Chapter 67 If anyone dares to hit you again, Youyou will help you hit back
Seventeen was actually Concubine Kang's child? Over the years, the Empress had seen too many secrets, but she could not hide her shock when she heard this.
She looked at Lu Zhaoyi and asked, "Lu Zhaoyi, are you serious?"
Lu Zhaoyi kowtowed: "To reply to the Empress, I am guilty. Concubine Kang killed my child..."
Lu Zhaoyi told the story of how her child was killed by Concubine Kang. At the end, she burst into tears and could not suppress her grief.
The Queen then looked at Concubine Kang who was avoiding her gaze and said, "Concubine Kang, is what Lu Zhaoyi said true?"
Concubine Kang hesitated and didn't answer for a long time.
The Queen's voice was cold: "Don't even think about hiding it. What Xiaojiu and Tongtong said is not only heard by you, but also by Your Majesty, me, and... everyone else."
It turned out that everyone could hear that Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi were both shocked.
Concubine Kang felt a chill down her spine, and then she lowered her head and honestly admitted, "I am guilty. Please forgive me, Your Majesty, for my youth and ignorance."
As she spoke, she clenched her fists, looking indignant, and changed the subject: "I was wrong, but Lu Zhaoyi stole my child and separated us for many years. Please make the decision, Your Majesty."
Lu Zhaoyi immediately responded, "Your Majesty, I was angry when my child was killed, and I made a mistake. Please punish me."
"But for so many years, I have treated Seventeen as my own child." When she said this, Lu Zhaoyi's eyes turned red and she choked up.
She pointed at Concubine Kang and complained in a trembling voice: "It was Concubine Kang who often beat or scolded Seventeen. Every time I saw it, my heart ached. But because she was the main concubine, I dared not tell the Empress. I had to swallow my anger for so many years. Poor my Seventeen."
As he said this, he fell to the ground, holding his chest and crying, looking heartbroken.
The Queen frowned and glanced at Dangui beside her. Dangui nodded and walked to the side hall. After a moment, she came back with a sullen face and whispered something in the Queen's ear.
The queen's face turned cold, and she said loudly, "Madame Zheng."
Nanny Zheng, who was waiting at the door, responded and walked in with the terrified Seventeenth Prince. She walked to the Queen's side, rolled up the Seventeenth Prince's sleeves, and saw several purple fingerprints on the boy's thin arms, which showed that he had been pinched very hard.
Afterwards, Nanny Zheng rolled up the Seventeenth Prince's trouser legs to his legs, and saw that there were several mottled purple bruises on the boy's white thighs, some new and some old, which clearly showed that he had been beaten more than once.
The queen herself had several children, and when she saw this situation and the little boy's fearful look, her heart suddenly sank and her face instantly turned gloomy.
She waved her hand, and Nanny Zheng tidied the clothes of the Seventeenth Prince and took him out.
The queen had a dark face. She picked up a porcelain cup from the table and smashed it to the ground. She said in a stern voice: "You are a man with a heart of a snake and a scorpion."
The Empress was always gentle and kind. Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi had rarely seen her so angry. They were so frightened that they knelt on the ground and trembled.
The queen looked at Lu Zhaoyi, who was still crying, with a stern look in her eyes, and asked, "Lu Zhaoyi, you said that because of your position, you didn't dare to tell me about Concubine Kang beating and scolding the Seventeenth Prince?"
Lu Zhaoyi trembled and answered, "Yes."
The queen snorted coldly, a scornful smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "Then I ask you, if Seventeen was your biological child, would you still swallow your anger like this?"
Lu Zhaoyi's crying stopped abruptly, and he was unable to speak for a long time.
The Queen sneered and continued, "You even did something like stealing and swapping children in order to avenge your own child. If Seventeen was your biological child and was subjected to such abuse, you would definitely fight for him."
Hearing that sharp shout, Lu Zhaoyi shuddered all over and didn't dare to answer. He prostrated himself on the ground with his hands clenched into fists under his sleeves.
The queen had seen many of the vicious thoughts of these women in the harem, and said sarcastically: "Lü Zhaoyi, ask yourself with your conscience, every time you saw Concubine Kang beat and scold her own child without knowing it, did you feel the pleasure of revenge in your heart?"
Lu Zhaoyi trembled violently and did not dare to raise his head.
She told herself again and again that Seventeen was innocent, and no one knew that Seventeen was Concubine Kang's child. As long as she raised Seventeen well, she would have hope for the rest of her life.
