After Liu Heng and Liu Kang returned to the palace, the Empress kept thinking about Liu Kang's behavior along the way, so she summoned Sanfu, the eunuch who served Liu Kang, to the palace for questioning.

Sanfu was someone the Empress specially chose for Liu Kang. He was tasked with keeping an eye on Liu Kang's movements. When the Empress asked him about it, Sanfu recounted everything Liu Kang had done along the way.

"This child!"

When the Empress heard that Liu Kang had neither taken the initiative to meet Liu Heng nor seized the opportunity to get closer to him, she nearly fainted from anger. She deeply regretted that she should have called her son into the palace again to give him some instructions before she left.

She didn't notice for a moment, and as a result, Liu Kang didn't do a good job, which left the Empress feeling powerless and frustrated.

Why can't he distinguish between what's primary and what's secondary? Is this the time to be bound by etiquette?

It is said that Liu Kang was afraid of what people would say along the way and dared not approach anyone. He even made a point of being polite when he was with Liu Heng. The Empress was furious. Although she managed to maintain her composure, she was secretly tugging at her sleeves and almost tore off the trim.

The Empress couldn't help but think that if it were Liu Yan who went at this time, he would definitely keep looking for opportunities to stay by Liu Heng's side, ask him all sorts of questions, and win Liu Heng's favor.

When Sanfu recounted how Liu Kang got drunk at the Tai'an Palace and hired a palace maid to serve him, the Empress was on the verge of losing her temper.

"How was it handled afterwards? Does the Emperor know about this?"

When asked about the topics she cared about most, the Empress had completely shifted her focus. She no longer expected Liu Kang to make any further progress or perform well enough to win Liu Heng's attention. As long as he didn't cause any trouble, that would be good enough.

"After leaving the palace and setting off, the Crown Prince instructed Yu Deyuan to secretly dispose of the person. The Emperor did not notice."

Fearing discovery, Liu Kang dared not have anyone prepare contraceptive soup for the palace maid. He was also afraid that if the palace maid told anyone about it, it would bring him trouble. So, he decided to go all the way and had the palace maid kidnapped and assassinated in a secluded part of the palace.

Liu Kang was certain that even if this matter were discovered in the future, no one would know who did it.

The Empress sighed and dismissed Sanfu.

Having an affair with a palace maid is already an overstepping of his bounds. Since it has already happened, shouldn't he first apologize to Liu Heng to make amends? Based on the Empress's understanding of Liu Heng, there's at least a 90% chance that Liu Heng won't blame him.

This will reduce the trouble that may result and allow the matter to be resolved smoothly as soon as possible.

But Liu Kang didn't think that way. Instead of taking the straightforward path, he took the blame and kept it hidden, thus doing so much more and increasing the risk of the matter being discovered several times over. This made the Empress so angry that she didn't know what to say.

"Why is it that this child is getting worse as they grow up?"

The Empress lay slumped on the couch, sighing helplessly.

Although Liu Kang wasn't particularly gifted as a child, he was well-behaved, ambitious, and quite clever. Now, without us even realizing it, he's grown up to be this awful.

"The Crown Prince is still too young and inexperienced. He will naturally get better after he marries the Crown Princess and has her advice and care."

While comforting the Empress, Granny Zhou brought over a bowl of bird's nest soup. Only she knew the Empress's suffering.

The Crown Prince's situation is worrying, the eldest princess is still immature, and the second prince is always showing off. Meanwhile, the emperor is completely infatuated with the Consort and can no longer see anyone else. Amid such internal and external troubles, the Empress also has to handle the affairs of the entire harem. She has to be meticulous in every aspect and worry about everything. Therefore, no matter how much she tries to improve her health, her complexion is not good.

"Send someone to deliver a message to the Crown Prince, telling him to come see me tomorrow!"

Swallowing her anger, the Empress thought she could no longer let go. She had to strengthen Liu Kang's education; if she continued to let him run wild, Liu Heng would only become more and more disgusted with him.

In the Eastern Palace, Liu Kang frowned when he heard from the eunuch that the Empress had summoned him to the palace.

