Chapter 7
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In the palace thousands of miles away, no cries of a little child could be heard from the harem.
The only ones who could hear and feel it clearly were the people in the Fenghua Palace. Noble Consort Yi, who was usually in a bad mood, was personally comforting the little child in her arms.
“Niang Niang, let me hold the little prince. You take a break.”
“No need.”
Noble Consort Yi took off her hairpin and was now holding the baby who had just cooled down from the fever, soothing him gently. After experiencing several bouts of high fever, the little child instinctively expressed his discomfort through crying.
If it were any other crying baby, Noble Consort Yi would have found it annoying in the past.
But when the baby in her arms cried like this, Noble Consort Yi furrowed her brows, only wondering if he was feeling uncomfortable again.
“Yan Er, is the goat’s milk warm?”
“It’s ready. I’ll go get it.”
It was well into the night, and the small kitchen in the Fenghua Palace dared not extinguish its fire. Whether it was hot water or something for the little prince to eat or drink, everything was being prepared on the stove.
Before long, a bowl of warm goat’s milk was brought over.
Noble Consort Yi sat down, placing the little child on her lap, and took a spoon to feed him spoonful by spoonful.
After feeding him half a bowl, the little child tightly closed his mouth, refusing to drink anymore.
“Take it away.”
Noble Consort Yi stood up again, continuing to hold the child and soothe him to sleep.
Throughout the entire night, Noble Consort Yi did not close her eyes.
For the first time, she experienced firsthand how fragile the little child was. During the most dangerous high fever in the latter half of the night, the little child in her arms almost stopped breathing.
The candle burned all night, and finally, the daylight came to replace the darkness.
By the time dawn broke, Ling Rui was finally sleeping soundly on the soft big bed.
Noble Consort Yi, dressed in moon-white nightwear, slept with him, their breaths, one big and one small, even and gentle.
Ji Yan pulled the gauze curtain closed and quietly left.
“No need for breakfast. Niang Niang and the little prince just fell asleep.” Ji Yan instructed at the door, “Anyone who comes today, keep them out for me.”
Her orders were followed without question.
Just around noon, Emperor Ling arrived.
When Emperor Ling came, no one in the palace dared to stop him.
Ji Yan followed behind Emperor Ling, bowing her head as she told him about the danger the little prince faced last night.
She only spoke about the little prince’s condition, not mentioning Noble Consort Yi’s hardships at all.
She didn’t mention it, but Emperor Ling could imagine.
When they arrived in the bedroom, Emperor Ling looked down, watching Noble Consort Yi embrace the sleeping little child. Both the big and small figures were sound asleep, their sleeping faces peaceful and beautiful.
But upon closer inspection, one could see a hint of fatigue in Noble Consort Yi’s eyes, and there were some milk stains on the little child’s undergarments. It was evident that they had both been through a lot.
Emperor Ling didn’t disturb them, just quietly stood by the bed for a while.
After a while.
He turned and walked out, “Your Niang Niang has been through a lot. Have the kitchen prepare more of her favorite dishes and bring them up as soon as she wakes up.”
Ji Yan bowed in response.
Shortly after Emperor Ling left, another wave of rewards was sent over, and it was Lu Guang Gonggong who brought them.
Upon learning that Noble Consort Yi and the little prince were still sleeping, Lu Guang Gonggong specifically stopped Ji Yan, “His Majesty said, there’s no need to disturb the Niang Niang. Let her and the little prince rest peacefully.”
Normally, even if the emperor gave something, Noble Consort Yi, as a Noble Consort, would have to come out to express her gratitude.
But now, Emperor Ling made an exception for Noble Consort Yi again.
From yesterday’s autumn banquet to today’s rewards from Emperor Ling, everyone in the palace knew that His Majesty still favored Noble Consort Yi greatly and that the Seventh Prince left behind by Consort Xi also had some of His Majesty’s affection.
In the Fenghua Palace, everything was dignified and respectful, while life in Zaochun Palace was not so easy.
Since returning to the palace yesterday, Consort Li had been in a fiery mood.
Meng Er had carefully served her for half a day before she managed to calm Consort Li down a bit. She knelt at the lower end of the couch, gently massaging Consort Li’s legs.
“Consort Xi was unlucky, but her son seems to be quite lucky.”
Consort Li leaned against the couch, her voice soft and watery to outsiders, but now devoid of any disguise, it sounded cold and slippery, like a snake spitting out venom.
She played with a jade ring in her hand, her beautiful eyes narrowed, and she asked Meng Er, “How is the matter with the Sixth Prince going? Is it taken care of?”
