Chapter 126:

The days passed quickly. Within merely a month, Zhu Yuning suddenly gained favor.

No matter what others thought, Layue had no intention or energy to care about much else. Her child was still very young, so naturally she needed to take good care of him every day.

The Emperor naturally came to see the child daily. Layue always looked at him with an ambiguous expression—neither clearly angry nor resentful—but when he turned away or couldn’t see her, her face often showed signs of melancholy.

The Emperor couldn’t bear seeing her in such a state, so he doted on her like a cherished treasure.

Layue didn’t understand what kind of person the Emperor really was; he seemed so peculiar. Did he truly love her? Yet he had hurt her deeply. However, upon seeing her reaction, he showered her with affection again.

Perhaps because she occasionally showed confusion, the Emperor would comfort her, assuring her that she was the one he cherished most.

Though Layue felt confused about the Emperor’s feelings, this did not cloud her judgment. There were many suspicious aspects in the Emperor’s words.

Though she didn’t understand imperial politics, she thought that the Emperor was even willing to manipulate his own women. This made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

If there was anything recently that brought her some joy, it was the Emperor’s attitude toward the Sixth Prince.

The Emperor clearly disliked the Sixth Prince, and not just a little.

Thinking carefully about the appearance of the Diwa Princess, Layue firmly believed that if there wasn’t the Emperor’s involvement, things wouldn’t have unfolded this way. Having followed him for so many years, how could she not know his character and methods?

Previously, she had already been suspicious of this princess, but despite her doubts, she hadn’t been able to figure everything out.

But now it was clear that the Diwa Princess must have received some hidden instructions from the Emperor; otherwise, things wouldn’t have developed like this.

The internal struggle within the Diwa royal family had intensified. Layue didn’t believe that Rosalind was just a pure, love-struck girl willing to sacrifice everything.

The Emperor followed the Diwa Princess’s suggestion and married her into the Zhou family. Because of this, the Zhou family, which had previously been close to the Sixth Prince, had completely broken ties with him.

Minister Zhou was aging, and the eldest son, who was about to take over leadership of the family, had developed a deep hatred for the Sixth Prince, which everyone knew. If the Zhou family were to support the Sixth Prince again, it would be absolutely impossible.

Though Layue had calmed her emotions, she still harbored extreme dislike for the Sixth Prince.

She felt pleased whenever the Sixth Prince suffered.

Her cousin had followed her advice and left the capital. Originally, she had only advised her cousin to go somewhere far away, but she hadn’t expected her to go to Diwa.

The Sixth Prince might sneak out of the capital, but he could never leave the Nan Qin territory, especially not go to Diwa. If he went to Diwa, the situation would become even more complicated.

According to Qiaoning, her cousin had even told the Sixth Prince that it was the Diwa side who approached her. As a merchant, how could she possibly turn down a profitable opportunity?

This made things even more interesting.

Layue smiled faintly, thinking to herself that her cousin was indeed a clever person.

This situation was even better.

It wouldn’t provoke the Sixth Prince into desperate actions, yet it would make him more cautious.

He would certainly suspect that the Diwa Princess, who had shown him favor, was behind this.

Wasn’t that exactly the case?

He had rejected the Diwa Princess, but there were no secrets that couldn’t be discovered. If the Diwa Princess found out that he had strong feelings for Yue Feng, she definitely wouldn’t let it go easily.

Removing Yue Feng was the simplest solution.

Sometimes, the development of events was indeed fascinating.

The Emperor used the Diwa Princess to divide the Zhou family from the Sixth Prince. Similarly, her cousin had also used the Diwa Princess as a shield.

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Layue suddenly felt she understood the Emperor a bit more.

Although using women in such a way felt unsettling, if it was effective and could eliminate potential threats without much effort, why not do it?

Shaking her head with a laugh, Layue mocked herself for changing her thinking so quickly.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince have arrived.”

While Layue was lost in thought, hearing that the two children had come, she quickly invited them inside.

Though it was now spring with pleasant weather, she couldn’t possibly neglect the two children.

“Your Majesty, has Xiaojiaojiao woken up yet?”

Actually, it would be appropriate for Yan Yu and Yan Jia to call her “Mother Consort,” but they had become accustomed to addressing her this way, and Layue didn’t bother correcting them.

Xiaojiaojiao was now almost three months old.

She had shed the wrinkled appearance of a newborn and had become a delicate, plump little baby.

Though she wasn’t as big as her two younger brothers, she was still a healthy child.

Among the three children, Xiao Si seemed more like a big brother, looking lively and cheerful, never crying, and happily playing by himself.

Xiao Wu was still asleep, and naturally, no one knew whether he was truly asleep or not.

Xiaojiaojiao had also been sleeping, but as if sensing the arrival of her two favorite brothers, she woke up. Everyone looked at her, but no one spoke, so the little girl became upset and started to cry loudly.

Seeing her little crybaby about to wail again, Layue quickly patted her a few times, trying to soothe her.

