Chapter 197:

The second prince had originally set out under the pretense of visiting his younger sister. However, before he arrived in Diwa, his sister had already passed away, so naturally, he couldn’t stay in Nanqin for long.

But Emperor Jing spoke kindly, saying that since he had come such a long way, it wouldn’t be appropriate to leave immediately. He suggested the second prince stay for a few more days and investigate the cause of the princess’s death thoroughly.

The second prince happily agreed.

Layue watched the two putting on such a show and felt amused.

The second princess consort seemed to have some genuine feelings for Princess Rosalind. She hadn’t asked about her the previous day, but now she brought it up.

Layue looked at her hesitantly and finally admitted she didn’t know much. After all, Princess Rosalind hadn’t stayed in the palace for long.

Thinking about it, the second princess consort realized this was true and felt somewhat disheartened.

Yet, despite her sadness, she couldn’t show it in front of the Nanqin empress. So she changed her expression accordingly.

“The eldest and second princes seem handsome and capable; they truly resemble the emperor.” At the banquet, the Diwa princess had seen the two children and found them courteous, quite different from Diwa boys.

Normally, Layue wasn’t the birth mother of Yanyu and Yajia and had her own children. Hearing others praise them would usually make her unhappy.

But she was different. Because she was close to the two children, she was genuinely delighted.

After saying this, the second princess consort felt she shouldn’t have spoken so freely and quickly changed the subject. “I’ve heard that Her Majesty the Empress’s triplets are as lovely as snow and ice. I wonder if I might have the honor of meeting them! When we set out, my Yixun was eager to meet his little sisters. Perhaps Her Majesty doesn’t know, but my second pregnancy was also twins!”

Layue genuinely hadn’t known this and laughed as she replied, “Of course you can!”

The Diwa second prince had come with two sons, so Layue had assumed they only had two children, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.

Layue led the group back to Fengqi Palace.

Along the way, she said candidly, “I had assumed that the second princess consort only had two children, but it seems I was mistaken.”

The second princess consort nodded. “Yes, I’m already a mother of four. The two who came with me are the eldest and second. The two younger ones didn’t come.”

Then the second princess consort briefly explained that her second pregnancy was also a pair of twins, a boy and a girl. However, the girl had been unwell just before they left and thus stayed behind in Diwa. The youngest child was also a boy.

Layue wasn’t naive enough to believe that. She guessed there must be other reasons the two children didn’t come—perhaps the old Diwa emperor didn’t trust his son.

Such political struggles were common in court.

Therefore, Layue asked no further questions.

The two sons of the second princess consort silently followed behind their mother.

Upon entering Fengqi Palace, they didn’t seem particularly nervous.

Diwa’s customs were rough and rugged, so their way of raising children naturally differed from Nanqin’s.

Nonetheless, children were still children. Upon hearing about younger siblings, they looked around with puzzled expressions since they didn’t see any.

“Xing’er, go ask Madam Zhou to bring the three little ones over.”

At this hour, they should have woken up from their nap.

In a short while, the three toddlers, each about two years old, were brought out.

Jiaojiao was restless, turning left and right, clearly eager to get down and walk.

Yixun naturally approached the three children, tilted his head to look at them, then turned to look at Layue and the second princess consort. “Mama, Her Majesty the Empress, why do these three look so different from each other?”

He thought for a moment and added, “When my brother and sister were little, they looked exactly the same. Even now, they’re still very similar! Sometimes, to play tricks on others, I even have them switch clothes to fool people.”

Hongxun nodded in agreement.

The two boys’ behavior drew light laughter from everyone.

The second princess consort laughed and scolded, “You mischievous monkey.”

Layue explained, “Actually, triplets don’t necessarily look alike.”

Besides, whether her son had a feminine appearance or her daughter had a masculine one, she felt it wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Now that things were as they were, wasn’t it better? At least it saved a lot of trouble.

Yixun looked at Layue, “Your Majesty the Empress, may I touch her?”

Layue nodded with a smile, “Of course you can, but you have to be gentle. Jiaojiao has quite a temper!”

This was both a reminder and a warning.

Yixun nodded solemnly.

He gently poked Jiaojiao’s cheek. Mmm, so soft and tender.

Perhaps the sensation was too pleasant, Yixun poked her again. Though still gentle, Jiaojiao pouted, though she didn’t cry, probably because she didn’t know him.

“Waaah! Pick me up!” Xiaosier, on the side, waved his arms and legs, making strange noises.

He looked at the boy, then at the girl.

Yixun extended his mischievous hand toward Jiaojiao for the third time.

“Ahh!”

After being repeatedly poked, Jiaojiao flew into a rage. The little princess, with her delicate yet fiery temper, bit the “culprit” hard, making Yixun cry out in pain.

Jiaojiao was so small, with only four little teeth. How much could it hurt? It was more that her sudden action startled him.

Seeing him bitten, Hongxun laughed, his eyebrows arching.

