Chapter 66 Please, Your Majesty, Return Seventeen to Me
Upon hearing this, Concubine Kang's head buzzed, her face changed drastically, and she stared at Lu Zhaoyi with ferocious eyes.
At that moment, she hoped this was true and that her child was still alive.
At the same time, she was afraid that this was true. If Seventeen was really her child, then for all these years, she had treated him with contempt in front of others and scolded and threatened him behind their backs...
Her hands trembled slightly uncontrollably and her eyes were as blazing as if she wanted to burn holes in Lu Zhaoyi's face.
The seventeenth prince leaned on Lu Zhaoyi, crying softly and stealing glances at Concubine Kang. Seeing how ferocious she was, he was so scared that he hugged Lu Zhaoyi's legs tightly.
Seeing the little boy was frightened, Lu Zhaoyi held him tightly and quickly stepped back two steps, gently touching his head. He was also extremely shocked in his heart. He looked around but couldn't find the man who was talking, so he looked at Concubine Kang.
That calm and fearless expression seemed as if she was not afraid at all that Concubine Kang would know about this.
The two had lived in the same palace for many years and were very familiar with each other. When Concubine Kang saw Lu Zhaoyi's expression, she knew that what the sneaky man said was true.
Seventeen. He, he was actually her son.
In an instant, Concubine Kang felt dizzy, staggered two steps, and almost fell into the lotus pond.
After she stood up, she looked at the little boy hiding behind Lu Zhaoyi's legs with a pale face. She used to dislike him, but now she sees him again, and he is so lovable.
Thinking of what she had done in the past, Kangpin's tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. She felt extremely remorseful and wanted to slap herself hard in the face, or even stab herself with a knife.
That was her child, how could she, how could she bear to treat him like that. And she also let those undetailed rumors spread, she, she is really not a human being.
She was heartbroken. She bent down, trembling her hands, and tried to touch the boy's head. However, she didn't expect that the boy was obviously extremely afraid of her. He suddenly hid behind Lu Zhaoyi and cried even louder.
Ji Jinyou thought they had gone far away, so she squatted on the ground to pick lotus flowers. Hearing the frightened crying, she stood up quickly, but her sight was blocked by Jin Xing and Hai Tang who were also squatting on the ground to protect her.
The little girl was anxious. Without waiting for Jin Xing and Hai Tang to stand up, Xiao Pang squeezed between them and looked over there.
Seeing her own child so afraid of her, Concubine Kang felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife, and was in so much pain that she could hardly breathe.
She stood up and stared at Lu Zhaoyi with anger, wishing she could tear her apart right away.
Lu Zhaoyi smiled at her, then picked up the Seventeenth Prince, turned around and left: "Don't be afraid, Seventeenth Prince, mother is here."
The word "mother" was like a big iron hammer that hit Concubine Kang's head hard, causing her to collapse emotionally. She no longer cared about anything else and ran forward like a madman to grab the Seventeenth Prince: "Son."
Lu Zhaoyi was caught off guard and her child was snatched back. How could she give up? She reached out to snatch the child back, and the two started fighting.
The little boy was so frightened that he burst into tears. He stretched out his arms in Concubine Kang's arms to reach out to Lu Zhaoyi, "Mother, Mother, save me!"
The childish and extremely dependent mother's cry made Kangpin's eyes glow red. She waved her hand and hit Lu Zhaoyi vigorously, cursing hysterically: "Bitch, bitch."
Hearing the Seventeenth Prince's shrill cries, Lu Zhaoyi couldn't bear it and gave in step by step, comforting him: "Don't be afraid, Seventeenth Prince. Mother and Concubine Kang are just joking."
Looking at this inexplicable scene, Ji Jinyou was stunned, [Everyone, why did Concubine Kang suddenly snatched the child? Does she know? ]
The system was also puzzled: [No, according to the synopsis, the Seventeenth Prince had grown up before Concubine Kang knew about it. At that time, she wanted to recognize him, but she never treated him well when he was young, and even beat and scolded him behind people's backs, leaving an indelible childhood shadow on the Seventeenth Prince.]
[The Seventeenth Prince had long hated Concubine Kang to the extreme. After learning the truth, he said to Concubine Kang that even if she was his biological mother, he would not recognize her. He also said that he was lucky that he did not grow up under her care. A woman as sinister and vicious as she was was not worthy of being a mother. Concubine Kang was filled with regret and choked to death.]
[It's still so early now. Logically, she shouldn't know this.]
These words were like adding fuel to the fire. Concubine Kang became more and more courageous. With one hand she held the struggling and crying Seventeenth Prince, and with the other hand she beat Lu Zhaoyi back repeatedly.