But, but every time she saw Concubine Kang treating Seventeen ferociously, a kind of joy that she couldn't tell anyone else welled up in the deepest part of her heart.
But when she saw the little boy leaning on her arms, calling him mother softly, showing her the scars on his body, and telling her that Concubine Kang had beaten him again, she felt extremely guilty.
For so many years, she has been tormented by this pleasure and guilt.
Now, after being exposed by the queen, she could no longer hold back her anger and burst into tears: "I am guilty, I am guilty, I am sorry to Seventeen."
Seeing this, Concubine Kang also burst into tears: "Your Majesty, I really didn't know that Seventeen was my child, otherwise I would never treat him like that. Please, please give Seventeen back to me. I will definitely treat him well in the future and make up for the sins I committed before."
The queen angrily rebuked: "It's not your child, how can you treat him like that? Who gave you the courage?"
Concubine Kang stammered and dared not say anything, she just fell to the ground and cried bitterly.
Lu Zhaoyi raised her head and took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, you have seen the injuries on Seventeen's body. Concubine Kang is so vicious, you must not give Seventeen to her. I swear that I will protect Seventeen in the future and will never let him get hurt again. Your Majesty, I beg you to leave Seventeen to me."
Each of them insisted on his own opinion and both cried bitterly and kowtowed to beg for mercy.
The queen looked solemn and said, "It's too late. You two are both the same. Neither of you is fit to be a mother."
If Lu Zhaoyi really treated Seventeen as her own child, then over the years, whenever she had a fit and made a big fuss, Concubine Kang would never dare to hit Seventeen again.
The reason why Concubine Kang dared to abuse the royal heir so wantonly was largely due to Lu Zhaoyi's connivance.
Upon hearing the queen's words, the two people kneeling on the ground were stunned, raised their heads, and looked at the queen with tears in their eyes.
The Queen's voice was icy: "Even if the child is your own, it is not yours alone. It is His Majesty's child, the most noble prince of Dasheng. You cannot do whatever you want with him."
"Someone come here." the queen shouted.
Four sturdy old women came in with ropes that had been prepared long ago.
The Queen said loudly: "First, Concubine Kang framed Lu Zhaoyi for losing her child, then abused and insulted the royal heir, and today she fought in public. This behavior and this virtue seriously violated the palace rules. Tie her up, drag her outside, and give her 30 strokes of the cane. Then send her to Yongsi Palace and never let her out again."
Hearing such a severe punishment, Concubine Kang was dumbfounded. Seeing two maids coming to tie her up, she cried and begged for mercy, but her mouth was soon gagged, her hands and feet were tied, and she could no longer move.
The Queen looked at the trembling Lu Zhaoyi and said, "Lu Zhaoyi, you have your reasons for what you did. I wanted to give you a lighter sentence, but you should never allow Concubine Kang to treat Seventeen like this for your own selfish reasons. Take Concubine Kang out and give her twenty strokes of the cane, and then send her to Yongsi Palace."
Lu Zhaoyi was slightly relieved after hearing the first half, but she was terrified when she heard the last part. She struggled to crawl to the empress, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. Please give me another chance."
The queen was silent with a gloomy face. Compared with the bad and stupid Concubine Kang, people like Lu Zhaoyi were more terrifying.
They were able to switch two people's children quietly and kept this secret for so many years. If it weren't for Tong Tong exposing it, no one would have discovered it. It's really terrifying when you think about it.
She didn't dare let such a scheming person stay in the palace.
Two maids twisted Lu Zhaoyi's hands, tied them, and gagged him. The two of them collapsed on the ground. After a long period of quarreling, the hall finally quieted down.
The queen stood up, walked over, and looked down at them. "I will tell Seventeen exactly what you two did."
There was pain, regret and begging for mercy in the eyes of the two.
The Queen continued, "Don't worry. I will discuss with His Majesty and find a kind and gentle foster mother for Seventeen. As for you two, Seventeen will never see each other again."
The two of them looked pale and their eyes were filled with despair.
The queen waved her hand. The four maids responded respectfully, dragging Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi away, two of them holding one.
Soon, the sound of beatings was heard from outside the yard. Because the two men had their mouths gagged, they did not utter any crying or howling.
The beating was quickly completed, and the two people who had already fainted were carried away and sent directly to Yongsi Palace.
