"This is a koi carp, not the kind of fish we usually eat. It doesn't taste good."
Remembering that she also played with koi fish when she was a child, Lin Yuqiao squatted down next to Mengmeng, turned her head to look at him and said.
Holding a handful of fish food given to her by Granny Jiang, Mengmeng sprinkled it down, smiling as she watched the fish gather in front of her.
"My mother always thinks about food."
Hearing her son's words, Lin Yuqiao clutched her chest, feeling devastated, and looked at her son with sorrow.
Whose child is this? So unlovable. She's always thinking about food.
Her acting was too exaggerated. Mengmeng glanced at her, then continued watching the fish. Lin Yuqiao felt her blood drained again, glaring at him with endless resentment.
The chibi-style little dumpling was intently watching the koi fish. Her profile still looked a bit chubby, and her long eyelashes cast a shadow. She was so cute that she forgot all her worries.
She leaned in and stole a kiss on Mengmeng's cheek. When he turned to look at her, Lin Yuqiao quickly pulled her head back, pretending that she hadn't done anything and was just looking at the fish.
Mengmeng turned around to look at her, then turned back, and a short while later she was kissed again.
"Mother."
Seeing the person shrugging and chuckling, Mengmeng slumped her face helplessly, stomped her feet, and stared at her with bright eyes.
"Haha, cheer up!"
Lin Yuqiao hugged Mengmeng tightly and continued to kiss him with a smile.
"Mother, I've grown up!"
She pushed away her mother's wolfish kiss, her adorable little face puffed up with anger.
Ever since Liu Heng praised him once for reciting a poem, saying "Mengmeng has grown up," he has always kept saying "grown up."
"You're not even three years old yet."
Kissing his chubby little hand, Lin Yuqiao's teeth started to itch again.
A slightly chubby-cheeked little boy angrily shouted that he had grown up, which made him even cuter.
However, thinking that her son had his own thoughts now and was no longer the little baby she could hold in her arms and knead at will, Lin Yuqiao kissed Mengmeng a few times and then let go of him.
She had to sadly admit that her son's personality was becoming less and less endearing as he grew older. Not only did he always reject her affection, but he was also a quiet child who disliked games.
The spinning top, cuju (an ancient Chinese football game), slingshot, and swing that she carefully selected for her son were all things she only played with occasionally. Although Jiang Mama and the others looked at her awkwardly while she played, she clearly intended to show Mengmeng how much fun she was having and to pique his interest.
However, Mengmeng didn't appreciate her mother's good intentions and barely looked at the toys, but she was very interested in studying.
Knowing that he would be starting his son's formal education in a few months, Liu Heng had recently begun teaching Mengmeng to recite the "Treatise on Calligraphy" every evening to lay a foundation for future calligraphy practice. He recited it with great enthusiasm every day and could finish a chapter very quickly.
Despite trying various methods, Lin Yuqiao was unable to entice her son to look at the toys more than once, and eventually gave in. However, she still maintained her habit of taking Mengmeng out to the park for half a day every day.
At least it's more lively outside. If I always stay quietly indoors, what if I grow up to be a bookworm?
"Your Majesty, that's Lady Hanyu over there!"
While she was playing around with Mengmeng, Lin Yuqiao suddenly felt Mangxia whispering beside her.
She looked up and saw a girl in a scarlet palace dress approaching from afar.
After she calmly stood up, tidied her clothes and appearance, Han Yu walked in.
"Hanyu, a palace maid of Zhaoren Palace, greets Your Highness."
After performing the proper greetings, Han Yu stood gracefully to one side, somewhat surprised by Consort Lin's appearance. Although she knew of the rumors that the Consort was extremely beautiful, she always thought the rumors were exaggerated. She never expected that seeing her in person, she truly possessed extraordinary beauty and charm, a rare beauty among men.
At the same time, Lin Yuqiao was secretly shocked when she saw Han Yu. In this life, she was very confident in her appearance and had never met a match. She never expected that she would actually see what it meant to be "there are heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people".
Although she, Hanyu, Chunlan, and Qiuju each had their own strengths and it was not easy to clearly distinguish who was better, Hanyu was younger than her and was in the prime of her life, with full figure, delicate features, and beautiful teeth, making her very attractive.
At that moment, Lin Yuqiao's heart was already on high alert. Looking at Han Yu's somewhat pitiful smile, her eyes were icy cold.
This is a declaration of war against her.
"It seems the library in Zhaoren Hall is so quiet that Lady Hanyu can stroll around the garden in broad daylight."
Looking at Han Yu with a half-smile, Lin Yuqiao said casually.
"Your Highness, I have been entrusted by His Majesty to serve in Zhaoren Palace, so how could I not serve you diligently? However, I have been feeling unwell recently, and I have already informed the head eunuch. Furthermore, the imperial physician has also come to diagnose me and suggested that I go out for walks more often, which might help me feel better."
Han Yu's brows indeed showed a hint of fragility as she answered respectfully.
Lin Yuqiao gave a casual laugh and then stopped looking at her. To defeat the enemy, one must first tactically despise her.
Holding Mengmeng's hand, Lin Yuqiao walked with him into a pavilion not far away. Inside the pavilion, Granny Fang and the others had already prepared snacks and tea, which she could enjoy when she arrived.
