Chapter 10 Three Years Old
Yi Xiu's face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered.
These words felt like a series of deep cuts to her heart.
Born out of wedlock, then the next wife, the legitimate son. Every word struck Yixiu's nerves with precision and ruthlessness.
Everyone looked at each other, and no one wanted to be the first to speak. Even Zhao You, who had been lost in thought... now he should be called Hongzhao, suddenly snapped back to reality, his eyes widening as he strained to look up.
The baby's eyesight is not very good, and the face is blurry and unclear.
"Since that's the case, then don't blame me." Hongzhao thought to himself about his mission, and it was just like a pillow being handed to him when he was about to fall asleep.
Yi Xiu's back was stiff, and the rise and fall of her chest was slightly greater, but she managed to suppress it well. Just as she was thinking of a way to respond, she heard the usually quiet child in Jian Qiu's arms behind her cry out "Wah!" like a whistle.
He released Jianqiu's collar and instead tugged at Yixiu's sleeve, reaching out his hand as if crying for a hug.
Seeing that everyone's eyes were on her, and looking at the crying child, Yi Xiu clenched her hands under her sleeves, and with a barely perceptible tremor, took Hong Zhao and held him in her arms.
Her movements in holding the child were not unfamiliar, as if she had practiced holding a child a thousand times. She adjusted the position a couple of times and let Hongzhao lie on his back in her arms. Hongzhao was not uncomfortable at all.
Hongzhao, ever the friendly one, laboriously reached out his little hand to touch Yixiu's neck, clutching her clothes at the front. Without warning, he burst into a wail, which drew the attention of those around him. His voice was so sorrowful, as if he had suffered a great injustice.
Yi Xiu hadn't expected things to turn out this way, and patted his back helplessly.
She even had the absurd thought—"Is this child...standing up for her?"
Regardless, she wouldn't miss such a good opportunity. She patted Hongzhao's back tenderly, her face flushed from crying, and felt even more sorry for him. "Why should you be so upset about the two newborns, Third Sister-in-law? Royal children are always noble. I wasn't fortunate enough to keep Honghui. I'm naturally happy that my other sisters can give birth to children."
The princes and nobles in the distance also noticed the commotion and came to see what was going on when they saw everyone gathered together.
Hongjin watched her younger brother cry like this, her small face revealing no emotion. But her actions told everyone that she had learned something.
She pulled her finger out of her mouth, smacked her lips, and exclaimed "Wow!" as she joined the team.
As Yinzhen walked through the crowd, he saw his wife comforting their infant son with a wronged expression, while also having to look after the eldest princess who was crying beside her. The two girls' once fair faces were now flushed red.
Everyone present was intelligent; judging from the expressions on their faces, they could roughly tell what had happened. Prince Cheng, with an unpleasant expression, walked up to Yinzhen, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Fourth Brother, I'm truly sorry, my wife isn't very good at speaking, this..."
Yinzhen nodded, interrupting him, "It's alright, Third Brother. I suppose you're in a good mood today and have had a bit too much to drink."
"Yes, yes, I misspoke after drinking." Prince Cheng replied with a smile, then turned to praise the two children, "Hongzhao and Hongjin are indeed extraordinary, so intelligent at such a young age."
Yinzhen nodded, clearly pleased.
The matter was dropped, and Hongzhao remained in Yixiu's arms, never to be released again.
As soon as the banquet ended, rumors spread that "the twins are extremely intelligent, and the Princess Consort of Prince Yong is very close to them, so she may be considering adopting them."
When the news reached the household, Lü Yingfeng spent several days in fear, terrified that one day the Fujin (principal wife) would send Jianqiu to demand the child. She was the Fujin's primary wife. If she were to truly demand the child, Lü Yingfeng would have no reason to refuse.
But after waiting and waiting, no one came to say anything, so I felt relieved.
The news naturally reached Yixiu's ears. At that moment, she was standing by the window, listening to the pattering spring rain outside. Jianqiu's words echoed in her ears, yet it seemed as if the distance had suddenly increased, and she was back to that rainy night when she was holding Honghui's body.
Hongzhao was soft and warm in her arms. He was crying his heart out in her arms. Yixiu felt the rise and fall of his body, just like when she held Honghui that night.