He already knew that the Empress had summoned Sanfu for questioning and was fully aware of his behavior during the Fengshan ceremony.

Feeling ashamed that his performance had fallen short of expectations and that he had failed his mother, Liu Kang was burdened by guilt. The thought of seeing his mother filled him with unease.

As Liu Kang had anticipated, he was reprimanded by the Empress after entering Kunning Palace.

"Look at what you've done all this way! You've disappointed me so much!"

The Empress had been trying her best to control her emotions, but as she spoke, she became increasingly angry. Seeing Liu Kang silently bowing his head, her anger flared even more, and she found him increasingly dull-witted.

"How can you possibly compare to Liu Yan? When Liu Yan grows up, will you still be able to hold onto your position as crown prince?"

Because of the significant age gap with the Third Prince, the Empress and others subconsciously did not include him in their calculations. Liu Kang's only formidable rival at present is Liu Yan, who is highly praised by his teacher in the study.

Hearing the Empress's words, Liu Kang's suppressed emotions suddenly erupted, and amidst the mingling of various complex feelings, they all turned into disgust and annoyance with everything at hand.

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words!"

Liu Kang raised his voice, stiffened his neck and looked at the Empress, his breathing rapid and his chest heaving.

Actually, the Empress regretted her words as soon as she finished speaking, but seeing Liu Kang's obvious resistance, she couldn't back down for the time being.

"Your subject has grown up and naturally knows what he should do, so there is no need for Mother to worry about him!"

After bluntly uttering those words, Liu Kang turned and left.

When Liu Kang practically pointed his finger at her and said, "Don't meddle in other people's business," the Empress was both surprised and heartbroken. Before Liu Kang had even completely left the palace, she began to cry, suppressing her emotions.

He actually heard his mother crying. Liu Kang felt bitter and regretful, but as if something was chasing him, he walked faster and faster, not wanting to stay a second longer.

Back home, Liu Kang couldn't calm down; his mother's cries kept echoing in his mind. Thinking about how he was neither capable of suppressing his younger brother nor had he caused his mother pain, he felt utterly useless and consumed by self-loathing. Everything around him seemed unpleasant.

The eunuch Eryuan, who was pouring wine for Liu Kang, paused, intending to say a few words of advice, but was startled by Liu Kang's bloodshot eyes and dropped the glass, breaking it.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness!"

Er Yuan immediately knelt down and kowtowed, inwardly groaning. The Crown Prince was in a bad mood, and Er Yuan's mistake at this crucial moment meant he was bound to suffer.

"Drag him away and give him fifty lashes!"

Drowning his sorrows in alcohol, coupled with intense emotional turmoil, Liu Kang gradually lost his reason, his mind filled with all sorts of crazy ideas, and his eyes bloodshot.

"Your Highness, spare my life!"

Upon hearing that he was to be flogged fifty times, Eryuan immediately went limp and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.

Sanfu, who was standing to the side, also knelt down to plead for Eryuan. The usual punishment was twenty strokes of the cane; fifty strokes would ruin a person.

Seeing the bloodstains on Eryuan's head, Liu Kang's eyes became even more crazed.

Thinking about how everything was going wrong for him, how his parents didn't like him, and how even the servants looked down on him and didn't serve him properly, Liu Kang became increasingly obsessed. He ignored Er Yuan's pleas for mercy and insisted on having Er Yuan dragged away.

Sanfu continued pouring him wine, his heart pounding with fear. Listening to Eryuan's screams outside the window, Liu Kang felt a strange sense of peace and satisfaction. Imagining Eryuan's miserable state as Liu Yan's fate, Liu Kang put down his wine glass and chuckled.

Eryuan was beaten fifty times and carried back to his room. He couldn't hold on that night and his body was already cold before dawn.

Despite the timely suppression of the news, the sensational rumor that the Crown Prince had killed a servant eunuch spread like wildfire within days. Upon hearing this, Liu Heng remained silent in his study for a long time.

He has always been virtuous and has been benevolent in governing since ascending the throne. Now, Liu Kang's abuse of cruel punishments in the Eastern Palace has greatly disgusted him.

