For two consecutive days, Nuanxin Pavilion sent people to invite the Crown Prince, but Zhao Cong refused on the grounds of being unwell.
On the third day, King Jing died, and Changfeng knelt in front of the door and refused to leave.
Shen Xu came in to report that Lin Qingwan was hanging mosquito repellent packets in the room, and when she saw him come in, she asked Mu Xue to get a few for Shen Xu as well.
Shen Xu was flattered and said politely, "Madam is too kind; this servant dares not accept such praise."
Just as Lin Qingwan was about to speak, Zhao Cong slammed his teacup down. "It's good that you know."
Shen Xu's outstretched hand froze. If only he had known... he wouldn't have been so polite.
Lin Qingwan's smile froze.
"What is it?" Zhao Cong was writing something on a memorial in his hand, and he seemed to be in a bad mood.
Shen Xu said cautiously, "Prince Jing, clinging to life, said he wanted to see Lady Wan one last time."
"Where does he get the nerve!" Zhao Cong spat out the words through gritted teeth, only calming down a bit when he remembered Lin Qingwan was right next to him.
Lin Qingwan rarely saw him exude such a chilling aura, so she assumed he hated Zhao Yan.
"I trouble Guard Shen to convey this message: I do not know Prince Jing, nor will I see him."
Her words suddenly reminded Zhao Cong that the news had been kept relatively well hidden, so how could Zhao Yan have known?
He said coldly, "Take Changfeng away for questioning."
"yes."
No wonder Zhao Cong was angry. Cui'er had been kept in the East Palace by Consort Ning for nearly ten years without anyone noticing! However, Consort Ning also misjudged the situation. She had Cui'er serve Su Yun, and he was only repaying General Su's kindness by raising his daughter in the East Palace so that she would have no worries about food and clothing.
Su Yun is such a fool. If it were Lin Qingwan, she would have noticed it much sooner.
Lin Qingwan.
The thought of that name inexplicably calmed Zhao Cong down.
Since he had been busy with official business all morning, Lin Qingwan and Feng'er went outside to read storybooks.
Zhao Cong put down the folded document, walked to the window, and saw the two of them sitting side by side, each holding a corner of a book. Lin Qingwan's profile was very beautiful, especially when she smiled.
"Your Highness, how is this character pronounced?"
She really will ask Feng'er.
Feng'er would tell her what to pronounce and explain its meaning. When she saw the word again in other passages, she would stop and test Lin Qingwan.
One dares to teach, and the other dares to learn.
One taught with great skill, and the other learned with utmost seriousness.
Tsk, why is he the only one in the house watching all this nonsense?
He instructed Shen Xu, "Interrogation is the method of the Imperial Guards. They have no right to ask me how to do it if they can't get anything out of them!"
"I will give them one more day."
Upon hearing the door open, Lin Qingwan and Feng'er both instinctively tried to hide their storybooks. However, because each was holding half of one, in their haste, it tore in two with a "rip".
Both were heartbroken, but neither blamed the other; instead, they both looked at Zhao Cong.
Zhao Cong's eyelids twitched. Was it his fault?
So he went back inside and closed the door?
"What kind of storybook are you reading?" he asked lazily, his gaze falling on the two people's hands.
Lin Qingwan and Feng'er had the exact same expression: they were both feeling guilty for being caught doing something wrong, and they hid their hands behind their backs.
"Has the Crown Prince finished his important business?" she asked.
Zhao Cong said, "It won't make a difference if we wait a little longer. Seeing how engrossed you all are, I'll also come and see what kind of captivating storybook it is."
Feng'er shook her head repeatedly, "No, it's nothing. It's not pretty."
Lin Qingwan stammered, "Yes, it doesn't look good."
Zhao Cong was not angry as expected. He found the two men's guilty expressions more amusing than the thick stack of memorials.
"Feng'er, go back to your studies," he said. "You, come in with me."
