After listening to the conversation inside, Ying Gao put away the wooden tube, his eyes somewhat vacant. "Was it all... a scheme?"

He recalled his previous meeting with Bai Xixue at the foot of the cliff. She took him home, applied medicine to treat his wounds, and even almost got defiled by thieves while trying to get medicine.

In that region rife with bandits, rescuing him would undoubtedly be life-threatening. He had advised her not to get involved and to let him go, so that they could avoid disaster.

She insisted that she was willing to risk her life, and that everything was voluntary.

He was deeply moved, perhaps feeling that everything was a matter of fate.

Little did he know that everything was arranged by her, even the robbers chasing him and causing him to fall off the cliff were part of this scheme.

Putting away the wooden tube, the little guy looked at Ying Gao and said, "Bai Xixue is just a bloodsucker."

Ying Gao looked up at the little guy and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

The little guy shook his head, "It wasn't hard work, we're even!"

Ying Gao picked him up. "Let's go, I'll take you back. You can't let that wicked woman find out, it's too dangerous!"

The little guy didn't say anything, but he was very proud of himself.

【Don't be afraid, don't be afraid! Her? Ten of them couldn't hurt me!】

Hearing the little guy's thoughts, Ying Gao was secretly alarmed.

Why not say she's a Miao witch?

Even ten of them wouldn't be able to hurt?

My younger brother is so amazing?

······

Ying Gao placed the little guy at the door, and the little guy carefully crawled into the hall.

Since he disappeared, the entire palace was in a mess, and almost all the servants had gone out to look for him, so it was very quiet.

The little guy tiptoed along, observing his surroundings as he ran.

He climbed into the room and saw the crib, which immediately put him at ease.

I haven't left as long as I don't admit it!

Ying Ziyu had already made up his mind. As long as he lay back in the crib, he would not recognize that he had been out for a while, and then his mother would have no way to punish him.

As he pondered, the little one crawled to the edge of the crib and placed his hands on the edge of the crib.

However, at that moment, his entire small body was shrouded in a shadow.

Feeling a chill on his back, the little guy turned around and saw Consort Shu staring at him with a cold face.

The little guy gave an awkward smile and said, "Good morning, Mommy."

Consort Shu's gaze was icy. "Where did you go?"

The little guy pretended to be clueless, saying, "I was just about to pee."

Consort Shu frowned. "Nonsense! Tell me what you went to do!"

The little guy continued to play dumb, "Since Mother doesn't like it, then I won't go."

As he spoke, he silently shrank back into the crib, muttering, "Is Mommy still half asleep? I just got to the bedside and haven't even had a chance to get down yet, how could she have gone to do anything?"

Xiangqin, who was standing nearby, said quietly, "Young master, the empress saw you crawling back from outside."

The little guy's face stiffened slightly.

You should have said so earlier!

This kind of acting is so awkward.

Consort Shu took out a bamboo stick. "Didn't your mother tell you that running around would be punished?"

The little guy lowered his head and said, "I didn't run, I crawled. My mother didn't say crawling wasn't allowed."

Consort Shu: 。 。 。 。 。

"Oh, so you dare to talk back!"

"Put your hand out!"

Consort Shu glared angrily.

The little guy glanced at her and said, "Mommy, put the stick down, and I'll stretch it out."

He knew all too well the power of a bamboo stick; it was incredibly painful to be hit on the flesh.

Consort Shu ignored him and said, "Hurry!"

The little guy looked pitiful and said, "I'm afraid of pain..."

Consort Shu's tone left no room for argument, "Stretch out!"

The little guy hesitated for a moment, then slowly stretched out his chubby little hand, pink and tender, a tiny little thing.

Consort Shu raised the bamboo stick, and the little guy closed his eyes tightly, looking very frightened.

Upon seeing this, Consort Shu's heart tightened, and the bamboo stick stopped in mid-air, unable to fall no matter what she did.

She didn't really want to punish the little guy, but he was just too unruly. Despite being a child, he always sneaked out.

As a prince, there were many dangers in the deep palace that he could not foresee.

Consort Shu only wanted him to learn how to protect himself.

Seeing that Consort Shu was holding the bamboo stick in mid-air and not bringing it down, Xiangqin said, "Why don't we just let it go, Your Highness? The young master must know he was wrong and won't do it again next time."

Consort Shu suddenly handed her a bamboo stick, "You hit me!"

Xiangqin was taken aback. "Huh? Me?"

She was on the verge of tears, how could she dare to do it when even the Empress herself couldn't bring herself to do it?

Trembling, Xiangqin took the bamboo stick and met the little guy's pitiful gaze.

With big, blinking eyes, the baby's delicate features were full of intelligence, making anyone feel happy.

But with her duty to fulfill, she had no choice but to slowly raise the bamboo stick.

Before she could even think of falling, she felt a burning sensation on her body.

It was Consort Shu who was staring intently at the bamboo stick, her eyes filled with worry, as if the sky would collapse if the bamboo stick fell.

Xiangqin frowned, and sweat was already beading on her forehead.

no!

We can't fight!

If you keep fighting, I'll be the one who dies!

On one side was the gentle gaze of the adorable little one, and on the other was the murderous gaze of Consort Shu. Xiangqin was caught in a dilemma.

"Snap!"

The bamboo stick fell.

Consort Shu's expression tightened, and upon closer inspection, she saw that the bamboo stick had actually struck Xiangqin's hand.

"Ouch, I missed! That hurts!"

She pretended to cover her hands and then casually tossed the bamboo stick away.

While Consort Shu was still in a daze, the little guy had already crawled to her side and hugged her tightly. "Mother, I was wrong. I will never run around like that again!"

The little guy tilted his head back and looked pitifully at Consort Shu.

Consort Shu's heart melted. She knelt down and picked up the little one. "You really know you were wrong? You really can't run around like that anymore. It's dangerous outside."

The little guy nodded seriously and gave Consort Shu a quick kiss on the cheek. "Really, Mother, don't be angry anymore."

This kiss completely dispelled Consort Shu's anger. She looked at the little guy with loving eyes and stroked his head, saying, "It's good that you know. Were you hungry after being away for so long? Mother will get you some milk."

Seeing this scene of motherly love and filial piety, Xiangqin's eyes welled up with tears.

Great! We're finally saved!

Just as he was moved, he saw the little guy revealing a smug smile from an angle that Consort Shu couldn't see.

【Done! I really do have to coax Mommy!】

Xiangqin's expression changed slightly; the young master was quite the actor.

Hearing those heartfelt words, Consort Shu smiled faintly.

Yu'er still cares about her mother, otherwise why would he only coax me and not others?