Chapter 29
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Ling Rui’s small face pressed against Murong Xu’s face without warning. Once he was close, he tightly shut his eyes.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Scenes involving his little uncle appeared in Ling Rui’s mind. This time, his uncle was in a very sorry state, imprisoned.
An official, dressed in a court uniform, was aggressively questioning him, “The Murong family supported the Seventh Prince and even plotted against the Eldest Prince! The Seventh Prince is only four years old, and you’re already vying for power for him?!”
Murong Xu, wearing prison clothes, laughed upon hearing this, “One moment the Ministry of Justice says our Murong family is guilty of treason, the next moment we’re accused of plotting against a prince. I’ve heard you’ve even listed us as perpetrators of murder. How are we so capable of committing all these crimes?”
“If you want to punish our Murong family, fine, let the Emperor decide! I want him to decide personally!”
Murong Xu shouted the last sentence, his eyes red, gripping the bars of the cell tightly. Though there was a hint of a smile on his lips, his eyes were filled with terrifying anger.
Ling Rui only saw up to this point.
Although his little uncle didn’t die this time, he looked as if he was about to.
Sniffling, Ling Rui still remembered to call Ah Wu: “Ah Wu, I foresaw my uncle dying again. What should I do?”
Ah Wu responded promptly, “If he’s really about to die, I’ll go save him.”
Ling Rui thought of Ah Wu going alone and the many guards in the prison. He had little hope that Ah Wu could save his uncle.
“Little one, you don’t always have to foresee your uncle.”
Ah Wu, seeing the little one’s uncle’s future clearly, knew his uncle’s fate wasn’t good. He didn’t want the little one to worry and tried to persuade him to foresee something else.
“Next time, foresee your royal brothers and sisters.”
The princes and princesses of the Qi Dynasty were the most noble and fortunate people. While the princes might compete with each other, the princesses wouldn’t vie for power.
So, letting the little one foresee the princesses’ futures would be the least troublesome.
“And also, when you’re a bit older, you can start trying to foresee other things.” Ah Wu was always concerned about Zaizai’s abilities, remembering that once his foresight grew stronger, he would be able to predict a wide range of things.
Their conversation didn’t last long.
In the end, Ling Rui, with his eyes closed, quickly said to Ah Wu, “Ah Wu, I can’t read the letter you wrote.”
“You’re already attending school. Once you learn more characters, you’ll be able to read the letters.”
With Ah Wu’s words, their connection was cut off.
The sound of Ah Wu’s voice had calmed Ling Rui’s anxious emotions somewhat.
He opened his eyes and rubbed his little face against Murong Xu’s. “Uncle, you and big brother need to get along and not fight.”
“When did I ever fight with your big brother?”
Murong Xu was slightly startled by the Little One’s abrupt change of topic and seriously recalled for a moment. After thinking it through, he confidently said, “I haven’t fought with him, and your big brother wouldn’t be able to beat me anyway.”
He had been practicing martial arts since he was young and had real battlefield experience, unlike Ling Chen, who had a teacher but couldn’t match his skills.
“Big brother is amazing, and uncle is amazing too!”
Ling Rui evenly praised both his brother and his uncle.
After chatting at the door for a while, Murong Xu carried the little one and left. Before leaving, he glanced back at Liu Fener, “Miss Fener, I’ll report Zhuang Yong’s matter to His Majesty first. I believe the Emperor will give us both an explanation.”
“Alright.”
After comforting Liu Fener, Murong Xu took the little one to visit the grandmother.
Noble Consort Yi was still with the grandmother when they arrived. She smiled as she saw the two enter, “Why have you come together?”
“We came to see grandmother.”
Their family was very filial and always attentive to the elderly madam.
Unfortunately, the old madam’s attention was not on her filial grandson but on the little one. “Little Seven, come down and let me see you.”
The old madam beckoned Ling Rui over.
Ling Rui wiggled out of his uncle’s arms and went over to the old madam, climbing onto her lap and sitting there obediently.
The old madam was very fond of him.
She stroked Ling Rui’s small face and looked at Noble Consort Yi with a gentle tone, “Yi Er, I see you look much better since you came back. It must be thanks to Little Seven. Having him around to keep you company and cheer you up naturally improves your mood and complexion.”
Noble Consort Yi: “…”
Noble Consort Yi’s mouth twitched, “He cheers me up? He causes me more trouble than cheer. You don’t know how naughty he is.”
As she spoke, the little one, with his adorable face, looked up at the old madam and softly said, “Little Seven is not naughty.”
Noble Consort Yi: “?”
Noble Consort Yi’s eyelid twitched, “Who is it that doesn’t want to sleep at night and insists on playing until midnight?”
Ling Rui fell silent at this.
That evening, after dinner at the General’s Mansion, Noble Consort Yi took Ling Rui back to the palace.
Before leaving, he promised his little uncle they would play together next time.
At night.
While bathing, Ling Rui was found with a jade pendant in his pocket by Ji Yan. Upon seeing the pattern on the pendant, Ji Yan was shocked.