Left standing by the pond, watching Lin Yuqiao and Mengmeng, Han Yu gritted her teeth, feeling slighted and a shadow crossed her eyes.
She was no less capable than the Imperial Concubine, so why could the Imperial Concubine enjoy herself so easily and leisurely, while she had to do servants' work? Even though Zhaoren Palace wasn't very busy, she still had to frequently organize books, clean bookshelves, and tidy up records. The more she thought about it, the more indignant she became. She hardened her heart and walked towards the pavilion.
"The pastries here are still the most delicious. Just the aroma is different from those elsewhere."
Thinking that she was, after all, a fourth-rank female official, and that Consort Lin should give her some face, Han Yu stopped outside the pavilion and said with a smile.
“I also think it smells delicious. These pastries are all made by the small kitchen in Yanqing Palace. You have naturally never tasted them before.”
After taking a piece of auspicious cake, Lin Yuqiao slowly spoke only after finishing it.
Han Yu didn't leave, and Lin Yuqiao didn't invite her in either. She ate with relish under Han Yu's watchful gaze.
Han Yu, standing outside the pavilion, blushed and then turned pale again, barely managing to remain calm. She hadn't expected Consort Lin to show her absolutely no respect, treating her, a fourth-rank female official, no different from the other palace maids.
If Lin Yuqiao knew what she was thinking at this moment, she would definitely laugh it off.
But a fourth-rank female official is, after all, still a servant. She really thinks too highly of herself. She can bow to the Empress, but does she need to lower herself to a mere female official?
Seeing the mocking look in the eyes of the maidservant beside the imperial concubine, Han Yu clenched her fists tightly under her sleeves, almost biting her lower lip until it bled, feeling that she had completely lost the upper hand.
Han Yu waited until Lin Yuqiao was about to leave with Mengmeng before following them.
"Didn't Lady Hanyu want to take a stroll? Why are you staying here?"
Lin Yuqiao frowned as she looked at the person in front of her, feeling extremely annoyed. This person was like a piece of chewing gum, once they stuck to her, they wouldn't leave.
"This servant thinks the scenery here is very beautiful."
Han Yu maintained her almost frozen smile and bowed in response.
Mengmeng stood beside Lin Yuqiao, looking up at Hanyu's purse. Her purse was exquisitely embroidered, in the shape of a six-tiered pagoda, and very three-dimensional, with five-colored tassels at the bottom.
Han Yu was overjoyed when she saw the Third Prince looking at her purse.
"The Third Prince is intelligent and obedient, and will surely be extraordinary in the future. If the Third Prince finds my crude needlework acceptable, please accept me as his servant."
Hanyu took the purse off and handed it to Mengmeng, who was standing obediently.
"Or you want it? Take it if you like."
Although she didn't think much of Han Yu's things, her embroidered purse was indeed exquisite, something she had never seen before. Lin Yuqiao thought that if Mengmeng liked it, she could let him keep it, and she would give Han Yu some other things in return.
Holding Lin Yuqiao's hand, Mengmeng looked away, shook her head, and indicated that she didn't want it.
He's probably just looking at something new. Considering all the brightly colored toys in Yanqing Palace that Mengmeng doesn't even glance at, Lin Yuqiao doesn't think he'll suddenly lower his taste and start liking a strange palace maid's purse.
Seeing that the Third Prince didn't want her purse, and seeing that Lin Yuqiao was about to pull Mengmeng away, Han Yu panicked and quickly squatted down to force the purse into Mengmeng's hand.
"If the Third Prince is pleased, please accept this humble servant's offer."
After speaking, Han Yu's hand brushed across Mengmeng's face again without leaving a trace.
"Since Lady Hanyu is so willing to give it, then accept it. Remember to reward Lady Hanyu with a hairpin during Qingming Festival."
Not wanting to continue entangled with this annoying woman, Lin Yuqiao gestured for Granny Fang to take the purse from Mengmeng's hand, then took Mengmeng's hand and gracefully left.
Hearing Lin Yuqiao's intentional insult in the second half of her sentence, Han Yu didn't take it to heart. Watching the group walk away, a smile suddenly appeared on her face.
Back home, Mengmeng quietly played with the nine-linked rings as usual. After dinner, he waited for Lin Yuqiao to read him the next chapter of "The Diagram of Brushstrokes" and continued to recite it.
That night, Liu Heng did not go to Yanqing Palace. Lin Yuqiao read to her son but fell asleep while reading. Mengmeng was interrupted by her before he could finish reciting.
“Ancestor, we’re not even three years old yet, you don’t need to study so hard. We’re not expecting you to be the top scholar.”
Unhappy that she hadn't finished memorizing a chapter, Mengmeng turned her back to her and continued reciting on her own, huffing and puffing.
Completely defeated, Lin Yuqiao listened to her son reciting with eyes full of mosquito coils until he was satisfied, only then could she rest.
But in the middle of the night, Lin Yuqiao was suddenly woken up by Granny Jiang.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Third Prince's face is swollen and red, he has developed a rash, and he is having difficulty breathing."
Hearing what Granny Jiang said, Lin Yuqiao, who was still half asleep, suddenly jumped up, hitting her forehead on the headboard above the bed. The pain woke her up completely, her eyes filled with tears.
"Go get the token and call the imperial physician over."
As Lin Yuqiao hurried toward the side hall where Mengmeng was sleeping, she gave instructions to Granny Jiang.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com