But maybe it was because they couldn't say some things in front of the Seventeenth Prince, or because Ji Jinyou and the others were there and they didn't want others to hear their private matters, the two of them just exchanged words in silence, and no one said anything substantive.
Lu Zhaoyi wanted to fight back, but Seventeen was her own child after all. Seeing the little boy crying so hard that he was about to pass out, she felt distressed and was afraid that she would hurt him accidentally, so she just hid back away and kept comforting him.
Jin Xing and Hai Tang were stunned. They really couldn't understand what deep hatred Kangpin and Lu Zhaoyi had that made them fight in front of them. They were alert and stood closely beside their young master.
Ji Jinyou watched for a while and saw that the two had completely different attitudes towards the child. She frowned and said: [Concubine Kang scared the seventeenth brother.]
Originally, she thought that Concubine Kang knew that the Seventeenth Prince was her child, and that was why she tried to snatch him away. However, the Seventeenth Prince was crying so hard, and she did not hold back at all, which clearly showed that she did not know.
Like Lu Zhaoyi, taking care of her children is the attitude a mother should have.
Hearing the girl's tendency to meddle in other people's business, the system advised: [Don't meddle, Youzi, there is a mess between the two of them. ]
Ji Jinyou held the lotus tightly in his hand, stared at the battle in front of him, and asked absentmindedly: [What mess? ]
System: [The stillborn baby that Lu Zhaoyi gave birth to was the result of a trick by Concubine Kang. After the trick, she went to the imperial physician to check her pulse and learned that the child she would give birth to in the future would most likely not be healthy, and it was possible that she would die before she could even be born. She hated it very much, but she did not make it public. Instead, she secretly investigated and finally found out that it was Concubine Kang who had done it to her.]
[Logically, for safety reasons, Lu Zhaoyi should not have given birth to this child, but there were so many women in Emperor Wen Zhao's harem, and as one of the many unfavored concubines, it was really not easy for her to get pregnant. She didn't want to give up easily, so she decided to take a gamble and try her best to keep the baby.]
[At the same time, she also actively prepared for various situations. She spent a lot of money to bribe the widow and the nanny who served Kangpin. When she got, she had someone put labor-inducing drugs in Kangpin's food. The two gave birth to their children one after the other. Lu Zhaoyi's child died at birth, so she colluded with others and switched angry the two children.]
Ji Jinyou was stunned after listening to this, and she deeply understood the true meaning of what everyone had told her a long time ago: everyone in the imperial palace is not simple. A small concubine like Zhaoyi could cause such a big drama.
She was puzzled: [Then Concubine Kang couldn't recognize the child she gave birth to? And the child had been in front of her every day for so many years. ]
System answer: [Giving birth is a big challenge for women. Concubine Kang was exhausted after giving birth. Besides, all the babies born just now are similar. They are all the blood of Emperor Wen Zhao, so they are somewhat similar. When Concubine Kang heard that she gave birth to a stillborn baby, she took a look and believed it. She rolled her eyes and passed out. This matter was confirmed, and she never doubted it again.]
Kangpin and Lu Zhaoyi also heard this. Lu Zhaoyi's eyes showed resentment and she stared at Kangpin fiercely.
Kangpin Zhiba's hand in the air suddenly stopped. Lu Zhaoyi knew it, she actually knew it, so she had planned it early and replaced her child.
The seventeenth prince also heard the question-and-answer conversation. He stopped crying and turned his head to look at his little sister who was holding a lotus and looking at him not far away. His eyes, filled with tears, were filled with question marks.
He didn't know who was talking to the little sister, but he understood what he said.
But he didn't quite understand. His mother was not his mother. That terrible Concubine Kang was his mother?
No, he doesn't want it. He only wants the current mother and doesn't want Concubine Kang to be his mother.
Thinking of this, the little boy stretched out his arms to reach out to Lu Zhaoyi: "Mother."
Lu Zhaoyi and Concubine Kang looked at each other for a moment, and she stretched out her hand: "Madam Concubine Kang, please return Seventeen to me."
Concubine Kang came back to her senses, a hint of cruelty flashed in her eyes, she put the little boy in her arms to the ground, then exerted force with both hands and pushed him towards Lu Zhaoyi.
Lu Zhaoyi was caught off guard by her sudden powerful attack, and he was unable to dodge and fell into the pond nearby.
When Lu Zhaoyi fell into the water, he reached out and grabbed the hem of Concubine Kang's skirt, and pulled it hard, pulling Concubine Kang down as well.
