The distance from the main hall to the inner chamber was short, and Yinzhen could have walked it himself, but was mother perhaps worried about him?
Thinking this, Yinzhen couldn’t help but sneak a glance upward. He hadn’t meant anything by it, but because of that glance, he stumbled and nearly fell.
Just as he was feeling embarrassed, Tong Lanshu mistakenly thought he had tripped from not paying attention while walking.
“Yinzhen, you must watch your step when walking.”
Tong Lanshu’s voice was gentle, without a hint of blame, but this only made Yinzhen feel even more awkward. He had always followed the rules meticulously—when had he ever made such a fool of himself?
His small face flushed bright red. Yinzhen wanted to explain but worried that mother might press him further. Hesitating, he stood frozen in place.
Tong Lanshu hadn’t paid much attention at first, but when she moved forward, she noticed Yinzhen hadn’t followed. Puzzled, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Yinzhen shook his head slightly, but perhaps the movement was too subtle, as Tong Lanshu didn’t see it. When he didn’t respond, she crouched down beside him. “Did something happen?”
Her eyes were filled with obvious concern.
Yinzhen immediately shook his head and hurriedly replied, “I—I am fine, mother. Please do not worry.”
He spoke so quickly and urgently that his already flushed face grew even redder, making Tong Lanshu increasingly concerned. She examined him carefully and, seeing that he truly was fine, stopped questioning him.
Yinzhen finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, because of this brief incident, he walked with even greater caution, no longer letting his gaze wander.
The lamb hotpot on the table was still steaming. Earlier, because The Emperor was present, Tong Lanshu hadn’t eaten much.
Though it might have been somewhat disrespectful, Tong Lanshu only now truly relaxed. She picked up her chopsticks and took a few more bites, not forgetting to invite Yinzhen to join her.
Children have small appetites. Yinzhen had already eaten quite a bit earlier under Tong Lanshu’s care and couldn’t eat any more now. But since mother had said so…
After a moment’s thought, Yinzhen decided to pick up his chopsticks anyway.
Tong Lanshu saw through this clearly. Lamb wasn’t easy to digest, and eating too much wouldn’t do him any good.
“If you’re already full, don’t force yourself. Be careful of indigestion,” Tong Lanshu said gently, but Yinzhen felt reluctant.
He truly couldn’t eat any more, but in his heart, he wished to spend a little more time with mother.
Perhaps it was because mother had been treating him more tenderly these past few days.
Yinzhen set down his bowl and chopsticks and couldn’t help but sneak another careful glance at Tong Lanshu.
In truth, Tong Lanshu had noticed long ago. She had only pretended not to see earlier because Yinzhen’s attempts at hiding his glances weren’t particularly skillful. After spending these days together, she had come to understand the child’s temperament. If she spoke up abruptly, she might startle him, and if he choked, it would be no laughing matter.
But now that the child had stopped eating, there was no need for her to pretend. She gently asked if he had something to say to her.
Yinzhen’s face flushed crimson instantly, but unlike before, he didn’t shake his head. Why had he been sneaking glances at mother? Even Yinzhen himself couldn’t explain it. Faced with her questioning now, he felt truly guilty, but he had already evaded once before.
To do so again was something he simply couldn’t bring himself to do.
The rules and upbringing he had learned since childhood wouldn’t allow it.
Thinking this, Yinzhen could only steel himself and speak. “In… in reply to mother, I… I…”
He stammered and hesitated, unable to get a word out for a long time, but Tong Lanshu showed no impatience at all, quietly waiting for him to speak.
It was quite different from before.
Children are sensitive; even subtle differences can be felt.
Before, his mother had treated him well too, but her health was poor, often requiring rest, and Yinzhen dared not disturb her too much.
"Mother… may I return to my quarters a little later?" Yinzhen didn’t dare to look at Tong Lanshu’s expression, afraid of being refused.
Tong Lanshu was stunned, seemingly not expecting to hear such words.
She couldn’t quite describe the feeling in her heart—somewhat surprised, yet not disliking it.
"Of course you may," Tong Lanshu replied cheerfully but didn’t let him touch the mutton on the table again.
Yinzhen obediently put down his bowl and chopsticks, sitting quietly to the side, unusually still for a three-year-old child.
Tong Lanshu had only been craving meat a little, but seeing Yinzhen like this, she lost interest in the hotpot. She had the palace maid clear the table and led Yinzhen to sit beside her to talk.
