Chapter 24
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Ah Wu had anticipated Ling Rui’s tantrum.
“Didn’t you say you would be obedient?” Ah Wu’s tone remained unchanged, showing no impatience with the tantruming child.
He was soothing Ling Rui’s emotions, something he had done many times before.
Ling Rui, starting to calm down, still sounded pitiful: “Ah Wu, will you leave for 1, 2, 3, or 5 days?”
He counted up to five days because he thought after five days, he would miss Ah Wu terribly.
Ah Wu held his chubby little hand with his paw, leaning close to him: “In five days, you can see the letters I write to you.”
Ling Rui sniffed and said, “I don’t want letters.”
He wanted Ah Wu.
Looking at the clingy child in his arms, Ah Wu felt a strong urge to take him away, but when his gaze fell on Ling Rui’s necklace, the impulse subsided.
In the Qi Chao, whether it was the nation’s fortune or many unlucky people here—
They could protect the child and receive his protection, gaining virtue in the process.
This place was currently suitable for the child.
“I’ll send you letters along with some food,” Ah Wu said softly to the child, promising things he could deliver.
Time passed slowly.
Ling Rui was finally comforted, but Ah Wu knew that when he really left the day after tomorrow, the child would throw another fit.
After dinner at the General’s Mansion, Ling Rui sat on a small stool and heard footsteps and voices outside; it was his big brother and little uncle.
During dinner, his big brother and little uncle weren’t home.
“Little Seven,” Ling Chen called from outside.
“Coming!”
Ling Rui jumped down from his chair, patted Ah Wu’s head, and then opened the door.
Outside, Ling Chen was waiting: “Little Seven, it’s getting late. We should head back.”
Ling Rui nodded, reluctantly looking back before opening his arms to his big brother: “Big brother, let’s go out again tomorrow.”
He wanted to go out again tomorrow.
Ling Chen carried him steadily, looking a bit helpless: “Is it that fun outside? Why do you want to go out every day?”
“It’s fun,” Ling Rui answered honestly.
Ling Chen was momentarily speechless, remembering how he had also wanted to play outside when he was little.
Carrying the little boy, he walked while chatting with him: “When you grow up, you can leave the palace and build your own residence.”
“How grown up?” Ling Rui asked curiously.
Ling Chen thought for a moment and replied, “Grown enough to marry a princess. Then you can live in your own residence with your wife.”
Ling Rui: “…”
Ling Rui shook his head: “I want to live with Niang Niang.”
He wanted to live with Ah Wu and Niang Niang.
Ling Chen chuckled: “No wonder Noble Consort Yi spoils you so much. You really are lovable.”
They returned to the palace, and when Ling Rui arrived at Fenghua Palace, he was pleased not to see Emperor Ling. He ran happily to Noble Consort Yi, clinging to her for a hug.
Noble Consort Yi picked him up, frowning: “Why is your little face so red? Did you get too much sun outside?”
Ling Rui touched his face.
He didn’t think he got much sun.
“Ji Yan, fetch some water for a cold compress on his face. Cuixi, bring the soup from the small kitchen and feed him some.”
Noble Consort Yi ordered while bringing out some thin and comfortable clothes Ji Yan had already fetched for him to change into.
Soon.
Wearing loose-fitting clothes, Ling Rui sat on a beauty couch, leaning back against a pillow. With a damp cloth on his face, he didn’t dare to move: “How long do I have to stay like this?”
“Stay still, I’ll keep track of the time.”
Noble Consort Yi sent the attendants away, not letting them serve. She sat beside Ling Rui, going through the things he brought back from the General’s Mansion.
“They are generous to you.”
Seeing the items, Noble Consort Yi couldn’t help but say, “The things mother gave you are the most valuable estates.”
Ling Rui didn’t know about value; he just knew he had a lot of money now.
But despite having a lot of money, the child wasn’t greedy. He pushed the small box toward Noble Consort Yi, saying softly, “If you like it, it’s yours.”
“I don’t need it.”
Noble Consort Yi herself had ample resources, so she didn’t need Ling Rui’s money. She put the small box away and said, “You are too young now. These earnings will be saved for you, and when you are older, you can use them as you wish.”
