Chapter 35
Ling Huanchen had originally planned to buy a house and hire a few servants to provide for the elderly woman's retirement and to provide for the child's upbringing. But now, the old woman insisted on staying in the palace, and he couldn't think of a suitable arrangement for her.
If she stayed in the palace, the old woman would at most become a nanny, but what would happen to the little kid?
The baby's babbling voice attracted Ling Huanchen to look over, and sure enough, he saw the little baby waving its two little hands and reaching towards him. If the old woman had not held the baby firmly, the baby would have fallen.
He had been seeing the child frequently these days. He had heard from the palace maids that most children loved to cry, but this child was different. She would only smile when she saw him, and was incredibly well-behaved. He was indeed reluctant to part with her.
Just when he was in trouble, Yu Xi had already entered the Yuluan Palace. Seeing this scene, he asked some general questions.
Yu Xi glanced at Ling Huanchen, then at the children in the old woman's arms. "Huanchen wants them to stay?"
"Is it okay?" If Yu Xi agreed, perhaps the little kid's identity would be easier to settle.
Yu Xi curled her lips, "Of course you can. Huan Chen likes them, so let them stay in the palace."
After saying this, he turned to the old woman who was still kneeling on the ground and said, "Old lady, I feel a kinship with this little girl and would like to adopt her as my adopted daughter. What do you think?"
The old woman was stunned for a moment, and didn't react for a long time until Ling Huanchen spoke up to save her, "Why don't you thank the king for his grace?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!" The old woman kowtowed several times in a row.
"Get up." Yu Xi thought for a while, "Give her the title of Princess Anhe and keep her in Yuluan Palace."
Ling Huanchen hadn't expected Yu Xi to keep them. Not only that, but she also directly made them princesses. With Prince You's harem empty and childless, the importance of this princess shouldn't be underestimated.
Since the little child was placed in the Jade Luan Palace, Ling Huanchen had another way to pass the time when Yu Xi was away, besides reading. Everyone in the Jade Luan Palace was circling around this little child. The little child was very well behaved in front of Ling Huanchen and was not shy with others, quickly winning everyone's hearts.
Not only in the palace, but even Yu Zhao outside the palace could not help but rush in, clamoring to see his eldest niece. Originally, Yu Xi had people buy a lot of things, and when Yu Zhao entered the palace, he brought another box of toys, saying that it was a gift for his eldest niece.
Xiao Qi was shaking a rattle in front of the little girl, making her eyes dart back and forth. Xiao Qi was having a great time playing with her, and Yun He couldn't help but come over and pick out a wooden rabbit sculpture from the toys and twirl it around in front of the child.
The little baby was lying on the chaise longue, and Ling Huanchen was beside it. Seeing the two people teasing the baby enthusiastically, he couldn't help laughing.
These two are like children themselves, just like the older kids teasing the younger ones.
Ling Huanchen lowered his head and poked the little baby's chubby cheek, instantly calling her attention back, "Little one, you are finally blessed in this life."
Seeing that she was only looking at Ling Huanchen and not the rattle, Xiao Qi sighed and said, "This little princess, as soon as she sees the master, toys are useless."
Yun He suddenly remembered something, "Master, does the little princess have a name?"
Ling Huanchen paused after asking this question. In the previous life, the child had passed away before he was even given a name. He turned to the nanny and asked, "Did her biological mother leave any words?"
The nanny shook her head and said, "Your Highness, please give the little princess a name."
Ling Huanchen pondered for a moment and said, "Let's take the name Xian, which means elegant."
"Qi Xian, what a nice name." The nanny immediately bowed and said, "This old servant thanks His Highness on behalf of the young princess."
"That's great, the little princess has a name!" Xiao Qi danced with joy, even happier than if he had won a delicious meal.
Suddenly, he heard outside that the prince was visiting. Just as Ling Huanchen responded, Yu Zhao had already run into the palace and ran towards his beloved niece.
"Meet the Queen's wife!"
As soon as Yu Zhao arrived, two large wooden boxes followed him in, filled with children's toys and clothes, more than he brought last time.
"They are all for my eldest niece."
Ling Huanchen smiled helplessly, "Her clothes and toys can't fit into one room."
Yu Zhao waved her hand. "Not much, not much. As the current princess, it's only natural. Madam Wang, has my eldest niece got a name yet?"
"You came just in time. You just woke up. Your name is Xian'er."
Yu Zhao took the rattle and squatted in front of the imperial concubine's couch. "Xiao Xian'er, I'm Uncle Wang. Come, call me Uncle Wang."
No matter how he teased or coaxed her, Qi Xian had no intention of speaking at all.
"Don't be anxious, Prince. The little princess doesn't know how to call people yet." The nanny hurriedly explained.
Yu Zhao said nonchalantly, "I was just teasing Xian'er, it's okay, we can learn slowly, right?"
Seeing that he was so insistent on asking Qi Xian to call him, Ling Huanchen also started to think seriously, what should Xian'er call him?
After thinking for a while, he said to Xiao Xian'er solemnly, "Xian'er, call me daddy."
After waiting for a long time, Qi Xian just looked at him and smiled with a curved mouth, as if she thought Ling Huanchen was playing with her.
Yu Zhao chuckled at the side, "Sister Wang is getting anxious too."
Ling Huanchen didn't really want Qi Xian to speak today. Children need to be taught slowly. Besides, his Xian'er is so cute and well-behaved, she will definitely be a good student.
He picked up Qi Xian. This was the first time he held her in his arms. Fortunately, he was sitting down and didn't have to worry about dropping her.
