Prince Chen frowned. “How is Tan’er?”
“The mansion physician prescribed medicine. He just took it and fell asleep.”
The couple had been married for many years, and aside from one concubine-born son, Situ Tan was their only legitimate heir.
But when Princess Consort Chen was pregnant with this child, she had fallen victim to a concubine’s poison and given birth prematurely.
Not only could she never bear children again, but Situ Tan had been born with a congenital deficiency. His health was so poor that even a common cold could kill him.
For the sake of this child, Princess Consort Chen worried herself sick every single day, never daring to let her guard down.
Even so, the deputy director of the Imperial Medical Academy had declared that the child would not live past twelve.
This year, Situ Tan was already ten. He studied well—any book he could memorize after just a few readings.
But… such a brilliant child, and only two years left…
Every time she thought of this, Princess Consort Chen’s heart felt as though it were being cut with a knife.
Prince Chen was pained to see this as well. He gently patted her shoulder to comfort her. “I’ve already sent people to search for the Divine Doctor Valley. Tan’er will be fine.”
“Mm!” Princess Consort Chen nestled into his embrace, forcing a smile. “My lord, when you have time, do visit the other consorts’ courtyards. It’s enough for me to stay here with Tan’er.”
“…” What use would more concubine-born sons be?
Just as Prince Chen was silently complaining, Tang Rui’s chubby little face flashed through his mind.
Still, if one of his concubine-born sons or daughters could be even half as clever as Tang Rui, that wouldn’t be so bad.
…
Prince Rui’s Mansion!
The moment Prince Rui returned, he went straight to the Concubine Consort’s courtyard, ordering his servants to bring along his Four Books and Five Classics.
After helping the Concubine Consort sit down, Prince Rui picked up a copy of The Great Learning without another word and began to read aloud.
The Concubine Consort was bewildered. “My lord, what are you—”
“Shh! Don’t speak.” Prince Rui cut her off. “I’m educating our child. I’ll start teaching early—by the time he comes out, maybe he’ll be as precocious as Tang Rui.”
The Concubine Consort was stunned by his bizarre train of thought. “My lord, the child is only six months along.”
“Yes, he’s fully formed now. He can hear my voice.”
“…” You must be insane!
The Concubine Consort gave an awkward smile. “My lord, you also have two legitimate daughters and one concubine-born daughter. Why not… teach them instead?”
Prince Rui’s face twisted with disgust at the suggestion. “Those three are as stupid as can be—already a lost cause. I need to properly cultivate this one. And you’d better not disappoint me—don’t give birth to some idiot.”
“…” Where’s my knife?
The Concubine Consort ground her teeth in fury but dared not show it.
Prince Rui didn’t stop reading. From day to night, he didn’t even eat.
It wasn’t until the third watch that Prince Rui finally went to sleep.
The Concubine Consort summoned her personal maid and said weakly, “Go find out who Tang Rui is.”
Why does my lord go mad the moment he hears that name?
…
Prince Xiang’s Mansion!
After returning, Prince Xiang did something unprecedented—he went to Princess Consort Xiang’s courtyard.
“How dare you come here!” Princess Consort Xiang, who had been gnawing on a duck leg, immediately threw it down and grabbed a feather duster.
“Wait!” Prince Xiang quickly spoke up. “I’m not here to fight with you. I’m… I’m here to make a son with you. Or a daughter, if that’s all we can manage.”
Princess Consort Xiang froze, then felt his forehead, then felt her own. “No fever. What’s gotten into you?”
Prince Xiang’s hackles rose instantly. “Fang Lanjiao, kindly remember your position. You are my princess consort. Bearing me children is your natural duty.”
Princess Consort Xiang sneered. “Who was it that said he’d rather die than sleep with me?”
“…” That’s because you’re too fierce! Eight times in one night—I said I couldn’t go on, but you kept teasing me.
I nearly died in that bed. Not divorcing you was already the height of good temper.
Prince Xiang changed the subject. “That’s not the point. The point is, I want children. Give me one!”