The queen sighed softly. Originally, she should have reported to His Majesty for approval before sending the concubine to the Yongsi Palace, which was equivalent to the cold palace. However, since it involved the harm of the royal heirs, His Majesty had always been very cautious about this matter. If His Majesty heard about it, he would only punish them more severely. He might even beat them to death in a rage.
It's not that she is soft-hearted, but when she thinks about the original plot that says that everyone died, she feels that death is unlucky. No matter what happens in the end, a life is a life.
Besides, Seventeen was still very dependent on Lu Zhaoyi. The child was pitiful enough. If Lu Zhaoyi was beaten to death directly, he would be very scared.
The Queen gave Dangui a look, and Dangui called Nanny Zheng and the Seventeenth Prince to come in.
The seventeenth prince looked around with a pair of anxious eyes. Not seeing Lu Zhaoyi, he asked timidly, "Empress, where is my mother?"
Just now he heard the noise here and the sound of beating outside. He wanted to run out to see what was going on several times, but Nanny Zheng held him and wouldn't let him move.
小男孩已經快七歲了，剛才在荷花池上聽了那樣一番話，又經了剛剛這一遭，已經知道，有大事發生了。
可具體是什麽結果，還沒人告訴他，他的心像飄在海上的一葉小舟，不知何去何從。
皇後看着惶恐無助的小男孩，重重嘆了口氣。
以前見這孩子總是瑟瑟縮縮，絲毫上不了臺面，她十分不喜。
如今再看，只有心疼。
她伸手牽過小男孩，摸了摸他的頭，“十七，你随本宮先去見你父皇。”
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崇德殿，文昭帝聽完皇後的述說，氣得狠狠砸碎了一套茶具，“毒婦，毒婦！你還将她們送去永思宮作甚，直接打死了事。”
皇後勸道：“陛下，她們兩個是死有餘辜，可十七怎麽辦，他還那麽小，再留幾年吧，等十七将呂昭儀忘了，那時再處置她們也不遲。”
文昭帝一屁股坐回羅漢床上，重重嘆氣：“十八一向膽小，可好歹在他母妃面前還是有那麽點小狗膽，上回他還給朕翻跟頭來着。”
“可十七卻永遠都是縮頭縮腦，畏手畏腳，原先朕還納悶呢，呂昭儀落落大方，十七怎麽一點沒學到，原來那孩子背地裏竟遭了那麽多罪的。”
文昭帝說着說着又發起怒來，一拳狠狠砸在桌上：“毒婦。”
皇後又勸：“十八膽小，那是天生的，也是随了他母妃寧嫔，但寧嫔對自個孩子那可是緊張愛護得很，孩子被寵着，膽子慢慢也就大了。”
“可十七那，康嫔心思歹毒不幹人事，呂昭儀也只假惺惺心疼，這麽多年絲毫不加阻止，孩子無依無靠，常年活在恐慌懼怕中，可不就畏畏縮縮。”
皇後跪地請罪：“陛下，臣妾統管後宮，卻發生這種陰損之事，臣妾失職，請陛下責罰。”
文昭帝上前将皇後扶起來，“皇後說的哪裏話，你心地寬厚，又怎知那兩個毒婦能做出這種事來。”
皇後嘆氣：“十七還等在偏殿，陛下您看？”
文昭帝思忖片刻，開口道：“他也不小了，今日之事他也是親眼所見，瞞不住，與其讓他從別人那聽些風言風語，還不如直接告訴他。”
皇後點頭：“臣妾也是這個意思。”
二人說定，讓梁全将人帶了過來，小男孩規規矩矩地跪地請安。
文昭帝看着雙眼通紅的小男孩，心中憐惜，親自将人扶起來，拉到榻上坐了。
小男孩從沒得到如此待遇，受寵若驚，一時就要起身，被文昭帝捏着肩膀按下：“十七，你坐好，父皇有話和你說。”
小男孩重重點頭，乖巧得不成樣子，兩只小手緊緊抓着自己的衣擺，一點看不出身為皇子該有的磊落大方來。
看着這一幕，文昭帝和皇後不約而同想到以前皮得跟個猴兒似的十五皇子，不免感嘆，雖說敦妃後來起了異心，可在那之前，她對十五到底還是真心疼愛的，不然那孩子也不會是那副天不怕地不怕的模樣。
文昭帝拍了拍小男孩的肩膀，聲音溫和：“十七，今日你可聽到小九和桶桶說話了？”
十七皇子點點頭，小聲問：“他說的，都是真的嗎？”
文昭帝點頭：“都是真的，康嫔才是你的生母……”
文昭帝怕吓着十七，特意放柔了語氣，把事情經過都說了。
小男孩聽得眼淚啪嗒啪嗒拼命往下掉，一會兒功夫，衣襟就濕了一大片，卻死死忍着沒有哭出聲。