There were two "plop" sounds, and in the blink of an eye, the two men fell into the water one after another, twisted together and continued to fight, falling up and down in the water, and the water was poured down together.
"Mother, help, save my mother!" The seventeenth prince stomped his feet in fear and howled miserably. After stomping twice, he knelt down on the edge of the plank road and stretched out his little hands to try to rescue someone.
"Be careful." Ji Jin ran forward leisurely with his short legs. Jin Xing quickly ran two steps and held her little master in her arms, shouting: "Help, someone fell into the water, hurry up and save him."
Haitang put the lotus in her arms on the plank road, ran over quickly, and picked up the little boy who almost fell into the water. She hugged him tightly and shouted, "Help, help!"
Concubine Ru had heard the crying of a little boy earlier. She was worried, so she walked over quickly with two palace maids.
Before she even got there, she heard the sound of something heavy falling into the water, followed by Jin Xing and Hai Tang's cries for help. Her heart suddenly sank, and she ran over desperately with a pale face.
After turning three or four times on the plank road, when she saw that the pink ball in Jin Xing's arms was safe and sound, she felt that she had survived a disaster. Her legs went weak and she immediately knelt on the ground, only to find that her entire back was wet with cold sweat.
The two young palace maids were startled and hurriedly helped the person up, "Madam, are you okay?"
"It's okay." Ru Fei calmed herself down, stood firm, and walked quickly forward.
"Mother." Ji Jinyou saw Concubine Ru coming, and she struggled to get off the ground, ran over, and threw her into her arms, "Youyou, it's okay, Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi fell into the water." As she said this, she pointed her little hand into the water.
"Okay, mother got it." Concubine Ru hugged the little girl tightly and told Jin Xing and Hai Tang who came over: "Go down and save them."
Jin Xing and Hai Tang both followed Rupin from the rice-rich south and had been able to swim since childhood. They nodded in agreement and handed the crying Seventeenth Prince to the two little palace maids.
Concubine Ru squatted down, put Youyou on the ground, held her in one hand, and held the Seventeenth Prince in her arms with the other hand, and comforted him softly: "Don't be afraid, your mother will be rescued soon."
Jin Xing and Hai Tang jumped into the water and swam to the side of Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi who had been floating in the water for a long time.
The lotus pond was not very deep. Given the heights of Concubine Kang and Concubine Yang, if they stood upright and stepped on the bottom of the water, the water would only reach up to their shoulders.
But the two of them harbored a deep hatred for each other. Even after drinking countless mouthfuls of dirty water, they continued to tear at each other, knocking down a large number of lotus flowers and lotus leaves, as if they were determined to die together.
Concubine Ru frowned as she watched, and shouted, "Jin Xing, Hai Tang, be careful."
"Yes." Jin Xing and Hai Tang answered in unison. They were familiar with water and knew that drowning was extremely dangerous. If one was not careful, they would be dragged down to the bottom of the water.
The two men, one on the left and one on the right, went around behind the two men, one grabbed the other's neck, and then pulled back together, forcibly separating the two and dragging them to the edge of the plank road.
Concubine Ru ordered two young palace maids to help, while she took the two children, one big and one small, and stepped back several steps, fearing that they would go crazy again.
Just now, Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi left their respective maids far away for the convenience of talking. When a few people heard the commotion here, they also rushed over. When they saw this situation, they were frightened and their faces turned green. They hurried forward and helped to pull their masters up.
Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi had both drunk a lot of dirty water and had just gone mad in the water. Now that they were on shore, they were both pale and dying.
Jin Xing and Hai Tang each patted one of them, asking them to spit out the water.
The two palace maids were in a panic, and a group of people were shouting and screaming. Some went back to get clothes, and some went to call the imperial physician. In an instant, the narrow plank road was in chaos.
While they were busy rescuing people, Concubine Ru asked Youyou what happened in a low voice. The little girl then said in a vivid voice, "Youyou was picking flowers here, and the two ladies suddenly started fighting, and they even tried to grab Brother Seventeen, scaring Brother Seventeen to tears."
Ru Fei was puzzled: "Why are they fighting?"
"I don't know." Ji Jinyou shook his head and said, then tilted his head to look at the Seventeenth Prince: "Seventeenth Prince, do you know?"
Thinking of the confusing conversation he had just heard, the Seventeenth Prince opened his mouth but did not utter a word for a long time. The information was too shocking for a little boy who was not even seven years old. He did not know how to express it.
Ji Jinyou thought he was just frightened, so she stretched out her little hand and touched his little head on tiptoe: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
Seeing that the two children could not explain anything, Concubine Ru stopped asking and planned to ask Jin Xing later.
