Chapter 172 The Crown Prince is Seriously Ill, Rongchang is Established as Crown Princess

When Zhao Xiao was six months old, the crown prince fell seriously ill. Emperor Mingde was worried, and Zhao Yu and the Duke of Zhao had a secret talk all night.

The next day, the Duke of Zhao entered the palace.

It is unknown what he said to Emperor Mingde, but that evening Emperor Mingde went to Princess Rongchang's palace.

Xu Chumian was completely unaware of this. Now that Madam Zhang was gradually relinquishing control, the Duke's Mansion was also being managed by Xu Chumian.

Fortunately, having had experience from her previous life, Xu Chumian quickly got the hang of it.

Zhao Xiao soon reached the age where he could speak.

It's almost Chinese New Year's Eve.

Early on New Year's Eve, Zhao Xiao, dressed like a New Year's picture doll, came to the house looking for his father and mother.

Xu Chumian was kept up by Zhao Yu until midnight last night and is still asleep now.

Zhao Yu opened the door and went out first.

He scooped Zhao Xiao from the wet nurse's arms.

Zhao Xiao recognized his father, clapped his hands happily, and called out, "Father! Father..."

Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow and pinched his son's cheek.

"Say it again."

Zhao Xiao was a temperamental child, and no matter what Zhao Yu said, Zhao Xiao refused to say another word.

Zhao Yu calculated the time and, after about half an hour, carried Zhao Xiao into the house.

Inside the room, Xu Chumian was already awake.

She looked tired, but her complexion was excellent.

As soon as Zhao Xiao saw his mother, he kicked his little legs and wanted to go find her.

Xu Chumian smiled and said, "Xiao-ge'er, come to your mother."

Zhao Yu approached carrying his son, and as soon as Zhao Xiao was placed on the bed, he immediately threw himself into Xu Chumian's arms.

Xu Chumian hugged her son and patted his back.

"Young Master Xiao, you're up so early! Have you had breakfast yet?"

Zhao Xiao grinned and obediently planted a kiss on Xu Chumian's cheek.

Then, just like when she called Zhao Yu in the morning, she began to call out again: "Mother, Mother..."

Xu Chumian's eyes widened. "Xiao Ge'er can talk now."

Zhao Yu nodded, "I'll tell you this morning."

Xu Chumian glanced at him, "Was it you who called out first, Xiao Ge'er?"

Zhao Yu smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Xu Chumian gave a soft hum and contentedly hugged her son into her arms.

"My dear baby."

Zhao Xiao repeated, "Good boy..."

Xu Chumian tapped his nose.

"Let's get up and go wish our great-grandmother, grandparents, and great-grandmother a Happy New Year."

Zhao Xiao clapped his hands, "Happy New Year! Happy New Year!"

Xiao Ge'er refused to utter a single other word.

Xu Chumian quickly changed her clothes. She spent a long time applying ointment to her neck before finally wiping away the marks Zhao Yu had made the night before.

Zhao Yu, holding his son, quickly admitted his mistake, saying, "It was my fault last night."

Xu Chumian glared at him.

"Of course it's your fault."

He admits his mistakes very quickly each time, but he always repeats them next time.

Zhao Yu put his son down and had Xiao Tao take him out.

Only the couple remained in the inner room.

Zhao Yu stepped forward, embraced her, and kissed her forehead.

"It's your turn to do it tonight?"

Xu Chumian patted his chest.

"You wish."

Zhao Yu led Xu Chumian, who had finished dressing up, out of the house.

Outside, Xiao Ge'er was being led by Xiao Tao to watch the snow under the eaves.

Xu Chumian still remembers the New Year's Eve two years ago.

Because Zhao Yu pretended to be injured, Xu Chumian stayed at Wenju to take care of him.

Being injured is all fake!

It was all to gain Xu Chumian's sympathy and pity!

Recalling the past, Xu Chumian turned her head and glanced at Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu asked gently, "What's wrong?"

Xu Chumian gave a soft hum.

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and many members of the Zhao family have come to the mansion to celebrate the New Year together.

After the couple arrived at the front yard.

The brothers Zhao Yu and Zhao Qian went to greet the male guests, while Xu Chumian and Madam Zhang entertained the female guests.