皇後看的心中不忍，鼻頭發酸，忙偏過頭去，輕輕按了按眼角。
文昭帝說完，将無聲哭泣的小男孩抱進懷裏，輕輕拍着他的背：“好了，男子漢要頂天立地，不要再哭了。”
十七皇子想起前陣子，十五皇子剛沒了母妃就被人欺負，心中驚懼不安，雙手緊緊摟着文昭帝的脖子，抽抽噎噎着問：“父皇，兒臣沒、沒有母妃了是嗎？”
文昭帝摸着他的頭：“她們兩個心腸都壞了，不配做我兒的母妃，父皇再給你找個好的母妃。”
小男孩懵懵懂懂，點點頭，又搖搖頭，随後又點點頭。
文昭帝好生安慰了一會兒，終于把小男孩哄得情緒漸漸穩定下來，這才将他放下，看向皇後問道：“皇後可有人選？”
皇後搖了搖頭：“臣妾将後宮所有嫔妃想了一圈，實在想不出誰合适。”
她看敦妃是好的，可敦妃想要捧殺十五皇子。她看呂昭儀也是個不錯的，可呂昭儀竟是那般黑心肝。
原先她覺得自己看人無數，一般人都能看透，可如今，她對自己看人的眼光深深懷疑。
更何況是養育皇子這等大事，她還是讓陛下自己拿主意吧。
文昭帝見皇後滿面愁容，點頭表示理解，略一思量，說道：“朕倒是想起一個人來。”
皇後問道：“誰？”
文昭帝：“如妃。”
皇後略微驚訝道：“如妃已經有小九了，更何況如妃那個性子……”最是怕招惹麻煩，她大概是不情願的。
鑒于十七皇子還在，皇後把後面一句話咽了下去。
文昭帝知道皇後的意思，說道：“其他人要麽已經有子，要麽心思不正，要麽年紀太輕，十七這孩子受了不少苦，交給別人朕不放心。如妃心地善良，品行敦厚，朕覺着她最合适。”
皇後想說，其實還有珍嫔應該也不錯的，每次她看小皇子小公主的目光都充滿了慈愛，看得出她十分喜歡孩子，可想到陛下對珍嫔身份上的避諱，便沒敢提。
文昭帝看向十七皇子：“讓如妃娘娘給你做母妃可好？”
十七皇子自幼接受的教導和成長經驗告訴他，但凡陛下問話，便只能說好，于是乖巧點點頭：“兒臣聽父皇安排。”
文昭帝摸着他的腦袋，又問了句：“你可喜歡如妃娘娘？”
十七皇子想到先前那個将他攬在懷裏柔聲安慰的漂亮娘娘，還有那個都沒有凳子高的小妹妹爬到椅子上去給他拿點心，還給他拿九連環哄他開心，他鄭重點了點頭：“兒臣喜歡如妃娘娘，也喜歡九皇妹。”
“如此便好。”文昭帝笑了，又看向皇後：“回頭把十七記到如妃名下，這樣她也算膝下有子了。”
這對如妃來說，倒也是件好事，皇後點點頭，“是。”
見已到了飯時，文昭帝就留了皇後和十七皇子一同用晚膳。飯畢，皇後帶着十七皇子出門，讓人回十七皇子原來的住處收拾行李，她則帶着十七皇子先回了鳳儀宮。
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夜幕已經降臨，本該是歇息的時刻。
可剛平靜了幾天的後宮，突然又鬧出這麽一件大事來，各個宮中再次躁動不安起來，住的近的嫔妃們更是串起門子來，頭對着頭，竊竊私語。
那些不曾聽過桶桶說話的嫔妃們，心中百思不得其解，實在想不明白，康嫔和呂昭儀不過就是當衆打了一架，怎麽就被當衆打了板子，又被送入永思宮了。
雖說她們的行為是嚴重觸犯了宮規，可她們二人犯的這點錯，和有謀逆之嫌的靜貴妃和純妃比起來，那簡直是小巫見大巫，嚴重程度還不足以将她們送入永思宮的地步啊。
那些聽過桶桶說話的嫔妃們，一聽事發當時，九公主也在現場，心中頓時就有了數，定然是那個桶桶又爆了什麽料。
可到底是什麽料呢，居然讓寬宏大度的皇後娘娘直接在鳳儀宮就發作了？
衆人抓心撓肝，好奇不已，可大半夜的也不好出門去打聽，只得早早歇下，想着明兒一早出門，看找誰問問。
只有妙雲軒安安靜靜，這歸功于如妃一回來就讓人把院門給鎖了，誰來敲門都沒開。
她剛給悠悠洗過澡，換好寝衣，抱着小姑娘在榻上講故事。
如妃的聲音溫柔動聽，一只手攬着小姑娘，一只手輕輕拍着她圓乎乎的小屁股。
小奶團子光着兩只小胖腳丫，躺在如妃懷裏，靜靜聽着，只覺得心裏暖洋洋的，一張小臉笑成了一朵太陽花。
如妃看着覺得好笑，低頭親親她的小腦門：“悠悠笑什麽？”
小姑娘嘿嘿一笑：“幸好悠悠是母妃的孩子。”
如妃知道小姑娘這般說定是因為先前蓮花池上的事，她嘆了口氣：“也不知康嫔和呂昭儀有什麽深仇大恨，當衆大打出手不說，落水之後竟然也不停的。如今好了，被打了板子，還被關進了永思宮，怕是一輩子都難再出來了，只是可憐了十七那孩子。”
季瑾悠猜到是因為康嫔知道了事情真相，她很想給自己母妃八卦一下，奈何她說不出。
小姑娘踢了踢小腳丫，也跟着老氣橫秋地嘆了口氣：“那十七皇兄怎麽辦，不是沒人管他了？”
如妃抓住小姑娘亂踢的小胖腳：“估摸着要搬去和其他皇子同住了，就像十五皇子那樣。”
季瑾悠想到先前兩人打架時十七驚慌大哭的樣子，有些替他擔心，“可十七皇兄沒有十五皇兄膽子大，先前他吓得一直哭。”
Ru Fei sighed, "Yes, Seventeen was frightened."
Ji Jinyou raised her little head and looked at Concubine Ru: "Mother, please don't fight with others. It's too scary."
Hearing the worry in the little girl's tone, Concubine Ru hugged the heavy little girl tighter: "Don't worry, Youyou, mother won't fight with anyone."
Ji Jinyou thought about it and clenched her small round hands: "If anyone bullies your mother, Youyou will help you beat her."