“Fine!” Princess Consort Xiang sneered, set down the feather duster, walked to her bedside, and dragged out a wooden chest from under the bed.
The moment he saw that chest, Prince Xiang’s face changed dramatically.
Princess Consort Xiang opened the wooden chest—handcuffs, whips, candles… a whole box of various adult items.
Prince Xiang swallowed hard and turned to leave. “I suddenly don’t want children anymore.”
“Someone, close the door!” Her personal maid immediately shut the door and thoughtfully locked it.
Princess Consort Xiang cracked her whip—crack! “Trying to run?”
“W-what are you doing? Don’t you dare!”
“Wasn’t it you, my lord, who said you wanted children?”
“I don’t want them anymore! Not anymore!”
“Too late!”
“Don’t come near me—ahhh!”
The husband and wife chased each other around the table, playing a game of cat and mouse.
…
Tang Rui, who had been the subject of several women’s discussions, returned to the mansion and first made a trip to the kitchen.
The kitchen staff had received her rewards last night, so their attitude toward her was exceptionally good.
Seeing her staring at the lunch spread with drool dripping from her mouth, the head chef scooped her out a big bowl of the freshly stewed beef.
“Thank you, thank you!” Tang Rui’s drooling intensified even as she remembered to express her gratitude.
The head chef chuckled. “You flatter me, little miss. The mansion is your home—just say the word if there’s anything you’d like to eat.”
“Okay! I won’t eat too much, just a little something to line my stomach!” She had no idea why her appetite was so enormous.
Maybe it was because she’d starved herself too harshly dieting in her past life. And now that she was a child, she didn’t need to watch her figure, so she could eat to her heart’s content without restraint.
A large bowl of braised beef was quickly finished, and even the broth was drained dry by Tang Rui.
The head chef, worried that she might have indigestion from eating too much beef, ladled her a bowl of soybeans stewed with chicken.
After finishing, Tang Rui finally felt her hunger subside a bit, and only then did she leave the kitchen to wander elsewhere.
Though she called it wandering, she was actually looking for poisonous insects and snakes.
Even though she had a father now, she couldn’t forget her roots.
She still needed to learn the skill of gu-making.
But the prince’s residence was cleaned by servants every day—where would any poisonous creatures be?
Tang Rui searched all around but found nothing, and instead ended up covered in dirt.
Forget it!
Giving up!
Tang Rui picked a few blooming jasmine flowers and planned to head back to Cuiweige for a bath. It was almost mealtime, and she couldn’t afford to miss that.
As she passed by the rockery, Consort Gu was walking toward her with her maidservant.
Tang Rui immediately raised a sweet smile upon seeing her: “Great Aunt-Mother, are you going to look at the flowers too?”
Consort Gu nodded faintly. “Why have you gotten yourself so dirty?”
“I went to pick flowers!”
With that, Tang Rui stood on her tiptoes and offered the freshly picked jasmine to her: “Great Aunt-Mother, these are for you. The jasmine is pure white and very fragrant, just like you!”
Consort Gu looked down at her own white dress, hesitated for a moment, then took the jasmine, her expression softening a few degrees. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome! I really like you, Great Aunt-Mother. Your white robes flutter in the wind, just like a celestial maiden from the heavens.”
Consort Gu didn’t seem to like her, so she’d better be sweet-tongued and endearing.
Normal adults wouldn’t make things too hard for a little child like her, right?
Consort Gu gave a bitter smile, crouched down to tidy her messy little bun, and said with hidden meaning: “There are no celestial maidens in this residence, only trapped women. Given enough time, these women will all turn into madwomen.”
Tang Rui: “…”
I know that!
I’ve watched Empresses in the Palace so many times!
But why are you telling a little kid like me all this?
Consort Gu said no more, rose to her feet, and left with her maidservant.
Tang Rui looked suspiciously at her retreating figure, feeling that Consort Gu gave her a very familiar vibe.
Oh!
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Tang Rui.