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Bixia Palace was closer to Renshou Palace.
Eunuch Wei first took Little Jing Kong back to Renshou Palace, then accompanied Qin Chuyu, who was filled with grievances, to Kunning Palace.
Qin Chuyu couldn"t bear it upon seeing Empress Xiao, immediately transforming into a timid little boy with a heart full of grievances.
As tears rolled down his cheeks, the puzzled Empress Xiao embraced her son, wiping his tears with a handkerchief, and asked, "What happened?"
Qin Chuyu cried uncontrollably.
Empress Xiao then glanced at Eunuch Wei.
Eunuch Wei had to narrate the whole incident, "His Seventh Highness said Young Master Xian pushed him, but Young Master Xian denies it. That child... just lost his father and is disabled, without a pair of legs. His Majesty didn"t want to blame him harshly and had this servant bring His Seventh Highness back."
This statement was very skillfully crafted, making one feel that His Majesty didn’t actually disbelieve Qin Chuyu. It was just that the child was so pitiful, being a guest and all, so His Majesty didn"t directly pursue his responsibility.
Empress Xiao sighed, "Alright, stop crying."
"He pushed me! I"m not lying..." Qin Chuyu cried miserably.
"Okay, okay, he pushed you. Mother believes you." Empress Xiao comforted her son tenderly.
After Eunuch Wei left, Qin Chuyu cried for a while before falling asleep.
Empress Xiao instructed Eunuch Su to visit Bixia Palace, sending gifts to Princess Ning"an and checking on the child incidentally.
"The lower part of his trousers is empty..."
Eunuch Su reported.
Empress Xiao looked at her sleeping son, touched his forehead, and sighed, "I got it, stand down."
Empress Xiao had a relatively harmonious relationship with Princess Ning"an in her early years compared to Princess Xinyang.
Princess Ning"an had a naive and lively temperament. She was a girl whose laughter could warm people"s hearts.
However, after so many years of separation, they had grown apart. Empress Xiao might still be Empress Xiao, but Princess Ning"an was no longer the naive and childish young princess.
The current Ning"an was just a pitiful woman betrayed by her husband, and her only son was disabled. For Empress Xiao to fuss over them would be beneath her status, especially considering it might displease His Majesty and Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Empress Xiao furrowed her brow, saying, "Keep a closer eye on His Seventh Highness in the future. Don"t let him go near Bixia Palace. Also, take that dog from today and keep it away from His Seventh Highness."
Eunuch Su complied, "Yes."
Meanwhile, upon Little Jing Kong"s return to Renshou Palace, he bid farewell to Grandaunt and intended to leave immediately.
He was now a year older and he firmly believed that he could now come and go freely, just like his bad brother-in-law. Hence, he arrived today alone in Liu Quan"s carriage.
And he planned to leave in Liu Quan"s carriage again.
He was an independent little man now!
"Grandaunt, goodbye!" He waved his little hand.
"Hold on." Empress Dowager Zhuang grabbed the little guy, placed him on a nearby chair, and asked, "What happened to your foot?"
Little Jing Kong: It was noticed? But I was walking just fine!
"It"s nothing, just a little sore." Little Jing Kong waved his little hand and replied.
Empress Dowager Zhuang removed his shoes, revealing a swollen foot. She frowned and asked, "How did this happen? It"s swollen."
Mischievous as he was, Little Jing Kong always b.u.mped and knocked into things, frequently getting sc.r.a.ped and bruised. However, swelling wasn"t a common occurrence.
Little Jing Kong honestly recounted the incident, adding his perspective, "That boy doesn"t seem to like playing with others."
Eunuch Qin looked worriedly at Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Empress Dowager Zhuang let go of Little Jing Kong"s trouser leg, put his shoes back on, and said, "If he doesn"t like it, then let it be. Play by yourselves from now on."
"But why does his chair have wheels?" Little Jing Kong was still curious about the big wheels.
These matters weighed heavily on Empress Dowager Zhuang"s heart. Eunuch Qin hurriedly intervened, "Jing Kong, I"ll take you outside to play on the swing."
"Mm... okay." Little Jing Kong hopped down and went off with one foot!
A few clever palace maids stayed in the courtyard to accompany him. Eunuch Qin turned back, looking at Empress Dowager Zhuang who seemed to have aged several years in just one night.
He advised her with compa.s.sion, "Your Majesty, don"t take it too much to heart. That child has these physical issues, and having a peculiar temperament is inevitable. Besides, with his disabled body, seeing normal boys might be uncomfortable for him."
Eunuch Qin could relate to this point all too well.
He was a eunuch with physical disabilities himself. At his age, he had accepted and come to terms with everything. However, in his younger years, seeing normal men had made him jealous, resentful, unwilling, and inferior.
Huangfu Xian was probably the same.
They both knew that Qin Chuyu wasn’t lying.
Empress Dowager Zhuang closed her eyes and said, "Aijia is tired. Remember to have someone send Jing Kong back later."
"Yes." Eunuch Qin agreed.
……
Bixia Palace.
The Emperor had already returned to Huaqing Palace. Princess Ning"an and Huangfu Xian were sitting in the s.p.a.cious bedchamber, where Princess Ning"an had dismissed all the palace attendants except Lian"er.
Huangfu Xian sat in his wheelchair, casually playing with the flowers in a vase.
Princess Ning"an sat across from him, watching him intently without blinking and asking, "Xian"er, why are you acting this way?"
"I like to." Huangfu Xian replied, looking at the flowers in his hand.
Lian"er looked at her princess fearfully.
Princess Ning"an took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and said sternly, "Huangfu Xian, this isn"t the borderlands. It"s the imperial palace. Even minor incidents could cost you your life."
Huangfu Xian plucked a petal, "Oh? Is that so? Who dares to cross His Majesty and Empress Dowager Zhuang and chop off my head?"
Princess Ning"an gazed at him steadily for a long time, "Huangfu Xian, n.o.body owes you anything. His Majesty and Empress Dowager Zhuang won"t always indulge you. It"s best for you to restrain your bad temper and not take your blessings for granted!"
Huangfu Xian sneered at Princess Ning"an, "What if I don"t? Will you send me back to the border? Or simply treat me like the remnants of the previous dynasty? Oh, I almost forgot, you’re an imperial princess of the State of Zhao. You can abandon your husband for righteousness. What is a disabled son to you? You might as well get rid of this burden early so you can remarry!"
Slap!
Princess Ning"an slapped him across the face!
Huangfu Xian turned his head from the force of the blow.
Lian"er, pale with fear, rushed over to hug Huangfu Xian, pleading with Princess Ning"an, "Princess! Please don"t do this!"
"p.i.s.sed off!" Huangfu Xian, ungrateful, pushed Lian"er away without hesitation.
Lian"er stumbled back, hitting the table behind her, bruising her back.
Huangfu Xian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his slender fingers. Looking at the bloodstain, he smirked, a hint of mocking satisfaction flickering in his eyes, "Nice fight, mother."Raz P."s Thoughts
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