In the evening, Cheng Qing finally met the father he was most sticky with. The strength of that little bun’s cry made Mu Xi Yao feel like puking blood.
After marching for so many days, Zhong Zheng Lin felt the most alive at this moment. The little Cheng Qing was a ghost spirit with a clever head and sharp eyes. The moment the little bun saw his father, he quickly wobbled to him and almost fell head-on. Fortunately, His Sixth Highness stepped in to hold him, otherwise, the little bun would have a mushroom on his head.
Gui momo, who was in charge of Cheng Qing, was so frightened that her face changed as she quickly apologised.
“Momo, don’t be too hard on yourself. This little guy needs to be taught a lesson otherwise he would go crazy. Let him fall once a day, let’s see if he doesn’t have a long memory.” Mu Xi Yao helped Gui momo up thinking that the man’s pampering towards his son was not pleasing to the eye. “Your Highness, why don’t we find a few kids of the servants for him to play with?”.
Cheng Qin spent the entirety of his day being cared for by the momos, Mo Lan and the others like a pearl, those who didn’t know thought he was a girl. Besides, children who didn’t have playmates wouldn’t have a less fun childhood. She had to find some people to roll and wrestle with him. After all, adults would not understand children’s joy.
Zhong Zheng Lin kissed his son’s cheek with eyes full of tenderness. The little guy grew taller, and his hands became slightly heavier. As for Mu Xi Yao’s proposal just now, His Sixth Highness readily agreed.
Although the little girl herself was spoiled to the point of being outrageous, she didn’t indulge her children in the slightest. In private she was very attentive to Cheng Qing and was very particular about everything he wore or ate. Her insistence and careful thought could only lead to Cheng Qin’s good temperament, and he would definitely not become one of those useless and dandy nobility children. In regards to raising her child, Mu Xi Yao could be regarded as a maverick among the noble girls in Shengjing.
“Let Tian Fu Shan bring you a list of candidates in a few days. If you like someone’s child, just let them stay”. His Sixth Highness had always acted quickly and decisively on his own wishes, and like so, he was extremely fast when dealing with Mu Xi Yao’s request.
Mu Xi Yao was very happy with the Boss’s attitude, but how did she feel that he had the aura of a Mountain King when saying these words? Well, His Sixth Highness did go out to suppress bandits, naturally, when he came back he was full of gangster air. He actually said “just let them stay” as if it was a matter of one sentence. Didn’t they still need the parent’s permission? He spoke as if they were robbing someone else’s child, and her good intentions could be easily misunderstood by His Sixth Highness’s style. Really, those who came from the royal family were used to being domineering, especially Zhong Zheng Lin!
Tian Fu Shan who was waiting outside with his ears pricked up secretly shouted that it was not good. This errand was not easy to handle. The little master was just one year old but he needed to arrange some servant’s kids as playmates. This kind of thing would be odd to find in anyone’s house if not impossible and let’s not speak of them being all children, when playing, wouldn’t they be distracted and really hurt the little master? Even if His Highness and cefei were okay with it, Consort Shu would not!
Tian Fu Shan had a bitter expression on his face. His Highness had put him in charge of all the errands and correspondence with the imperial palace. If Consort Shu was dissatisfied, he would be the first to be blamed!
Moreover, if this news spreads, Tian Fu Shan felt that he would be so crowded with women and children that he would have nowhere to stand. The eldest son of His Sixth Highness was the only child in the family, and the degree of favour was self-evident. Being childhood playmates, this kind of affection was by no means comparable to that of ordinary servants. And cefei had always been lenient and generous, her rewards always a little bit thicker than others. Being able to serve in front of such a Master was definitely something to look forward to in the days to come.
Zhao momo and Mo Lan guarded the outside room. Listening to the couple discussing the little master’s education and settling it down so quickly, they felt their hearts break. Such a tender little master was actually pushed out by cefei to play with the servant’s children, how could cefei’s heart be so hard?
The little master was exceptionally clever. At this age, he was able to walk very steadily but after all, his arms and legs were small. When Zhao momo thought that her little master would be led by those wild children to run around all over the yard, her heart throbbed like being stabbed by a needle and she even swayed a bit.
