"You and I need not be so formal! Please rise quickly!" Xue Xingyue jumped down from her chair and walked to Madam Xiao Min, saying, "Madam, please rise quickly."
As Madam Xiao Min looked up at the dignified and graceful Princess Xue Xingyue before her, she knew that the little girl of the past was gone. Now, before her stood only Princess Xingyue.
"Your subject is humbled," Madam Xiao Min replied respectfully, without any hint of transgression.
Xue Xingyue sighed and stepped forward to help Madam Xiao Min up, saying, "I remember the former Madam Shi would not have been so distant."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao Min felt a pang of bitterness. You were not His Highness the Princess then.
"I heard that Madam Shi has not eaten for several days. Coincidentally, I also haven't eaten. Shall we dine together?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Madam Xiao Min wanted to refuse, but seeing the child's dark, obsidian-like eyes, she couldn't bear to. She could only brace herself and eat.
Although they didn't exchange a single word during the meal, both knew that the person across from them could barely eat.
The meal took a long time to finish. Xue Xingyue only put down her chopsticks when she felt Madam Xiao Min had eaten enough.
Madam Xiao Min also put down her chopsticks, "Your Highness, it is getting late. You should return to the palace."
Xue Xingyue looked up at Madam Xiao Min and asked, "Madam, are you also trying to send me away?"
Madam Xiao Min looked at her and said, "Please return to the palace, Your Highness."
Xue Xingyue stood up, glanced at Madam Xiao Min, and turned to leave.
Only Madam Xiao Min knew that she hid behind the door and wept bitterly. No matter how much she loved this child, how much she wanted to keep her, she couldn't be so selfish.
The child had her own life, a path that would be unimpeded in the future. She should be happy for the child.
But why couldn't she feel happy?
"Madam, I heard from a maidservant that you are finally willing to eat?" Hearing the maidservant's report, Shi Lang was overjoyed. Madam Xiao Min's willingness to eat was a good thing.
"My lord, she came today," Madam Xiao Min said, looking up at him.
Upon hearing this, Shi Lang's body stiffened. "Madam, are you dreaming? Why would Princess Xingyue come?"
"My lord, I am truly not lying. The servants in the manor have all seen it," Madam Xiao Min said urgently, wanting to prove she wasn't lying.
"Madam, Princess Xingyue is now a high and mighty princess. It is impossible for us to have any further interaction. Madam, you must face reality," Shi Lang thought Madam Xiao Min was hallucinating from missing the child.
How could the noble Princess Xingyue come to the manor of a mere attendant?
Madam Xiao Min knew that no matter what she said now, her lord would not listen. He would think she was ill from longing.
Therefore, it was best to say nothing more.
Xue Zining, seeing that Xue Xingyue was not happy after returning from Madam Shi's residence, couldn't help but hug the little one and ask, "What? Even Madam Shi made you unhappy?"
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "I am happy, but we have become distant."
Xue Zining said to the child with deep emotion, "This is very normal. Before, you were just a little girl. She bought you to live as her child. Now, your identity has changed. You are no longer that little girl, but His Highness the Princess. It is normal for her to feel a sense of loss."
"Mother Emperor, today Madam Shi bowed to me, and I felt a little sad. I thought she would still call me Xingxing as she did before..."
Xue Zining could see that Xue Xingyue was indeed a little sad.
"My little darling, do you want Mother Emperor to step in?" Xue Zining asked.
Xue Xingyue was startled and asked, "How will Mother Emperor step in?"
"Since you and Madam Shi get along so well, why not recognize her as a godmother?"
Xue Xingyue's eyes brightened, but then her expression returned to normal. "Mother Emperor, aren't you angry?"
"Why should I be angry?"
"Don't you think someone is trying to steal your child?"
Xue Zining smiled. "Will you not recognize Mother Emperor?"
"How could I not recognize Mother Emperor?" Xue Xingyue denied immediately.
"Exactly. Then what do I have to worry about? You are my child, the child I carried for ten months and protected with my life. I have nothing to worry about. On the contrary, I hope many people will love you as I do. Madam Shi loves you very much. Having such a person by your side, Mother Emperor is at ease."
Xue Xingyue's eyes flickered upon hearing this. "Mother Emperor, you are so kind!"
The next day
Madam Xiao Min received the imperial edict summoning her. She felt a little uneasy. Had Princess Xingyue's visit yesterday angered the Empress?
Who would want their child to be close to outsiders?
Because of this, Madam Xiao Min met Xue Zining with trepidation.
In the Empress's sleeping quarters, Madam Xiao Min saw Xue Xingyue sitting beside her. Her heart sank. Indeed, the Empress had come to settle scores.
She stepped forward, knelt, and bowed. "Your subject greets Your Majesty, and Your Highness."
"Rise!" Xue Zining said.
Madam Xiao Min stood up. Although she felt Princess Xingyue was looking at her, she dared not look back, fearing she might anger the Empress and make things difficult for Princess Xingyue.
"Please be seated, Madam Shi," Xue Zining said.
Madam Xiao Min felt even more unsettled. If the Empress had immediately reprimanded her, it would have been better. This action confused her.
"Madam Shi, after discussion between Us and Princess Xingyue, We have decided to make you Princess Xingyue's godmother."
Madam Xiao Min almost failed to react. It took a long time for her to recover. "Your Majesty, what did you just say?"
Princess Xingyue stood up from her chair, walked to Madam Xiao Min, and helped her up, saying, "From now on, you are my godmother."
"This... how is this possible?" Madam Xiao Min could never have imagined that the Empress would ask her to be Princess Xingyue's godmother.
"Madam Shi, We know that your love for Xingyue is the same as Ours. That is why We had an idea. We have decided to confer upon you the title of Madam An Guo. This way, Xingyue becoming your daughter will not be a demotion of status."
"Godmother, why don't you thank Mother Emperor?" Xue Xingyue said happily.
"Your subject... Your subject thanks Your Majesty." Madam Xiao Min did not know what words could describe her current happiness.
Not only did she openly have Princess Xingyue as her daughter, but she was also conferred the title of Madam An Guo, a third-rank noble, which was even higher than her husband's rank.
"Madam An Guo, We only hope that no matter what, you will protect Xingyue. She is Our daughter, and now she is also your daughter."
Madam Xiao Min nodded and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, your subject will protect Your Highness with her life."
Xue Xingyue heard this and said, "Godmother, what are you saying? Why would your life be needed? You just need to be happy."
Madam Xiao Min remained resolute. "Not a single word I have spoken is a lie. They are all heartfelt words."