Noble Consort Yi wanted to raise the Seventh Prince, so she had to take the Sixth Prince back in advance.
His Majesty currently seems to favor the Seventh Prince, but when his novelty wears off, and when he remembers Consort Xi again—
She didn’t believe that His Majesty would still love this child of a guilty concubine as much as before!
“Niang Niang.”
A trace of hesitation flashed in Meng Er’s eyes. Her hands kept moving, and her voice was low as she replied to Consort Li, “The sachet I gave to Li Momo, the source comes from the Lan Pavilion. As long as His Majesty follows this line to investigate, he will definitely trace it back to the Lan Pavilion…”
“But His Majesty didn’t investigate further.”
In the Seventh Prince’s case, Meng Er had already arranged for someone to take the blame for them. When Consort Ru was dealt with by Emperor Ling, Consort Li could also take the opportunity to propose to raise the Sixth Prince.
But now, the plan was completely disrupted.
Consort Ru was unharmed, and the Sixth Prince she had been raising had no reason to be handed over to Consort Li.
“Niang Niang, Noble Consort Yi has now confirmed that it was us who did this. With her temperament, we may have trouble ahead. At this critical moment, I think we can slow down—”
Before she could finish her words, a crisp slap suddenly fell on her cheek.
“Useless thing!”
Consort Li scolded in a cold voice, “This mistake was caused by you.”
After scolding Meng Er, Consort Li sat up straight, enunciating each word as she instructed, “The matter of raising the Sixth Prince, I can’t afford to delay for a moment!”
In Fenghua Palace, there are already children, so there must be children in Zaochun Palace too!
Meng Er’s cheeks burned from the slap. She lowered her head, not daring to even raise a hand to cover her face, and spoke in an increasingly gentle tone to calm Consort Li’s anger.
“I’m giving you only three days. Within these three days, I don’t care what method you use… In any case, three days from now, I want to see Consort Ru either dead or despised by His Majesty!”
With these words, Consort Li stood up from the couch, her feet bare.
Meng Er knelt before the couch, her head bowed in compliance.
During those three days, everyone was busy.
Ling Rui stayed in Fenghua Palace, busy recuperating his small body. He sat on the bed, wearing a soft gauze shirt, with a square pillow behind his waist.
“Niang Niang, hold me.”
Not wanting to sit on the bed any longer, Ling Rui looked at Noble Consort Yi with hopeful eyes. His soft, chubby face had only just regained a bit of energy today.
As soon as he felt better, he wanted to get out of bed.
Noble Consort Yi sat in front of him without even lifting her eyelids. “No need to pick you up, just play on the bed.”
The clingy little one had turned into a frail one these past few days. Every time he sat on the bed, he would almost fall off, unable to sit still properly.
Now that he was finally feeling a bit better, his small body hadn’t fully recovered yet. If she put him down now, he would start wobbling again.
If he knocked into something, it would be adding more to the injury.
“Niang Niang, I’m better now.”
Ling Rui pointed to himself, telling Noble Consort Yi that he was feeling better.
He meant he himself was better.
Noble Consort Yi pinched his little face, not allowing him to bargain.
Ling Rui, with his face pinched, hurriedly reached out to grab Noble Consort Yi’s hand. They ended up in a tug-of-war, and as they played, Ling Rui burst into giggles.
With Noble Consort Yi sitting on the bed to play with him, Ling Rui didn’t insist on getting down.
By dinnertime, a chubby little guy who loved to freeload came to the Fenghua Palace right on time.
“Good day, Noble Consort Niang Niang.”
The chubby little guy, Ling Fu, greeted Noble Consort Yi and then eagerly asked Ling Rui, “Little Seven, are you feeling better today? Have you eaten?”
Ling Rui: “…”
Ling Rui honestly replied, “I’m fine, but I haven’t eaten.”
Since he said he hadn’t eaten, Ling Fu stopped talking and just came over, holding a toy, wanting to play with him.
Noble Consort Yi’s lips twitched as she clearly understood the little guy’s intentions.
When Ling Fu came to see Ling Rui yesterday afternoon, he coincided with Ling Rui’s afternoon snack time and ended up having a meal with him.
After eating, his eyes lit up.
Except for Noble Consort Yi and Emperor Ling, no one else in the Fenghua Palace had tasted anything from the kitchen.
Ling Fu tasted it once and stubbornly stayed for dinner that evening before leaving.
Today, he came again just after noon.
Although Ling Fu was a bit greedy, he was straightforward and had saved Ling Rui’s life. Noble Consort Yi tacitly allowed him to freeload.
