"Xiaoshan, you're awake. It's alright, it's alright, it's good that you're awake."
Rou Niang stepped forward and touched Mo Xiaojin's forehead. The fever had subsided, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mother, what brings you and my sister here?" Mo Xiaojin asked.
"You're one to talk! How did you suddenly get sick? Is it because the people in the palace aren't taking good care of you? Is the food bad? When someone from the palace came to tell me you were sick, I rushed over. I was so worried to see you with a high fever," Rou Niang asked.
"I'm fine, everything's fine here, Mother. Mother and sister have been taking care of me all night, you should go to the side hall and get some rest."
Mo Xiaojin looked at the still hazy darkness outside and knew that it was not yet dawn. It was likely that Rou Niang and Yu Jin had been watching over her all night.
"Mother is alright. Are you hungry? What would you like to eat? Mother will make it for you," Rou Niang asked.
"Then let's eat the slimming noodles that Mother makes," Mo Xiaojin said. For some reason, when she was sick, she wanted to eat the food that Rou Niang made herself.
"Alright, you wait here, I'll make it for you. Yujin, keep a close eye on your brother," Rou Niang said.
Rou Niang went to the small kitchen in the Crown Prince's palace. Since it was still dark, there were no palace servants in the kitchen. Rou Niang went in and began kneading dough.
However, the emperor was still worried about the crown prince, so he decided to come and check on him again. Seeing that it was still before dawn, he came quietly without any entourage. He wanted to see if the crown prince's fever had subsided, so he could be at ease.
Unexpectedly, she saw candlelight in the kitchen and went over to find Liu Rou Niang diligently kneading dough in the dim candlelight. The moment was peaceful and beautiful.
"He's awake?" the Emperor asked. Liu Rou Niang was startled, then relieved to see it was the Emperor, and replied, "Yes, he's awake. He's a little hungry, so I'll make him some noodles. Would Your Majesty like some?"
The emperor nodded and said, "Then make some for me too!"
The mother silently agreed: "That's quite impolite." She didn't say anything more. She had spoken a little too hastily to the emperor today, but fortunately, he didn't blame her.
"Do you need my help?" The emperor saw that Liu Rou Niang had added some more noodles, and knowing that she hadn't initially planned to make her own portion, he felt a little embarrassed, so he asked.
"Then Your Majesty, please help with the fire." Liu Rou Niang didn't stand on ceremony; she still harbored resentment towards the emperor, which was why she said that.
To Liu Rou Niang's surprise, the emperor actually nodded and started a fire.
Seeing Liu Rou Niang's surprised expression, the emperor laughed and said, "What, do you think I don't know how to start a fire, or do you want to see a real joke?"
Rou Niang blushed a little when she was exposed. She had wanted to see the emperor make a fool of himself, but she never expected that the emperor would actually start a fire.
"I myself endured much hardship in the army to get to where I am today. The reason I make this demand of the Crown Prince is that I hope he will suffer more and work harder in his youth so that he can have an easier time when he grows up."
After all, he bears a heavy responsibility and cannot afford the slightest mistake. But I've also thought about it, and what you said is right. He is, after all, just a child. Perhaps I pushed him too hard, and the pressure caused him to fall ill. This time, we will properly adjust his studies.”
Liu Rou Niang hadn't expected the Emperor to say these things. After a moment of silence, she said, "Your Majesty is right. I was impolite today. I was just anxious. Seeing Xiao Shan like that, I felt so sorry for him."
When I first met Xiaoshan, he was so thin and small, almost as if he were still clinging to life. I felt so sorry for him. I thought he must have been under a lot of pressure in the palace, with no one to confide in. That's probably why he broke down.
I know Xiaoshan bears a heavy responsibility, but I think he's still just a child. If one day he grows up and recalls his childhood as filled with such bitterness and hard work, devoid of joy, then finding that joy again later in life will be incredibly difficult.
"Alright, I will pay attention to that in the future, but I am a man after all, and I am not as meticulous as a woman. You can come to the palace anytime in the future and move around more."
"Talk to the children more often. If there's anything else I've done wrong, they can talk to me about it," the emperor said.
Rou Niang could see that the Emperor valued and cared for Mo Xiaojin. She nodded. In fact, there was no conflict between the two. They both loved their child. Now that they had talked things out, things would be much easier afterwards.
The two cooked noodles together and brought them to Mo Xiaojin's palace. At that moment, Mo Xiaojin and Yu Jin were chatting about something, both of them laughing happily.
Seeing this scene, the Emperor felt a long-lost sense of warmth, and his heart was filled with emotion. Perhaps Rou Niang was right; his child shouldn't grow up in such a tense and oppressive learning environment. He should grow up in warmth and happiness. He had already worked so hard and endured so much suffering.
Having reached this point, he has almost lost his family and his loved ones. Mo Xiaojin is his only relative, and he cannot protect him so that he can grow up happily. So what is the point of all his efforts?
After falling ill, Mo Xiaojin sensed a change in his father. He was no longer as stern as before, no longer checking his homework every time they met, but instead chatting with him about other things. Their relationship seemed to have deepened, becoming more like that of father and son.
Because Mo Xiaojin had not fully recovered, Rou Niang stayed in the palace for a few more days with Yu Yan.
During this time, the four of them would always dine together, chatting and laughing, and strolling around in the Imperial Garden. The two adults would drink tea, eat snacks, and watch the two children fly kites, catch butterflies, and run around in the Imperial Garden.
Every now and then, the four of them would get together, not saying anything, and burst into laughter. From a distance, they looked like a family of four.
No secrets stay hidden forever. Over time, this harmonious relationship began to seem unusual to outsiders, and the rumors became increasingly outrageous. Some even claimed that His Majesty had taken a liking to Liu Rou Niang and kept her in the palace as a concubine.
Moreover, the rumors were quite detailed, saying that Liu Rou Niang hadn't returned for many days and had already gotten along well with His Majesty while staying in the palace, and so on.
When Mo Bei heard the news, he was extremely anxious. He thought about going to the palace to ask, but he felt that he trusted His Majesty and Rou Niang, and that going there would only hurt their feelings. However, he didn't know what had happened, so he was naturally anxious.
When Liu Rou Niang heard this nonsense, she was painting with Mo Xiao Jin, Yu Jin, and the emperor, and her face was smeared with ink.
The emperor wiped it for her. Then both of them were stunned.
The emperor had heard the rumors earlier, but he neither clarified nor stopped them, because he was somewhat indecisive and didn't know what was wrong with him.
His feelings for his wife were unwavering, but he also couldn't resist the long-lost warmth of family. He knew that if he continued to wallow in this, the consequences would be uncontrollable, but every day he thought, "Just one more day, even if it's just one more day."
That night, after much hesitation, Mo Xiaojin personally told Rou Niang the rumors he had heard. If the emperor did not want Liu Rou Niang to know, Liu Rou Niang would probably never hear such rumors in her lifetime while she was in the palace.
"Your Majesty, I have been staying in the palace for many days. I imagine the two princesses in the Princess's residence are quite anxious. Today, I plan to return to my residence."
Upon hearing this, Rou Niang, recalling the Emperor's actions during the day, was filled with dread.
"……good."
Ultimately, it shouldn't have been left behind, sigh...
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