After Consort Lian's hoarse reprimand, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Helian Ci remained silent, sitting in his wheelchair, looking at Consort Lian. His dark eyes were calm and undisturbed.

The calmer the situation, the more uneasy Consort Lian felt. Even though Ci'er hadn't uttered a single word, her confidence inexplicably waned.

After a long while, Helian Ci's long eyelashes fluttered slightly, concealing the deep, unyielding disappointment in his eyes.

He had never imagined that his mother would have such thoughts and ideas. His slightly cool fingers rubbed his brow, and his heart was filled with gloom.

“Mother, Father has always only cared about interests and value. If there is any exception, it is only my little sister. Whether you believe it or not, what I am saying is the truth.”

Every word and every sentence felt as heavy as a thousand pieces of gold, weighing heavily on Consort Lian's heart, making her feel anxious and uncomfortable.

"No, His Majesty does care about us deep down..."

Consort Lian slumped into a pearwood chair, her eyes vacant, lost, and dejected. She knew perfectly well that what Ci'er said was very likely true, but she refused to believe it.

Your Majesty, how could she and her beloved son not exist? How could it be...?

“Mother, I have told you, Father will not be your good man.”

Leaving behind those words, Helian Ci turned his wheelchair and left the room. He knew all too well his mother's longing for his father, but wasn't that also a kind of obsession?

At dinner,

Consort Lian did not come out of her room to eat, and the atmosphere in Yongqing Palace became somewhat oppressive because of this commotion.

"Second brother, shall we go and call Aunt Lian for a meal?"

Sisi picked at the food in her bowl, looked at the empty seat opposite her, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

Yue'er put another shrimp dumpling in the little girl's bowl, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. She had heard every word Consort Lian said that evening.

These days, she has been serving Consort Lian with genuine respect, going beyond the duties expected of a servant.

I just wanted to show my sincerity to Consort Lian, hoping that Consort Lian would reciprocate by treating the little princess more sincerely. Consort Yun passed away too soon.

The little princess lost her mother at a very young age, and she thought that Consort Lian could at least give the little princess some of her mother's love, but she never expected it to turn out like this.

Helian Ci paused slightly as he scooped the soup. He turned to look at the little girl and saw that her face was serious and she didn't seem to hold a grudge against her mother. He felt even more uncomfortable.

He raised his hand, his long, slightly cool fingertips gently rubbing the little girl's cheek; her pale face and delicate features softened.

"Don't worry, Second Brother will have a palace servant deliver the meal to Mother Consort later. Eat quickly."

"Awoo, okay, I'll lie down then."

Sisi shut her little mouth, lowered her head again, and obediently started eating the rice in her bowl.

…

That night.

The bright moon hangs high, and the stars twinkle. It is already autumn, and the night wind always blows with a chill.

The little one, Sisi, lay on the soft bed after a fragrant bath, holding a sketchbook given to her by her elder brother.

It was no longer possible to tell that it was dusk; the pitiful baby was crying loudly.

Buddha Lotus floated in mid-air with her long legs crossed, happily slurping down a Shuangwaiwai (a popular Chinese beverage) in her hands.

"077, that benefactor, are you just going to move on like this?"

Logically speaking, this shouldn't be the case. 077's ability to hold grudges is well-known in the NPC world.

The little girl was engrossed in watching when she heard Fo Lian mention this upsetting matter. She pouted her little bottom, turned her back to Fo Lian, and waved her hand dismissively.

"Keep talking about lying down."