After the little dumpling finished speaking, his dimples deepened, and his bright, dark eyes blinked expectantly at his godfather. He wrapped his little arms around him, wagged his barely visible tail, and asked impatiently:
"Godfather, can Niannian eat braised duck?"
Emperor Chongjin looked at the soft and adorable little baby and laughed heartily. He lifted the little girl high in the air, first making her giggle happily, then tapping her little nose and saying with great pleasure:
"Yes! Niannian is truly my little lucky star!"
After saying this, Emperor Chongjin laughed twice more. When he finished laughing, he glanced at Dejiang, and his originally kind and gentle fatherly smile suddenly turned into a sharp one, as imposing and profound as ever. He said coldly, "Dejiang, get over here."
Dejiang, who had been all smiles like daisies, saw Emperor Chongjin's expression change in an instant. Her smile froze, her neck shrank instinctively, and she inwardly scoffed and muttered a few curses.
However, when he met Emperor Chongjin head-on, his smile quickly turned obsequious, and he scurried over, leaning closer at Emperor Chongjin's prompting.
Consort Min, who had been keeping her head down and remaining silent, was taken aback when she heard Emperor Chongjin's order. Then, looking at Dejiang who was immediately passing by her, she was surprised—wasn't Dejiang supposed to be investigating? When did he return?
Min Zhaoyi suddenly felt a pang of panic.
She looked at the little baby who, after being glared at by Chen Zhixian and Zhuangyou, immediately snuggled into Emperor Chongjin's arms and pretended to be dead. He still had that round back and round little head, but Consort Min felt as if something had slipped out of her control.
Just then, Consort Min saw Dejiang bowing and walking towards her. Before she could react, Dejiang gestured for her to come outside.
"Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered a body search. Please follow me." Dejiang wore a smirk, his small, murky eyes gleaming with a shrewd light, making it impossible to discern his true intentions.
"Search...search the body?" Consort Min was even more surprised. How did this turn into a body search?
Consort Min was increasingly confused.
However, since Emperor Chongjin had given such an order, Consort Min naturally had no choice but to obey. Her mind was in turmoil as she got up and followed Dejiang out.
The task of searching the concubines' bodies was naturally done by the nannies of the Inner Court. Dejiang sent Consort Min to the search and then returned. This time, he went straight to Consort Min's personal maid, Cui Zi.
Dejiang showed no respect to Consort Min when facing Cui Zi, looking down at her condescendingly and saying in a sinister voice, "Miss Cui Zi, please."
Cui Zi was also taken away.
Similarly, Dejiang returned shortly afterward, bowing to Emperor Chongjin and saying:
"Your Majesty, as you instructed, Consort Min and all the maids, eunuchs, and nannies in her palace who are allowed to serve in the palace have been locked up separately, with at least one room between them and someone watching over them, so they have no chance to collude."
"Hmm," Emperor Chongjin smiled with satisfaction, only to find the little boy looking down with mischievous eyes, nestled timidly against his other shoulder, pretending to be dead, avoiding the gazes of two certain people.
Emperor Chongjin shook his head with amusement, and then he found himself being glared at.
Perhaps feeling guilty, Emperor Chongjin felt two pairs of eyes piercing him, but instead of getting angry, he felt a bit uneasy.
Indeed, only women and children are difficult to raise!
Emperor Chongjin glanced at Chen Zhixian, who was glaring at him angrily, out of the corner of his eye, then looked at the little baby who was cowering in his arms and pretending to be dead. He smiled wryly, feeling exasperated.
"Your Majesty, the maids who were searching your body should have finished by now," Dejiang reminded him at the right time.
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