Although Liu Heng always tried to save face for the Crown Prince and wanted him to understand his mistakes on his own, he couldn't help but call the Crown Prince over for a lecture.

"Father, I know I was wrong. I deeply regret my actions and cannot find peace of mind. I have now properly buried the eunuch I killed. It was all my fault. I failed to be lenient with him. Please punish me, Father."

Before Liu Heng could say anything more, Liu Kang knelt down and wept bitterly, admitting his mistake. He looked genuinely uneasy and full of remorse.

Liu Kang admitted his mistake very well, so Liu Heng couldn't continue to scold him.

Seeing that his son already knew he was wrong, Liu Heng, considering his young age and lack of understanding of the seriousness of the matter, couldn't help but forgive him once again.

"You must remember this lesson well, be strict with yourself and lenient with others."

After thinking it over, Liu Heng left Liu Kang with a final word of advice and then let him go.

Although the Empress was angered and saddened by Liu Kang's words and actions, Liu Kang was still her only son, and she was very worried when she heard that he had been summoned by Liu Heng for a reprimand.

After leaving Liu Heng's place, Liu Kang went to Kunning Palace.

Seeing the Empress's worried and anxious eyes, Liu Heng's tears welled up again.

"Mother, it's all my fault for being such a scoundrel!"

Choking back tears, Liu Kang knelt at the Empress's feet, unable to speak.

"My son."

A mother is always the most selfless and forgiving towards her child. Seeing Liu Kang's state, the Empress's tears also fell, and she patted Liu Kang's back to comfort him.

After venting their frustrations, the two tacitly put the previous arguments and unpleasantness behind them and resumed their former intimacy.

Inside Jinghe Palace, Consort Ning and the Second Prince sat facing each other, playing chess while holding tea.

“My elder brother really messed up this time, but unfortunately Father still couldn’t bear to punish him and even helped suppress the rumors.”

Liu Yan felt extremely regretful. The grand spectacle of the Crown Prince killing the eunuch ended hastily, and none of the scenes he had anticipated would occur.

Consort Ning was also filled with regret, but she knew that Liu Heng was a man who would not tolerate any wrongdoing. What had happened had happened, and even if she forgave Liu Kang now, Liu Heng would not forget it.

"You should continue as before, and don't forget to stay close to your older brother. As long as you keep your rhythm, your older brother will eventually lose his composure, and he'll collapse on his own without you having to do anything. You have a long road ahead, so you need to guard against arrogance and impatience, and always remember to be patient."

In response to Consort Ning's admonition, Liu Yan placed a piece and nodded in agreement.

The two continued to play their pieces, battling it out on the black and white field.

"My mother is still so amazing!"

Liu Yan was filled with admiration as Consort Ning defeated him by three more pieces. His chess skills were taught by his mother, but he had never beaten her before.

Consort Ning was meticulous and her strategies were intricately linked, leading him unwittingly into a trap until he was completely surrounded and didn't realize what was happening. Liu Yan believed his mother possessed a profound wisdom and talent; if she were a man, he wondered what an extraordinary and brilliant person she would be.

"My son still needs to work harder!"

Looking at Liu Yan with loving eyes, Consort Ning smiled gently. Although of humble origins, Consort Ning received an excellent education from a young age and grew up to be well-read and composed. Patience was the wisdom she had gained through half a lifetime of experience; it was truly ingrained in her very being.

“Yan’er, your father was the Prince of Huaiyang for many years. You should take him as your role model.”

Liu Yan nodded obediently, listening attentively to his mother's instructions.

Looking at Liu Yan, who was obedient and understood, Consort Ning felt a surge of pride.

She raised her son from a young age to be outstanding in everything, shrewd and capable. She firmly believed that one day, Liu Heng would discover that Liu Yan was the one most like him and the most outstanding successor.

Life continued peacefully. As Mengmeng became more and more agile, Lin Yuqiao, who had always lived a secluded life, also changed her routine, taking her son for a few laps around the Imperial Garden almost every day.