The maids and eunuchs who were in charge of the garden came running over upon hearing the noise, "Where has someone fallen into the water?"
Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi were both soaked to the skin, their skirts were stained with mud, their hair was disheveled and had a few strands of water grass hanging on it, and they looked shabby and miserable, which really damaged their image.
Concubine Ru ordered Concubine Kang and Lv Zhaoyi's maids: "Each of you send someone to block both ends. Don't let anyone come over. It's not good for others to see your majesty in this state."
The palace maids on both sides knew that the matter was of great importance, so one person came out from each side and ran to both ends of the plank road, blocking the road.
The seventeenth prince was so frightened that he asked with sobs, "My Lady Concubine Ru, is my mother okay?"
Ru Fei held the little boy in her arms and said, "He's been rescued. He's fine."
Ji Jinyou stretched out the Seventeenth Prince's hand, which was held by Xiaopang's hand, and comforted him, "It's okay, don't be afraid."
The little boy was nervous inside, but he still had to save face in front of a little sister who was so much younger than him. He pretended to be calm and sobbed, "No, I'm not afraid."
With the help of Jin Xing and Hai Tang, Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi finally finished vomiting the water. The two were held by their respective palace maids and sat paralyzed on the plank road, their faces pale.
Ru Fei walked over with two children on her left and right, frowning and saying, "I don't know why you are like this, and I don't want to care. Since you are all fine, I will go back first, and you can take care of yourself."
Having said that, he released the Seventeenth Prince's little hand, touched his head, picked up Youyou, turned around and left.
Two young palace maids from Miaoyunxuan stepped forward, supporting Jinxing and Haitang, who were also soaked in water, and followed behind.
Concubine Kang got up and was about to hug the timid Seventeenth Prince standing beside her. The frightened little boy screamed and ran towards Lu Zhaoyi, "Mother."
Lu Zhaoyi struggled to sit up, holding onto the little boy who ran up to her, squeezing his little hand, and comforting him, "Don't be afraid, Seventeen. Mother is here."
The Seventeenth Prince wanted to lean into her arms, but Lu Zhaoyi held his arm and coaxed him softly, "Seventeenth, dear. Your mother is all wet. I don't want to get you all wet. I'll hug you after I change my clothes, okay?"
Ji Jinyou lay on Ru Fei's shoulder, watching this scene, and asked in his heart: [Tseng, Lu Zhaoyi seems to be very good to the seventeenth brother? ]
System: [The summary is this: although Lu Zhaoyi had no good intentions when she first swapped the baby for revenge, she couldn't help but love the baby when she saw the cute little baby. She was really kind to the Seventeenth Prince. Every time she knew that the Seventeenth Prince was beaten and scolded by Concubine Kang, she was very angry and distressed.]
[It was just that the two of them had different positions, and she had something to hide, so she didn't dare to complain to the Queen, and had to endure it. Feeling guilty, she treated the Seventeenth Prince even better. It can be said that over the years, Lu Zhaoyi had already treated the Seventeenth Prince as her own child.]
[Oh, by the way, the rumor that the Seventeenth Prince had killed his father was fabricated by Concubine Kang and spread privately.]
Ji Jinyou clenched her fists when she heard this: [Concubine Kang is really bad. ]
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoyi's face turned ugly and he glared at Concubine Kang fiercely. He wanted to curse her, but considering that so many people were present, he finally held back.
She struggled to stand up and put her arm around Prince Seventeen's shoulders: "Seventeen, let's go back."
Kangpin rushed forward and said, "Give Seventeen back to me."
After suffering a loss once, Lu Zhaoyi was on guard this time. She quickly took the seventeenth prince and dodged, and was then protected by her own palace maids.
Concubine Kang accidentally fell on the plank road and cried out in pain. She was helped up by a palace maid and was about to go up and rob again.
Hearing the noise, Concubine Ru turned around to see what was happening and shouted, "Stop it."
Kangpin never took the unknown Concubine Ru seriously, but thinking that her newly promoted position was one level higher than hers, she reluctantly stepped back.
Ji Jinyou lay on Concubine Ru's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Mother, they want to snatch the seventeenth brother again."
Concubine Ru also noticed it. She stood there, hesitating and considering for a long time. She really didn't want to meddle in other people's business.
But thinking of the obligation of concubines of higher rank to discipline and restrain concubines of lower rank, and looking at the many palace maids and eunuchs gathered on the shore, she sighed in her heart.
Concubine Ru stepped forward, brought the Seventeenth Prince over, and said, "Since this has happened, I have no choice but to intervene. I will take the Seventeenth Prince to the Queen first, and you two can come to Fengyi Palace after you have packed up."
