress Dowager, since the Crown Princess and Prince are so filial, you should tell us."

The Empress smiled and pulled Fu Jiujiu to sit beside her, "That's right, Jiujiu is the most filial. Unlike my daughter-in-law, she seems more like my own granddaughter."

"Grandmother, then you can just consider me your granddaughter, and Tang Qi's brother as a stepson-in-law."

"You little rascal, you're getting away with it!"

Although the Empress Dowager said this, she smiled happily. “Yes, they are all grown up now, and I am old too. It's time for me to think about myself.”

"If I had any wish, it would be to see the world outside. While my eyes still work, I want to visit beyond the palace walls, beyond the city limits. I've been confined to this deep palace for my entire life."

Fujujiao was deeply shocked, "Grandmother..."

"Chirp chirp, grandmother truly can't bear to see such a beautiful flower like you trapped in the palace. But...the seventh prince loves you so much, grandmother doesn't know who to help."

Fu Jiujiu knew that the Empress Dowager was thinking about her, "Grandmother Empress, Brother Tang Qi will definitely be very good to me."

"Well, um... I don't know if I could still walk around?"

Fu Jiu Jiu endured the sourness in her heart and nodded, "Yes, where do you want to go? I'll accompany you."

The Empress Dowager decided to leave the palace and return to her childhood home, which was hundreds of miles away from the capital. By now, all her relatives had moved out of the city. However, the Empress Dowager knew that nepotism could lead to trouble, so she had arranged for her brothers and nephews to serve as officials in distant provinces. Their influence couldn't possibly reach the capital.

There aren't many people back home anymore.

Fu Jiujiu decided to fulfill this wish of the Empress Dowager. She could take care of her, and at the same time, she could also take care of her illness. Furthermore, right now, the old lady was relying on the spiritual spring water to hold on.

The Emperor Chengde was a filial son, so he naturally wouldn't object. This matter will just wait until the grandmother's health improves a bit, otherwise her current state wouldn't allow her to travel far.

Although I was riding in a carriage, it was still tiring.

At night, Tang Xian held the little woman in his arms. His voice was soft and low, Fu Jiu knew that he was enduring his sadness.

"Chirp, how many days does Grandma have left?"

Fu Jiu Jiu didn't dare tell anyone, "In two months at most, she'll be gone. If I had woken up a few years earlier, if I had taken care of her sooner, perhaps she could have lived for a few more years. But now, there's nothing I can do."

Tang Xian held her hand, "Don't say that, people get old and will eventually reach this day. Jiujiu, if I die, you have to live well too."

"Don't talk nonsense." Fu Jiujiu covered his mouth with her hand, "Tang Qi gege, what's wrong with you?"

Although everyone was sad, especially Tang Xian, the Empress Dowager treated him better than other princes. It's normal for him to be heartbroken.

But Fu Jiu Jiu felt that even if she was heartbroken, she shouldn't say those words.

"When I was young, my body wasn't strong. I suffered from illness deep inside, *cough cough*. Although you healed me, I worry that I will leave this world sooner."

Fujuju choked back tears for a moment, "No, I'm here."

Tang Xian rubbed her head, pressing it against his chest. "Promise me, if I really leave before you, you have to live well and not rush to meet me."

"Stop overthinking," Fu Jiujiu said.

Tang Xian took a deep breath, “In the future, we have to slowly accept the death of people around us. This is truly a painful yet helpless thing.”

I have absolutely no control over it.

Fu Jiu Jiu hugged him back, that night both of them felt down.

Fujujiao and Tangxian accompanied the Empress Dowager to her childhood home. The old woman was very happy. Although she had traveled a long journey, she was in good spirits.

When the old man fell asleep, Fu Chiuchiu and Tang Xian went for a walk outside.

"Grandmother said that there used to be a family here whose candy was very sweet, she always came to eat it when she was little. Let's go find out if it's still around?"

Fujujiao agrees, if we could let the elderly know the deliciousness from their childhood, they should be happier, right?

There are many shops here. Tang Xian remembered his great-grandmother telling him about this Sun's shop when he was little. He didn't expect it to still be around after so many years. Just as he was about to take his wife there, a woman came out from the door, followed by two children, a boy and a girl.

The boy hugged a delicious snack in his arms and couldn't stop taking bites.

The little girl beside him looked at the boy pitifully, her big eyes full of longing. She whispered softly, "Mother, I want some too. My brother has so much, can I just have a bite?"

"What are you eating? Why are you so greedy? You're even fighting your brother over food. Didn't I give you food to eat?" The woman's voice was loud.

The little girl was frightened out of her wits. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she bit her lip, stubbornly refusing to stay. When she noticed that Fu Jiujiu and Tang Xian seemed to be looking at her, she turned away from them, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Mother, but... my brother has everything, and I have nothing. Father promised to teach me to read..."

"What use is literacy? Who chooses a wife based on whether she can read? Can you even become a top scholar and an official?"

"Mother, but sir said I'm very smart, not inferior to boys..."

“Shut up, sir is trying to swindle you into spending money.”

Tang Xian shook her head, "This sister-in-law…"

The woman glared up, "What are you doing?"

However, looking at Shang Tangxian and Fu Jiujiao's beautiful faces and stylish clothes, her tone improved a bit, "What's up?"

Tang Xian and Fu Jiujiu also saw it. This woman's family background should not be bad, she dresses well, how could she afford to buy snacks for her son if she really didn't have money.

She just simply thought that girls studying was useless.

"Sister-in-law, I just overheard your conversation unintentionally. In my opinion, girls studying isn't entirely useless. In a few years, they will open the Women's Imperial Examination, and women can become officials just like men. Moreover, as far as I know, there are already many female physicians now. During the previous flood, several female physicians also made great contributions."

The woman pursed her lips and said, "Who are you?"

First published by the Traditional Chinese Novel Network

(Editor in charge:novel updates)