She stared at Mo Lan. Her eyes clearly send the message that when Mistress Yao was in the Mu Residence the little master was not taken care of properly, otherwise, he would not have grown like this causing him to be sent out.
Mo Lan reddened, her head was so low that she couldn’t see anyone. The little master’s temperament was obviously good, except for being a little noisy, he never gave anyone a problem. Now he was more capable of messing around and being unruly, but this was how every child of the aristocracy was raised! Being spoiled was to be on brand and there was nothing wrong with it. Cefei’s outlandish ideas… could it be that she was just idle and spent her days just figuring them out?
“Jiao Jiao, serve the bath.” His Sixth Highness ordered solemnly. It’s just that the heat in his phoenix’s eyes made Mu Xi Yao shy.
Holding Mu Xi Yao in his arms, Zhong Zheng Lin strode towards the Shuangyan pool ignoring the disapproving gazes of Zhao momo and others.
Once the two masters entered the pool, the servants knew it would take more than an hour for them to come out. The two servant girls on duty were too shy to look at each other, and they couldn’t stop fretting. Hearing cefei’s coquettish moaning from inside, they flushed with embarrassment.
“Your Highness~~” Mu Xi Yao was so weak that she lay limply on Zhong Zheng Lin’s chest, she felt so lazy she didn’t even want to move her fingers. This man was too fierce, how did he endure the march, when he had no women around?
“Jiao Jiao, hurry up and give birth.” The beauty was so close yet she couldn’t be eaten, Zhong Zheng Lin’s pain was like Mu Xi Yao’s. His Sixth Highness who was purposefully teased by Mu Xi Yao felt he was about to combust from desire. “Such a bewitching seductress, now you’re feeling uncomfortable?”
Just as he was about to scold her for being bold and provocative, he accidentally caught a glimpse of the white plumpness of the little woman. Zhong Zheng Lin’s eyes darkened, and he quickly closed his eyes and calmed down his mind.
This fairy was really killing people. Once you’ve got a taste of her, it was impossible to let her go. Zhong Zheng Lin felt that he was speechless when thinking about Mu Xi Yao’s effect on him. The women he had before were not like her who could drive men crazy. His Sixth Highness who had been always apathetic to women’s charms had to admit that each time he was intimate with Mu Xi Yao he often could not control himself and reason would fly away.
“Your Highness, your neck is leaning to the right!” Mu Xi Yao was terribly tired, how could she understand Zhong Zheng Lin’s difficulty in forbearance? She pulled his arm, rubbed against him, found a comfortable position, and dozed off. “Huh? Why didn’t qie see the cook qie asked for?” Just as the woman’s breath calmed down, she suddenly remembered the person she had been yelling about for a long time. Why hasn’t he reported to Danruo Courtyard yet? “Your Highness, you didn’t forget about this, did you?” Mu Xi Yao pouted.
If the moment the Boss got busy he forgot all about her request, then why did she abide by their agreement and wrote letter after letter every day without a break?
Before Zhong Zheng Lin could control his longing, he was provoked again by her pouting, as suddenly moist red lips were in front of him, dazzling his eyes.
“Want someone? Serve well, and we’ll talk about it.” After saying that, he leaned over and devoured the delicate lips that had provoked him for a long time, biting the tip of her tongue lightly, and making Mu Xi Yao whimper softly.
Why again? Mu Xi Yao complained. If she had known that this beast could make trouble with any excuse, she would be out of her mind to mention the damn cook to him at this time.
“Still have the time to be distracted?” Zhong Zheng Lin raised his voice slightly when he caught a glimpse of Mu Xi Yao being lost in thought, and he kissed her even harder.
“Ah!” Mu Xi Yao exclaimed. When she lowered her head and bumped into the man who had an arrogant look, a sensual face and intense eyebrows, she was so angry that she immediately took revenge. “You’re so bad!”. The woman’s temper immediately flared up. She stretched out her hand, pulled Zhong Zheng Lin’s sideburns, and vented her anger without any restraint.