“Dad…Dad!”
Ling Huanchen's hands trembled, and he pulled Qi Xian closer to his arms.
"Little Princess, are you speaking?" Xiao Qi said blankly.
Qi Xian shook his arms and legs, and said cheerfully, "Dad... Dad!"
Ling Huanchen finally confirmed that it was not an illusion.
"It's really the little princess who spoke!"
Yu Zhao rushed over and took advantage of the situation to teach Qi Xian how to say "Uncle Wang". However, no matter how many times he taught her, Qi Xian would only call him "Daddy". Yu Zhao was like an eggplant hit by frost, only resentment remained.
"Xian'er is young and can't say so many words at once." Ling Huanchen comforted her.
"What happy event has happened? Why is there so much excitement?"
At some point, Yu Xi had already entered the inner hall. Everyone came to greet him, but Ling Huanchen was the only one who was held down by Yu Xi and prevented from moving.
"Xian'er spoke just now. She called Sister Wang 'Daddy.'" Yu Zhao reported it immediately. Although Qi Xian didn't call him, it was the first time she spoke after all. As the uncle, he was not so stingy.
Yu Xi lowered her eyebrows, "Xian'er?"
Ling Huanchen put the child down and said, "I just named him that."
Yu Xi nodded, "What a good name, let's call her Xian'er."
Everyone was still circling around the child, especially Yu Zhao, who was the most enthusiastic in teasing him. However, Qi Xian had a special liking for Ling Huanchen. When she was placed on the couch, she would grab the corner of his clothes. When she was picked up, she would hold a strand of his hair. Ling Huanchen let her do whatever she wanted.
But once Ling Huanchen wanted to stay away from her, Qi Xian's eyes began to blur with tears, and she even showed signs of crying loudly. Ling Huanchen hurriedly tucked a strand of his hair back into her eyes, and her mood immediately turned from gloomy to sunny, and she laughed heartily.
Yu Xi watched this heartwarming scene from the side, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Ever since Qi Xian moved into Yuluan Palace, Ling Huanchen's attention had been largely drawn to her. Three times already, when he wanted to hug her, the nurse came running in, saying the little princess was crying uncontrollably, and without a word, her little merman had left her to look after the baby.
But who recognized this adopted daughter? He recognized her himself.
Yu Xi was silent for about a cup of tea, and suddenly raised her voice, "It's getting late, Zhao'er..."
A brother knows his brother best. Yu Zhao immediately understood that his brother was trying to get rid of them, most likely to be affectionate with his wife. He quickly claimed to have something urgent to do and hurried off. The other palace servants also withdrew, leaving only the little one still clinging to Ling Huanchen.
Yu Xi coughed lightly and said, "Take the princess to the wet nurse."
The nanny quickly took the child away and did not dare to stay for a moment.
But in a short while, only two people were left in the bustling bedroom. When Ling Huanchen reacted, Yu Xi was already on the chaise longue.
"Your Majesty, are you jealous of even a child?"
Yu Xi was hit on the point, but she refused to admit it. She closed her eyes and changed the subject, saying, "Huan Chen, I had a nightmare again last night."
When the dream was mentioned, Ling Huanchen immediately lost his joking mood and asked, "What did the king dream about?"
Yu Xi leaned forward, her arm hooked around Ling Huanchen's waist, "I dreamed that you disappeared, and I was the only one left in front of the vast ocean."
Ling Huanchen frowned slightly. It wasn't spring yet. Could it be that the Fengming Clan was causing trouble again? That wasn't right. There weren't any suspicious people.
"Your Majesty, do you have a headache?"
Yu Xi nodded gently, "It's okay, it might be because I didn't sleep well last night, Huanchen can just rub it for me."
Ling Huanchen didn't dare to neglect him, and raised his hand to place it on his solar plexus, massaging it slowly. Yu Xi felt comfortable with the massage and simply rested her head on Ling Huanchen's legs.
"Does your Majesty feel better?"
Yu Xi pulled his hand down, and where Ling Huanchen couldn't see, the corners of her lips curled up, "Much better."
"Last night..." Ling Huanchen recalled that he had been a little late in putting Xian'er to bed last night and hadn't noticed anything unusual about Yu Xi. He suddenly felt a little guilty, "I will never leave the king alone to sleep at night again."
Yu Xi responded softly, with the corners of her lips raised more obviously.
Those words were said by the little mermaid himself, he was not jealous of the child.
In two days, it will be the day when the little princess will pray to the heavens. All royal descendants will do this, even adopted daughters are no exception.
At noon that day, the high priest opened the altar to offer sacrifices, praying for good weather in Youcheng and blessing the little princess with happiness and health. He also used the theory of the five elements and the eight trigrams to predict major events in the near future.
After divination, the high priest knelt before the throne and reported the results to Yu Xi one by one.
After hearing this, Yu Xi's face was filled with mystery. "My dear, are you implying that there will be auspicious signs in the southwest?"
"It can also be interpreted as a wise minister being born."
To the southwest of Youcheng is a small town he acquired after he ascended the throne. It is now considered a prefecture of Youcheng and has been peaceful and harmonious for the past few years.
If you count carefully, his little mermaid only had the chance to go to the village market once when he was a child and tasted a string of candied haws. He has never had the chance to go out among the people and see the lively scene.
As he thought about it, Yu Xi came up with an idea.
The author has something to say:
Thank you for the nutrient solution encouragement from "Da Wu Jian Huang Hun" ~
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