Seeing that the women were about to start quarreling, Concubine Zhu quickly interjected: “Oh, stop arguing! Whether she’s the Prince’s child or not, we can discuss it once the Prince arrives!”
The moment she finished speaking, Concubine Zhang spotted Prince Li’s figure: “The Prince is here.”
“P-Prince!” Princess Consort Li’s face flushed red, and she instantly turned into a boiled quail.
“Greetings, Prince!” The other women also bowed in unison to Prince Li.
Tang Rui looked up and her eyes went wide.
Her cheap father… was absolutely stunning…
Though he had a feminine beauty, there was no way to mistake him for a woman.
His features were sharply defined like carved blades, and his dark eyes shimmered with a dazzling light under the candle glow.
His jet-black hair cascaded down, tied at the ends with nothing but a red cord.
Dressed in a black brocade robe with auspicious clouds embroidered in gold thread that glimmered faintly, even sitting in a wheelchair he could not hide his elegance.
Tang Rui had previously worried she might grow up ugly, but now it seemed there was no need for concern.
“Prince!” Concubine Liu spoke in a syrupy voice, reaching out to tug at Prince Li’s sleeve.
But Prince Li avoided her in time and gave her a cold, sinister look.
Concubine Liu immediately dared not act rashly. She bit her lip and stepped back: “Prince, is this little girl your daughter?”
Situ Che did not answer her. Instead, he looked at Tang Rui and pulled out the crumpled letter, his cold voice carrying a chilling edge: “Did your mother leave this behind?”
Tang Rui blinked her big eyes, looking utterly innocent: “I’m not really sure about that.”
Situ Che narrowed his eyes: “You’ve never read this letter?”
“I don’t know how to read!” Tang Rui looked even more innocent.
She had been reborn in the womb, and while still in her mother’s belly, she had heard her mother say that she had taken advantage of her cheap father’s good looks and drugged him to conceive her.
Later, her mother had abandoned her with her master to escape from enemies pursuing her.
Tang Rui had memories from her previous life and knew that a man who had been forced would harbor great resentment.
In short, playing dumb was the way to go!
Situ Che said nothing, but his gaze at Tang Rui grew increasingly cold.
Tang Rui pouted, looking like she was about to cry at any moment: “Are you my father? Did my mother get it wrong?”
“Don’t cry, sweetheart. You look so much like the Prince—how could you not be his child?” Princess Consort Li thought to herself that she had just gained a daughter, and even if the girl wasn’t the Prince’s, she had to be.
Tang Rui sniffled and pointed at Situ Che with her greasy pig trotter: “But Daddy doesn’t seem to like me.”
“Your father is just not used to it yet—how could he not like you!” Princess Consort Li’s heart ached for her. She picked up little Tang Rui and looked at Prince Li disapprovingly: “Prince, the little commandery princess looks exactly like you. How could she not be your child!”
Situ Che pressed his thin lips together tightly and said nothing.
What surfaced in his mind was the scene six years ago in the military camp—that damned woman binding his hands and feet and straddling him.
No matter how he threatened or raged, the damned woman remained unmoved. Seeing that he wouldn’t cooperate, she even forced an entire packet of Hehuan Powder down his throat.
He hadn’t died on the battlefield, but that day he nearly died in bed!
Concubine Zhu grew anxious: “Prince, the little commandery princess said her mother is dead and she’s all alone in the world. If you don’t acknowledge her, what will she do?”
“There are plenty of children in this world who have lost their mothers. Does that mean every motherless child who brings a crumpled letter to the Prince’s mansion should be acknowledged as your daughter?”
After speaking, Concubine Liu looked at Consort Gu ingratiatingly: “Sister Gu, don’t you think so?”
Consort Gu gave a barely perceptible smile but did not speak.
Concubine Zhu couldn’t win the argument, so she put her hands on her hips and started pulling rank: “I am a Concubine Consort! You’re just a lowly concubine—who gave you the nerve to speak to me like that?”
