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 snatch 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, staring 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 angry, 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 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.

在棧道上三拐四轉，當看到金杏懷裏抱着的粉團子安然無恙時，她只覺劫後餘生，雙腿一軟當即跪在地上，才發覺整個背上都已經被冷汗打濕了。

兩個小宮女吓了一大跳，忙一左一右将人扶起來，“娘娘您可還好？”

“無妨。”如妃定了定神，站穩之後，快步朝前頭走。

“母妃。”季瑾悠看見如妃來了，掙紮着下地，蹬蹬蹬跑過去，一把撲進她懷裏，“悠悠好好的，康嫔娘娘和呂昭儀掉水裏了。”說着小手往水裏一指。

“好，母妃知道了。”如妃緊緊抱住小姑娘，吩咐走過來的金杏和海棠：“你們下去救人。”

金杏和海棠都是跟着如嫔從南邊魚米之鄉來的，自幼會水，二人點頭應是，把哭得昏天暗地的十七皇子交給那兩個小宮女。

如妃蹲下去，将悠悠放在地上，一手攬着她，另一手将十七皇子攬到懷裏，柔聲安慰：“莫怕，很快将你母妃救上來。”

金杏和海棠跳入水中，游到在水裏沉沉浮浮撲騰了半天的康嫔和呂昭儀身旁。

荷塘并不算太深，依着康嫔二人的身高，如果站直，踩着水底，水頂多到她們肩膀處。

可二人心懷深仇大恨，即便喝了不知道多少口髒水，還是不停地撕吧着，打倒了一片荷花和荷葉，大有一副恨不得同歸于盡的架勢。

如妃看得頻頻皺眉，高聲交代：“金杏，海棠，你們當心。”

“是。”金杏和海棠齊聲應道，二人熟悉水性，也深知溺水之人極其危險，一個不甚就會被拽着一同沉到水底。

二人一左一右，繞到兩人身後，一人攬着一人的脖子，随後齊齊發力往後一拽，強行将二人分開，拖到了棧道邊上。

如妃吩咐兩個小宮女去幫忙，她則攬着一大一小兩個孩子往後退了好幾步，生怕她們倆再發瘋。

方才，康嫔和呂昭儀為了說話方便，将各自的宮女留在遠處，幾人聽到這邊的動靜，也趕了來，一見這情況，吓得臉都綠了，忙上前，幫着一起把各自的主子拽了上來。

康嫔和呂昭儀都喝了不少髒水，方才在水裏拼命發瘋，此刻上了岸，都是面色煞白，奄奄一息。

金杏和海棠一人拍着一個，讓她們把水吐出來。

兩人的宮女驚慌失措，一群人大呼小叫，有回去取衣裳的，有去喊太醫的，霎時間，狹窄的棧道上一陣兵荒馬亂。

那邊忙着救人，這邊如妃小聲問悠悠怎麽回事，小姑娘便繪聲繪色道：“悠悠在這摘花，兩位娘娘突然打架，還搶十七皇兄，把十七皇兄都吓哭了。”

如妃不解：“為什麽打架？”

“悠悠不知道。”季瑾悠搖搖小腦袋，說完，歪着小腦袋看十七皇子：“十七皇兄，你知道嗎？”

想到剛才聽到的那不明所以的對話，十七皇子張了張嘴，卻半天沒說一個字，那些信息對一個還不到七歲的小男孩來說，太過震撼，他不知道該怎麽說。

季瑾悠只當他吓壞了，伸着小手，踮着腳尖摸摸他的小腦袋：“不怕，不怕。”

如妃見兩個孩子也說不出個所以然來，便不再問，打算待會兒問問金杏。

打理禦花園的粗使宮女和太監聞聲跑來，“哪裏有人落水？”

康嫔和呂昭儀二人渾身濕透，裙衫上沾着斑駁淤泥，頭發散亂，還挂着幾根水草，狼狽不堪，實在有損形象。

如妃吩咐康嫔和呂昭儀的宮女：“你們各自派個人，去兩頭攔住，莫将人放過來，你們娘娘這番模樣，不好被人看了去。”

兩邊宮女深知此事事關重大，一邊出來一個人，分別朝着棧道兩頭跑，将路堵住。

十七皇子吓傻了，抽抽噎噎地問：“如妃娘娘，我母妃她、她沒、沒事吧？”

如妃将小男孩往懷裏摟了摟：“已經救上來了，沒事了。”

季瑾悠伸着小胖手牽住的十七皇子的手，也安慰道：“沒事的，不怕嗷。”

小男孩內心慌亂不安，可在比自己小了那麽多的小妹妹面前，到底還是要些面子，強裝鎮定，抽抽噎噎：“不、不怕。”

在金杏和海棠的幫助下，康嫔和呂昭儀終于吐完了水，兩人被各自的宮女抱着癱坐在棧道上，面色一片慘白。

如妃一左一右牽着兩個孩子走過去，蹙眉說道：“本宮不知你們為何這般，也不想管，既然你們已然無事，那本宮就先回去，你們好自為之。”

