Chapter 35
As she watched her soft and beautiful younger sister drift further and further away, the fifth princess couldn't help but burst into tears.
Consort Shu hurriedly comforted him, "Don't cry, Little Fifth. Your mother is doing this so that you can be with Jiaojiao every day in the future..."
"Jiaojiao? Is that my little sister's name? Hiccup~" The fifth princess burped and blew a snot bubble.
Consort Shu, unable to bear the sight, nodded.
"Yay! Mother is the best! Mother is the most amazing!"
Consort Shu touched the tip of her nose, a blush of shame rising on her face as she had tricked the child. Seeing that she had appeased the Fifth Princess, she looked around, searching for the bright red on the bright yellow figure.
I couldn't see it anymore, and I was feeling a bit down just now.
"Mother, don't be sad. If my little sister likes Xiao Wu in the future, Xiao Wu will ask her if Mother can go and meet her!"
"..." Consort Shu was conflicted, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
When Sheng Yu returned to the Qianqing Palace, she saw Yu Bai carrying a medicine box and waiting outside the palace.
Yu Bai's face showed some displeasure. "Does Your Majesty know what time it is?"
Sheng Yu, unusually feeling guilty, coughed softly.
Yu Bai pressed on, "Does Your Majesty know that the young prince's health is compromised and he cannot sleep so late?"
Sheng Yu was flustered, and his grip on Ling Wu tightened slightly. "Then why don't you get off me?"
Yu Bai stepped aside, and the baby, thanks to several months of regular sleep patterns, was now fast asleep.
Seeing this, Yu Bai finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The others left, leaving only Mu Zhi to guard Ling Wu.
Yu Baicai earnestly advised from the outer hall: "Your Majesty, the young prince was born prematurely, and coupled with everything he has suffered before, his body is much weaker than that of ordinary children. If he is not properly treated, I'm afraid he will die within five years..."
Before he finished speaking, it seemed as if he felt that saying the word "premature death" would bring about its own demise.
Sheng Yu's previous smugness and joy vanished, replaced by a somber expression. "Is there any medicine that can cure this?"
Yu Bai shook his head, "There's no cure unless..." He let out a soft breath.
"Unless what?" Sheng Yu frowned, displeased with his hesitation.
"Your Majesty, I once saw an ancient prescription, but the method was too wicked. I fear it might harm His Highness's fortune. The prescription must be replaced..."
Sheng Yu raised his hand to stop Yu Bai from speaking further, "We'll discuss this matter later." He then glanced at the center of his eyes, "Jiaojiao spoke up today."
Sheng Yu deliberately forgot about the conversation that had just taken place, but now, when the matter was brought up again, the previous joy was gone.
"Really!?" Yu Bai was extremely excited.
Sheng Yu frowned.
Upon seeing this, Yu Bai finally remembered their identities, but the joy on his face was hard to suppress. "In this way, there might still be room for maneuver for His Highness's health."
In his estimation, the young prince would need at least three years before he could speak again.
This was his first time making a wrong diagnosis, but it was also a mistake he was glad he made.
From that day on, whenever a vassal state paid tribute, it would deliberately bring several cartloads of items that the daughters liked.
As expected, Sheng Yu praised him and promised him many benefits from the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
From then on, the Sixteen Kingdoms gained a new understanding of Emperor Sheng's favoritism towards the princess he had raised himself.
Meanwhile, Consort Shu and the Fifth Princess also used various pretexts to get close to Ling Wu.
Both of them happened to have sweet tongues!
When Lingwu took her first steps, when she grabbed the little spoon herself, when she called out to people in her sweet voice...
Or a series of events that should have been moments for Sheng Yu and the Empress to shine in front of Ling Wu turned into moments for Consort Shu and the Fifth Princess to praise Ling Wu!
The other concubines thought that Consort Shu had gone mad, but Consort Shu was smug.
After the Lunar New Year, it was time for Lingwu's birthday and her first birthday celebration.