She quickly glanced at Cui Xi, who was also assisting with Ling Rui’s bath, and a little maid lighting incense nearby.
Cui Xi was busy scrubbing the little prince’s arm and seemed unaware of her actions.
Suppressing her inner turmoil, Ji Yan kept the jade pendant and continued to bathe the little prince as if nothing had happened. She even chatted with him gently, “Did you enjoy the birthday banquet today?”
“Yes!”
Ling Rui played with floating toys in his bath, one hand gripping a toy and the other splashing the water, “I like birthday banquets.”
There were many people at the birthday banquet; it was very lively.
Ling Rui loves lively occasions.
“Seventh Prince, did you receive any gifts at the banquet today? From strangers, not from the General’s Mansion.”
“No.”
Ling Rui looked up and blinked: “Mother said not to take gifts from strangers.”
He should not accept gifts from strangers, nor should he let strangers hold him. Of course, if Niang Niang or close family members are present, then he can be held.
“Our Seventh Prince is so good, remembering even this.” Ji Yan praised him, smiling and continuing to ask him a few more questions.
After a while.
Ling Rui finished his bath, was rubbed with fragrant oil, and carried to the bed.
He sat on the bed, patting the quilt, calling for Noble Consort Yi: “Mother! Come on!”
He had brought the letter written by Ah Wu to the bed, wanting to read it together with Noble Consort Yi. Being so young, he did not understand the concept of privacy.
Especially in front of Noble Consort Yi, this little cub had no sense of privacy at all.
Noble Consort Yi, who was being called by Ling Rui, had just received a jade pendant handed over by Ji Yan: “It was found on the Seventh Prince; it should have been brought back from the banquet.”
“I understand.”
Noble Consort Yi took the jade pendant and returned to the bed.
She dismissed the attendants, then picked up the little cub who was clutching the letter and held him in her arms. She took out the jade pendant and asked, “Little Seven, where did you get this from?”
“I picked it up.”
Ling Rui saw the jade pendant and slapped his forehead in annoyance: “I forgot to tell Uncle.”
He had intended to give the jade pendant to his uncle!
Noble Consort Yi held him, her tone unwavering as she continued to ask: “Where did you pick it up from? Do you know who dropped it?”
“Beside the gifts, in front of my box.”
“It was dropped by an unfamiliar uncle.”
“I saw him,” Ling Rui recalled the scene when he picked up the jade pendant and said to Noble Consort Yi, “I can draw him.”
Noble Consort Yi hesitated for a moment but then brought him paper and a brush to draw with.
However, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Noble Consort Yi realized how mistaken she was. This little one hadn’t even learned the correct way to hold a brush yet. Expecting him to draw was less reliable than asking a slightly older chubby kid to do it.
“I’ve finished drawing.”
Ling Rui was quite satisfied with his abstract drawing. Pointing at it, he introduced it to Noble Consort Yi, “This is the clothes, green. This is the face, not very round.”
“This is the legs, not as long as Uncle’s.”
Ling Rui explained everything in great detail, but Noble Consort Yi remained silent as she listened.
In the end, she sighed, had someone put away the paper and brush, and asked Ji Yan to bring water to wash his little hands.
“Alright, time to sleep.”
Noble Consort Yi cuddled the little one and coaxed him to sleep, “Sleep well now, and tomorrow I’ll play on the seesaw with you.”
Ever since Fenghua Palace started raising the little one, it had slowly transformed.
Children’s items were everywhere, and there were countless toys collected from the folk.
Recently, Ling Rui loved playing on the seesaw.
“Yes! Must pinky promise!”
Ling Rui accepted Noble Consort Yi’s suggestion eagerly, stretching out his small hand to make a pinky promise with her.
The big and small hands hooked together and then held each other.
Noble Consort Yi lowered her head, kissed Ling Rui’s little forehead, and softly said, “Our Little Seven did very well today.”
If Little Seven hadn’t picked up the jade pendant in time, the consequences could have been dire.
The peaceful days didn’t last long.
For Ling Rui, his life remained the same: attending school, playing with his fifth sister and sixth brother, and playing with Noble Consort Yi when he returned to the palace.
Besides playing with Noble Consort Yi, she would occasionally send him to spend time with Emperor Ling.
“Spend more time with your royal father; it will be good for your health.”
Noble Consort Yi not only read books but also combined theory with practice.
She believed that after spending time with Emperor Ling, Little Seven’s transformation into a little dumpling would become more stable.
What she needed to achieve now was to stabilize Little Seven’s physical condition as much as possible.
Little Seven’s transformation into a little dumpling, in her eyes, represented a lucky creature.
But in the eyes of others, this little dumpling was more likely to be seen as something demonic.
Even though Little Seven was Emperor Ling’s own flesh and blood, if the emperor found out about Little Seven’s anomaly, the first thought he might have would be—
To be unfavorable towards Little Seven.
In the past, those with anomalies who were discovered were invariably sentenced to death.