The aunts and uncles all praised Zhao Xiao for his good looks as soon as they saw him.

She inherited the best features of both her parents and was born with exceptional good looks.

Zhao Xiao couldn't understand what they were saying, but when he heard his mother's name, he smiled and said, "Mother, Mother..."

Madam Zhang was unaware that her grandson could speak.

Xu Chumian smiled faintly, "It happened this morning."

This made Zhang extremely excited.

“Xiaoge’er can talk now, come and call Grandma, Grandma…”

Zhao Xiao was clever and obediently called out "Grandmother".

Lady Zhang wanted to hear more, but Zhao Xiao refused to say anything more.

Soon Zhao Xiao's attention was drawn to something else, and he asked his wet nurse to hold him so he could go see the snow again.

Xu Chumian: "Xiao Ge'er likes to watch the snow."

I often stay indoors and gaze at the snow scene outside through the glass window for a long time.

"Xiao-ge'er must be a clever and precocious child..."

"He looks exactly like the young master when he was a child."

...

Just listen to these compliments and leave them at that.

Xu Chumian smiled and said, "This child is indeed easy to take care of and doesn't cause trouble."

A short while later, Zhao Lingyao also arrived.

Zhao Lingyao has been confined to the courtyard by the Second Madam to learn etiquette recently and hasn't been able to go out for a long time.

Then, at night, the formal New Year's Eve family dinner will take place.

Fireworks lit up the Duke's mansion.

The guests were not seen off until late at night.

Xu Chumian was exhausted when she returned to Heyun Courtyard.

Zhao Yu returned shortly afterward.

Zhao Yu drank the wine and saw Xu Chumian leaning limply against the soft couch, feeling utterly powerless.

Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Shall I carry you to take a bath?"

Xu Chumian hummed in response; she had no strength left at all.

Once inside the restroom, Zhao Yu originally intended to do something else, but seeing that Xu Chumian was really exhausted, he finished wiping her body and carried her out.

Xu Chumian was already slender, but after giving birth to Zhao Xiao, she became fuller and more shapely.

Zhao Yu cherished it dearly.

He often says things in bed that are even more outrageous than those from his previous life.

As soon as Xu Chumian touched the bed, she closed her eyes.

Zhao Yu was both amused and exasperated. He first went back to his study to handle some official business before returning to the main house, where he embraced his wife and spent New Year's Eve together.

When Xu Chumian woke up the next day, everything outside was covered in white.

The heavy snow didn't stop last night.

Everywhere was covered in silver.

Zhao Xiao arrived shortly after the couple had finished their breakfast.

The family of three went together to pay New Year's greetings to Madam Zhao, Duke Zhao, and Madam Zhang.

The second wife's family is now complete.

All the younger generation received red envelopes.

As the only great-grandson of this generation, Zhao Xiao was given a luxurious jade coral by the old lady Zhao.

The Duke of Zhao's mansion was filled with harmony.

But not long after the New Year, news came from the palace.

When the Crown Prince fell critically ill, the two physicians, Doctor Chen and his fellow apprentice, stayed by the Eastern Palace for a long time.

From then on, Duke Zhao and Zhao Yu were so busy that they barely had time to breathe.

Once the crown prince died, Emperor Mingde had no other children.

The crown prince is in grave danger.

Xu Chumian was extremely worried. She hadn't seen Rongchang for a while and didn't know how he was doing.

Zhao Xiao seemed to sense his mother's unease and obediently hugged his mother's neck with his little hands.

"Mother, Mother..."

With her son by her side, Xu Chumian felt a little more at ease.

But with Zhao Yu not returning, Xu Chumian was always anxious and uneasy.

Just after dinner that night, Zhao Yu finally returned.

Three days after leaving the residence, the Eastern Palace is in grave danger.

Xu Chumian asked with a worried expression, "He'an, how is the situation?"

Zhao Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, "The Crown Prince is seriously ill, and His Majesty intends to make Rongchang the Crown Princess."

Xu Chumian's eyes widened: "What?"

Does Rongchang know about this?

Zhao Yu hugged his wife to comfort her, "His Majesty had already expressed his intentions to Rongchang a few days ago, and she herself is willing."