Zhao Cong dressed Feng'er and saw that his little face was flushed red and he was holding back tears.
Such resilience and forbearance are truly heartbreaking.
Feng'er isn't the type to hold back tears or keep things bottled up; she should have thrown herself into his arms and cried her heart out.
Zhao Cong held Feng'er in his arms. "Did you have a nightmare?"
Feng'er nodded silently, habitually hugging his neck and wiping her tears on his clothes, then suddenly stopped.
Zhao Cong thought he was going to cry, but he said in a muffled voice, "Father, don't worry, Feng'er is much better now."
Zhao Cong's throat tightened, and his eyes darkened.
His Feng'er always only knew how to act spoiled and clingy with him, and would never say such "sensible" things, because he didn't need Feng'er to be sensible. He just wanted Feng'er to do what children do at her age.
It must be because of what Su Yun said!
He admitted that he wasn't very good at coaxing children, especially not at speaking gently and patiently to Feng'er like Lin Qingwan.
She said stiffly, "If I don't cry now, I really won't be able to cry when it gets light."
Feng'er buried her face in his chest and inhaled deeply.
Zhao Cong felt as if a thorn had been pierced in his heart. "There's no need to listen to Consort Su's foolish words. I'm not that busy, and I certainly won't complain about you."
“Feng’er knows.” Her crisp voice was hoarse from crying. “I just dreamt of Qingwan and I miss her.”
Zhao Cong didn't speak, but patted his back with one hand.
Feng'er raised her head, her nose brushing against his chin, and cupped his cheeks with her small, round hands. "Daddy, do you miss Qingwan?"
Zhao Cong couldn't avoid it, of course, because he couldn't bear to push away those small hands. "I'm not a child."
Feng'er's tear-filled eyes were dark and bright as she stared straight at him. "Do you want Qingwan?"
"I don't want to," Zhao Cong answered readily.
Feng'er pouted.
After a long silence, he looked down at the boy, worried that he would cry, but then asked, "Will Father marry the daughter of the Vice Minister of War as his principal wife?"
Zhao Cong lowered his gaze, revealing no emotion. "This is not your concern."
Feng'er's tears welled up instantly. "So you're going to marry someone else?"
"No matter who it is, I will not let them bully you."
Feng'er bounced around in his arms like a carp, "They have plenty of ways to kill me without leaving a trace."
"If Father compromises and marries someone else today, he will have to compromise and have a child with someone else tomorrow."
“Qingwan is gone now, otherwise I would have gone with her and become her son.” Feng’er sobbed, but his eyes were very firm. “Father, it’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s that I don’t want you to share a bed with a woman you don’t like but dream different dreams.”
After saying that, he asked doubtfully, "Father, did I use this word correctly?"
Zhao Cong was both amused and exasperated. "Yes."
Feng'er continued, "Only Qingwan doesn't covet your person or your power. I've even offered myself up, but she still won't agree to be your principal wife."
"Father, I miss Qingwan, waah..."
He did cry, and Zhao Cong should be relieved, but he frowned because of the phrase "sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams".
When they came out of the side hall, Cang Ying and Shen Xu saw that his expression was not right and neither of them dared to say a word.
Zhao Cong took a few steps and turned back, causing Cang Ying to gasp for breath.
"Let Feng'er's teacher come to see me, and show him books every day."
Cang Ying immediately replied, "This servant will go right away."
Shen Xu gritted his teeth, wishing he could bring the person back. Why couldn't he have such a good opportunity? Once the eunuch left, he would have to relay the message from Nuanxin Pavilion.
Shen Xu closed his eyes briefly, steeled his resolve, and said, "Your Highness, someone from Nuanxin Pavilion has come. His Majesty requests that you come over after court... He says the Ministry of Rites has selected several auspicious days for you to choose."
Early morning.
Aside from discussing the Ning family's crimes and Jiang Su's matter, most court officials were urging the Crown Prince to establish a consort.
This matter is entirely beneficial to the Crown Prince, and even Zhao Cong's advisors agree with it. In addition, the Vice Minister of War is eager to curry favor with the Crown Prince and has been contacting many of his friends to submit a memorial together in the past few days.
Zhao Cong had no reason to refuse.
Upon arriving at Nuanxin Pavilion, the Emperor paid no attention to the matter between Consort Ning and Jiang Su, and instead had a eunuch bring a booklet to Zhao Cong, saying, "The third and eighth days of next month are auspicious days."
"Choose one, so that the Ministry of Rites can issue the betrothal gift as soon as possible and prepare for your wedding."
Zhao Cong didn't look at it, saying, "Father, you can decide."
The emperor was satisfied. "Then you can meet with Tang in a couple of days. I've heard that she takes after her father, is unconventional, and knows some martial arts. I'm sure you'll like her."
Zhao Cong slightly raised his eyelids. "Father, you are very kind."
Over the years, while the emperor may have been kind, he turned a blind eye to his needs and the persecution by Prince Jing and his mother. He may have been ruthless, yet he allowed the emperor to hold military power and establish a firm foothold. The selection of a woman from the Tang family was also a scheme to help him secure his rule.
Zhao Cong couldn't understand it before, and it would even give him headaches when he woke up from nightmares.
His feelings for the emperor were complex; he felt gratitude for one part of the emperor, but also resentment for two parts. Yet, despite the overwhelming resentment, he couldn't ignore the emperor's good intentions.
Until today, Feng'er held back his tears because of Su Yun's words, and later cried again because of his decision to establish a concubine. Only then did he understand.
The emperor did not love him.
It's just like cultivating a qualified and ideal successor. It's like planting a tree. You water it, fertilize it, and remove pests according to its growth pattern. The tree happens to need this kind of help, so it thinks that the successor is very good to it.
That's ridiculous.
The emperor did not truly love Zhao Yan.
He handed the honey pot to Prince Jing and his mother, making Consort Ning willingly enter this deadly trap.
The emperor's favor was more of a means to suppress the empress's family through the Ning family. He was afraid that Zhao Cong's maternal grandfather would have too much power and that Zhao Cong would be too close to his maternal relatives.
Once Zhao Cong has gradually come up to him, the Ning family will apologize to him.
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