Concubine Liu’s face stiffened, and she silently hid behind Consort Gu.
Consort Gu glanced sideways at Concubine Zhu: “Is Sister Zhu trying to compare status with me?”
“Ha…”
A side consort—how high was that status?
Concubine Zhu also shrank back behind the Princess Consort and tugged at her sleeve: “Sister Princess Consort, Consort Gu wants to compare status with you.”
Consort Gu: “…”
“Enough!”
Prince Li rubbed his forehead in frustration: “I’m not denying it. She is indeed my daughter.”
Though he was loath to admit it, the letter contained Tang Rui’s birth date and time, and it matched up.
Besides, Tang Rui’s face was proof enough.
He just hadn’t expected that the damned woman was truly dead.
The Prince acknowledged her!
Wonderful!
The Princess Consort and Concubine Zhu breathed a sigh of relief.
Consort Gu showed neither joy nor sorrow, her thoughts unreadable.
Concubine Liu gnashed her teeth in frustration and whispered to Consort Gu: “Sister Gu, say something!”
“…” The Prince had already acknowledged her—what was there to say?
Consort Gu didn’t want to deal with her.
Tang Rui relaxed. She struggled out of Princess Consort Li’s arms, pattered over to Prince Li’s side, and pressed her greasy little hand onto his sleeve.
The next moment!
Smack!
Her greasy little lips planted a kiss on Prince Li’s cheek!
Prince Li’s entire body went rigid, completely stunned!
Before he could react, the little dumpling flashed him a toothless grin: “Daddy, I finally found you.”
Silence!
Dead silence!
Not just the women—even the guards and Qingfeng the steward had their mouths hanging wide open!
The Prince has a cleanliness obsession—he doesn’t let anyone near him!
It’s over!
The little master is doomed!
However…
After coming to his senses, Prince Li pushed her away with disdain: “Stay away from me!”
Everyone: “!!”
Just like that?
“Princess Consort, I’ll leave her to you!” With those words, Prince Li had Qingfeng push him away.
“Yes!” Princess Consort Li was overjoyed. She crouched down to wipe the little bun’s mouth clean: “It seems the Prince likes you quite a lot!”
“I think so too. He was just shy, that’s why he pushed me away!” Tang Rui nodded in agreement.
Situ Che, who hadn’t walked far yet: “…”
“Come, let Mother take you to choose where you’ll stay!” Being a mother for the first time, and to a little bun who looked exactly like her beloved, Princess Consort Li’s maternal instincts overflowed as she personally picked her up.
Consort Gu clenched her handkerchief, her thin lips pressed tightly together.
Concubine Zhu let out a long sigh: “I hope more people come to claim their fathers, so we can each have a daughter.”
Concubine Liu: “…”
If it’s not your own daughter, what kind of daughter is it?
…
Princess Consort Li took Tang Rui to see several halls and pavilions, finally choosing Cuiweige, which was closest to her own residence. She also assigned her trusted confidante, Nanny Rong, to take care of Tang Rui.
No sooner had Tang Rui moved in than Concubine Zhu, Concubine Zhang, and Concubine Li sent over gifts.
Hair ornaments, fabrics, jewelry…
Tang Rui became rich overnight, grinning from ear to ear.
What surprised her most was that the most valuable gift was actually a set of white mutton-fat jade bowls, plates, and chopsticks sent by Concubine Li.
They felt warm to the touch, minimalist and flawless.
Nanny Rong smiled: “Among the masters in the Prince’s household, Concubine Li is the wealthiest. Her father is an imperial merchant—the colored kiln used by the nobles in the palace belongs to her family.”
“Nanny, can I use this set of tableware for my meals from now on?” White mutton-fat jade—how classy was that?
Nanny Rong: “These all belong to you, young master. If you wish to use them, of course you may.”
“Then I’ll use this set!” Having decided on her dining set, Tang Rui’s stomach growled again.