Chapter 161:

Late at night.

Although it was stormy outside, the room was warm from the heated floor, feeling just like spring.

Yan Jia tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Soon, he sat up.

Yan Yu, beside him, was also not sleeping soundly due to his movements.

He asked, “Jia’er, what’s wrong?”

“…Nothing…” Yan Jia’s voice was low, but he still responded.

Yan Yu turned over and looked at him sitting there with his head drooping, appearing extremely desolate.

After a moment, Yan Yu also sat up and moved to sit beside Yan Jia. Glancing at the door and noticing no movement, he softly spoke, “Can’t sleep?”

“Mm.” Yan Jia’s tone was subdued.

Sitting side by side, Yan Yu asked, “Are you thinking about your birth mother?”

“Mm.” A tear slid down Yan Jia’s face.

He murmured, “Brother, I behaved well, right? Then why did my mother have to die? Why did she have to die? I won’t be able to see her again. She clearly said that if I behaved well, I could come see her. Did I do something wrong? Everyone says my mother was a bad person, a wicked woman, but she was very kind. She was the kindest and gentlest mother, right, brother? Right?”

At this moment, he desperately wanted affirmation and comfort from someone.

Yan Yu thought for a moment, then held his hand.

He tilted his head and said, “I don’t know whether your mother was a good or bad woman. But since she treated you well, she must have been a good mother. Jia’er, my birth mother passed away very early too.”

Without looking at Yan Jia, Yan Yu continued speaking, “But even though she’s dead, she must still love me. Concubine Shen once said that mothers always love their children. So even if she can’t see me, I will still behave well, because only then can I feel like a good child. I miss my mother too, but I know she will never come back. You at least lived with your mother for a while, but I don’t even know what my mother looked like.”

Yan Jia turned his head to look at Yan Yu and held his hand tightly, “Brother… don’t be sad.”

A tear also slid down Yan Yu’s face, “I’m not sad. I will be happy and cheerful. My mother must have wanted me to be happy and live well. You should be the same. Don’t be sad. Your mother will see you. If you’re sad, she will be sad too. We must live well so they can feel at ease, right?”

Yan Jia wiped his tears and firmly held his brother’s hand, “Mm, we’ll live well. I won’t let my mother worry, and I won’t make her sad either.”

The two sat in the dimly lit room, hand in hand, each quietly thinking of their own mother.

Layue stood at the doorway, smiled with understanding, and ultimately did not enter.

This was the first night the two children had spent here, and she had been quite concerned, so she came to check. She hadn’t expected to find the two young boys having a heartfelt conversation. Though she hadn’t heard everything from the beginning, Layue was very pleased to see how strong and mature the two children were.

She quietly left and went to check on the three younger children. Xing’er was on night duty and whispered, “My lady, why are you up?”

Layue waved her hand, “I just wanted to check on them.”

Seeing that the three little ones were sleeping soundly, she gently kissed each of their cheeks.

When she returned to her own bedroom, she found Emperor Jing sitting there, looking at her somewhat dazedly.

“Why are you up, Your Majesty?”

The emperor smiled.

“This late at night, where did you go?”

Layue quickly walked over and nestled into his arms, whispering, “Since all the children are sleeping here tonight, I was a little worried and went to check on them.”

Interlacing her fingers with his, she continued, “The two little ones were having a heartfelt conversation. They’re such good, thoughtful children.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing understood and gently patted Layue’s back. The two of them lay down together.

He gently kissed her neck and said, “Yue’er is also a good mother.”

“Of course!” She replied proudly, and the emperor laughed.

“You…”

***

Time passed quickly, and soon the New Year arrived.

Since this time many arrangements had been decided by Layue, she was particularly enthusiastic.

She had new bright red New Year clothes made for all the children, and seeing the adorable little ones looking like figures from traditional New Year paintings, she felt very happy.

She had already been in the palace for several years, but celebrating the New Year with the children was something she had never done before. This made the occasion especially meaningful.

During this time, Emperor Jing and Prince Liu truly seemed to have put aside their past grievances, no longer as hostile toward each other as before. As for other matters of state, Layue was completely unaware.

Well, not entirely unaware—she simply chose not to get involved. When news reached her ears, she would listen, but say little more.

She was determined not to allow anyone to accuse her of interfering in political affairs from behind the scenes.

She was no longer alone now; there were too many things for her to be cautious about. She did not wish for her own children to suffer the same kind of sorrow at such a young age as Yan Yu and Yan Jia had.

