in2ebook Chapter 52 The Fate of the Second and Third Princes
Chapter 52 The Fate of the Second and Third Princes
"Mother Consort Zhuang, we don't want to watch anymore!" Jing Han blinked his big, watery eyes and looked at Su Nuannuan, who was holding a glass mirror, and said in a childish voice.
Su Nuannuan smiled slightly and carefully handed the glass mirror to Jinse. Then she slowly stood up and said gently to the two children, "Okay, Mother Consort Zhuang, please put this glass mirror away carefully. Whenever you want to look at it again, just go and get it from Sister Jinse, okay?"
Hearing this, the two little ones nodded obediently and replied in unison, "Okay~"
Just then, they suddenly noticed three people standing at the door. The two little ones, as if startled, quickly ran behind Su Nuannuan to hide, each hugging one of her legs and clinging tightly to her.
Su Nuannuan noticed the children's unusual behavior and her heart tightened. She quickly looked up towards the door. When she saw who it was, she was taken aback, quickly bowed, and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
Seeing this, Jinse and the other palace maids dared not be negligent in the slightest, and all bowed and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The Emperor strode in with a gentle smile on his face, gesturing for everyone to rise, saying, "My beloved consort, rise."
"The Emperor is here, why didn't you announce his arrival, you servant?" Su Nuannuan stood up, her brows furrowed, her beautiful eyes wide, and she questioned Li Quan, who was following closely behind the Emperor, in a stern voice.
Upon hearing Su Nuannuan's rebuke, Li Quan hurriedly bowed and said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It was...it was His Majesty who specifically instructed me not to spread the word."
At this moment, the Emperor, who was walking in front, turned around with a gentle smile on his face and explained, "My dear consort, please don't blame him. It was indeed my fault for not wanting him to announce it; I just wanted to give you a surprise."
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Su Nuannuan's anger dissipated considerably, but she maintained her dignified demeanor, bowing slightly and saying, "Since it is Your Majesty's will, then this concubine will not pursue the matter further." In truth, she knew in her heart that she did not truly blame Li Quan.
Then, Su Nuannuan turned to the two children behind her, waved and called out, "Jing Han, Jing Yu, come and pay your respects to your father."
Upon hearing Consort Zhuang's call, the two little ones immediately took a few steps forward. They first bowed respectfully to the Emperor, and then said in unison, "Your subjects greet Father Emperor." Their sweet, childlike voices were enough to bring joy to anyone who heard them.
The Emperor looked at his two adorable sons with eyes full of affection and asked in an exceptionally gentle tone, "What were you playing with your Consort Zhuang just now?"
Jing Han raised his head, his big eyes blinking, and respectfully replied, "Father, we were just watching a rainbow." Jing Yu, standing beside him, added in a childish voice, "And a glass mirror, it's so beautiful!" He then clapped his hands excitedly.
"Your father has something to discuss with your mother, Consort Zhuang. You two go and play by yourselves, okay?" the emperor said with a smile to the two adorable children before him.
Upon hearing this, Jing Han immediately bowed respectfully to his father and said in a childish voice, "Goodbye, Father. Your son takes his leave." Jing Yu, who was standing to the side, did not say anything, but seeing his brother do so, he also followed suit and obediently bowed.
Upon seeing this, Zhixiang and Tingxue, who were standing nearby, quickly stepped forward, bowed to the Emperor and Su Nuannuan, and then each picked up a prince and gently coaxed them to play elsewhere.
At this moment, Jinse also took a light step forward, bowed slightly to the Emperor and Su Nuannuan, and then turned and walked towards the small kitchen to prepare tea and water.
Su Nuannuan obediently followed the Emperor into the room. After the Emperor was settled in his chair, she carefully found a suitable place to sit down. However, she did not rush to speak, but quietly lowered her head and waited for the Emperor to speak first.
After a while, the Emperor finally broke the silence and asked with concern, "My beloved concubine, are you getting used to living in this palace?"
Hearing this, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but secretly complain: Hmph, I've been in this palace for more than half a month now, and only now do I think of asking if I'm used to living here? Has the Emperor's head been hit by something?
However, despite thinking this in her heart, she still put on a gentle and virtuous smile and replied softly, "Your Majesty, I am well here. Thank you for your concern."
After answering the Emperor, Su Nuannuan thought to herself, "Hmph! I feel more at ease when you don't come. I would be more used to it if you asked me not to go back to the palace with you."
"Didn't His Majesty just mention that he had something to say to me? What is it about?" Su Nuannuan asked gently.
The Emperor nodded slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, said, "My beloved consort, Consort Li has requested that she have a child to raise by her side..."
However, before the emperor could finish speaking, Su Nuannuan interrupted impatiently, "Your Majesty, this little princess was bestowed upon me by you!" Her words were so urgent that it seemed she was afraid the emperor would change his mind.
The deeper meaning behind this statement is self-evident—as the ruler of a country, your words are law, so how can you easily break your promise and go back on your word?
The Emperor seemed to have anticipated Su Nuannuan's reaction. He smiled slightly and comforted her, "My dear consort, don't worry. Although Consort Li did intend to adopt the little princess, I have already entrusted the little princess to you for upbringing, and I will not change my mind. How could I allow someone of such low status to become the princess's foster mother?"
Hearing this, Su Nuannuan felt somewhat relieved, but some doubts remained. So she hesitantly asked, "Then, according to His Majesty's opinion, how should this matter be handled?"
After a moment's thought, the Emperor replied, "Since Consort Li is so eager to raise a son, I think it would be wise to entrust Jinghan and Jingyu to her care. After I pass away, Consort Li can leave the palace to live with either Jinghan or Jingyu, so that someone can take care of her in her old age and see her off in her final days."
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan was startled and quickly asked, "Your Majesty, is the Empress already aware of this matter?"
"I know. The Empress said the two children are with you, so she specifically asked me to come and ask for your opinion," the Emperor said with a serious expression.
"What objection could I possibly have? I'll leave everything to Your Majesty's discretion," Su Nuannuan replied respectfully, bowing slightly.
"Hmm, when I came in just now, I saw you playing with those two children. They seemed to get along very well with you." The emperor looked at her thoughtfully.
"Your Majesty, you may not know this, but these two children are truly well-behaved and adorable, so sensible and endearing. I genuinely love them too; such affection is mutual." Su Nuannuan smiled, her eyes filled with tenderness.
"Moreover, children's minds are the simplest and most direct. They will naturally like whoever is good to them. And although they are young, they can instinctively distinguish between the kindness and malice of others."
The emperor nodded in agreement.