Chapter Twenty-Seven

The young prince clenched his fists and said angrily, "Auntie, where are your father and mother? I'm going to punish them severely."

Gu Leyao originally intended to comfort the young prince by sharing her own even more tragic experiences, but unexpectedly, it only made him genuinely angry.

She couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't worry, I extorted a huge dowry from you before I married your royal uncle! They treated me so badly, I'm definitely going to get my revenge."

The young prince felt much better when he heard that his aunt would personally take revenge. His mother had said that one should repay kindness and avenge wrongs, and his aunt had done a good job.

There was a rare moment of quiet between the two, but the atmosphere wasn't heavy. Perhaps it was because they had just shared their innermost thoughts, but they both felt closer to each other.

The young prince initially thought his matter was extremely important, but compared to his imperial aunt, it seemed insignificant.

"Aunt, you've suffered so much, how come you're so happy every day now? Is it because you met Uncle?"

In the young prince's heart, his uncle was the best person ever. His aunt had suffered so much before, but after marrying his uncle, she was happy every day. Was it because his uncle treated his aunt so well that she was happy every day?

Gu Leyao thought for a while, "It is true that your royal uncle is partly to blame, but even if Chong'er had not met your royal uncle, I would have actively tried to make my life better. Because no one loved me before, I made a decision a long time ago that I would love myself well. Only when I respect and love myself will others love me."

Self-love is the prerequisite for others to love you.

In those years, the director of the orphanage was a very good person, and the chef was also a very good person. However, there were too many children in the orphanage, and their love was too limited. Each person received only a very thin amount of love. Therefore, Gu Leyao learned at a very young age that if no one loved her, she should love herself. Others' love could be taken away. Just like after her mother passed away, her mother's love disappeared, and her father immediately abandoned her, so her father's love also disappeared.

From then on, Gu Leyao knew that she had to learn to love herself, because in this world, only she herself would never abandon herself.

Do you love yourself? The young prince thought for a moment. He didn't quite understand what it meant, but he thought his aunt was amazing!

The young prince still couldn't fully accept the fact that his father and mother were going to have a younger brother or sister, but he felt that what his aunt said made him feel a little better.

"My chest feels less tight now."

The little prince rested his head on Gu Leyao's arm and said, "Auntie, we all need to take good care of ourselves!"

*

Li Heng recently discovered that Le Yao and Chong'er are getting too close.

Chong'er studied with him in the study every day, and after finishing his homework, he would go to play with Le Yao.

Every day at mealtimes, Le Yao would prepare Chong'er's favorite food and drinks well in advance.

When Li Heng arrived at the dinner table, the two were already chatting intimately and happily. What Li Heng found even more unacceptable was that he realized he couldn't join their conversation.

For example, right now, they are having lunch, and Le Yao has made corn pancakes, steamed eggs with minced meat, and roasted chicken wings, which are Chong'er's favorite dishes.

Chong'er was gnawing on a roasted chicken wing, his mouth dripping with oil. Qingxi wanted to help him remove the bones, but he wouldn't let her, saying that he would enjoy eating it more that way.

There was only a bowl of cordyceps and black chicken soup in front of Li Heng. The taste was light and delicious, but Li Heng felt uneasy watching Chong'er eat heartily, finishing the roasted chicken wings and then eating minced meat and steamed eggs.

The young prince said as he ate, "Auntie, I learned about the Minister today, and I can recite so much knowledge!"

Gu Leyao was eating the stir-fried shrimp in front of her when she heard the little prince say this. She immediately praised him, "Really? Chong'er is so amazing! Then Chong'er, tell me about it tonight!"

Li Chong happily agreed and ate the steamed egg custard with even greater gusto.

After a while, Gu Leyao also talked about her achievements, "I learned a lot of medical knowledge today. The doctor in our Prince's Mansion is a famous doctor in the capital. He thought I had made great progress and praised me for a long time. Chong'er, I will take your pulse tonight. You have been eating a lot of different things lately, and I am worried that you will have indigestion."

The little prince happily agreed, thinking, "If I have indigestion, I can eat candied hawthorn pills!"

Bright red hawthorn berries coated in white sugar make candied hawthorn balls that taste sweet and sour!

Li Heng watched the two of them talking intimately, with no one else able to get a word in edgewise. He felt a pang of jealousy; why was no one paying any attention to him?

That evening, Gu Leyao had arranged to recite texts and see a doctor with the young prince, but Li Heng suddenly said that his leg hurt terribly. This startled Gu Leyao and the young prince, and they quickly called the doctor from the manor to examine Li Heng.

The old doctor from the manor came running, trembling, and was still panting heavily when he entered Li Heng's courtyard.

The old doctor dared not be careless; the prince would only call him over when the pain was extreme.

Since the Princess Consort installed the heated kang (a traditional heated bed) and gave the Prince a massage every two days, how long has it been since she summoned him? Why has he suddenly started hurting again? Could his condition have worsened?