“Oh? Brother got bitten~” His tone was teasing as he clapped.

Jiaojiao glared at Yixun with her big eyes and waved her little hand, “Waaah!”

Actually, she could speak simple words, but strangely, she didn’t want to say anything to this complete stranger.

Yixun held his hand, looking at Jiaojiao without moving. Layue, fearing the children might not know how to behave properly, called out.

“Though it’s already spring, it’s still a bit chilly. Let’s all go onto the heated brick bed.”

But Yixun turned around, looking longingly at the adults.

“Her name is Jiaojiao? She’s so cute!”

Puh!

Everyone inwardly thought, what an adorable child!

Layue could tell from Yixun’s expression that he wasn’t angry at all. On the contrary, he seemed genuinely delighted.

Could it be that he was happy even after being bitten? She couldn’t understand!

When the children were placed together, sure enough, Yixun seemed especially fond of playing with Jiaojiao, but it was also evident that Jiaojiao wasn’t very interested in him. Not only did she ignore him, occasionally she would “Aww” at the two Diwa brothers and wave her fists.

Just like a little animal.

Before the children had played for long, they heard Yanyu and Yajia arrive.

Upon hearing Yanyu’s voice, Jiaojiao clapped her hands.

“Gege, gege…”

“She can talk?!” Yixun was surprised, looking at Layue with wide eyes.

Didn’t he think she couldn’t speak?

Layue looked at the second princess consort, and both of them laughed.

“So, young prince, do you think that earlier ‘gege’ was from Xiaosier?”

“She kept saying ‘aww,’ so I thought she couldn’t talk!” He looked at Jiaojiao again.

He teased her, “Call me gege, Jiaojiao good girl, call me gege.”

“I won’t let my sister call some random person gege.” A sinister voice sounded.

Yanyu ran to the edge of the heated brick bed with thudding footsteps. He saw Jiaojiao crawling toward him, showing her little teeth, and she directly lunged at Yanyu.

Since there were servants nearby to take care of them, Layue wasn’t worried. She watched her little daughter, who drooled as she kissed Yanyu, leaving his face covered in saliva.

With a big smile, she said, “Gege.”

This warm and adorable sight made Yixun’s eyes widen in envy.

“Jiaojiao, can I hold you? Brother wants to hold you, okay?”

He clapped at Jiaojiao, but the little miss was too proud to even look at him.

Not only did she ignore him, she shouted “Gege” at Yajia again.

This was clearly a provoking rhythm.

Rejected by Jiaojiao, Yixun wasn’t discouraged and turned to Yanyu. “Let me hold her for a while.”

“I can hold my sister myself. If I’m tired, there’s still Yajia.”

Yajia nodded quickly. Jiaojiao would never let a stranger she didn’t know hold her.

Yixun’s little face wrinkled, and his lips pouted slightly. “Let me hold her. I’ll exchange her with my sister.”

Hearing this, Layue found it even more amusing. These children were indeed interesting.

Yanyu looked at Hongxun beside him and frowned. “Is he your sister? I can’t tell! I thought he was a boy.”

At this, all the adults burst into laughter, while the two young princes frowned.

Hongxun exclaimed, “I’m a boy. I’m not a girl. My sister is still in Diwa.”

Yanyu held Jiaojiao tightly. “I won’t exchange her. Our Jiaojiao is the cutest and sweetest!”

Cute was indeed cute, but sweet?

Yixun murmured in a low voice, “She bit me just now.”

So she wasn’t sweet!

“That must be because you scared her!” Yajia glared at the young prince.

“My sister looks a lot like Hongxun. She’s also the beloved little fairy of everyone in Diwa. Let’s exchange. You won’t lose out.” Ignoring the hostile glare, Yixun continued to persuade.

Yanyu and Yajia exchanged a glance, then looked at Hongxun’s face and the second princess consort, before looking at each other.

Yanyu’s gaze was firm as he hugged his sister even tighter.

“Never! Don’t even think about it.”

The children were so amusing that Layue and the second princess consort exchanged jokes.

“They say three women make a drama, but I think these three children are even more dramatic!

The second princess consort nodded in agreement, though she thought more deeply. In the past, Yixun had always been very good to his sister, but today, after just meeting the Nanqin little princess, he had taken such a liking to her. She wondered if it was fate.

Thinking thus, she tested cautiously, “It seems Yixun truly likes little Princess Jiaojiao! No need for an exchange, how about we take her back to be his wife?”

“Great!” Yixun laughed with his eyes curved.

Layue naturally sensed the second princess consort’s testing tone. Seeing Yanyu and Yajia looking at her with concern, she shook her head and refused, “That won’t do at all! I’d never allow my little Jiaojiao to marry so far away! Yuyu and Jiajia wouldn’t allow it either, right?”

“En.” Both nodded quickly.

Afraid that Layue might agree to their request, they warily watched Yixun. Jiaojiao would never marry such a rude guy!

Jiaojiao was their most cherished and beloved little princess!