In recent days, Emperor Jing had not summoned any other concubines to his bed except Shen Layue. His overt behavior had even caught the attention of the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was genuinely puzzled.
Yet the Emperor made no effort to conceal his emotions and spoke with a solemn expression, “In this palace, apart from Yue’er, do the others find fault with Us? Before, they pretended affection, yet in truth, at the sight of a few scars, they revealed their revulsion. Had they witnessed Us during one of Our episodes, who knows how they might have reacted! Who among them would remain as steadfastly devoted as Yue’er?”
The Empress Dowager recalled the recent incident involving Consort Hui and realized that the little vixen must have looked down on the Emperor.
Filled with anger, she snapped, “You are the Son of Heaven; who dares to despise you? They must have grown tired of their comfortable lives. If they dislike serving the Emperor, they can accompany Virtuous Consort in the Cold Palace.”
The Emperor smiled gently to reassure her, “Mother, please do not worry about me. They simply do not understand, but I have my own ways to handle them. You should focus on taking care of yourself. Your health is far more important than getting involved in such trivial matters.”
Looking into the Emperor’s caring gaze, the Empress Dowager gently stroked his brow.
“All I wish is to ease some of your burdens before I die.” If only she hadn’t used Che’er as a scapegoat in his childhood, he wouldn’t have suffered so much scheming. Her two sons—ultimately, it was her mistake.
The Emperor, seeing the guilt in her eyes, shook his head. “Mother, I don’t need you to worry for me. I only wish for you to stay healthy. These palace affairs are nothing but mundane duties. Nothing matters more than your health.”
The Empress Dowager sighed, “Che’er, tell me the truth.”
“Eh?”
The Emperor looked at her, sensing she had something important to ask.
“Was this bout of smallpox of yours orchestrated by Lie’er?” This suspicion had long haunted her. Thinking of this terrifying possibility kept her awake at night and worsened her health recently.
The Emperor hadn’t expected her to ask this.
Looking closely at her, he saw the sorrow she couldn’t hide.
“Che’er.”
Seeing the Emperor’s silence, the Empress Dowager grew more anxious.
The Emperor steadied himself before replying, “No.”
Though he answered, the Empress Dowager pressed urgently, “You’re not lying to me? It really wasn’t him?”
The Emperor affirmed firmly, “No! Mother, rest assured. There’s no reason for me to deceive you. This time, it wasn’t him.”
Hearing his firm reply, the Empress Dowager finally exhaled in relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
Muttering to herself, “Good, if it wasn’t him, that’s good… that’s good…”
It was clear how deeply this matter troubled her.
As Gongmaid Gui brought in the medicine, the Emperor took the bowl and began feeding it to the Empress Dowager.
Looking at her only devoted son, she opened her heart, “Che’er, when you were young, I wronged you.”
The Emperor’s hand paused slightly, “Mother, please don’t dwell on the past. What’s done is done. Why torment yourself over it?”
The Empress Dowager sighed, “How can I not dwell on it? I had only two beloved sons, yet now we are like strangers. Had I not acted the way I did back then, how could you two brothers have come to this? How could you have suffered so much scheming, and how could Lie’er have become so bitter and extreme?”
The Emperor showed no particular reaction, “Mother, just focus on recovering. As I said, the past is the past.”
“I’ve lived through everything a woman could—abandoned by my family, betrayed by others, and deceived by close friends. I’ve endured all the palace intrigues. In this life, many have wronged me, but the only ones I’ve wronged are you two brothers. I don’t dare ask you to forgive Lie’er, but I beg you, after my death, remember all the love I’ve shown you over the years, and spare Lie’er. Let him… live as a nobleman at ease.”
Looking at her pale face and hearing her desolate words, the Emperor was reminded, somehow, of his conversation with Layue during his smallpox illness. What had she said?
The Emperor smiled faintly.
Then he softly, but firmly, uttered one word: “No!”
The Empress Dowager, unprepared for his refusal, looked at him in shock.
The Emperor continued feeding her medicine without pause, a faint cold smile on his lips, “No! I will not agree to your request, Mother. If you pass away, I will settle all accounts with my sixth brother at once. I will not spare him. Therefore, Mother, you must live well—live to restrain me, and live to watch over my sixth brother.”
As the Emperor finished speaking, tears streamed down the Empress Dowager’s face.
She understood her son’s intentions all too well.
“Alright, I will live well… I will live well…”
Gongmaid Gui looked at the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, then turned away to wipe her tears.
After calming the Empress Dowager and stepping outside, the Emperor looked at the snow-covered courtyard.
He recalled his childhood wish and turned to Lai Xi, “Go to the study and inform them: this afternoon, Prince Yu and Prince Jia’s lessons are canceled. Have them come to Qing’an Palace for lunch, and this afternoon I’ll take them to build a snowman.”
