"Yes, this kid can eat and sleep well; he's a lucky one."
After coaxing the child to sleep, Sheng Changling handed the child over to the wet nurse who was waiting nearby. This person was also carefully selected by him; she came from a respectable family and could be entrusted with his care.
"Go down and take good care of the little prince. You will all enjoy a life of luxury from now on."
"Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress, for your great kindness. I will certainly take good care of the young prince."
The wet nurse was extremely grateful, knowing full well the immense fortune her family would receive if she could become the wet nurse of the next emperor.
"Wait, Yeats."
Ye Zhi glanced at his mistress, nodded knowingly, saw the wet nurse out, and gave her a large purse.
"Granny, this is a gift from Her Majesty. Her Majesty has also taken care of things at your home. Please rest assured and serve the young prince here. I hope you will take good care of him."
"Of course, this servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress and Miss Ye Zhi."
The wet nurse did not refuse, but she didn't know why the Empress would give her such special instructions. She secretly made up her mind to be on her best.
After Ye Zhi saw the wet nurse off, he returned and stood in a corner of the hall. Although he did not speak, he could put Liu Lingxi at ease.
Meanwhile, Sheng Changling and Liu Lingxi were still playing chess. One had just gotten up not long ago, and the other had just had a fight, so neither of them was in the mood to rest.
"I am truly sorry that I am not able to pay my respects to Your Majesty this time due to my illness. I will come to pay my respects as soon as I am better."
Liu Lingxi held a black chess piece in her hand. Her snow-white fingertips echoed the jet-black chess piece, making her jade-like fingers appear even more rounded and tender, so enticing that one might want to take a bite.
She brought this up mainly because she didn't really want to see Sheng Changling anymore. Her goal had been achieved, so of course she was going to discard him once she was done with him.
She knew that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had a conflict, and Sheng Changling would definitely not like to hear her bring up the Empress Dowager rashly.
Sheng Changling did indeed think of the dispute that had occurred at Cining Palace, and a shadow gradually rose in his heart.
His childhood experiences made Sheng Changling both stubborn and sensitive. Perhaps because the people who served him changed too frequently, Sheng Changling was always extremely insecure.
He believes that it is best to have control over everyone and everything.
Therefore, all the servants in the Hall of Mental Cultivation were carefully selected by him.
Every word Liu Lingxi uttered, every action she took, and even her daily attire were reported to him by a designated person.
It can be said that Liu Lingxi lived under his surveillance.
Sheng Changling had a vague sense of Liu Lingxi's feigned indifference towards him.
With the corroboration from his subordinates, Sheng Changling was almost certain that Xi'er... did not like him.
Can--
So what?
Even if you don't like it, so what?
At least, isn't she still by his side now?
What he needs is constant companionship, not sudden disappearance.
Moreover—
Sheng Changling glanced at the stunning beauty sitting opposite him, and saw that she seemed to sense his gaze and smiled gently at him.
Isn't she still trying to fool herself?
It's just... a bit of a shame. He was really happy to hear those words just now.
Unfortunately, a fake is a fake, and it can never become real.
Sheng Changling lowered his eyes slightly, and the dark ink in his eyes showed signs of melting, but it quickly froze again, seemingly even darker than before.
"No need. You were injured before and need to rest for a few more months. After the coronation ceremony, I will personally accompany you to pay your respects to her."
He also placed a white piece, and the situation on the field changed instantly. The black pieces were almost completely wiped out, but with the white piece, the black pieces had a glimmer of hope.
Liu Lingxi stared blankly at the sudden change in the chess game, her calm heart suddenly stirred with ripples.
When she came to her senses and looked up at Sheng Changling, she found that he had already put down the chess piece and stood up to leave.
"I have other matters to attend to, I'll come to keep you company tonight."
"Very well, Your Majesty, I will wait for you."
After Sheng Changling left, Liu Lingxi looked at the chessboard in front of her again and deduced the deadlock she had just been in. It turned out that only one move could turn the game around.
Could it be...?
Liu Lingxi looked up at Sheng Changling's back, her gaze blank, her heart filled with mixed feelings, unable to describe what she was feeling.
Even though he was the one being deceived, he still made selfless sacrifices. What was his purpose?
*
The days passed quickly. Several major events occurred in the palace in the following two months. On the surface, Sheng Changling successfully ascended the throne, and Liu Lingxi completed her coronation ceremony.
However, troubles continued to rage in the shadows. Sheng Changling couldn't attend to the inner palace, and only controlled the Imperial Kitchen, the Imperial Hospital, and the Hall of Mental Cultivation because Sheng Jin had disappeared!
He secretly sent many people to search for it, but they couldn't find it, and he got very angry about it.
It wasn't until the uprising in Jiangnan, under the banner of restoring order, that Sheng Changling learned that Sheng Jin had been rescued by that scoundrel Sheng Changfeng.
However, he remained calm and had already dispatched troops to suppress the rebels in Jiangnan. Good news was expected to arrive soon.
Liu Lingxi, far away in the deep palace and trapped in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, was completely unaware of all this.
She remained oblivious to all the commotion outside, much to the dismay of the two officials in Yongshou Palace and Yikun Palace.
Yongshou Palace.
In a palace decorated in a fresh and elegant style, two women in palace attire held hands and looked at each other, but neither of them looked very well.
The others had all left, leaving only the two of them, so they spoke to each other without any restraint.
"What should we do? Father has already sent me a message that the late emperor has raised an army in Jiangnan, and there will inevitably be a battle with the new emperor. If we are defeated, sister, what should we do?"
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