Chapter 114

Qin Su was puzzled by these keywords and stood still.

Qingmei didn't know that Qin Su was thinking about something, and thought that she was heartbroken because of the palace maids' discussion and was so anxious that she felt like her insides were burning.

Qin Su remained silent, and she dared not act on her own. She could only squat down and look at Qin Su with questioning eyes.

Qin Su was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses.

She didn't directly lead Qingmei out to accuse the palace servants of speaking ill of the crown prince, after all, this was Changxi Palace.

If she were to reprimand the palace servants here today, it would be a loss of face for Consort Shu. With so many people and eyes in the harem, everyone would be talking about Consort Shu's improper discipline tomorrow.

She whispered to Qingmei, "Take a look at what they look like, and before we leave Changxi Palace, secretly report it to Consort Shu."

Qingmei stared wide-eyed and nodded vigorously.

Qin Su then left the area silently and led the palace servants to take another route.

When Consort Shu saw Qin Su, she found it strange and asked her, "Why isn't Qingmei serving His Highness?"

Qin Su smiled softly at her and said, "She went to do something for me, she'll be here soon."

Consort Shu did not notice anything amiss. Seeing the little princess's adorable appearance, she affectionately patted her head.

Qin Su nuzzled her head in her hand, then leaned against the railing around the bed, looking at Qin Yu sleeping soundly inside, and exclaimed in surprise, "Xiao San seems to have gotten a little prettier."

Consort Shu smiled gently: "That's how it is with children. They're not very pretty when they're first born, but they grow up and become beautiful."

Qin Su asked, "Was I ugly for a period of time after I was born?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu hesitated. Was Qin Su ugly when she was first born? No, right?

Qin Su seems different from other children.

Thinking of this, Consort Shu suddenly recalled a past event and couldn't help but say, "Actually, there was another strange thing that happened when His Highness was born."

Qin Su: "Strange thing?"

Consort Shu said, "That's right. After His Highness was born, his hands were always tightly clenched and could not be opened. Later, it took a lot of effort to get His Highness to let go, and we found that His Highness was actually holding a fine pearl in his hand."

Qin Su froze for a moment, then stopped shaking the rattle in her hand.

Born holding a pearl? How can that be?

How come she's never heard of this before?

"Father seems to have never mentioned it..." Qin Su said, confused.

Consort Shu paused for a moment, then said, "At that time, the late Empress was in critical condition after giving birth, and His Highness also looked very weak. His Majesty was worried that if this matter were to spread too widely, it would be detrimental to the late Empress and His Highness, so he instructed the palace servants not to publicize it."

But Qin Su was, after all, a member of the royal family. He was born with a pearl in his hand, which was no less auspicious than a celestial phenomenon. So everyone in the harem knew about it, and some important officials of the previous dynasty had also heard about it.

Qin Su suddenly realized: "So that's how it is."

For some reason, she really wanted to see the pearl. She wondered where her father had put it. She wondered if such a small thing could be lost, and it also involved her deceased mother. Would mentioning it cause her father some distress?

With something on her mind, Qin Su had dinner at Qianxi Palace and didn't want to tease the Third Prince anymore. She exchanged a few words with Consort Shu and then returned to the palace.

Just before leaving, she remembered something and said to Consort Shu, "Your Majesty has a new prince in your palace, so things are bound to be hectic. I'll let Qingmei stay here for now, and she can go back after Your Majesty has finished her business."

Consort Shu looked at Qingmei in surprise, while Qingmei lowered her head and looked at her meekly.

Only after Qin Su left the palace did Qingmei step forward and softly recount what she had heard earlier, as well as the appearance and clothing of the speaker.

Consort Shu's face turned pale and then red, and finally, suppressing her anger, she took Qingmei's hand and choked out, "Good child..."

Qingmei said, "It was all His Highness's idea."

Consort Shu burst into tears, and her trusted maidservant quickly stepped forward to wipe them away.

"It's kind of Your Highness to be so thoughtful for me at such a young age," said Consort Shu. "I have never given Your Highness anything."

She was certainly very good to Qin Su, but there's always a difference between biological children and those who aren't.

Emperor Jingxi valued Qin Su highly, and even though Consort Shu was overflowing with maternal love, she dared not break the rules.

Therefore, this "good" is also separated by a layer.

Consort Shu composed herself and had her trusted confidante escort Qingmei out. She wasn't in a hurry to punish those people in the palace, lest it arouse suspicion.

A few days later, they found a pretext to send the person away, making it seem perfectly reasonable and leaving no trace. Even the person involved didn't know the real reason.