This stinky man was unable to control himself, didn’t he know that these matters needed to be done in a healthy amount? How long did he plan to soak in this pool? The Big Boss was mentally stable, and he didn’t feel ashamed of being listened to by others when being intimate with her nor he was shy when giving others an erotic live broadcast… But she couldn’t, she was a down-to-earth and serious person!
Zhong Zheng Lin didn’t care about Mu Xi Yao’s outrageous behaviour at all, on the contrary, his expression became more cheerful. “Jiao Jiao’s temper is more lovely than before. It’s just right to be so coquettish.”
Red fierce horses[1] often arouse the interest of men.
Mu Xi Yao’s movements froze, and she was suddenly dumbfounded.
Sir Boss, can you concentrate a bit and understand qie’s words? When will your self-talk, and groundless connections be corrected?
In the early morning of the next day, His Sixth Highness disappeared early. Mu Xi Yao was left alone, settled deep in the soft pillow, and she slept until Sishi[2].
[2] ĺ·łć—¶ sìshĂ. 9-11 am (in the system of two-hour subdivisions used in former times).
“Mistress, it’s time to get up.” Mo Lan bowed beside Mu Xi Yao and called out softly.
Sure enough, there was no movement. This scene was played every day, and Mo Lan was already familiar with it.
“Mistress, His Highness ordered you to have breakfast, you must definitely not miss it. Mistress…”
Mu Xi Yao lifted the quilt with a groan, revealing her small head angrily.
“But His Highness isn’t here, right? So your Mistress will lie down and wait until His Highness comes back to remind me, then it won’t be too late to get up again.” Zhong Zheng Lin was really a pain in the bum, she was not allowed to rest at night, and he still asked her to wake up diligently in the early morning. She was a pregnant woman, alright? Not as good as that one with a martial arts foundation, he was so strong that Mu Xi Yao had lingering fears.
“How does Jiao Jiao know that bendian is not here?” The Sixth Highness’s casual voice came from outside the screen.
Mistress and servant looked at each other, Mu Xi Yao’s eyes were wide open. Seeing that her Mistress’ face was not good-looking, Mo Lan quickly shook her head, it was definitely not that she was hiding something and not reporting it.
“Your Highness!” Mu Xi Yao pulled back the quilt, revealing only a pair of fiery eyes outside, as she coquettishly complained, “How can you sneak around and secretly listen to others’ conversations?”
This habit was a bit scary… Boss came to her courtyard at least twice a day, if this continued, wouldn’t she be caught by him rather often?
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Zhong Zheng Lin had changed into jet-black regular clothes, removed the crown, tied his hair in a high bun behind his head, and let his hair hang loose in a casual way. Pulling up the hem of his clothes, he sat on a wooden chair not far from Mu Xi Yao, with his long legs stretched out straight.
Sneaking around? Zhong Zheng Lin secretly wrote down this debt. Soon the little woman will be gentle and soft, throwing herself into his arms. He was in no rush to ask her to settle this account.
“Shuzhong small dumplings, golden shrimp dumplings, and boiled tofu hasn’t Jiao Jiao been greedy for a long time? Are you hungry now?”. There was no need to work too hard on waking the little woman. It was enough to adapt to her tastes. Mu Xi Yao could move immediately as soon as she was sure there was delicious food waiting for her.
“Huh?” The woman who was still lazy and half-asleep just now blinked, and her pupils suddenly became bright. When she understood the meaning of Zhong Zheng Lin’s words she sat up with a cheer.
Stretching her arms forward, she smiled very sweetly at Zhong Zheng Lin. “Qie wants to hug and freshen up.”
Aiyo, this change was too fast. Zongzheng Lin smiled and a flash of calculation crossed his eyes. He took a few steps to pick her up, put her on his lap, and ordered someone to bring a hot towel for her face to let this precious and squeamish little baby freshen up quickly.
The taste was indeed better when the beauty took the initiative.
After feeding her a cup of warm water, he leaned over and smooched her little mouth that was still smacking, “Satisfied?”
Mu Xi Yao felt refreshed after washing up and she nodded vigorously while hugging the Boss. “Your Highness, qie is starving to death because of you.” It’s because you have too much physical strength, if it wasn’t for accompanying you, qie wouldn’t be so hungry early in the morning!