說罷，将十七皇子的小手松開，摸摸他的頭，抱起悠悠，轉身就走。

妙雲軒兩個小宮女上前，扶着同樣一身是水的金杏和海棠跟在後頭。

康嫔爬起來，就要去抱怯生生站在一旁的十七皇子，吓得小男孩驚聲尖叫着跑向呂昭儀：“母妃。”

呂昭儀掙紮着坐起來，牽住跑到近前的小男孩，捏着他的小手，安慰道：“十七莫怕，母妃在呢。”

十七皇子要往她懷裏拱，可呂昭儀扶住他的胳膊，柔聲哄着：“十七乖，母妃這一身都是水，別弄得你一身，待會兒母妃換了衣裳再抱你可好？”

季瑾悠趴在如妃肩頭，看着這一幕，在心裏問道：【統統，呂昭儀對十七皇兄好像挺好的？】

系統：【梗概是這麽說的，雖然一開始呂昭儀偷換孩子是不懷好意，目的是為了報仇，可當看到粉粉嫩嫩的小嬰兒，便又忍不住喜愛，她是真心對十七皇子好的，每回知道十七皇子在康嫔那裏挨了打罵，她也很氣憤，很心疼。】

【只是兩人位份有差，她心中又有鬼，不敢去皇後那裏告狀，只得忍着。心中愧疚，便越發對十七皇子好，可以說，這麽多年下來，呂昭儀早就把十七皇子當成自個孩子了。】

【哦，對了，當年十七皇子不詳克父這個謠言，還是康嫔捏造并私下裏傳出去的。】

季瑾悠聽得攥緊小拳頭：【康嫔可真是壞透了。】

一聽這話，呂昭儀臉色難看，狠狠瞪向康嫔，有心破口大罵，卻顧忌這麽多人都在場，終是忍住了。

她掙紮着起身，攬着十七皇子的肩膀：“十七，我們回去。”

康嫔猛地撲上去，“你把十七還給我。”

呂昭儀吃了一次虧，這次有了提防，忙帶着十七皇子閃身一躲，緊接着被自己的宮女護在了身後。

康嫔一個不慎，撲在棧道上，摔得她痛呼出聲，被宮女扶起來就準備再次上去搶。

聽到動靜，如妃轉頭去看，見狀，高聲喝止：“住手。”

康嫔素來不把默默無聞的如妃放在眼裏，可想着她剛升了的妃位，到底是比自己高了一級，不情不願地退開了。

季瑾悠趴在如妃肩頭，湊到她耳邊小聲說：“母妃，她們又想搶十七皇兄。”

如妃也看出來了，她站在原地猶豫再三，斟酌良久，實在不大想管閑事。

可念及高位嫔妃有管教約束低位嫔妃的義務，再看向岸邊聚攏的衆多宮女和太監，她在心底嘆了口氣。

如妃上前，将十七皇子牽過來，說道：“事情鬧成這般，本宮既然見了，就不得不管，本宮先一步帶着十七去皇後那裏，你們二人收拾妥當之後也到鳳儀宮來吧。”

康嫔生怕當年算計呂昭儀孩子一事被抖摟出去會挨罰，轉念一想，剛才那對話顯然呂昭儀也聽到了，不知道其他人是否也能聽到，即便想瞞，怕也是瞞不住的。

最主要的，她若是想把孩子要回來，這事還只能到皇後那裏去說，于是短暫糾結片刻之後，康嫔點頭：“好，嫔妾待會就去。”

事已至此，呂昭儀也想算一算當年的賬，便朝着如妃行禮：“多謝如妃娘娘相救之恩，嫔妾回去換身衣裳就去鳳儀宮，十七就請您先代為照看了。”

如妃這是有史以來頭一回多管閑事，心中本來十分忐忑，怕她們不肯聽，見二人都如此說，放下心來，點點頭，一手牽着一個孩子，轉身就走。

十七皇子回頭看着呂昭儀，神情不安：“母妃。”

呂昭儀笑着朝他揮揮手：“十七乖，先跟如妃娘娘去，母妃待會兒就來。”

如妃帶着衆人先回妙雲軒，吩咐金杏和海棠趕緊去洗漱更衣，她則帶着十七皇子和悠悠回屋，先讓打了水來，她浸濕帕子親自給十七皇子擦了臉擦了手。

季瑾悠爬到椅子上，拿了裝點心的盤子，随後又小心爬下來，送到十七皇子面前，哄着他吃。

可小男孩吓壞了，搖了搖頭不肯吃，季瑾悠也不強求，又去自己裝玩具的箱子裏頭忙忙叨叨翻出一個九連環，遞到十七皇子手裏，讓他拿着玩。

十七皇子這次沒有拒絕，接了過去，可也不玩，眨着一雙恐慌的大眼睛，靜靜站着。

待金杏和海棠整頓完畢，如嫔便帶上兩個孩子，一行五人直奔鳳儀宮。

到了鳳儀宮，說是有要事禀報，讓人進去通傳，很快就被迎了進去。

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."