Kangpin was afraid that she would be punished if the secret of her plot to take Lu Zhaoyi's child was revealed. But then she thought, it was obvious that Lu Zhaoyi had heard the conversation just now, and she didn't know if other people could have heard it as well. Even if she wanted to hide it, she was afraid she couldn't.
Most importantly, if she wanted the child back, she could only talk to the Empress, so after a brief hesitation, Concubine Kang nodded: "Okay, I'll go there later."
At this point, Lu Zhaoyi also wanted to settle the account of the past, so she bowed to Concubine Ru and said, "Thank you for saving me, Concubine Ru. I will go back to change my clothes and go to Fengyi Palace. I will ask you to take care of Seventeen for now."
This was the first time that Concubine Ru had meddled in other people's business. She was originally very nervous, fearing that they would not listen. When she heard the two of them say so, she felt relieved, nodded, turned around and left, holding a child in each hand.
The seventeenth prince turned around and looked at Lu Zhaoyi with an uneasy expression: "Mother."
Lu Zhaoyi smiled and waved at him: "Seventeen, be good, go with Concubine Ru first, your mother will be here later."
Concubine Ru led everyone back to Miaoyunxuan first, and told Jinxing and Haitang to wash and change clothes quickly. She then took the Seventeenth Prince and Youyou back to the house, and asked for some water. She wet a handkerchief and personally wiped the Seventeenth Prince's face and hands.
Ji Jinyou climbed onto the chair, took the plate of snacks, then carefully climbed down, brought it to the Seventeenth Prince, and coaxed him to eat.
But the little boy was frightened and shook his head and refused to eat. Ji Jinyou did not force him. He went to his toy box and busily took out a nine-link ring and handed it to the seventeenth prince, asking him to play with it.
The seventeenth prince did not refuse this time. He took it, but he did not play with it. He just stood there quietly, blinking his big, frightened eyes.
After Jin Xing and Hai Tang were tidied up, Rupin took the two children and the group of five went straight to Fengyi Palace.
When we arrived at Fengyi Palace, we were told that we had important matters to report and were asked to go in and pass the message. We were soon welcomed in.
The Queen was slightly surprised to see that Concubine Ru brought not only Xiaojiu but also the Seventeenth Prince. After they had paid their respects, she smiled and asked Concubine Ru to sit down. Then she waved to the chubby girl and said, "Come here, Xiaojiu."
Ji Jin ran over leisurely on his short legs, threw himself on the queen's legs, and stretched out his two round arms to her: "Hold me, madam."
The Queen held the fat girl in her arms, smiled and touched her little hand, then looked at Concubine Ru: "Is there something wrong?"
Concubine Ru nodded and briefly described what she had just seen. Since she was not there at the beginning, she called Jin Xing and Hai Tang in and they both gave further information.
When the queen heard the situation, she guessed the crux of the problem. It must be something that Xiaojiu and Tongtong talked about, which caused the two to become enemies.
Thinking that Ru Fei couldn't hear Wa Tong's chat, and Xiao Jiu couldn't speak in front of everyone, she nodded calmly: "Okay, I understand, you take Xiao Jiu back first."
Ru Fei was a person who was afraid of trouble. Upon hearing this, she breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly stood up to thank En, and went out with Xiao Jiu and Jin Xing Hai Tang.
The Queen looked at the bewildered Seventeenth Prince and sighed softly, "How pitiful! Madam Zheng, take the Seventeenth Prince to the side hall for some snacks."
Nanny Zheng agreed and took the seventeenth prince to the side hall.
When Concubine Ru and her companions were halfway there, they met Concubine Kang and Lü Zhaoyi, who had already washed and dressed, walking towards them one after the other. They greeted each other and Concubine Ru said, "Seventeen is at the Empress's place. I have told you what happened. You can go now."
The two thanked him and hurried to Fengyi Palace. As soon as they arrived outside the hall, they saw Dangui, the chief maid of Fengyi Palace, waiting outside. The two hurriedly followed her in. After entering, they saw the empress sitting at the top, looking at them coldly without a smile on her face.
The two of them were startled and knelt down hastily to pay their respects.
The queen did not ask them to stand up, but spoke in a cold voice: "You have disregarded the dignity of your elders and the dignity of your masters, and you are fighting in front of children and servants. Tell me, what deep hatred do you two have?"
Just as Lu Zhaoyi was about to speak, Concubine Kang spoke first, crawling forward a few steps on her knees, weeping bitterly: "Your Majesty, Seventeen is my child, and it was Lu Zhaoyi who stole her away. I beg you to return Seventeen to me."
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