Mu Xi Yao was complaining, but His Royal Highness automatically understood it as a compliment. Being so admired by the woman in his heart, Zhong Zheng Lin felt delighted.
With her arms around the Sixth Highness’ neck, she was carried all the way to the outside chamber. At the table, Mu Xi Yao sat on Zhong Zheng Lin’s lap, waiting for the servant girl to serve the meal, her calves swaying triumphantly.
“Qie knew that His Highness will definitely remember.” She printed a kiss on the side of the man’s face. At this time she looked very flattering.
Pointing at her forehead, Zhong Zheng Lin raised his eyebrows, “Who pouted, lost her temper last night then bit someone?” Now you know how to flatter? Just the night before she pulled his sideburns and refused to let go.
Mu Xi Yao was embarrassed for a moment, then rolled her eyeballs, and smiled extremely cunningly. “Which little heartless woman served like this last night? Within so many women in His Highness’s backyard, qie knows His Highness’ heart the best. Your Highness, from now on, just come to qie’s room instead of those goblins. Your Highness should not bother to trifle with them.”
Mu Xi Yao leaned in to kiss his chin. She was confused and didn’t remember who served him last night. Want to settle the score? She had to admit it first!
Seeing her playing tricks, Zhong Zheng Lin narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly and smiled condescendingly. “The fairy from last night was so powerful that bendian still had a deep recollection of it this morning. Bendian doesn’t know who is more capable, her or Jiao Jiao. Jiao Jiao, what do you think about testing it with bendian tonight?”
Mu Xi Yao’s smile froze for a moment. Staring at the man in front of her blankly, she felt the urge to bury herself for a moment.
Blast it! The Sixth Highness had already mastered the art of flirting. She, a former flirt, was bested by the brazen Boss! How come the upright and stern man from before became so good at romancing?
Mu Xi Yao tugged on his cuff with a bitter face. “Your Highness, qie’s hungry. Maybe you can remember this after eating?” Eat at your heart’s content first, punishment will come later. For the sake of delicious food, Mu Xi Yao made some concessions, but she could barely think about what would come after.
Zhong Zheng Lin was amused by her reluctance to give in, and his eyes became soft as he gently stroked her hair. “The goblin in the backyard is deadly, but bendian still really loves her.” After saying that, he kissed her forehead and ordered someone to prepare the meal.
Mu Xi Yao originally thought that the Big Boss would take the opportunity to balance their accounts, but she never thought that he would mutter such cloying words. Her snowy cheeks were instantly dyed with red clouds, and she felt as if she was burning hot.
The meal was full of affection, with a certain flavour of fooling around. The blushed Mu Xi Yao leaned against Zhong Zheng Lin, looking lovely and uncharacteristically obedient. When His Sixth Highness fed her, Mu Xi Yao smiled and squinted without refusing.
Zhao momo and her group walked out of the door on their own initiative, unable to hide the smile on their faces.
It seemed that His Highness had missed cefei. When he came back from Shuzhong at least two points of affection were added. Mistress Yao’s shy and adorable appearance in the morning made them secretly happy.
In the entire Mansion, only this Danruo Courtyard still saw some laughter. The rest of the courtyards were silent and looked deserted. Every time someone passed by, they would see a scene of bleak autumn wind and twilight. It was only because of Mistress Yao’s ability to win His Highness’s heart that Danruo Courtyard had a good fate.
When Tian Fu Shan rushed to Danruo Courtyard to invite someone, he saw His Sixth Highness’ relaxed eyebrows, looking to be in a good mood. Mistress Yao was concentrating on making tea and her actions were so pleasing to the eye that just looking at it once would make people unable to take their eyes off.
“Master, Lord He Lian is coming to see you.”
“Take him to the study to wait.” He Lian Zhang’s coming at this time, it should be that He Lian Min Min sent him a letter. Seeing that things had turned around, he rushed to the Prince’s Mansion to plead guilty.
The old fox lived too well. This time that he was tripped up by someone it was excellent timing for him to be taught a lesson. Carrying people into his Mansion behind his back? This utilitarian old fox should cool himself down.
