Chapter 338: Name
Time is getting colder day by day, and the New Year is here again.
Last December, there was a palace coup, the emperor fell ill, and the empress dowager died, making the New Year particularly depressing and dull.
This year, Qi Shuo shared most of the government affairs, so Emperor Tai'an had plenty of time to recuperate. Not only did his vitality recover a lot, but the fullness of the national treasury and the prince's steadfastness and ability made him feel better and better.
Emperor Tai'an is not good at expressing himself to others, but he doesn't have to hold it back in front of Prince Jing. He has to praise Shuo'er for being steady and capable from time to time.
Prince Jing smiled on the surface but cursed in his heart: Is the fourth brother still a human being?
Before the New Year's Eve family dinner, Concubine Zhuang saw that Emperor Tai'an was in a good mood and asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, would you like to let the little prince meet his brother and his wife?"
The little prince still has no name and has never set foot outside of Yungui Palace.
When the little prince was born, he lived in Concubine Zhuang's palace for a month. Concubine Zhuang, feeling empty-handed, inevitably developed a bit of affection for him. Later, when she would occasionally visit him at Yungui Palace, she watched the little prince grow from being able to nurse to tottering and now able to clearly call her "Niangniang." Her affection for him grew to seven or eight points.
People are like this. If they have no feelings, they can naturally turn a blind eye to it, but if they have feelings, they can't help but think about it.
In Concubine Zhuang's eyes today, the little prince is good in every way except for his unusual physique. It is so pitiful that he is trapped alone in Yungui Palace.
Emperor Tai'an's face darkened upon hearing this: "The little prince is weak. What if he catches a cold outside? It's better for him to stay in Yungui Palace."
Concubine Zhuang moved her lips, knowingly not to insist, and compromised, saying, "The little prince will be three after this New Year. It's not appropriate to keep calling him 'little prince'. Your Majesty, please give him a name."
Emperor Tai'an subconsciously wanted to refuse, but seeing Concubine Zhuang's earnest eyes, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and said, "I'll think about it."
"Then I would like to thank the emperor on behalf of the little prince." Concubine Zhuang said with a smile.
If the emperor can agree to one of the two requests, it will be worth it for the child to grow another year older.
Emperor Tai'an looked at Concubine Zhuang intently, and said in an inexplicable tone: "My beloved concubine really cares about him."
He hadn't seen the child for more than a year. The child's existence was a fear and shame that he could not tell others.
If people knew that a prince with a long tail was born into the royal family, rumors would probably spread that a monster would be born before the country's demise.
Emperor Tai'an once again made one thing firm: the fewer people who saw the child, the better.
At the family dinner, Qi Shuo also mentioned the little prince: "I wonder how my brother is doing."
Concubine Zhuang was worried that Emperor Tai'an would turn his back on her, so she hurriedly said, "The little prince is naturally weak and can't stand the wind. It's not good for him to go out in this weather."
Qi Shuo smiled and said, "Hao and I haven't seen my brother since he entered the palace for so long. Since he can't leave the house, Hao and I will go see him later."
Emperor Tai'an's expression changed slightly, and he said calmly, "The imperial physician said that he can't stand the cold and heat brought by living people. It's enough that you have this intention."
Lin Hao gently pulled Qi Shuo under the table.
Qi Shuo seemed unaware of Emperor Tai'an's indifference and responded with a smile.
After returning to the East Palace and washing up and lying down, Lin Hao looked sideways at Qi Shuo: "A Shuo, I don't think the little prince is just weak."
Qi Shuo nodded: "I guess so."
"Then why do you keep bringing it up?"
Judging from the emperor's expression, he was obviously unhappy.
"Besides Prince Liang, the emperor has only one biological son, the young prince. He lives in the palace, so with our current status, we can't avoid him. Let's test him a little and have a better idea of what to do, so we won't be caught off guard later."
"So what do you think is going on with the little prince?" Lin Hao asked, holding his chin.
Qi Shuo frowned slightly, and said in an uncertain tone: "Maybe it's not an ordinary disease, but a hidden disease that is inconvenient for outsiders to know."
"It is very likely so." Lin Hao lay down and stopped discussing, but he had deep doubts in his heart.
What kind of hidden illness does the little prince have that makes the emperor so secretive?
Will this have any impact on her and A Shuo?
The palace walls are different from other places. A tiny ripple may turn into a huge wave in the future, so you have to be careful.
Qi Shuo came closer, his voice low and firm: "Don't worry, I'm here."
"Um."
The candlelight flickered and gradually became quiet.
Emperor Tai'an rested in Yuhe Palace. Seeing his expression was dull, Concubine Zhuang gently advised: "The Crown Prince also values the relationship between brothers--"
"I know." Emperor Tai'an clearly didn't want to talk any more. "Rest."
Concubine Zhuang gritted her teeth and said, "Little Prince—"
She knew that the emperor was in a bad mood at the moment, but if she missed this opportunity, she didn't know when the little prince would have a name.
"Just call him Qi An." Emperor Tai'an said casually, then got up and returned to his bedroom.
Concubine Zhuang, who had escorted Emperor Tai'an to the palace gate, stood quietly for a moment. Knowing that she had displeased the emperor, she sighed inaudibly and simply went to Yungui Palace.
On New Year's Eve, the place was decorated with lights everywhere, and the lanterns carried by the palace servants were almost useless. But when you walk into Yungui Palace, you will find that there are many lit lanterns, but it makes you feel dark for no reason.
Looking at the palace maids who saluted her, Concubine Zhuang suddenly realized: it was because there were too few palace maids here.
But this is something she cannot change.
"Empress--" The little prince who was held by his wet nurse saw Concubine Zhuang coming, smiled and opened his arms to ask for a hug.
At the beginning, Concubine Zhuang was a little reluctant to touch the little prince, but after a year, she had already picked him up naturally.
When he was in Concubine Zhuang's arms, the little prince giggled and kept calling "Empress" over and over again.
Concubine Zhuang's heart softened when she was called that. She gently touched his face and said, "You have a name now. It was chosen by your father. It's An An. Does it sound nice?"
This "An" may mean that the emperor wants him to stay peacefully in the Yungui Palace, which is like a cage, but in her opinion, it is the "An" in "peace", which is a good name.
"An An, An An..." Concubine Zhuang called the little prince's name and teased him with a smile.
"An-an-" the little prince imitated in a baby voice.
The little prince was young after all, and he fell asleep quickly. Concubine Zhuang personally placed New Year's money next to his pillow before leaving.
In the blink of an eye, winter has passed and spring has come, and the flowers in the imperial garden are in full bloom, competing for beauty.
Because it was the first day of the new year, Lin Hao went to Yuhe Palace early in the morning to pay his respects to Concubine Zhuang.
Concubine Zhuang had a calm temperament, and Lin Hao was generous and straightforward. They had been getting along quite happily for more than a year. As they were chatting and laughing, a eunuch ran in hurriedly.
"My Queen, something bad has happened to the little prince!"
Concubine Zhuang stood up suddenly and asked anxiously, "What happened to the little prince?"
The one who came to report the news was Xiao Guizi from Yungui Palace, her voice tinged with tears: "The little prince suddenly fell into a coma!"
Upon hearing this, Concubine Zhuang ran out and several palace maids hurriedly followed her.
Lin Hao hesitated for a moment and followed silently.
The few palace servants in Yungui Palace were all surrounding the little prince. When they saw Concubine Zhuang, they seemed to have found their backbone. They cried and recounted the story of the little prince's coma. No one noticed Lin Hao.
Lin Hao met the little prince for the first time.
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