After carefully putting everything away, Noble Consort Yi sat back down.
She looked at Ling Rui’s little face and then sipped some tea: “Little Seven, do you know what you should call me now?”
Ling Rui was stunned.
Noble Consort Yi sipped her tea, looking calm: “From now on, you are my child, so you don’t have to call me Niang Niang. Think about what you should call me.”
Ling Rui stared at Noble Consort Yi, his little face still covered but slightly red: “Royal, Royal Mother.”
“When there are others around, you can call me Niang Mother.”
Noble Consort Yi said, “When we are alone, just call me Mother.”
If we were outside the palace, a child would call their mother by a more affectionate term like ‘Mother,’ and if it weren’t for Emperor Ling, she wouldn’t have entered the palace to become a consort.
She didn’t like being a consort.
Ling Rui, hearing her words, remembered the scene from the last time he went out to see the lanterns, where he saw children on the street calling their mothers ‘Mother.’
He reached out his small hand and tugged at Noble Consort Yi, saying, “Mother.”
The soft “Mother” made Noble Consort Yi’s eyes inexplicably moist. She put her teacup on the table and took the little boy onto her lap.
“Little Seven.”
Noble Consort Yi looked down at the child in her arms, her voice slightly shaky: “You called me ‘Mother.’ From now on, we are truly mother and son…”
“As long as I’m here, no one in this entire palace will dare to harm you.”
Noble Consort Yi had always wanted her own child, but over the years she couldn’t conceive. She knew it would be very difficult for her to have a child in the future.
A few years ago, she had caught a cold, and she wondered if that was the reason for her difficulty in having children.
Thinking about the reason she caught that cold, Noble Consort Yi’s heart stirred, but she quickly convinced herself that it was probably just an accident and not anyone’s fault.
The two of them hugged for a long time, and eventually, the cloth on Ling Rui’s little face was removed.
He rubbed his damp face against Noble Consort Yi’s.
Noble Consort Yi’s face got wet, and she raised her eyebrows, pretending to catch him to spank him.
Seeing this, Ling Rui quickly kicked his short legs and tried to run away.
But Noble Consort Yi caught his chubby little foot before he got far, pulling him back: “I see you can’t behave for even a moment without getting into trouble.”
Ling Rui, his little foot caught, giggled uncontrollably, not afraid of getting spanked at all.
The next day.
Ling Rui played in Fenghua Palace for half the day, and in the afternoon, he went to find Ling Chen, hugging his leg and pleading pitifully: “Want to go out.”
Ling Chen did need to go out.
Yesterday, he and Murong Xu had gone to find the person Liu Fener mentioned, only to find that the teahouse didn’t have the kind-hearted young master she spoke of.
The teahouse owner was not named Wang, nor did he know any young master Wang.
Their lead had gone cold, so he and Murong Xu agreed to split up. One would continue to search for “young master Wang,” while the other would go to Guang County to investigate the refugees.
“Big brother, please.”
Ling Rui clung to Ling Chen’s leg and even tried to climb up.
Ling Chen, unable to free himself, had no choice but to ask, “Don’t you want to go to school? Little Five and Little Six are there to keep you company, it’s more fun than outside.”
Ling Rui’s attendance at school was sporadic at best.
But since he wasn’t of school age yet, the tutor didn’t mind.
“Later.”
Ling Rui didn’t dislike school; he just wanted to spend more time with Ah Wu before he left.
Ling Chen, unable to move with him clinging to his leg, finally bent down and picked him up: “Alright, alright, I’ll take you out again. Did you tell Noble Consort Yi?”
“I did.”
Ling Rui had indeed informed Noble Consort Yi before leaving the palace.
Seeing him nod, Ling Chen carried him out: “Alright, but you can’t always follow me outside. You’re too young; it’s safer in the palace.”
Ling Rui shook his head: “Big brother is here.”
With his big brother carrying him, he felt very safe.
Ling Chen smiled at his reliance and trust.
The two of them left together, while in Jiaofang Hall, a Momo was quietly speaking: “Your Highness, the Seventh Prince from Fenghua Palace has gone to find our Eldest Prince again.”