Yan Yu couldn’t bear to see his sister like this and immediately said, “Don’t cry, little sister. Your big brother is here.”

“Second brother is here too,” Yan Jia quickly added.

Hearing someone speak to her, Xiaojiaojiao finally calmed down a bit.

Xiaojiaojiao wasn’t a chubby baby. As one of the triplets, she still looked very small now.

Yan Yu stretched out his finger for Xiaojiaojiao to hold, and she grasped it tightly, letting out a sigh.

Seeing his brother holding her hand, Yan Jia imitated him and also extended his hand to Xiaojiaojiao.

Thus, she had one hand on each side, clearly very happy.

“Such a little sister is so small; when will she grow up?” Yan Jia sighed.

Layue smiled and said, “As the saying goes, ‘A healthy seedling will surely grow.’ Just look at your third younger brother. He can already walk now.”

She was referring to the third prince, Yan Ning, the son of Bai Youran.

Yan Yu frowned slightly, “Jing Jieyu doesn’t like us visiting our younger brother. Though she appears warm and welcoming every time, she actually treats us like thieves.”

Initially, he had been very curious about his little third brother.

Perhaps because he had lost his mother at a young age and his father didn’t love him, he had become very skilled at reading people’s expressions.

Although Bai Youran didn’t openly show it, as a sensitive child, he could still sense a bit of rejection from Jing Jieyu.

After hearing his words, Layue understood. Bai Youran was naturally worried; after the major mishap during her childbirth, how could she not be extra cautious!

She trusted no one—not even small children.

“People have different personalities. Maybe Yu’er is overthinking.”

Yan Yu slightly pursed his lips and casually replied, “If she doesn’t like me going there, I won’t go either. Now I have my little sister. Xiaojiaojiao loves me the most, right?”

Indeed, he was still just a child.

Who would have thought that at that moment, Xiaojiaojiao responded with a few snorts, making Yan Yu even happier and more proud.

Turning to look at Yan Jia, his little eyebrows were raised as if showing off.

Yan Jia pouted slightly, feeling a bit conflicted.

Layue couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yu’er, it seems your sister has done her business. Why don’t you two go play with your little brother first? I’ll change her diaper.”

Eh?

The two children exchanged glances and took a few steps back.

Yan Jia looked at Yan Yu, then at Xiaojiaojiao, then back at Yan Yu, until Yan Yu became annoyed.

“What are you looking at?”

Yan Jia silently lowered his head for a moment before lifting it again and asking, “Did Xiaojiaojiao just make a sound because she did her business?”

Yan Yu’s face turned red as he scolded, “No! She just understood what I said and loves me the most.”

Beside them, Jinxin helped her mistress change Xiaojiaojiao’s diaper and indeed found that the baby had soiled herself.

A mother knows her child best!

Seeing the golden-yellow mess, the two little boys looked a bit pale and took a few more steps back.

In their minds, Xiaojiaojiao was the cleanest and cutest baby. How could she possibly soil herself? Children indeed.

After finishing everything, Layue looked up and saw the two children looking quite serious.

She immediately understood the reason and couldn’t help laughing again.

Seeing Consort Shen continuously laughing, Yan Yu blushed and asked somewhat irritably, “What are you laughing at?”

“You… guess?” Her tone was indeed annoying.

Yan Yu and Yan Jia were brothers after all. Although the two little boys occasionally had small disagreements when together, they were quite harmonious when dealing with outsiders.

“You’re bullying us,” Yan Jia accused.

“Oh? When have I ever bullied you two?” Layue mimicked their childish gestures and raised her eyebrows.

Yan Yu and Yan Jia exchanged glances but couldn’t come up with a response.

However, children naturally knew how to save face.

“Jia’er, let’s ignore Consort Shen. She’s old and lacks dignity. Let’s play with Xiaojiaojiao.”

“Okay.”

Seeing the two ignoring her and calling her “old and lacking dignity,” Layue felt deeply hurt.

Was she old?

Moreover, even if she were old, wasn’t she still younger than their father, the Emperor?

Xiao Si had been playing by himself for a long time. Hearing the noise from the room, but seeing no one come to play with him, he also started to pout.

Yan Jia only glanced at him briefly and casually said, “Consort Shen, Xiao Si is bored. Why don’t you go play with him?”—meaning, “Go play with him and leave Xiaojiaojiao to us!”

Of course, this was only his inner thought.

How could Layue not understand the little boy’s intentions?

However, she didn’t expose their small trick.

She took a rattle and shook it near Xiao Si. Sure enough, Xiao Si became delighted and started waving his arms and legs happily.

Such an easily satisfied child.

Looking again at the still deeply sleeping Xiao Wu, Layue remained silent. Despite all this noise, the child didn’t wake up at all.

Then there was the little baby, Xiaojiaojiao, being doted on by her two brothers, looking a bit spoiled and proud. Truly a delicate little girl.

Looking at the three babies, not only were their appearances different, but their personalities were completely distinct. Could such triplets really exist?

Layue was puzzled!