Little Mengmeng has successfully overcome his dislike of vegetables and now eats whatever he's given, so well-behaved that his mother, Lin Yuqiao, can no longer guess what he likes to eat.

"Mengmeng, shall your mother have someone make you some fresh meat mooncakes?"

Lin Yuqiao looked at her son sitting to the side, munching on a piece of glutinous rice cake, and tentatively asked, "I think I saw him like eating fresh meat mooncakes last time."

"good."

Mengmeng obediently nodded in agreement as she listened to her mother.

Gradually, Mengmeng lost his chubby face and double chin from his infancy and transformed into a handsome young boy. He sat there obediently, surrounded by an aura that could calm people.

"You're not very excited!"

With a disappointed look on her face, Lin Yuqiao also took a piece of lantern cake. Mengmeng eats very well, but she only nibbles on two pieces of snacks a day. No matter how delicious they are, she won't ask for more.

Furthermore, when he eats vegetables or chooses desserts, he only picks the dish closest to him. No matter what you ask, he always answers that he likes it very much.

After finishing a pastry, Mengmeng jumped off the chair and asked the nanny next to her to wipe her face and wash her hands.

"Take red flowers, take white snow, to wash my child's face and make it radiant; take white snow, take red flowers, to wash my child's face and make it beautiful; take red flowers, take white snow, to wash my child's face and make it lustrous; take white snow, take red flowers, to wash my child's face and make it splendid."

After tidying herself up, Mengmeng muttered to herself as she watched her mother continue eating her snacks, waiting for her to finish so that her mother could take her out for a stroll in the garden.

"You, you actually learned it!"

Lin Yuqiao stared wide-eyed at her son, finding it incredible. She had only recited this lovely face-washing rhyme to him often while he washed his face, never intentionally teaching him, yet he could now recite it by himself.

"Mengmeng is so smart!"

After the initial surprise, Lin Yuqiao was once again certain in her heart that her son was a genius! Filled with pride, she hugged Mengmeng's head and kissed his face a few more times.

"Mother, please restrain yourself, please restrain yourself!"

Mengmeng reached out to push away her often overly enthusiastic mother, looking at her with disdain at the grease stains on her hands and mouth. In the end, being small and weak, she couldn't move her, and her freshly washed face was also covered in grease.

Watching her son silently go over and ask someone to fetch water for him to wash his face and change his clothes again, Lin Yuqiao touched her nose. It's so much better to be more easygoing. Being a germaphobe is really not cute.

That evening, when Liu Heng came, Lin Yuqiao proudly told him how smart Mengmeng was and how she could recite nursery rhymes by herself.

To Lin Yuqiao's surprise, Liu Heng only gave an approving chuckle, without showing any surprise.

Isn't my son a genius?

Dissatisfied with Liu Heng's indifferent attitude, Lin Yuqiao shook his arm.

"The Second Prince has only been talking for a short time, probably less than a year and a half, and he can already recite poems. Mengmeng is also over two years old, so it's normal for him to be able to recite a few poems as well. You're not usually very dedicated to teaching him, so it's quite remarkable that he can still learn to recite nursery rhymes on his own."

Hearing Liu Heng's explanation, Lin Yuqiao felt like she was choking on her own blood.

Consort Ning, you're amazing! The Second Prince had barely learned to speak when you started teaching him to recite poems.

Recalling everyone's comments about Liu Yan, all praising his exceptional talent, Lin Yuqiao wasn't surprised; after all, he had a head start.

However, whether her son is a genius or not is not important to her. She's naturally happy that Mengmeng is smart. If he's just average, she won't force him to strive for more. He's just as adorable as any other child.

Mengmeng was born into an imperial family and will never have to worry about food, clothing, fame, or fortune. His father also dotes on him, and he will surely find something he wants to do in the future.

Lin Yuqiao thought that as long as he grew into a decent and well-mannered young man, she would support whatever he did.

Watching Lin Yuqiao happily tell him cute stories again, Liu Heng's lips curled up slightly.

She must truly love her child; she wouldn't want her son's mother to be too competitive, robbing him of the joys of childhood. Letting Mengmeng grow up naturally, simply and happily, is just fine.