Lai Xi was so stunned that his jaw nearly dropped.
A snowman?
The usually composed Head Eunuch Lai Xi was left speechless with shock.
Seeing his expression, the Emperor knew his surprise.
“Oh, and go inform Concubine Jing. If Prince Ning is free this afternoon, have him join us too.”
“As Your Majesty commands.”
Back at Xuanning Hall, the Emperor’s orders quickly spread throughout the palace.
Everyone reacted differently.
The Empress Dowager understood that this must have been prompted by their earlier conversation. Knowing that the Emperor had finally softened toward his sons, she nodded in satisfaction.
Layue, upon hearing the news, felt a bit troubled. The children were still young, and it seemed he intended to take them all out. She began to think about what to dress the children in.
Bai Youran bit her lip, deeply moved. The Emperor remembered her son Ning’er, and she was overjoyed. Now, this child was her entire life.
Others, however, felt deep jealousy.
Whether Consort Hui, Consort Qi, or others, all felt an indescribable envy.
When the two children heard that they wouldn’t have to attend lessons in the afternoon and that their father, the Emperor, would take them to build a snowman, they were both overjoyed.
Bouncing with excitement, they rushed to Qing’an Palace.
Seeing their eager expressions, Layue understood their thoughts.
She, too, had been a child once. Who wouldn’t enjoy playing, especially with their most respected father?
“Noble Consort, we’re here!”
Smiling warmly, Layue led the two children inside, had their hands washed, and arranged for lunch to be served.
“Jinxin, send someone to Xuanning Hall to ask if the Emperor will be joining us for lunch.”
Jinxin nodded and left.
“Where’s Jiaojiao?”
“She just fell asleep a while ago. Let her rest for a bit; she’ll need the energy to play with you later.” Layue adjusted the children’s clothes.
Yan Yu, acting like a little adult, nodded thoughtfully.
“That’s fine. But it’s so cold outside—will that be okay?”
His little face showed deep concern.
“No worries. I’ll dress them warmly. They’re so young and can’t play much anyway. The main players will be you two.”
The two nodded happily.
Sure enough, not long after, the Emperor entered.
After they bowed respectfully, Layue instructed Jinxin to set the meal.
“The Emperor’s sudden order surprised me a bit,” Layue said as she ladled soup.
She served the dishes to the father and sons before beginning to eat herself.
The Emperor watched her movements with a slight smile—no pretense, completely natural.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Watching the two children chattering excitedly about what they wanted to eat, Layue showed no sign of impatience.
He couldn’t help but smile broadly.
“Yue’er, I want the lotus root stir-fry.” He sounded almost childlike.
Layue noticed his deliberate act, gave him a sidelong glance, but hurried to serve him anyway.
Yan Yu and Yan Jia exchanged glances, pouting slightly.
Usually, Noble Consort only took care of them two. Was the Emperor now competing with them?
The meal was indeed a happy one.
After resting briefly, the Emperor changed clothes and took the children outside.
Bai Youran brought along the three-year-old Prince San, who had just learned to walk, and followed behind the Emperor.
Seeing how Shen Noble Consort had wrapped the children warmly and hadn’t let them touch the ground, Bai Youran glanced at her own son. Prince San was only a year older than the triplets, not as strong as Prince Yu and Prince Jia.
She had no intention of letting her son walk either, so it didn’t seem out of place.
As a child, the Emperor had often wished his father would play with him in the snow, but as he grew older, he realized it was just a childish dream.
His father was too busy governing the empire to have such leisure, and his brothers were more likely to scheme against him than play with him.
Now, playing with the children, it seemed not only to satisfy their hearts but also to make up for his own childhood regrets.
Although it was the Emperor who led the children in building snowmen, he still had Lai Xi bring some attendants to help.
It became quite lively on that side of the courtyard.
Some curious concubines, having nothing better to do, came to watch.
Seeing Zhang Lan approaching from afar, Layue waved her over.
Zhang Lan, never one to be shy, smiled and came over happily.
Soon, a crowd had gathered.
Layue saw the Emperor playing happily with Yan Yu and Yan Jia, while her three little treasures were already drowsy from playing. She quickly instructed Madam Zhou to take the children back to rest.
Once the children were gone, she felt a bit restless and moved closer to join the fun.
For some reason, the snow play soon turned into a snowball fight, and Layue, recalling how her older brother used to play with her, mischievously threw a small snowball at the Emperor. She laughed triumphantly at his surprised expression.
But the Emperor couldn’t afford to lose his composure. He glared at her and called the two children over.
Soon, the two little rascals, Yan Yu and Yan Jia, ganged up on Layue, and others, fearing being caught in the crossfire, quickly moved away.
They played joyfully, and as the Emperor watched Layue’s innocent smile, he found himself momentarily entranced.
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