“Daddy is very busy.”
After spending a few nights with Emperor Ling, Ling Rui was reluctant to stay there.
Although Daddy would accompany him to sleep and play with him, Lu Guang Gonggong always came to report that some beauty had sent soup to Daddy.
Or some consort was feeling unwell and wanted Daddy to visit her.
Sometimes, Daddy would dismiss them directly, but sometimes, after Lu Guang Gonggong reported, Daddy would become a bit distracted and not as focused when playing with him.
“No matter how busy Daddy is, he will always accompany you.”
Noble Consort Yi was now less concerned about whether Emperor Ling would sleep with her; she cared more about whether he could spend more time with Little Seven.
Ling Rui’s interactions with Emperor Ling also reached the ears of the other consorts in the harem. Even the Empress, after hearing that Ling Rui had stayed in Chengming Palace for the fifth time, had a stern face and summoned Ling Chen.
“Has your royal father summoned you recently?”
“Replying to Royal Mother, Royal Father still comes to test my lessons every five days as before.”
“Only testing you every five days, do you know that Little Seven, living in your father’s Chengming Palace, is being taught by him every day?”
“Royal Mother, you are overthinking.”
Ling Chen thought of Little Seven and, lowering his head, said softly, “Little Seven only clings to Royal Father to play with him. Little Seven is still young; it is too early to teach him now, and it will not have much effect.”
“Ling Chen!”
The Empress’s eyes turned cold as she scolded him: “Do you not understand what your royal mother means?!”
With the Crown Prince not yet established, everyone could see what Noble Consort Yi was aiming for by sending Little Seven to Emperor Ling.
“Mother, I believe Noble Consort Yi has no intention of competing for the position.”
“Shut up!”
The Empress glared sharply at him, and the Buddhist beads in her hand were suddenly snapped.
Beads scattered all over the floor, and Ling Rui squatted down, listening to the scolding while picking up the beads.
After a long while.
Ling Chen walked out of the Empress’s palace, his face dark, his ears seemingly still echoing his royal mother’s words.
Little Four had Consort De behind him, while Little Seven had Noble Consort Yi.
Royal Mother believed they were all vying for the position of Crown Prince.
Ling Chen did not want to think about it any further. The Confucian books he had read taught him etiquette, demeanor, how to conduct himself, and how to cultivate virtue for the people. They also taught him to be harmonious with his siblings.
But in reality, his mother told him that in the royal family, there could be no true affection.
The more Ling Chen thought about it, the more frustrated he became. Instead of heading back to his own palace, he walked towards the palace gate, wanting to see if Murong Xu had arrived since he was supposed to enter the palace today.
Meanwhile, in Fenghua Palace, Ling Rui was sitting on a little wooden horse, rocking it back and forth while talking to Noble Consort Yi: “Mother, sit.”
“I won’t sit; you sit by yourself.”
Noble Consort Yi massaged her temples, feeling inexplicably uneasy today.
Seeing that she would not sit, Ling Rui continued to rock back and forth on the wooden horse with his short legs.
Time passed little by little.
Noble Consort Yi massaged her temples but couldn’t resist calling Ji Yan over. “Ji Yan, has anything happened in the palace today?”
“The Fifth Young Master entered the palace.”
Ji Yan noticed Noble Consort Yi’s troubled expression and leaned in slightly, asking softly, “Niang Niang, should I go and check?”
Noble Consort Yi didn’t respond, but Ji Yan had already retreated to investigate.
She found someone to gather information.
Murong Xu had an audience with the Emperor for a whole hour, during which he reported everything that had happened recently without holding back.
As for the captured Zhuang Yong, he hadn’t taken any action against him.
He simply knelt before the Emperor and said the matter was entirely up to His Majesty.
No matter whether Emperor Ling is unable to deal with Zhuang Yong because of Zhuang Xuan or for some other reason, Murong Xu said that he would not have any objections.
After Murong Xu finished speaking, the Emperor remained silent for a long time.
Finally, the Emperor said quietly, “Little Xu, Teacher Zhuang is not just the emperor’s teacher; he is also renowned as a teacher of scholars. The books he has written have benefited countless students…”
Such a sage, now to be implicated by his grandson, put the Emperor in a difficult position.
Murong Xu, hearing the Emperor’s words, lowered his head and said understandingly, “No matter how Your Majesty handles this, I will understand.”
Emperor Ling patted him on the shoulder and said, “Although I am in a difficult position this time, I will not let you swallow this grievance for your sake.”
A few days later, Zhuang Yong died suddenly under mysterious circumstances.
When Zhuang Xuan learned of this, he fell seriously ill. Emperor Ling personally went to visit him and brought him medicine. Zhuang Xuan was deeply moved by the Emperor’s kindness and recovered half a month later.
This incident caused quite a stir, even Ling Rui heard about it.
He still remembered that Zhuang Yong was a bad person, but now that the bad guy had suddenly died, he didn’t feel very happy. Instead, he felt a little scared.
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