Zhong Zheng Lin had met He Lian Wei Rui before, and he was deeply impressed by her eyes that were the complete opposite of Mu Xi Yao’s. Wanting to stuff this kind of woman into his Mansion, how could His Sixth Highness not be annoyed?
“Wait,” Zhong Zheng Lin stopped Tian Fu Shan, who was about to leave, “take a cup of cefei’s good tea and send it to He Lian Zhang.” Drinking tea should wake up his calculating mind.
Mu Xi Yao secretly laughed, Zhong Zheng Lin’s implied meaning was really wonderful. How could He Lian Zhang drink her cup of tea happily, he would definitely feel bad. Forget it, who told that guy it was okay to see her as a thorn in his side, his attitude just made the Sixth Highness disgusted with him at once. Let this be a lesson so he can remember it for a long time.
Tian Fu Shan’s face twitched as he watched cefei deliberately add jasmine and mint to the Longjing tea, making a good pot instantly become a woman’s scented tea.
Lord He Lian really stumbled this time, as he only managed to offend these two vindictive masters. Wasn’t his original intention to please His Highness? It’s just that there was no one in the Mansion who could please His Highness except from the one in front.
“Mistress, why don’t you go and see the Lord?” After all, Feng momo was an old woman of the He Lian family, and she dared not ignore the Lord’s arrival.
“So what if we see him?” He Lian Min Min practised calligraphy calmly, waiting quietly for His Highness to send someone to pick her up after noon.
According to His Highness’ instructions from that day, today she was scheduled to leave the Mansion for a pulse check. After that, she no longer had to worry about this matter. As for the price she had to pay... He Lian Min Min’s nose was sore when thinking about it.
“If it wasn’t for the He Lian family’s eagerness for quick success and quick profit that they believed the old monk’s words and insisted on sending that bitch into the Mansion, would you and I have been forced to almost leave the Mansion without even having a place to stay?”
He Lian Min Min hated both the person who had plotted against her, and the He Lian family who was cold-blooded and ruthless; they even abandoned her, their blood relative.
“After this incident, apart from Madam, the He Lian family has nothing to do with us.”
Feng momo noticed that the young lady’s face was blank of emotions. She guessed that her Mistress no longer had any resentment left, but instead her heart was completely chilled. This day was so beyond one’s imagination. Everybody knew how difficult it was for a woman to live in the backyard without the favour of her husband or the help of her natal family. But Feng momo no longer dared to mention a single word about fertility or birthing an heir.
Front yard of the Sixth Prince’s Mansion.
In the outside the study, Lord He Lian was sitting upright. His face looked both helpless and exhausted.
He had been running around in the past few days, and asked for favours from everybody he could have asked favours from. Most were old acquaintances and colleagues in the officialdom, and although they not explicitly refused, they never agreed to speak on behalf of the He Lian family. The only few people who were willing to speak up and help were of a weaker rank and could barely rank among the Shenjing officials.
At this time, the name of He Lian Zhang being a loyal and clean official finally showed its disadvantages. People within factions naturally formed gangs and pairs, and often helped each other up. When something happened to him, who was a well-known loyal subject of the Emperor’s party, there were many people watching the scene, but very few came to help him.
The Emperor’s faction, that was, the party of the clean and loyal ministers, was formed mostly of literati and they have always looked down on each other, and couldn’t be bothered to care for one another. It was not worth it to speak for the He Lian family. These people only looked forward to Emperor Yuancheng’s words, and Emperor Yuancheng’s attitude was unclear now, so naturally no one came forward to express their position.
Relationship Diagram (by Sith Kazar)
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â–˛ Footnotes
[1] Baidu. The rouge horse refers to the Yanqi horse, which often appears in ancient China. It is also a horse-shaped ornament. It is said to be a famous horse in ancient times. The oldest reference is from the “Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu Biography”. It is said that Wu Sangui and Lu Bu rode a colored rouge horse. Its “whole body was as red as charcoal; from head to tail, one foot long; from hoof to the neck, it was eight feet high; screaming and roaring, it looks like flying into the sea”.
[2] ĺ·łć—¶ sìshĂ. 9-11 am (in the system of two-hour subdivisions used in former times).