Chapter 81 A Mother's Heart

The group arrived at the Imperial Garden. Fuling held an umbrella to shield Su Luoxue from the falling snowflakes. Li Dehai and a group of palace servants and guards waited patiently at a distance.

Yuwen Che carefully adjusted Su Luoxue's cloak and led her to a sheltered pavilion, his tone filled with uncompromising tenderness: "You stay here obediently and watch over her. Don't touch the snow, and don't wander off. We'll play for a while and then take you back to Guanju Palace to rest, okay?"

Su Luoxue knew he was worried about her, so she nodded obediently. Taking advantage of the moment he lowered his head to give her instructions, she quickly gave him a light peck on the cheek, her eyes filled with a sweet smile.

Yuwen Hao, who had been obediently being led by her hand, was scalded by this scene. He immediately let go of her hand, raised his two little hands to cover his face and eyes in a panic, but couldn't help but peek out through his fingers.

His innocent and shy appearance instantly amused Su Luoxue.

Yuwen Che was taken aback by her sudden kiss and his son's reaction, then a faint smile appeared in his eyes. He raised his hand and gently kissed Su Luoxue's cheek, which was slightly chilled by the cold wind, his voice low and gentle:

"Listen to me... wait here, don't run around, the ground is slippery."

His gaze swept over Yuwen Hao, who was still covering his face, and after a pause, he added, "...Just watch him play."

Su Luoxue's face flushed, and she nodded vigorously: "Okay, I'll wait here and not go anywhere."

Yuwen Che straightened up, glanced at his son who was still covering his face, and called out in a calm tone, "Hao'er."

Yuwen Hao quickly put his little hand down and stood up straight, somewhat nervously.

"Aren't we going to build a snowman?" Yuwen Che said, already walking towards the pristine snowfield. Yuwen Hao paused for a moment, then quickly followed, his short legs carrying him.

Su Luoxue stood under the eaves, looking at the two figures, one large and one small, in the snow. Although the larger one was still distant and the smaller one was still timid, this scene was enough to make her feel a sense of comfort and warmth.

Fuling stood beside Su Luoxue, looking at the nominal father and son in the snow.

Yuwen Che simply stood with his hands behind his back, barely bending over, while the First Prince clumsily and happily rolled a snowball. She couldn't help but lower her voice, asking with a hint of confusion:

"Your Majesty...why are you doing this? His Majesty dislikes the First Prince, isn't that good for you and the child in your womb? As long as His Majesty continues to dislike the First Prince, in the future...if you give birth to a prince, the First Prince will have no chance of threatening our little prince's position as crown prince. Why do you still...why do you still want His Majesty to build a snowman with him?"

Su Luoxue's gaze remained tenderly fixed on Yuwen Hao's cheerful little figure, and she sighed softly:

“Fuling, the child is innocent... Hao’er is only four years old. Did he have a choice in his birth?”

Her voice carried a hint of pity: "Look at him, the eldest son of the Great Zhou Emperor, Yuwen Che... the very son of the so-called God of War, yet he has been raised to be so... cowardly and timid. Is this his fault?"

She turned her head and looked at Fuling with a serious expression: "Fuling, remember, you must not say such things again. A-Che... he is not only the father of the child in my womb, he is also Hao'er's father. If A-Che continues to ignore or even despise Hao'er, how will this child cope? When he grows up, will he resent me because of this, or even... resent my child?"

She paused, then continued, "Besides, Consort De is kind and gentle, never fights, and has raised Hao'er to be very well-behaved. Why should we become such villains?"

She glanced one last time at Yuwen Che's tall, upright figure in the distance, her tone firm and clear: "As for the position of Crown Prince... Fuling, remember this: never again speak ill of state affairs. The burden of a ruler is as heavy as a thousand pounds. Whoever can shoulder the responsibility of this Great Zhou should be judged by their virtue and ability, by whether they can truly be like Yuwen Che, protecting this vast land and ensuring the people's well-being. It doesn't have to be... my son."

Upon hearing this, Fuling was startled and quickly lowered her head: "Yes, Your Majesty, this servant knows her mistake. This servant was short-sighted."

Su Luoxue turned her gaze back to the snow, watching Yuwen Hao clap his hands happily as he rolled a large snowball, a gentle smile appearing on her face. All she desired was for those around her to find their place, to live peacefully and joyfully. As for that supreme position, she trusted her A'Che to make his own wise decision.

She unconsciously touched her swollen belly, her eyes filled with maternal longing and tenderness, and whispered to Fuling beside her:

"Fuling, do you think... when the child in my womb is born, will he be as adorable as Hao'er?..."

Seeing the blissful glow on her mistress's face, Fuling quickly smiled and agreed, "Your Majesty, please rest assured! You are so beautiful, your child with His Majesty will surely be very handsome. Moreover, His Majesty cherishes you so much, treating you like the apple of his eye. When the little prince or princess is born, His Majesty will be overjoyed and will surely hold them in the palm of his hand, loving them even more than this..."

She wanted to say that it certainly wouldn't be like neglecting the eldest prince, but she stopped herself in time and said confidently, "In the end, he will dote on them to the extreme! At that time, I'm afraid His Majesty will even neglect state affairs, just to see the little prince and the little princess more often!"

Su Luoxue smiled at her words, and the image of Yuwen Che clumsily and carefully holding the baby in her mind appeared in her mind, making her heart soften like a spring pond.

"I hope so..." she murmured, her gaze returning to the snow-covered ground. Looking at Yuwen Hao's innocent smile, she silently prayed that her child would be born safely and grow up happily in this loving environment, and that Hao'er would receive more attention from his father and have fewer regrets in his childhood.