The empress, fingering her prayer beads, was meditating.
The Momo continued, “Now that the Seventh Prince is being raised by Noble Consort Yi, aren’t you worried? Consort Shu said that His Majesty is very fond of the Seventh Prince.”
Though their Eldest Prince was excellent, he couldn’t compete with the little one from Fenghua Palace who was so good at being charming.
If the Seventh Prince won the Emperor’s favor and had the support of the General’s Mansion, this little one could very well affect Ling Chen’s standing!
The Empress listened to the Momo without changing her expression.
After the Momo finished, the Empress slowly opened her eyes and spoke in a cold tone: “What’s the hurry? Little Seven is still very young. It’s not easy to raise a child this small.”
In the past, many consort’s children didn’t survive past two or three years old.
The Empress’s words silenced the Momo.
Perhaps the meditation time was enough today; the Empress casually tossed the prayer beads aside and stood up. As she lit new sandalwood incense, she spoke indifferently: “The bond between a mother and child is set even before birth. Without a blood connection, even if he calls her ‘Royal Mother,’ as he grows, that bond will naturally fade.”
The Momo, listening, recalled some old matters: “Your Highness, do you mean Consort Xi and Noble Consort Yi…”
The Empress paused her incense lighting and glanced at the Momo, who immediately fell silent.
Moments later.
The Momo left to fetch something, and the Empress stood by the window, gazing outside, murmuring: “There are fewer and fewer capable people.”
Those she once relied on had gradually disappeared.
The Momo was brought from her family and used to be sharp, but age had made her more foolish.
A mere Seventh Prince wasn’t enough to pose a significant threat.
In a few years, when the Seventh Prince grew older and understood the plight of his biological mother, his heart would naturally change.
Before the Momo returned, her trusted maid Minmin arrived.
Minmin reported that Consort Shu had gone to Consort De’s palace and that a beauty who was close to Consort Ru was taken to the Emperor after being spotted in the back garden.
Consort Li, who had been confined, had been causing a fuss, but recently she had suddenly quieted down.
Minmin softly relayed these events one by one, and after speaking, she lowered her head without commenting on any of them.
“Leave,” The Empress said coolly.
Minmin bowed and retreated, not disturbing the Empress who cherished her quiet.
The Empress leaned against the window, thinking about how Emperor Ling had favored another beauty. She couldn’t help but curl her lips in a mocking smile.
She and Emperor Ling had been a couple since their youth. Back when she was still a young girl, she had also been moved by him.
But over the years, all feelings of love had been worn away. She had spent many years finally seeing clearly—
Emperor Ling had no real affection.
She had seen through Emperor Ling’s cold nature, but the military-born Murong Yi had not.
“Truly foolish.”
The Empress murmured, closing the window, no longer wanting to look at the blooming red peonies outside.
While the Empress continued her usual life in the palace, her eldest son had much richer emotions.
“Little Seven, you play at the General’s Mansion, and I’ll definitely come to pick you up tonight.”
“Play with Ah Wu, yes, don’t you love playing with Ah Wu the most?” Ling Chen had just discovered Ah Wu. Although he thought Ah Wu looked strange, he didn’t think much of it.
To him, in this vast world, it was normal to encounter some unusual beasts.
He couldn’t identify what kind of beast Ah Wu was, which he could only blame on his own lack of knowledge.
When Ling Rui saw Ah Wu had been found, he didn’t hide. One small hand clutched Ah Wu’s fur, while the other pulled at Ling Chen: “Big brother, Ah Wu and I will protect you!”
Ling Chen: “…”
Ling Chen said sincerely, “There’s no need for that.”
Seeing the boy and beast entangle Ling Chen, Murong Xu walked over to help Ling Chen out. He forcibly took Ling Rui away, urging Ling Chen to leave: “You go quickly, you don’t need to take them.”
Some of the villages in Guang County were so remote that it would be alright if they took Little Seven and Ah Wu together.
But since it was only Ling Chen going this time, it was better not to take the two little ones.
“Uncle, I want to go!”
Ling Rui was kicking his short legs hard, asking Ah Wu for help: “Ah Wu, save me!”
