Gu Qinlan looked at Zheng Fengyun, who was nestled in her arms, and asked softly, "Fengyun, are you hungry? Tell your mother, and your mother will prepare something to eat for you."
Zheng Fengyun shook his head slightly, his lips pressed tightly together, and his eyes flickered.
He looked up at Gu Qinlan, his eyes revealing hesitation and fear.
Gu Qinlan's heart tightened. She gently stroked Zheng Fengyun's hair and said tenderly, "Fengyun, Mother knows you are a brave child. You can tell Mother anything you want to say, and Mother will protect you."
A hint of trust flashed in Zheng Fengyun's eyes, and he said softly, "Mother, I'm really not hungry."
Looking at Zheng Fengyun's pitiful appearance, Gu Qinlan's doubts deepened.
The child must be hungry, but is afraid to say so for some reason. Perhaps he has been mistreated by the servants.
She felt sorry for the child who had no mother, so she turned to the maid Hongye and ordered, "Hongye, go to the small kitchen and see if there is anything to eat. Prepare a bowl of porridge for Fengyun."
Hongye responded and left. A short while later, she returned with a maid carrying a bowl of taro porridge. Hongye placed the porridge on the table and said softly, "Your Highness, the porridge is ready. Fengyun can eat now."
Gu Qinlan nodded slightly, looked at Hongye, and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Hongye."
Hongye smiled slightly and said, "You're too kind, Princess Consort. This is what I should do."
Gu Qinlan turned her head to look at Zheng Fengyun and said softly, "Fengyun, come and eat your porridge."
Zheng Fengyun hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked to the table and sat down. A flicker of fear crossed his eyes as he looked at the porridge in front of him. Gu Qinlan saw this and felt even more pity for him.
She walked to Zheng Fengyun's side, gently patted his back, and said, "Fengyun, don't be afraid, your mother is here, no one will bully you."
Zheng Fengyun looked at Gu Qinlan, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes, then slowly picked up his spoon and began to eat the porridge. Gu Qinlan watched him, feeling both gratified and heartbroken.
At this moment, Hongye walked to Gu Qinlan's side and whispered, "Your Highness, Fengyun has indeed suffered a lot of grievances. I see it all and it pains me to see it, but I dare not say anything."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinlan's face turned cold, and she said, "Hongye, don't worry. From now on, Fengyun is my son. I will not let anyone who dares to bully him off lightly."
After finishing his porridge, Zheng Fengyun looked at Gu Qinlan and said, "Mother, thank you."
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and said, "Fengyun, you are my child, it is only right that I take care of you."
After finishing his taro porridge, Zheng Fengyun let out a loud burp, a blush rising to his cheeks. Gu Qinlan smiled gently, patted his back, and softly asked, "Are you full?"
Zheng Fengyun nodded, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. However, not long after, his eyelids began to droop, and his head gradually slumped down.
Seeing this, Gu Qinlan gently picked him up, walked to the bedside, gently put him down, and then began to gently pat his back to coax him to sleep.
The Jinghong Garden is quiet and solemn.
Hongye quietly entered the room and watched Gu Qinlan skillfully taking care of Zheng Fengyun, feeling deeply moved. She walked to the bedside and softly asked, "Princess Consort, are you leaving?"
Gu Qinlan sighed softly and nodded: "I have some matters to attend to, but..."
Before she could finish speaking, she noticed Zheng Fengyun's small hands gripping her hem tightly, her eyes filled with fear and reluctance.
Gu Qinlan's heart tightened. She squatted down, gently stroked Zheng Fengyun's cheek, and asked softly, "Fengyun, are you afraid that your mother will leave?"
Zheng Fengyun didn't answer, but just gripped Gu Qinlan's clothes tightly, her little face scrunched up.
Seeing this, Hongye felt a pang of sadness. She stepped forward and gently comforted her, "Princess Consort, please stay. Children always need their mother's company."
Gu Qinlan hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. Looking at Zheng Fengyun, she couldn't help but think of her childhood. Back then, her mother had died early, and the abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepmother and the cruel servants was something she still vividly remembered.
Gu Qinlan sat on the edge of the bed, continuing to gently pat Zheng Fengyun, her mind filled with countless thoughts.
After a moment of contemplation, she summoned Hongye and whispered, "Keep a close eye on the behavior of the servants in Fengyun's courtyard, especially the small kitchen. I suspect he might be being bullied."
Hongye was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and replied in a low voice, "Yes, Your Highness, this servant understands."
“Hongye, do you still remember how I was abused by Madam when I was a child?” Gu Qinlan suddenly asked.
Hongye's eyes dimmed slightly, and she nodded: "Princess Consort, of course I remember. At that time, you were only seven years old, yet you had to endure such pain."
Gu Qinlan sighed, a resolute glint in her eyes: "I will never allow the same thing to happen to Feng Yun. He is so close to me and relies on me, I must protect him."
Hongye looked at Gu Qinlan, a sense of respect welling up in her heart. Although this Crown Princess came from a prestigious family, she possessed a resilient heart. She said softly, "Crown Princess, please rest assured, this servant will do her utmost to investigate this matter."
Hongye secretly observed Zheng Fengyun's courtyard, especially the small kitchen. She noticed that the servants' attitude towards Zheng Fengyun was indeed somewhat strange; although they were respectful on the surface, they often gossiped behind his back.
Hongye returned to the Crown Princess's courtyard and reported her observations in detail to Gu Qinlan.
“Princess Consort, I’ve noticed that the head maid in the small kitchen seems to have some dissatisfaction with Feng Yun. She always finds opportunities to criticize Feng Yun’s food. Moreover, I’ve also heard some servants gossiping about Feng Yun behind his back, saying that he is the Crown Prince’s illegitimate son and is not well-liked.”
Gu Qinlan's face immediately darkened. She gripped the jade cup on the table tightly, her eyes as cold as ice: "These servants are truly insolent, daring to speak ill of Feng Yun like this. Hongye, go and investigate again, see who else is gossiping behind your back."
Hongye withdrew in response, and Gu Qinlan sat alone in the room, her heart growing heavier.
Such rumors are extremely detrimental to Zheng Fengyun's growth, and she must resolve this issue as soon as possible.
At night, Hongye returned to Jinghong Garden, bringing the latest news.
“Your Highness, I’ve investigated. Besides the head maid of the small kitchen, several maids are also gossiping about Feng Yun. It seems they’ve been bribed by the head maid.”
Gu Qinlan sneered: "These servants are really audacious, daring to bribe others to slander Feng Yun. Hongye, you go and tell the steward first thing tomorrow morning to kick the head maid of the small kitchen and those gossipy maids out of the mansion."
Hongye was taken aback. She hadn't expected the Crown Princess to be so decisive. She asked cautiously, "Crown Princess, isn't this a bit too harsh?"
Gu Qinlan glanced at Hongye and said firmly, "Hongye, have you forgotten what I went through as a child? I will never allow Fengyun to be harmed in any way. Since these servants dare to gossip behind my back, they must pay the price."
Hongye dared not say anything more and replied in a low voice, "Yes, Princess Consort, this servant understands."
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