The little baby made rapid progress this year, far surpassing his peers, and was even praised as a little fairy who came to the mortal world to experience hardship.
This was also Ling Wu's first appearance before all the royal relatives and noble families, and the procession was so grand that it was almost more noisy than the day the crown prince was established.
The little baby was wearing a thick red coat, and this was only after Ling Wu was too weak to walk, and Mu Zhi had taken off several layers with a worried expression.
Fortunately, a bright red cinnabar dot was placed on her fair and lovely face, making her look exquisite and extraordinary. Even though she was dressed in heavy clothes, she still looked like a little fairy descended from heaven.
She wore a jade pendant around her neck, with the two characters "娇娇" (Jiaojiao) in seal script personally carved by the emperor.
Her long, dark hair was styled into a comfortable little bun, with a pearl dangling from her forehead, swaying with her steps.
She wore a warm and lustrous jade bracelet on her wrist, and embroidered shoes on her small feet. She stepped out of the door with her head held high and her chest out!
Her adorable appearance drew praise from the Fifth Princess, who was much taller than Ling Wu and was following behind.
Wow~ My little sister is amazing! She can step over the threshold all by herself!
Ling Wu, on the other hand, acted like a little adult, pursing her lips slightly as she looked around at everyone.
Seeing the amazement and deep affection on everyone's faces, Lingwu blinked and bowed to Sheng Yu and the Empress at the head of the table.
She swayed with every step, her feet felt weak, and she bowed unsteadily, but even so, she attracted everyone's attention.
They were overjoyed; if Sheng Yu hadn't been there, they probably would have all surrounded him and given him a kiss.
However, given the young princess's noble status, they could only bow to her, saying, "Long live the young princess!"
Sheng Yu stood up and picked up Ling Wu, then patted a small snowflake off Ling Wu's hair, his face full of heartache, "Jiao Jiao, are you cold?"
He thought to himself, a thousand years is too short. His beloved child should live to be ten thousand, ten million, ten million, ten thousand million years.
"It's not cold, Grandma Zhizhi dressed Jiaojiao in lots and lots of clothes." Her voice was sweet and childlike, but her pronunciation was very standard, which made her even more endearing.
Mu Zhi's face was full of affection. This old man who had once served the Empress Dowager was respected even by Sheng Yu, let alone them.
Seeing Mu Zhi like this, the group of people, though somewhat astonished, kept praising her:
"The young prince is exceptionally intelligent and incredibly adorable..."
"..."
Sheng Yu and the Empress were also very happy to be praised!
Consort Xian, who had a grudge against Bai Mihan, slightly put aside her prejudices.
My mother's affairs are none of my business; she is reasonable and will not harm the innocent.
The third prince, who was standing beside Consort Xian, was eleven years old. His delicate face was full of indifference, and he pursed his thin lips. He looked exactly like Sheng Yu.
Beneath the cold exterior lies a passionate heart.
It turns out that my little sister isn't just like Xiao Wu, who's always playing pranks on people; she's also so pretty, cute, and well-behaved!
The second prince, however, was fearless; he chattered incessantly in front of the crown prince:
"Waaaaah, my sixth little sister is so cute! I love her so much! I've decided I won't have any more sons, I'll only have daughters! She's so adorable, so tiny and soft... Wait!? If I poke her, do you think she'll cry?"
The Crown Prince's face was as gentle as jade. "If you make Jiaojiao cry, then your father and mother will each whip you until you can't even cry anymore. Do you believe that?"
The second prince shivered, then glanced at the crown prince, his eyes narrowing. "Brother, you wouldn't... hit me too, would you?"
The Crown Prince chuckled softly, glancing tenderly at Ling Wu, who was being held by Sheng Yu, before slowly turning to the Second Prince with a gentle smile, "No..."
Before the Second Prince could even grin, the Crown Prince smiled innocently, "All I'll do is hand Father and Mother two whips soaked in chili water."
Second Prince: ...
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