Wei Shiwan, seizing the opportunity, deliberately brought Xiao Tao to Li Yanchen's yard, Nuanming Courtyard, shortly after Zhou Xiaoru had left with a dark expression.
"Chen'er, come, these are pastries I just had the kitchen prepare. Try them." Wei Shiwan said with a smile, having Xiao Tao place the pastries on the table. "I have been busy with matters concerning the late princess consort these past days and haven't had time to visit you. You won't blame me, will you?"
"Thank you for your concern, Princess Consort. Even if there were matters, they would be minor. Princess Consort need not trouble yourself to come personally."
Li Yanchen stood up and replied coldly and distantly.
Wei Shiwan was not his birth mother. It was obvious she was just putting on an act, and Li Yanchen simply did not believe anything she said, even though she had spoken up for him in front of Li Shiyun that time.
Wei Shiwan frowned slightly. "Chen'er, I heard from the servants that your appetite hasn't been good these past days. How can that be considered a minor matter?"
"Princess Consort, I still need to practice my calligraphy. If there is anything, we can speak of it another time."
Li Yanchen directly asked her to leave.
This move was taught to Li Yanchen by Zhou Xiaoru, who also told him that Wei Shiwan was full of schemes and he must not engage in lengthy conversation with her.
"No." Wei Shiwan shook her head and refused. "Your health is what's important. What if you truly starve and fall ill? If Chen'er eats these small pastries, then I will agree to leave."
"..."
Li Yanchen fell silent. He hadn't expected that Wei Shiwan's purpose for staying, despite his clear refusal, was actually to make him eat.
"Eat quickly, it won't be good if it gets cold."
Wei Shiwan picked up a piece of pastry and made as if to feed Li Yanchen.
"No need to trouble Princess Consort, I can do it myself." Finding it hard to refuse, Li Yanchen had no choice but to take the pastry from Wei Shiwan's hand and eat it.
This pastry, specially ordered by Wei Shiwan, tasted quite good. As soon as it entered his mouth, Li Yanchen tasted the shrimp meat with its perfect texture. In a short while, his stomach felt a bit full.
"Come, eat more."
Seeing Li Yanchen eat it, Wei Shiwan immediately revealed a gentle smile.
"Mm."
Li Yanchen subconsciously followed Wei Shiwan's words and continued eating, a complex emotion flashing quickly in his eyes.
Wei Shiwan was the first person to be so concerned about whether Li Yanchen had eaten. Zhou Xiaoru would only relentlessly urge Li Yanchen to study hard. Sometimes, if Li Yanchen failed to meet Zhou Xiaoru's expectations, she would punish him by not allowing him to eat until he succeeded.
"Chen'er, why are you staring at me? Are you choking?" Wei Shiwan looked at Li Yanchen with concern and instinctively wanted to pour him a cup of tea. However, upon picking up the teapot, she discovered it was empty.
Wei Shiwan immediately said in an urgent tone, "Xiao Tao, go quickly and prepare some tea."
"Yes, Princess Consort."
Xiao Tao ran out immediately and soon returned with a pot of tea.
"Here, have a drink first." Wei Shiwan personally poured a cup of tea for Li Yanchen. "Outrageous! What are those servants doing? Why wasn't the tea in Chen'er's place prepared ahead of time? Xiao Tao, relay my order: the servants of Nuanming Courtyard have been negligent in caring for Chen'er. They are to receive ten strokes and forfeit half a month's wages."
"Yes."
Xiao Tao nodded and withdrew.
"Th... thank you..." Li Yanchen hadn't expected Wei Shiwan to punish the servants for his sake. He took the tea in a daze and drank.
Wei Shiwan looked at Li Yanchen and persuasively said, "Chen'er, I know you want to study well so that the Prince will view you differently upon his return, but you can't rush it. If you ruin your health and it just happens to be when the Prince returns, wouldn't all your efforts be in vain?"
"This..."
"Chen'er, how about this: from now on, you come to my place for meals."
"Uh... won't that be a disturbance..."
"Of course not." Wei Shiwan shook her head and interrupted. "Chen'er, you don't know, but my children all like to come to their mother's place during meal times. Having you accompany me would actually make me happier."
"But... alright."
