At noon, the child's stomach couldn't stand the hunger and started growling.
Qingyin shyly pretended to be calm. If it weren't for the redness of her ears giving her away, and the fact that there were only three people present, Emperor Chongzhao might have really misunderstood.
Emperor Chongzhao concealed the smile in his eyes, looked at the child's reddened ears, and did not reveal the truth. "Hmm, I am hungry too. Let's prepare a meal."
After a morning of shock, he was no longer shocked. Li Yuanzhen smiled as he looked at the harmonious scene before him, and a sense of relief suddenly rose in his heart. His Majesty's meals were usually irregular, so it was good that there were more children to remind him. He respectfully withdrew.
On the dining table, besides the addition of a child, there were also several bland dishes that did not suit His Majesty's taste, making it clear at a glance who they were prepared for.
Emperor Chongzhao watched Qingyin eat happily, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. He then glanced at Li Yuanzhen and said, "Well done, you shall be rewarded."
Li Yuanzhen chuckled: "Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty."
Seeing that the head eunuch had won the Emperor's reward by currying favor with the young master, the way the other eunuchs and maids in the palace looked at Qingyin was noticeably different.
Qingyin felt the heat and sighed inwardly.
The emperor's favor is no wonder so many people pursue him.
Half a month passed, and the number of toys in the Hall of Supreme Harmony increased, and the palace was increasingly shocked by how much Emperor Chongzhao doted on this child.
After spending half a month recuperating in his own quarters, the Tenth Prince was finally ready to come out.
"What!"
“Father Emperor took the little beggar I saved from Changchun Palace.”
"They even kept him in the Hall of Supreme Harmony for half a month!"
...
The shocking news made the Tenth Prince feel as if he had been lying in bed for years, not just half a month.
Otherwise, how could so many things have happened outside?
“Your Highness, that little beggar cannot be called that now. The Twelfth Princess has given him a name, Ruyu.”
"Moreover, many people speculate that that person might be His Majesty's prince who was lost outside the palace." Qiu Ju carefully observed his master's expression and said cautiously.
These days, Consort Yu knew about the Tenth Prince's situation and deliberately told him to keep it from his master and focus on recovering his health.
"Impossible..." Overwhelmed by too much information, the Tenth Prince didn't notice the problem with his personal eunuch.
The Tenth Prince pondered the events of that day. He had only encountered the little beggar by chance; otherwise, the beggar would have been dead. He couldn't possibly be the Emperor's child.
The Tenth Prince couldn't understand it, so he decided to go to Changchun Palace to ask his mother what was going on with the child.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Emperor Chongzhao was enthusiastically teaching his elementary school students to write.
After reading the memorial in his hand, Emperor Chongzhao glanced with interest at the little dumpling writing diligently beside him.
The atmosphere inside the hall was harmonious and comfortable.
No one dared to disturb His Majesty's enjoyment, except in case of an accident.
Li Yuanzhen walked in from outside. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is requesting an audience."
Emperor Chongzhao's eyes darkened, guessing that the news outside the palace in the past few days had made the Crown Prince restless and come to see for himself.
Emperor Chongzhao's expression clearly showed his concern. The child, who was sitting quietly, noticed this and quietly raised his head to look at him with worry.
Emperor Chongzhao knew that the child had noticed his emotions, and he had also learned how sensitive the child was to emotions these past few days.
Seeing the bright worry in the child's eyes, Emperor Chongzhao's anger lessened somewhat.
"Let him in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As dusk settled and the north wind howled, the boy standing in the cold wind already showed signs of adulthood. The underage crown prince looked remarkably like Emperor Chongzhao, except that his face lacked the majesty of a long-reigning emperor.
The crown prince stood outside the palace gate, his black robes fluttering in the wind, the howling of the wind ringing in his ears.
Those with complicated minds tend to overthink. He hadn't been thinking much about that unfamiliar child these days, but his mother was talking, his ministers were talking... and his resolve wavered.
Never mind, he'll know once he sees him.
The handsome, youthful boy stood there, seemingly calm but harboring a hint of unease, as he thought to himself.
"Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence." Li Yuanzhen looked at the still elegant Crown Prince before him and sighed inwardly.
"Yes, thank you, Eunuch Li."
"Your Highness is too kind."
The Crown Prince's actions have likely displeased His Majesty, and the Crown Prince is being too concerned about the young master's situation.
Inside the palace, Qingyin was also curious about the Crown Prince. What kind of Crown Prince would His Majesty choose?
The child, curious, unconsciously slowed down the writing in his hand. Emperor Chongzhao noticed this but said nothing, only slightly curving his lips.
"The Crown Prince has arrived—" the eunuch's shrill voice rang out.
The young version of "Your Majesty" walked in, and Qingyin stared wide-eyed, looking at this one and then at that one.
Qingyin had thought it was similar, but she didn't expect it to be this similar. No wonder the Empress's eldest son was supported by the ministers without any objection.
This is basically a younger, more inexperienced version of Emperor Chongzhao.
Qingyin curiously sized up the Crown Prince, while the Crown Prince also observed the little boy, who was said to be a prince, out of the corner of his eye.
She was about the same age as the little girl, with fair skin, big eyes, a small nose, and a small mouth. Her features were delicate and beautiful, like a living wooden doll that a young girl would play with. She looked a little frail, as if she would break at the slightest touch.
The Crown Prince is speechless. Is this the child Father Emperor likes?
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