Lin Qingwan looked around and, seeing no one else, realized he was calling her. She was immediately on the verge of tears.
She looked at Feng'er with her eyes and asked, "Isn't it time for Your Highness to save me?"
Feng'er shrank back, "I believe you can appease your father."
Lin Qingwan: Your Highness thinks too highly of me.
Feng'er nudged her with her small hand: Use your beauty.
Lin Qingwan: ......
Watching Feng'er dash out of the courtyard, Lin Qingwan's hopes were shattered. He was determined to protect his principles to the death!
"What are you standing there for? Come in," Zhao Cong urged.
Lin Qingwan lowered her eyes and resignedly went into the house.
Normally, the Crown Prince wouldn't finish his business until the end of the 5-7 PM, so it wouldn't be a problem for her to read some stories outside. But today, she came out an hour early!
Oh dear, what a miscalculation.
As soon as the door closed, Lin Qingwan immediately admitted her mistake, "It was my fault. Not only did I not stop the young prince from reading the storybook, but I also read it with him."
"I promise it won't happen again."
She raised her hand to swear before remembering that she still had half of the storybook in her hand.
Seeing that she was reluctant to throw it away and secretly hid it in her sleeve, Zhao Cong became even more curious about the contents of the book, wondering how it could have captivated the mother and son.
With a cold expression, he stretched out his large, well-defined hand in front of her. "Give it to me."
Lin Qingwan lowered her eyelashes, "Could you not confiscate it?"
She dared not say that Feng'er would cry.
Her voice was soft and sweet, a gentleness Zhao Cong had never heard before, like stepping on newly sprouted grass in spring, making one want to tread lightly.
"I haven't finished reading the rest yet."
She pleaded again, and Zhao Cong blushed. Was this... her way of being coquettish?
He felt a warm emotion welling up inside him, spreading to every part of his body, making him excited and addicted.
He curled his fingers slightly. "From now on, you'll stay inside and watch. Don't hang out with that kid."
Lin Qingwan felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and immediately beamed with joy, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Because it was so dazzling, Zhao Cong quickly looked away, saying, "Feng'er is naughty. The more you spoil him, the more unruly he becomes."
"It was my fault," Lin Qingwan admitted.
Seeing her sincere attitude, Zhao Cong's voice became even gentler. "I don't mean to blame you. Feng'er is very happy every day when you are by his side. It's just that now that he has recognized me as his father, he will inevitably have to experience things as he grows up. He can't be completely clueless about everything."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingwan felt even more ashamed. "The Crown Prince cherishes the young prince and has made far-sighted plans for him. I will definitely urge the young prince to do his homework well in the future."
Zhao Cong: "If I supervise him, he'll get tired and want to be lazy, so he can cling to you for a while. This way, with a balance of relaxation and pressure, he won't feel miserable."
Lin Qingwan had only one thought on her mind at that moment: Does the Crown Prince need another son?
If she had met a good adoptive father like him when she was a child, she wouldn't have had such a miserable fifteen years.
"Yes," Lin Qingwan solemnly agreed.
After the two had dinner, Zhao Cong took care of a few more things and returned to find that Lin Qingwan had already made the bed... a tatami mat.
Since he returned, although the two have been sharing a room, they have been sleeping in separate beds at night.
He originally wanted to sleep on the couch, but Lin Qingwan said that he had worked hard all day and couldn't sleep well, so she took the quilt and went to the couch by herself.
He did manage to sleep in the bed, but he didn't sleep well at all.
"It's raining outside, you'll sleep in the bed tonight." Zhao Cong was worried she'd catch a cold, since the couch was next to the window.
"It's alright, it's alright, it's summer rain, it's not cold." Lin Qingwan hurriedly climbed onto the bed, afraid that he would take it away from her.
Zhao Cong couldn't figure it out all night. He had sat on that couch before, so how could it be more comfortable than a bed? But Lin Qingwan seemed to sleep soundly every night.
Could it be that he didn't know a soft cushion had been added?
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