Li Yanchen thought of Zhou Xiaoru's warning not to get too close to Wei Shiwan, so he didn't agree immediately. But when he recalled the recent argument with Zhou Xiaoru, he changed his mind almost out of spite.
Mother only has ambition in her heart, she doesn't care about me at all. Why should I still listen to her?
"Good, it's settled then."
Wei Shiwan's maiden family was also a renowned one, and she smoothly began to test Li Yanchen on some material from the books. Even when Li Yanchen sometimes couldn't answer, Wei Shiwan only gently explained and did not punish him.
That night, a seed of something complex and indefinable—a mixture of gratitude and confusion—took root in Li Yanchen's heart regarding Wei Shiwan.
____
The Inner Palace, Imperial Harem.
Ying Zhengjing sat lazily in the main seat, his eyes closed, his fingers tapping intermittently on the table beside him.
Consort Chun (纯: Pure), Shen Qianxue, sat below playing the qin, occasionally glancing at Ying Zhengjing with adoring eyes, as if he alone was her entire world.
The piece ended.
Ying Zhengjing opened his eyes and stared directly at Shen Qianxue. "Xue'er, come to Us."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Shen Qianxue, her face slightly flushed, walked to Ying Zhengjing.
With a forceful pull, Ying Zhengjing made Shen Qianxue sit on his lap. "Xue'er's guqin playing gets better and better. We found Ourself unconsciously captivated listening to it."
Shen Qianxue buried her head in Ying Zhengjing's chest. "If Your Majesty likes it, that is enough. Your Consort..."
"Your Majesty, His Majesty the Empress is requesting an audience."
Suddenly, the announcement from the eunuch cut off Shen Qianxue's words abruptly.
"The Empress? Why would he come at this time? Never mind, let him in." Ying Zhengjing couldn't help but frown, but as Gu Rushuang was, after all, the Empress, he would still give him some face.
Shen Qianxue suppressed her displeasure at being interrupted, her face full of confusion. "Your Majesty, why is the Empress coming?"
"You'll know when he arrives, won't you?" Ying Zhengjing tapped Shen Qianxue's nose, not showing much concern about Gu Rushuang's appearance.
"Your Majesty, if you tease Your Consort like this, Your Consort will feel embarrassed."
"We enjoy seeing you embarrassed."
Ying Zhengjing grew interested and, disregarding Gu Rushuang's imminent arrival, began to flirt with Shen Qianxue as if no one else was present.
Shortly after, Gu Rushuang walked in with an expressionless face. As was customary, he bowed to Ying Zhengjing. "Chengjun pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."
"You may rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Shen Qianxue, still in Ying Zhengjing's arms, deliberately said breathlessly, "Your Consort pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be at peace. Please forgive Your Consort for being unable to bow to you."
"It is of no consequence."
Gu Rushuang replied indifferently, not taking Shen Qianxue's attitude to heart.
Hmph, just keep pretending.
Shen Qianxue shot a disdainful glance at Gu Rushuang.
Ying Zhengjing released Shen Qianxue and looked down from his position. "Might We ask why the Empress has come to see Us so suddenly?"
Gu Rushuang couldn't be bothered with small talk with Ying Zhengjing and replied directly, "Replying to Your Majesty, Chengjun finds it difficult to have offspring. Therefore, I wish to request Your Majesty's permission for Chengjun to raise the Seventh Prince."
"Your Majesty wishes to raise the Seventh Prince?"
Before Ying Zhengjing could respond, Shen Qianxue was startled by Gu Rushuang's words.
Everyone in the palace knew that the person Ying Zhengjing detested the most was the Seventh Prince, Ying Yuan. Wasn't Gu Rushuang afraid of displeasing Ying Zhengjing by doing this?
Gu Rushuang ignored Shen Qianxue and showed no intention of answering her. He just stood below, quietly watching Ying Zhengjing, waiting for his response.
Ying Zhengjing fell silent.
Seeing Ying Zhengjing's unfavorable attitude, Shen Qianxue didn't dare to speak.
For a moment, the entire hall was extremely quiet, as if even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.
"Do you know what you are saying?"
Ying Zhengjing's words finally broke the silence.
"Yes."
Gu Rushuang met Ying Zhengjing's gaze without yielding.
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