Zhou Changling put his arm around Bai Lingxi, gently tapped her forehead, then took the storybook she hadn't finished reading and glanced at it.
Zhou Changling: "Let me see what you're looking at?"
Zhou Changling: "The fox demon seduced the little monk for a night of passion. Xi'er enjoys watching these seductive scenes. But Xi'er shouldn't just watch for nothing. After giving birth to this child, why don't you try it on your husband?"
Bai Lingxi glared at him, her coquettish expression making Zhou Changling both love and hate her. Zhou Changling's eyes darkened, and he kissed Bai Lingxi deeply in that position, kissing her again and again until they were both panting.
Just as Zhou Changling was about to take another step, a voice came from outside the door; it was Li Mu.
Zhou Changling wouldn't care about anyone else, but Li Mu was someone left behind by his father, so he had to stop, straighten his wrinkled clothes, carry the limp Bai Lingxi to the large bed, give her some instructions, and then leave.
Zhou Changling went out the door, first giving a deep look at Li Lin who was guarding outside the door, before turning his gaze to Li Mu.
Zhou Changling: "It's Eunuch Li. What business does he have with me?"
Li Mu: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, but this old servant dares to ask Your Majesty a question: Consort Rong's unborn child is about to be born. What will Your Majesty do with the child?"
Zhou Changling did not answer him, but instead strolled to the side hall of Ganling Palace. Li Mu followed closely behind Zhou Changling, knowing that the emperor did not want Bai Lingxi to hear their conversation.
Zhou Changling: "Since you've asked this, Father-in-law, you must have your own guesses."
Zhou Changling paused, then continued, "What does Your Excellency think I should do?"
Li Mu knelt on the ground and respectfully kowtowed to Zhou Changling: "Your Majesty, this old servant has served the late Emperor for many years and knows him best. He left a fiefdom for the young prince in the hope that he could live a life of wealth and leisure and never come to the capital to offend Your Majesty."
Li Mu: "Since Your Majesty intends to take Consort Rong as a concubine, then Consort Rong should follow the late Emperor in death. Please, Your Majesty, release the young prince to the fiefdom. This old servant is willing to personally go and take care of him."
Zhou Changling looked at Li Mu kneeling on the ground in front of him. Although he was only fifty years old, his hair was already completely white, and he was no longer as spirited as when he followed his father.
Zhou Changling: "Xi'er will be heartbroken if she can't see her own child after giving birth; this method is not feasible."
Zhou Changling's short sentence greatly alarmed Li Mu. Could it be that the Emperor had truly fallen in love with Consort Rong? Father and son both in love with the same woman—was this some kind of ill-fated destiny?
Li Mu: "Your Majesty's concerns are not without reason. You can raise the young prince under your care for now, and when he comes of age, you can confer upon him the title of prince. Before that, Your Majesty should issue an imperial edict to make the young prince understand his status."
Li Mu's words were practically a direct statement: as long as the young prince's life is spared, that's all that matters. The young prince doesn't want anything else, nor can he afford it. He only begs Zhou Changling to have mercy and not to kill him outright.
Finally, under Li Mu's pleading gaze, Zhou Changling nodded slightly. This method was excellent. He believed that the child who grew up under his and Xi'er's care would surely be of decent character, and there would be no need to worry about him rebelling in the future.
If the child is made a king and placed in his fiefdom too early, who knows which villain might instigate him to rebel? In that case, the people of the Great Sheng Dynasty will suffer, and we won't know who to blame.
Only after gaining Zhou Changling's approval did Li Mu finally feel relieved. He thought to himself that he had not failed the late emperor's kindness and appreciation.
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