Emerging from the Imperial Study with an unsettling anxiety, Lin Wanwan felt a heavy weight in her heart, and even her breathing became somewhat labored.
The joy of the smooth implementation of the new policy was completely overshadowed by the agonizing uncertainty. Her mind was now filled with Xiao Che's frowning gesture, like she was working on a reading comprehension question, analyzing it over and over, but unable to find the correct answer.
Frustrated, she rubbed her temples, deciding to stop dwelling on it. If she couldn't figure it out, she wouldn't think about it anymore!
"Let's go to the Imperial Garden!" she instructed the maid beside her. "Invite His Highness the Crown Prince along as well."
Yes, taking care of the kids!
There's no problem that a human baby can't solve! If there is, then play a game of hide-and-seek with him!
In the Imperial Garden, spring is in full bloom, and hundreds of flowers are vying for attention.
Little Prince "Tuanzi" is now at an age where he can run and jump, a time even dogs would avoid. Upon seeing his mother, he immediately pounced on her joyfully, like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins.
"Mother! Mother! You're back!" Tuanzi hugged Lin Wanwan's leg, tilting her delicate, sculpted face up, her phoenix eyes, which resembled Xiao Che's, sparkling with pure joy.
The gloom in Lin Wanwan's heart was instantly dispelled by that bright smile.
She crouched down, pinched her son's chubby little face, and smiled, "Yes, Mother is back. Do you want to play games with Mother?"
"Yes!" Tuanzi nodded her little head vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice.
"Okay! Then let's play..." Lin Wanwan's eyes darted around, pointing to the exquisitely crafted artificial mountain range not far away, "...hide-and-seek!"
The artificial hill wasn't very tall; at its highest point, it was only a little over a person's height. It was specially built by the late emperor for his princes and grandsons to play on. The rocks were rounded and had no sharp edges, making it the safest place possible.
"Yay! Hide and seek!" Tuanzi immediately became excited and ran behind the artificial hill with her short legs. "Mommy, come and catch me!"
Watching her son's lively figure, Lin Wanwan's smile deepened. Sure enough, all matters of court politics and imperial strategies had to take a backseat to an adorable human child.
She played with Tuanzi for a while, having a great time, when suddenly she heard familiar footsteps behind her.
"So interested?"
Xiao Che's smiling voice rang out. He had finished dealing with official business at some point and followed along. Today, he had changed out of his solemn dragon robe and was wearing a moon-white casual outfit, which made him appear less like an emperor and more like a gentle, ordinary husband.
"Father!" Tuanzi, with her sharp eyes, spotted him immediately and peeked out from behind the artificial rock, calling out joyfully.
"Why has Your Majesty come?" Lin Wanwan stood up and went to greet him.
"I've finished dealing with this, so I came to see you." Xiao Che's gaze lingered on his wife and son, his eyes softening. "It's rare to have a moment of peace, so I thought I'd spend some time with you."
He walked over and naturally took Lin Wandu's hand.
His hands were still so large and warm. Lin Wanwan's heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.
Subconsciously, she wanted to look up at the top of his head again.
no!
She immediately warned herself: Lin Wanwan, stop watching! It's pointless! Watching will only make you more upset!
She forcibly suppressed the impulse that was almost becoming instinct, and forced a smile at Xiao Che: "That's perfect, Your Majesty, you be the 'ghost,' we'll hide, and you catch us."
"Okay." Xiao Che readily agreed, his face full of indulgent smiles.
A heartwarming moment for the family of three unfolded quietly in a corner of the Imperial Garden. Xiao Che turned his back, leaned against a crabapple tree, and began to count. Lin Wanwan, meanwhile, pulled Tuanzi along and quickly found a place to hide.
"Mother, let's hide there!" Tuanzi excitedly pointed to the back of the tallest rock in the artificial hill.
"good!"
Lin Wanwan helped him climb up, using both hands and feet. Tuanzi was small and agile, like a little monkey, and quickly darted behind the rock, only his two bright eyes showing.
Lin Wanwan hid on the other side, looking at the tall man with his back to them not far away. In this quiet and peaceful atmosphere, the anxiety in her heart seemed to gradually subside.
Maybe... she's really overthinking it?
He frowned, perhaps genuinely just warning the minister. He probably still sees himself the same as before, doesn't he?
"...Nine, ten! I'm here to arrest you!"
After counting, Xiao Che turned around, a playful smile on his lips, and began to search among the artificial hills like a lion surveying its territory.
The little dumpling was incredibly excited, squirming around behind the rock, and whispered to Lin Wanwan, "Mother, Father can't find us! He can't find us!"
Lin Wanwan cooperated by making a "shh" gesture.
Just then, an accident happened!
Because Tuanzi was so excited, the small pebble under her foot suddenly slipped!
"ah!"
The little guy cried out in surprise, his body tilted, and he fell straight down from the artificial hill, which wasn't very high but was enough to scare anyone half to death, just like a kite with a broken string!
Time seemed to slow down at this moment.
Lin Wanwan's pupils shrank to the most dangerous pinpoints in an instant!
"Dumplings!"
Her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and even her breathing stopped.
Almost at the same moment, Xiao Che, who was searching on the other side, also heard his son's scream. He turned around abruptly and saw his son fall from the artificial hill!
"Dumplings!"
Xiao Che's face turned deathly pale in an instant, all color drained from his eyes! The gentleness and smile in his eyes were instantly replaced by fear and horror, and his pupils suddenly contracted!
He wanted to rush over!
But it's too far!
There were seven or eight steps between him and the artificial hill, with several jagged rocks lying in between! For a father, this distance was an insurmountable chasm, a source of despair!
He rushed forward like a madman, but he knew it was too late! Absolutely too late!
In the blink of an eye, Lin Wanwan's body reacted before her brain could.
She's closest to Tuanzi!
Almost the instant her son lost his balance, without thinking, she sprang forward like a fully drawn bow!
Without the slightest hesitation, without a moment's thought, it was a maternal instinct etched into her very bones!
She had only one thought in her mind: Catch him! No matter what, she had to catch him!
"Dumplings!"
Lin Wanwan let out a shrill scream and lunged forward. With an almost resolute gesture, she opened her arms and used her own body to meet the small figure that was falling, the one she cherished as her life!
She was willing to use her own flesh and blood to be a human cushion for her son!
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