“Ji Yan, set the table.”
Noble Consort Yi patted Ling Rui’s little belly and then turned to Ji Yan to give the order.
Ji Yan went to arrange the table, while Noble Consort Yi bent down, grabbed Ling Rui’s chubby feet, and put on his little shoes.
Ling Fu, on the side, looked envious. “My royal mother has never put shoes on me.”
Noble Consort Yi is really nice, not only putting shoes on Little Seven but also kissing his cheek.
Although it was Little Seven who offered his chubby cheek to be kissed by Noble Consort Yi…
“It’s just a trivial matter.”
Noble Consort Yi said indifferently, then she put the shod baby on the ground.
Soon, a rich meal was served.
Ling Rui was carried to the chair and sat down. The chair was a bit high, so his little feet dangled in the air.
“Good food.”
Ling Rui, enjoying the meal so much that his feet swayed, squinted his eyes contentedly while holding a small bowl.
Ling Fu, sitting beside him, ate heartily, too busy eating to comment.
Seeing him eat so much, Ling Rui was influenced and added half a bowl of meat porridge to his own.
After finishing the meal, Ling Rui obediently let Noble Consort Yi wipe his face and hands.
Ling Fu, less particular, just wiped his face with his own sleeve.
“Little Seven, let’s continue playing with the wood!”
Ling Fu came to the Fenghua Palace not only to freeload but also genuinely wanted to play with Little Seven.
Thick blankets were spread on the floor of the Fenghua Palace. Ling Rui kicked off his shoes and sat on the mat.
“Niang Niang, let’s play!”
Ling Rui waved his little hands, calling Noble Consort Yi to play with them.
Noble Consort Yi sat on the stool, not joining their game.
Basking in the warm sunlight by the window, Ling Fu sat with a bright smile, holding a wooden horse that had been pieced together. His eyes were bent into crescents, brighter than the sun.
After playing for who knows how long, Ling Rui got tired. Holding the wooden horse in his hand, he leaned against the pillow and started chatting with Ling Fu.
“Royal Mother hasn’t been paying much attention to me these past two days.”
Ling Fu shared his troubles with Ling Rui, “Little Seven, do you think it’s because I’m too chubby, so Mother doesn’t like me anymore?”
“No.”
Ling Rui put down the wooden horse and stretched out his little arms to show Ling Fu, “Look, chubby.”
“Niang Niang loves chubby.”
He earnestly told Ling Fu that Noble Consort Yi loved him, this chubby little guy.
Ling Fu sniffled and corrected him, “You’re not chubby at all.”
Ling Rui’s frame was small, so even if he weighed the same as other kids his age, he looked softer and plumper.
But in fact, he wasn’t chubby at all.
The genuinely chubby Ling Fu extended his own arms.
Ling Rui: “…”
Ling Rui lowered his head to compare, and the next moment, he blushed and withdrew his little arms.
Compared to sixth brother, he couldn’t compete in being chubby.
After comparing their arms, Ling Fu brought up Royal Mother again.
Listening to Ling Fu, Ling Rui suddenly had a brilliant idea.
Sixth Brother wanted to know if Royal Mother would still want him.
He could know the answer to this!
Rubbing his full little belly, Ling Rui looked at Ling Fu and used his foresight ability for the first time since coming into this world.
Almost the moment he activated his ability, a faint golden shimmer appeared in his originally dark and bright eyes.
Unaware of the situation, Ling Rui remained oblivious to his own changes. He just remembered the scene he saw on Ling Fu.
In the scene, Ling Fu was crying, saying, “Royal Mother, don’t die.”
His royal mother had died.
He was taken away by Consort Li.
He was raised by Consort Li in the palace, no longer chubby.
He didn’t play with Ling Rui anymore.
The impact of these scenes made Ling Rui’s head buzz as if it had exploded.
He covered his little head, tears welling up in his eyes from the pain.
Noble Consort Yi hadn’t been watching them play just now. When she heard the commotion and looked over, the child who had been fine just a moment ago suddenly had teary eyes.
“What’s wrong?!” Noble Consort Yi picked him up.
Ling Rui was still holding his head, tears welling up, but he didn’t cry out loud.
Because in the midst of the pain, he seemed to sense Ah Wu’s presence.
“Ah Wu, are you there?”
In the midst of the pain brought on by his foresight ability, Ling Rui called out for Ah Wu in his mind.
And just before the foresight disappeared, he clearly heard Ah Wu’s voice.
“I’m here.”
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