After returning from Jiaoyuetai, Wen Yu was very scared and wanted to know whether Wei Shuyi had been subjected to any secret punishment or criticism.
She just smiled and said nothing. It was better not to expose the emperor's little thoughts in front of others.
Tonight, Zhaohua was sent to Shoukang Palace.
Looking at the empty cradle, she habitually shook the bell hanging high above it and hummed a ballad.
After her brother was born, she had witnessed this scene: his mother leaned against the soft couch, patiently coaxing him to sleep. Even though her eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night, she continued to do it night after night.
At that time, she didn't understand. There were many servants in the Duke's Mansion, and the wet nurses were also experienced. Why did her mother have to endure such suffering?
It wasn't until she had a daughter that she knew what it felt like.
"Young lady, please rest now! The little princess will be raised by the Queen Mother, which will relieve your worries. As long as she is not snatched away by others, it will be a good thing."
"Yes, it's a good thing that was expected."
Wei Shuyi returned to the couch and tried to close his eyes and fall asleep. Somehow, he could still see Zhaohua's pink little face.
She had tried hard to sever the new bond, even considering exchanging her unborn child for his. But in the end, Zhao Hua never left her, becoming her weakness until he came into the world.
A quiet night of snow.
When she woke up the next day, the first thing she had to do was to go to Fengluan Palace to apologize.
He had originally promised the Queen that he would give her the Princess's custody. Now, the Queen Mother had intervened, and if he didn't explain in time, he feared the Queen would resent him.
Wen Yu supported Wei Shuyi and walked up the stairs carefully: "Miss, what should we do if she doesn't believe it later? I heard that the Queen's moods are easily revealed and she has a bad temper..."
"You have no idea! The feel of it is smoother than any precious silk! Also, I got up close to see it, it's white with a rosy glow, and it even bounces back when you poke it. I really don't want to let it go!"
Before they even walked in, they heard the Queen's voice. She didn't sound angry, but rather extremely happy.
When Jin Han brought Wei Shuyi into the main hall, she immediately knelt down and said, "Empress, I am here to apologize to you."
"Ah? What crime have you committed?"
"I had originally promised you that once I gave birth to the child, I would bring it to Fengluan Palace for you to raise. But last night..."
When the matter was mentioned, the Queen's face fell, but her tone was full of resignation: "There's nothing we can do about it. Since the Queen Mother has spoken, Your Majesty can't object. Besides, the Queen Mother is not yet in her seventies or eighties. She is still at an age where she can enjoy the company of her grandchildren. It's not easy for me to say anything."
"Then, Madam, are you angry with me?"
"You gave birth to such a lovely princess. I love you so much that I can't contain my admiration for you! Why are you angry?" The Queen seemed to remember something and told her happily, "Your Majesty Mother has always looked down on Concubine Jin. It's impossible for her to pay her respects. As for Concubine Rong, she always keeps herself locked up in Yongshou Palace. As long as I work hard, then the princess will be like being kept in Fengluan Palace, right?"
Wei Shuyi thought of countless possibilities, but he never imagined that the queen already had a set of arguments to convince herself, and was secretly happy because she was better than others.
"Okay, stop kneeling! Get up!"
She got up as she was told and sat aside: "My Lady, now that the weather is getting warmer, isn't it time to prepare for the talent show?"
"You're quite well-informed!" The Queen didn't deny it. "Your Majesty isn't interested in women. He ascended the throne at such a young age that he devoted himself to state affairs. His entire harem consists of only a few concubines, which is why his offspring are scarce. Queen Mother has already discussed this matter with me, and we plan to find a new woman for Your Majesty around February."
Wei Shuyi nodded slightly and continued chatting with the queen as usual.
But his mind wandered elsewhere: What kind of crisis would the arrival of these newcomers bring? The court situation was complex and often closely linked to the harem. Could he find clues to the old case among them?
——
The little princess was well taken care of in the Queen Mother's palace. Whether it was daily food or toys, she was provided with the best, fearing that she would feel uncomfortable and cry day and night.
Fortunately, she was still a well-behaved child. Apart from a few grunts when she was hungry, she did not cause any trouble to the Queen Mother. Instead, she became the Queen Mother's favorite.
If I wasn't afraid of accidentally crushing her in my sleep, I would definitely hug her and fall asleep.
"Come, Zhaohua, come to the Imperial Grandmother."
On this day, the servants of Shoukang Palace all gathered around the little princess, who was supported by Zijin and cheered for her.
The little girl, as soft as a glutinous dumpling, struggled to crawl forward on the cushion. However, the moment Zijin let go of her grip, she fell completely to the ground, lying flat on it, unable to move forward. After this happened several times, the Queen Mother, fearing that the princess would be tired, ordered her to be put into the cradle and coaxed to sleep.
Zijin stood up panting and pounded her waist: "Your Highness, I am really old. How long have I been bending my waist? It hurts so much now that I almost couldn't stand up."
"It's been quite a while indeed." The Queen Mother pointed to the mahogany chair beside her and said, "Sit down and take a rest."
"How dare this servant!"
"I asked you to sit down, so don't refuse." The Queen Mother sighed, "It just so happens that I have something to ask you."
Zijin finally sat down, still holding his aching waist: "My Lady, what can I do for you?"
"Zhaohua, she's usually turning over in the cradle. Is there anything unusual?"
"The nurses say that the little princess is incredibly easy to take care of. She sleeps on her back every day, and occasionally they let her sleep on her side. Even when she wakes up, she still maintains that position. She's so well-behaved!"
The Queen Mother frowned, "She didn't move herself?"
"I haven't heard of it." Zijin also noticed something was wrong, but didn't dare to say it out loud. "Empress Dowager, do you think there's something wrong?"
"You were hugging Zhaohua so closely just now, so you should have felt it more clearly than I did. If you have anything to say, just say it. I won't blame you."
Zijin hesitated again and again: "I always feel, I feel... the little princess seems unable to support herself. Without help from outsiders, she can only lie on the ground, unable to even change the direction of her face. However, she is still young, and perhaps other children will be like this. Your Majesty, there is no need to worry."
"Not long after the Emperor was born, he was sent to me to be raised," the Empress Dowager recalled. "I still remember how clever he was back then! He was still around the same age, already trying to call out to people and crawling freely. Later, he learned to walk in less time than others..."
"Your Majesty, His Majesty is the true Son of Heaven! He's certainly not like an ordinary person!" Zi Jin quickly reassured her. "The little princess is a girl, and she suffered several shocks in the womb, so her frail body is understandable. Let's wait a little longer. She will surely come to you on her own one day."
"Yes, there will be. I'm just worrying too much."
Not far away, the wet nurse was still shaking the rattle to coax the princess to sleep.
The baby's unique clear laughter reached the outside, smoothing out the wrinkles between their brows.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com