The little girl was so cute and fierce that Ru Fei couldn't help laughing. She held her little fist and said, "Okay, our Youyou is the most considerate."
Thinking of her mother's personality of making a big deal out of a small matter, Ji Jinyou knew that she would never have the chance to help her mother. She leaned into Concubine Ru's arms and said, "Mother is the best mother. Youyou will be with her forever."
Ru Fei was so happy with the little fat girl that she bumped her head with hers and said, "Youyou is also the best lady."
Seeing their two masters happy, Jin Xing and Hai Tang, who were sitting beside them embroidering flowers under the lamp, also laughed. For a moment, the house was filled with laughter.
At this moment, there were a few knocks and someone knocked on the gate.
Everyone was stunned. Jin Xing put down the embroidery in her hand, stood up and walked to the door, and asked the eunuch on duty to go and take a look.
Soon, the eunuch trotted in and said, "Your Majesty, it's the Empress who has brought the Seventeenth Prince."
Rupin was startled and quickly got up from the ground. Jin Xing and Haitang helped Rupin tidy up her clothes and hair, while the other helped Youyou put on her coat. The two of them were quick and efficient, and just as they had taken care of the two masters, one big and one small, the empress came in with the seventeenth prince, and everyone hurriedly bowed and paid their respects.
The Queen smiled and called out, and then sat down according to their rank. The Queen did not waste time and went straight to the point and stated her purpose of coming.
Upon hearing that His Majesty had issued an order to register the Seventeenth Prince in her name and to let her take care of him, Concubine Ru was stunned for a moment and stammered, "Your Majesty, you know that I am not good enough. The prince is precious and I am afraid that if I don't take good care of him, something bad will happen to him later."
In her heart, having Youyou alone was enough. She had never thought about having a son, let alone raising someone else's son.
Especially since the Seventeenth Prince is so old and has his own ideas, she is really afraid that she won’t be able to teach him well.
Besides, it is inevitable that the child will get sick as he grows up, or get bumped or bruised if he is not taken care of. Isn't that the fault of her as the adoptive mother?