As for the affairs of the inner palace, although Layue had control over them, she did not act arrogantly. She always carefully consulted with the emperor or the empress dowager when necessary.

Fortunately, during this time, perhaps due to the many other distractions, the concubines of the inner palace had actually become more obedient.

Of course, anyone who remained as foolishly obstinate as Concubine Hui would indeed be unfit to remain in the imperial harem.

There were many concubines in the inner palace, but among those who were not of very low rank and yet had not received the emperor’s favor, there was only one—Zhang Lan.

And it was precisely this Zhang Lan whom Shen Layue treated rather well.

In the past, whether it was her good friend Bai Youran or Zhu Yuning, once they received the emperor’s favor, they eventually became estranged.

Now everyone was waiting for Zhang Lan to make a mistake.

Everyone in the palace knew that Shen Layue was not as she thought herself to be—everyone knew of her jealousy.

But Zhang Lan herself showed no other signs. Layue was not unaware of the thoughts of others, but she had her own views.

As for Bai Youran becoming estranged after receiving favor, it was more due to the suspicions surrounding her involvement in the drowning incident. As for Zhu Yuning, Layue did not think she had any real fault. If the emperor hadn’t been so suspicious of her, why would things have turned out that way?

In the end, everything was a matter of fate.

Regardless of what others thought, Layue was content with her own happiness.

Now that she had several beloved children and the emperor treated her well, everything was peaceful and harmonious.

If the other concubines didn’t cause trouble, she would be even happier.

“My lady, the fireworks have already started outside. Would you like to take the young masters out to see them?”

Layue looked outside and smiled, “Tell someone to take the eldest and second princes out. The three younger ones don’t need to go—they won’t understand much anyway. I won’t go out either.”

Jinxin thought for a moment and replied, “I understand. But I don’t want to go out either. Let them all go and watch.”

Layue nodded but still reminded her, “The two children are still young. Fireworks can be dangerous. You must give clear instructions and ensure the children don’t get hurt.”

“Yes.”

After Layue gave her instructions, Jinxin was about to leave when Layue called her back, “Jinxin.”

“My lady, is there anything else?”

“Send more people. Let Guo’er, Tao’er, and the others go with them.”

“Yes.”

Since the moment Guo’er had supported her last time, Layue had suspected that she must have martial arts skills—otherwise she wouldn’t have had such strength.

It wasn’t that she suspected anything would happen, but since the two children were staying with her, she had to be extremely cautious.

Even if that weren’t the case, Layue would never allow any harm to come to the two children.

She didn’t expect that her own caution would actually prevent a disaster.

An hour later, when others brought the injured Guo’er back, Layue was momentarily stunned.

“Quickly call the imperial physician. What happened? What exactly happened?” Layue’s tone was stern.

Beside her, Tao’er bit her lip and wept, “Sister Guo’er saved the second prince. We don’t know why those cute little rabbit fireworks suddenly exploded. Fortunately, Sister Guo’er was quick-witted, or it could have been a major disaster.”

Layue looked at Guo’er, whose arm was bloodied and mangled, while Yan Yu and Yan Jia seemed terrified, trembling as they followed behind.

Seeing the unease in their eyes, Layue quickly went over and hugged the two children tightly.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. It’s okay now. Sister Guo’er saved you. Everything’s fine.”

Perhaps because they were held by Layue, the two children finally relaxed.

“Waaah, Concubine Shen, it was so scary, so scary. Guo’er… Guo’er got hurt…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Be good. The imperial physician…”

At that moment, the imperial physician arrived, and Guo’er was taken to a side room. The two children wanted to follow.

Layue refused and held them back, “It’s okay. Guo’er will be fine. You two behave and don’t go there. Rest for a while.”

Before long, Emperor Jing arrived.

Seeing their father, Yan Yu and Yan Jia ran directly to him.

At times like this, the children were especially fragile.

“Father, father…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

The emperor picked up both children with one arm each.

Yan Jia trembled as he asked, “Guo’er… will she… die?”

“No! Jia’er, don’t be afraid. Everything’s okay now. Guo’er won’t die. She’ll recover in a few days. Don’t be afraid.”

As he comforted the two children, Emperor Jing’s expression darkened.

He had always been wary of Consort Qi, but he hadn’t anticipated that even a minor oversight could result in such an incident.

Regardless of the other concubines’ behaviors, after so many years, she should have known that what he could not tolerate most was any harm coming to the children.

Since she had touched the most sensitive nerve of his, he could no longer tolerate her.

Layue looked at Emperor Jing’s expression and felt a chill in her heart.

Could it be that this incident was not an accident?