But Honghui no longer had the strength to cry and make a fuss. He was cold, quiet, and unresponsive.
Yixiu felt a splitting headache. The howling cold wind from that night had been blowing in her heart for so many years without stopping.
Jianqiu was still trying to persuade her, suggesting that they take this opportunity to mention to the prince that they should bring the child over. It was clear that the princess knew her headache was about to flare up again, so she stopped talking in time.
Yixiu knew, of course, that if she wanted a child, Hongzhao would be the best choice. He was young and not shy, so he could be raised and tamed. Her aunt would definitely agree to this. She was the legitimate mother, and Hongzhao was auspicious. If he also had the title of legitimate son, she would have no worries about the future.
But she just didn't want to! She only had one son, and no one could replace Honghui's position as the legitimate son.
The prince, who died young at the age of three, was rarely mentioned by the prince, and the entire palace avoided the topic of conversation. If even her mother had found someone else to replace him, then no one would remember her Honghui.
"This matter need not be mentioned again, and the servants are not allowed to discuss it." Yixiu, her face streaked with tears, held her forehead, her voice muffled by the rain.
Hongzhao had no idea that he had almost been adopted because of that howl, and he was living a very comfortable life.
Needless to say, her mother doted on her, and her father's care for her was also surprisingly abundant.
Since Lü Yingfeng finished her confinement period, Yinzhen has frequently visited the Jade Hall Palace and stayed overnight more often than before. Naturally, he often sees Hongzhao, who often takes advantage of his young age to cling to his father.
When Yinzhen first arrived, he was not used to it. In his eyes, father and son should be like ruler and subject. But when faced with two lucky babies with big, bright eyes, he really couldn't lower his voice and could only say with a straight face, "Nonsense."
In Hongzhao's eyes, this ridiculous statement was now equivalent to "Okay".
What about climbing up a father's thigh to his knee, or sleeping soundly in his father's arms, or opening a book and pointing at it to hear him read aloud when he gets a little older?
Hongjin, that little girl, imitates her brother and does whatever he does.
Yinzhen's most frequent action was to put on a stern face and say, "Nonsense," and then indulge the two children in doing whatever they wanted.
If outsiders were to see the scene inside the Jade Hall, they would be utterly astonished. The usually cold-faced prince actually had such a loving fatherly side.
Yinzhen was actually quite happy about this. He was over forty years old and only had five sons. When his eldest son was born, he was deeply in love with Rouze and didn't have much time to spare for that child. Besides, that child didn't have the good fortune to die young.
The second son was born with bruises all over his body and took the life of his beloved wife.
The third son, Hongshi, was healthy, but he had a bad temper and was not good at studying. He was like a mouse seeing a cat when he saw Yinzhen, cowering in fear. Yinzhen disliked him very much.
The fourth son... let's not talk about him.
Now, this fifth son is a bit bolder, and his chubby face is quite adorable.
Even Yinzhen indulged him. There was almost no place in the palace that Hongzhao couldn't go. He often took Hongjin to Qingliang Palace to play with Consort Feng. The two little ones would sing and dance together, always managing to make Consort Feng very happy.
Qingliang Palace was the residence of Consort Nian, and Consort Feng was one of her servants. It was customary to pay respects to Consort Feng when visiting Qingliang Palace. Hongzhao and Hongjin never went empty-handed; they always brought some "gifts."
Sometimes it was a small bag of cakes made by Lü Yingfeng, sometimes it was flowers picked by Hong Jin and a wreath woven by Hong Zhao, and sometimes it was a cricket...
Anyway, every time, Nian Fujin would frown and say she didn't like it and that it was so annoying, but every time the two siblings would get a plate of crab meat pastries from Qingliang Palace, and even though their mouths were full of crumbs, Aunt Songzhi would wipe their mouths for them.
The Fujin and the others went there with ease. Ever since they learned that Yixiu had no intention of adopting Hongzhao, Lü Yingfeng often took Hongzhao and Hongjin to pay their respects to the Fujin. Hongzhao and Hongjin followed suit and often went to pay their respects after they were able to walk on their own. Each time they went, they ate their fill of the fruits and vegetables in the palace.
In the Prince's Palace, Hongzhao celebrated his third birthday without any restraint.
"Beep—The fourth task has been triggered: Please protect the fetus in Lü Yingfeng's womb."
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