For her own child, no one would suspect that she had bad intentions, nor would they say anything, but for an adopted child...
What people say is really scary, she really doesn't dare to keep one.
Ji Jinyou was also stunned.
She sympathized with the Seventeenth Prince, but the reaction that came to her mind was that she didn't want anyone else to compete with her for her mother.
But the Empress just said that this was His Majesty's order, and now the person has been sent to Miaoyunxuan, they have no way to refuse, otherwise they would be disobeying the order.
The seventeenth prince saw that Concubine Ru did not seem to want him, and tears of sadness almost fell from his eyes. His two little hands were clenched together tightly, and he was at a loss as to what to do.
When the empress saw Concubine Ru trying to push her out in fear, she secretly thought that His Majesty had made the right choice. In this palace, the concubines wished they had many princes, but Concubine Ru didn't think so.
She smiled and took Concubine Ru's hand: "His Majesty values you, so he gave Seventeen to you to raise. Don't think too much, just treat Seventeen as your own child. As long as you have a clear conscience, no matter what happens, no one will blame you."
These words gave Concubine Ru some peace of mind, but she still hesitated and didn't say anything for a long time.
The Queen added: "In a few months, Seventeen will be seven years old, and then he should move out. It will only take about half a year."
It was His Majesty's order, and the person was sent by the Empress herself. With words being said to this extent, Concubine Ru knew that if she refused again, it would be a lack of courtesy and disobedience to His Majesty's order.
She sighed in her heart and bowed to express her gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty and the Queen, for your consideration of me. I will definitely treat Seventeen as my own child in the future."
"Okay, get up quickly." The queen smiled and waved to the little boy standing beside her: "Seventeen, come here and greet your mother."
"Yes." The seventeenth prince walked to Concubine Ru, knelt down and kowtowed: "Son has seen mother."
Although Ru Fei was timid, she was an open-minded person. Since she had agreed, she did not hesitate any longer. She stepped forward to help the little boy up, touched his little face, and said softly, "Good boy."
Things were set in stone and could not be changed, so Ji Jinyou gladly accepted it. He felt that having another brother was also good. This way, at least his mother would have a son in her name, which was quite important in the harem where offspring were valued.
She didn't need anyone to call her. She walked forward on her short legs, took the Seventeenth Prince's hand and shook it, smiling naively: "Seventeenth Brother, don't be afraid. I will protect you from now on."
The little dumpling was not even as tall as Seventeen's chest, but he said in a serious manner that he wanted to protect others, causing the Empress and Concubine Ru to laugh out loud.
The Queen still had something to say to Concubine Ru in private, so she asked Xiaojiu to take Seventeen to play aside first. When there were only two of them left in the room, she told her about the grudge between Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi.
Concubine Ru was dumbfounded and her heart was pounding. She couldn't help but feel more sympathetic and distressed for Seventeen, and promised the Queen that she would treat him well.
"Your Majesty and I are both very relieved to have you raise the child." The Queen nodded and continued, "Because of those past events, His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation. The people who previously served Seventeen can no longer be employed. So today I only brought Seventeen's luggage, but not the person. Tomorrow I will personally select a few capable and reliable people to send him over."
Princess Ru responded one by one and expressed her gratitude again and again.
After the queen finished her instructions, she called Seventeen in, gave him a few words of admonition, and then got up and left.
The seventeenth prince looked at Concubine Ru timidly without saying a word.
Ji Jinyou held his hand and dragged him in front of Concubine Ru, "Don't be afraid, mother is the best mother in the world."
Concubine Ru thought of the words of the Empress, reached out to pull the little boy over, rolled up his sleeves, and when she saw the purple handprints there, her eyes reddened with heartache. Even with her good temper, she wanted to slap Concubine Kang and Lu Zhaoyi hard.
When Ji Jinyou saw the scars, she clenched her fists in anger, her face puffed up: "That's so bad."
Ru Fei took the little boy into her arms, hugged him tightly, gently stroked his head, and said softly, "Don't be afraid, Seventeen. No one will dare to bully you from now on."
Ji Jinyou raised a small hand and patted his back: "Don't be afraid, Brother Seventeen. If anyone dares to hit you again, Youyou will help you fight back."
Nestled in that warm and soft embrace, feeling the firm patting of the little hands on his back and listening to the two people's soft and comforting voices, the little boy's panicked heart, which had been wandering for so long, suddenly settled down.
He pursed his lips and tried to hold back, but finally he couldn't hold it back anymore and burst into tears.