Chapter 39

The calloused hand rose, wanting to touch Ling Wu, but ultimately, within Ling Wu's sight, it slowly withdrew.

Ling Wu took out a pistachio from the pouch tied to her waist, and then walked towards Bai Mihan.

"The baby will be happy from the first birthday celebration."

When the two words were put together, Bai Mihan quickly realized what they meant.

Bai Mihan's fingers trembled slightly as she took the pistachio from the little baby in front of her.

She's already a year old, and the dresses she made seem a bit too small...

Delicate small hands touched rough large hands, and Bai Mihan lowered her eyes, clutching the pistachio tightly in her hand.

"Eat~" A sweet, childlike voice accompanied by a cool, fragrant aroma made Bai Mihan flustered. In the end, she stuffed the pistachio into her mouth.

She chewed slowly, but what she was chewing on was her own past foolishness.

"Delicious?" The little baby tilted her head, the tiny round bead on her forehead swaying back and forth, but it couldn't compare to her cuteness.

Bai Mihan's voice was hoarse. "It's delicious. It's the best fruit I've ever eaten." She choked up for a moment, and the tip of her nose was red.

Ling Wu blinked her big eyes, "Then why are you crying?"

The child's sweet, innocent voice almost brought tears to Bai Mihan's eyes.

"I'm so happy." Bai Mihan smiled, but tears streamed down her face.

She reached out to wipe away her tears, but the more she wiped, the more tears she shed, and she couldn't stop them no matter what she did.

The little dumpling in front of me is so well-behaved and adorable, so beautiful that it seems like a fairy descended from heaven.

If she hadn't caused trouble back then, would everything be different now?

"I'm sorry..." she said softly.

She regretted it, but there's no going back.

Ling Wu didn't answer, but waited until Bai Mihan had finished crying before asking again, "Are you my mother?"

Bai Mihan trembled, and excitement welled up in her heart. However, when she saw the Empress in her palace attire, looking dignified and invincible, she withdrew her hand, leaving only bitterness.

"How could that be? Your Highness, do not listen to the slander of others. Your Highness's mother is the Empress, and will only ever be the Empress. This humble servant is not worthy to be Your Highness's mother."

She lowered her eyes and gently reminded him, "Your Highness, the Empress has arrived."

After hearing this, Ling Wu stopped looking at Bai Mihan and turned away decisively.

"Mother—" The little voice was filled with undisguised joy.

Bai Mihan's eyes dimmed.

When the Empress saw Ling Wu, she immediately bent down and picked up the little red baby, giving her a little bounce. "My darling has gained quite a bit of weight."

"Jiaojiao, go down, Mother isn't tired." The little dumpling was so sweet that the Empress couldn't put her down.

"Mother is the most powerful woman in the world. Even if ten more darlings came, Mother could still hold them!"

"..."

Bai Mihan knelt on the ground, head bowed, silent, her heart filled with a mixture of joy and bitterness.

The Empress hugged Lingwu tightly and remained affectionate with her for a long time before looking at Bai Mihan.

The beautiful woman, whom I hadn't seen for a year, was still wearing a white dress, old but clean.

Disgust and wariness flickered in the Empress's usually gentle and indifferent eyes. The little one in her arms calmed her unease to some extent, but she still could not relax.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress." Bai Mihan respectfully kowtowed.

The Empress raised an eyebrow slightly and gently told Ling Wu to get up, "Get up."

After standing still, Bai Mihan suppressed the bitterness in her heart, "Your Highness and the young prince have such a good relationship..."

The Empress's expression changed slightly, her brows furrowing with a sharp edge!

Bai Mihan recovered from her shock and quickly added, "No one can take Your Majesty's child away."

Seeing the seriousness on her face, and indeed without a trace of sarcasm, the Empress finally smiled, "Of course, anyone who dares to compete with me for Jiaojiao, I will certainly teach them a lesson..."

Before the Empress could finish speaking, she lowered her head and asked Ling Wu, "Does Jiao Jiao like her mother?"

"like!"

"What if someone tries to separate Mother and Jiaojiao? What will Jiaojiao do then?"

"Jiaojiao won't leave!"

Seeing the little dumpling's eyes welling up with tears, the Empress quickly comforted her, "Alright, alright, Mother will never let anyone take Jiaojiao away! If anyone tries to take Jiaojiao away, Mother will send them far away and never let them appear in front of Jiaojiao again in this lifetime."

The Empress's gaze fell upon Bai Mihan, and as expected, she saw her distraught state.

He couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

It's too late for her to feel maternal love now. Although she didn't see the injuries on Jiao Jiao's body at the time, she had privately summoned Yu Bai, who naturally told her everything in detail.

Just hearing about it made her feel pain, let alone the fact that it was a real injury on Jiaojiao's body!

Bai Mihan knew that the Empress was giving her a warning, but she could only force a smile and agree, "Of course...of course."

The Empress withdrew her gaze and smiled at Ling Wu, "Mother made a little dress for Jiao Jiao as a first birthday gift. Would Jiao Jiao like to go back and see it now?"

"Yes!" The little baby's eyes lit up.

The empress's heart softened upon seeing this, and she turned and left.

But just then, someone suddenly rushed out of the house behind Bai Mihan!

She moved very quickly, as if she had been lying in wait for a long time.

That withered arm grabbed Bai Mihan's neck!

At the same time, a sharpened wooden stick was pressed against Bai Mihan's slender neck!

Because she was prepared to die, and because the hidden guards were only protecting Ling Wu, they did not immediately go to save Bai Mihan.

After all, if this is a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain, even if they die, they cannot bring back the young prince.

Bai Mihan was stunned and somewhat dazed. Her eyelashes trembled as she murmured, "Nanny..."

Lin Cui's hands trembled slightly as she whispered in Bai Mihan's ear, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for not being able to accompany you from now on. Your Majesty is still young and must not waste your time here. If you ever leave in the future, please remember what I told you!"

Because of the time constraint, Lin Cui had barely finished speaking when she plunged the wooden stick into the hole!

Sensing Bai Mihan's obvious stiffness, Lin Cuixin said resolutely, "You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. Your Majesty, don't be afraid. This servant knows what to do."

Bai Mihan's eyes were wet with tears. "No, wet nurse, put her down! I'll plead with the Empress, she'll definitely let you go!"

Lin Cui did not answer, her heart filled with worry.

After all these years, how come she's still that silly girl? After all she's done, how could the Empress spare her life?

Seeing that Lin Cui didn't respond, Bai Mihan hurriedly pleaded with the Empress: "Your Majesty, I beg you to spare the wet nurse. She was just confused for a moment. She has always been good to me, from childhood to adulthood. Please spare her, and I will stay far away in this courtyard from now on. I will not go anywhere, I will not see anyone! Please, Your Majesty, spare the wet nurse..."

The Empress had already entrusted Lingwu to Muzhi, who had now left Hanqi Courtyard. Children shouldn't see such scenes, especially since the young prince's health was still very weak.

The Empress slowly raised her hand and touched the seven-tailed phoenix hairpin on her forehead, her eyes gentle. "Assassinating a concubine is a capital offense, and I cannot cover it up. Besides... why does Consort Bai think I should save a vile woman who once harmed Jiao Jiao?"

The word "bitch" spoken in a soft voice was particularly jarring, but the Empress merely smoothed her temple and then sneered:

"And also, does the White Beauty think that you alone can snatch Jiao Jiao away from me?"

Bai Mihan's eyes were filled with pleading and confusion, and the pain in her neck suddenly brought her to her senses.

A cold male voice rang out from outside: "Release the arrows."