He placed his hand on Li Heng's wrist, closed his eyes, and carefully felt for a long time, but couldn't figure out anything, leaving him feeling uncertain and suspicious.

In the past, when the prince suffered from leg pain, his meridians would feel like beads were jumping and his pulse would be disordered. How come his pulse is so calm now?

When he looked up again, the old doctor met Li Heng's gaze. Their eyes met, and the old doctor saw that the prince's eyes were so clear. Something was wrong!

In the past, whenever the pain reached its peak, a person's eyes would become unfocused!

Could it be that the prince is faking illness?

He was a shrewd old man; his eyes darted around, and instead of exposing Li Heng's true colors, he frowned with difficulty and said, "Your Highness's leg is in great pain; I cannot cure it."

Li Heng frowned, and after a while, waved for the old doctor to leave.

The old doctor did as instructed and left, pretending to be preoccupied.

Li Heng frowned, remaining silent, as if he were enduring pain with all his might.

The young prince, like a little puppy, anxiously circled around Li Heng.

Gu Leyao was also anxious, "Is there any other way to relieve the leg pain?"

Li Heng hesitated for a moment before saying weakly, "Massaging on the heated kang is quite effective, but that would mean Le Yao would have to work hard again."

Gu Leyao thought to herself, "What's this? As long as it can alleviate your pain, I'll give you a massage every day from now on."

Upon hearing that his aunt could help relieve his uncle's pain, the young prince chimed in, "Aunt, please massage my uncle! He's in so much pain!"

He frowned slightly, as if he wanted to stay and help, but Li Heng had Qingxi take him away and gave the little prince a reason that he couldn't refuse: "Uncle can't bear to let Chong'er see me in pain."

The young prince was filled with worry, but Qingxi still carried him away, and everyone else in the room left.

Li Heng took off his outer garment and lay down on the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) wearing only a very thin inner garment. Gu Leyao also took off her shoes and socks, climbed onto the kang, and vigorously massaged him to relieve muscle fatigue.

Gu Leyao's massage techniques have been upgraded. Li Heng's leg has been injured for several years, and he has never seen the sun, so his skin has become thin and fragile.

Gu Leyao now massages him with fresh flower essential oils. These are plum blossom essential oils that she and Chun Tao made together in their spare time, with a faint plum blossom fragrance and a hint of icy snow.

Because Gu Leyao often massaged him, Li Heng's body was covered in the cool fragrance of plum blossoms, giving him a refined and aloof air. Gu Leyao loved this scent.

She had previously felt that Li Heng and plum blossoms shared a similar spirit; while other flowers refused to bloom in the cold winter, only plum blossoms braved the cold and bloomed alone.

Just as the country was in peril and the officials could only watch helplessly as the northern barbarian tribes invaded, Li Heng, in his teens, dared to abandon the prosperity of the capital and take the initiative to stand up and guard the border.

The firewood in the room was burning brightly, and the air was warm. Gu Leyao poured a little plum blossom essential oil on Li Heng's chest and used her hands to spread the oil little by little.

Li Heng's originally fair skin gradually turned a light red, whether it was due to Gu Leyao's massage or because Li Heng himself was too hot was unknown.

Gu Leyao massaged Li Heng's entire body, inside and out. Li Heng felt both sore and comfortable, but he didn't say a word.

After Gu Leyao finished her massage, she put down the plum blossom essential oil in her hand and went out, not returning for a long time.

Li Heng was left alone on the heated kang for a while, and he couldn't help but get annoyed. How come Le Yao didn't notice that he was angry? They always talked during their massages.

Kele Yao didn't say a word today; she left right after the massage.

Li Heng's entire body was massaged, and his old injuries were carefully treated. His undergarments were soaked with sweat, and he had no strength left.

Suddenly, he caught a faint whiff of jasmine fragrance. Looking up, he saw Gu Leyao holding a bowl of jasmine milk tea to his lips.

"What's wrong? Why have you been sulking all day?"

Li Heng looked up and saw Le Yao's smiling eyes focused on him, her light amber pupils reflecting only his image.

Gu Leyao sat down next to Li Heng. She had already noticed that Li Heng was sulking, but Li Heng was an introverted person. Gu Leyao rarely saw him sulking, and she found it quite amusing and couldn't help but want to tease him.

Li Heng didn't speak, but took a sip of the warm milk tea, savoring the sweet taste, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

He remained silent for a long time before saying, "You and Chong'er are always talking together, and I can't get a word in edgewise."

Gu Leyao was surprised for a moment, not expecting it to be for this reason. "Oh, then I'll talk to you next time too?"

Li Heng took another sip of milk tea, the delicate fragrance of jasmine lingering in the air. He gave a soft "hmm" and then added, "When you're talking to me, you can't talk to Chong'er."