Upon hearing his call, Ah Wu immediately growled threateningly at Murong Xu.
Murong Xu: “…”
Murong Xu’s face turned dark: “You ungrateful little thing, after all the meat I fed you!”
Now it even dared to growl at him!
Ah Wu, crouching on its hind legs, continued to growl, not afraid of being scolded as ungrateful.
Seeing his uncle and Ah Wu about to fight, Ling Rui couldn’t care about his big brother anymore. He twisted his face in his uncle’s arms, urgently saying to Ah Wu: “Ah Wu, don’t save me!”
Ah Wu growled again.
Ling Rui became more anxious: “And don’t fight him!”
This was his uncle!
The ungrateful Ah Wu, loyal only to Ling Rui, finally stopped growling under Ling Rui’s nearly tearful plea.
But Murong Xu still had a dark face. He ground his teeth and used one hand to smack Ah Wu on the head: “You dare to fight me! You little rascal dares to fight me!”
“Uncle, don’t hit Ah Wu!”
“Ah Wu, don’t bite Uncle!”
Caught between his uncle and Ah Wu, Ling Rui tried to stop them both but failed.
He looked at his uncle, who was hitting Ah Wu on the head, and Ah Wu, who had bitten his uncle’s clothes, and couldn’t hold back his tears, crying out loud.
His crying finally made Murong Xu and Ah Wu stop.
The two of them calmed down and together soothed the little one. After they had pacified Ling Rui, he looked up to find his big brother was already gone.
“Big brother has left,” Ling Rui pouted.
Murong Xu, afraid he would cry again, held him close and proposed, “How about I take you out with me? I won’t leave you and Ah Wu at home.”
Ling Rui, hearing this, felt it was acceptable.
Murong Xu pinched his little face and carried him out.
They went to a teahouse again, but after searching the teahouse for clues all afternoon, it was all in vain.
“Could it be Yong Wang’s Mansion…” Murong Xu muttered as he walked out of the teahouse, wandering aimlessly until he reached Yong Wang Mansion.
The gates of Yong Wang Mansion were tightly shut. Ever since Ling Xing was stripped of his title as shizi, and Yong Wang was reprimanded by Emperor Ling, the mansion had kept a low profile.
Though the mansion had been low-key, the General’s Mansion was still on guard.
Ling Xing, having suffered a great loss this time, would not let it go easily given his vengeful nature.
However, the plot against him had started to unfold half a year ago. Half a year ago, he had no conflict with Yong Wang Mansion.
Would Yong Wang Mansion have set him up back then?
The more Murong Xu thought about it, the more confused he became. Holding Ling Rui, he let him choose a place to rest.
Ling Rui extended his small hand and pointed to a busy roadside stall.
They sat down, and Murong Xu ordered some food and drink, feeding him.
“Uncle, Uncle!”
Murong Xu, still lost in thought, felt Ling Rui patting his hand, his voice changing pitch: “Look at me.”
Murong Xu looked down and saw he had smeared the pastry all over Ling Rui’s little face, now covered in crumbs.
“Oops, Uncle didn’t notice.”
Murong Xu cleaned his little face and fed him again.
Ling Rui, once he had his pastry, didn’t hold a grudge. He kicked his short legs and bit into the pastry his uncle fed him.
After a while of eating, Murong Xu began to ponder again: “If I hadn’t brought you yesterday, Ling Chen would have misunderstood…”
“If he started to dislike me because of that misunderstanding, I would dislike him too. Our falling out would mean the General’s Mansion and the Eldest Prince falling out.”
“To speak more broadly, the military officials influenced by the General’s Mansion will dislike him. More immediately, he’ll have to handle this issue between him and me…”
“Won’t he be neglecting the tasks he’s supposed to be doing?”
Murong Xu’s mind raced quickly, and as he pondered, his expression suddenly changed: “Little Seven, call out to Ah Wu and tell him to run fast and find your big brother.”
The little one, who had been listening to his uncle’s self-talk, looked bewildered.
He hadn’t even had his red bean soup before his little uncle scooped him up and started running.
His little uncle ran so fast that Ling Rui, clinging to his neck, felt like he was going to fall off. He nervously said, “Uncle, slow down!”
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