Tong Lanshu wasn’t very good at interacting with children and didn’t quite know what to say to Yinzhen. Day after day, she merely inquired about his daily life and asked what books he had been reading.
Yinzhen wasn’t actually old enough for the Shang Study yet. The reason he could recognize characters was because of Noble Consort Tong. She had her family find a tutor and, after informing the emperor, arranged for him to come to Chengqian Palace once every three days for a two-hour lesson.
That was how Yinzhen learned many characters.
Although it was approved by the emperor, it still drew considerable attention in the palace, with many gossiping about it. Noble Consort Tong did all this simply because Yinzhen wanted to study, and she worried she wouldn’t teach him well enough.
Things had been bumpy before, and now they weren’t much better. Comparing her memories of their interactions, Tong Lanshu noticed some differences.
Yinzhen was much more cautious around her than before.
But this wasn’t hard to guess. Tong Lanshu only needed to think a little to understand the reason.
However, since Yinzhen didn’t bring it up, Tong Lanshu felt it inappropriate to mention it herself. This was her first time being a mother, and she had no experience; everything required careful consideration.
Just as Tong Lanshu was racking her brains for a topic, Yinzhen’s soft voice spoke up, "Mother, does Consort De have another baby?"
Tong Lanshu’s scattered thoughts instantly cleared, and she looked over with a start. "Yinzhen?"
"I heard about it," Yinzhen’s voice was somewhat downcast.
Hearing this, Tong Lanshu gave a meaningful glance to Zhilan beside her. Zhilan understood and quietly left the room.
Consort De’s pregnancy was no secret; likely everyone in the palace already knew. It should have been a joyous occasion, but since it was Yinzhen asking, Tong Lanshu’s expression grew complicated.
But with the child asking directly, Tong Lanshu couldn’t possibly lie.
After a brief moment of thought, she decided to explain it to him properly.
"Yes, Consort De has a baby," Tong Lanshu said gently, looking at Yinzhen and earnestly telling him that in just over seven months, he would have another younger brother or sister.
Yinzhen didn’t respond, and it was unclear whether he understood or not.
Tong Lanshu knew he felt uneasy and didn’t press him, but she couldn’t truly empathize. She could only try her best to see things from Yinzhen’s perspective.
When parents have a second or third child, the firstborn inevitably feels neglected.
For the Emperor and Consort De, Yinzhen was indeed their eldest son.
Thinking this, Tong Lanshu tentatively asked, "Does Yinzhen like younger brothers and sisters?"
This question made the already silent child fall even deeper into silence. Tong Lanshu rubbed her forehead, reflecting on whether she should not have asked such a sharp question of a young child.
Just as she was about to say something to smooth things over, she heard Yinzhen's soft reply, "I do."
His voice was light but firm enough. During the silence, Yinzhen had thought of many things. He recalled the Fifth Prince in the Grand Empress Dowager's palace, an elder brother slightly older than him. Every time they met, the Grand Empress Dowager liked to have them sit together, watching them with a smiling face. He also thought of the Sixth Prince, whom he had met a few times, as well as his elder sister and younger sister.
Yinzhen very earnestly told Tong Lanshu that he did like younger brothers and sisters.
It was just that he felt he seemed somewhat different from his younger brothers and sisters, though he couldn't quite explain exactly where the difference lay.
At his tender age, he vaguely understood that mentioning his birth mother and adoptive mother would sadden his mother.
Seeing Yinzhen in low spirits, Tong Lanshu actually had some guesses in her heart. However, she didn't know how to comfort a three-year-old child, nor was she certain whether her words might have other effects on him.
If the child hadn't been overthinking things but started to because of her words, that would be putting the cart before the horse, which was not Tong Lanshu's intention at all.
Tong Lanshu admonished herself not to ask such sharp questions in the future and awkwardly changed the subject, asking Yinzhen with a smile what he would like to eat for breakfast the next day.
And indeed, Yinzhen was led astray, though his answer was no different from before—he didn't have many preferences when it came to food.
Who would have thought that Tong Lanshu's next words would make Yinzhen's eyes widen in delight.
"It's really lonely for Mother to eat alone. Would Yinzhen keep Mother company?"
Yinzhen looked up in surprise, greeted by his mother's gentle smile. Without time to think too much, he nodded without hesitation and, encouraged by Tong Lanshu, told her what he would like to eat for breakfast the next day.
Tong Lanshu smiled and instructed the palace maid to prepare it tomorrow.
Then, Tong Lanshu gradually steered the conversation away, ensuring Yinzhen no longer thought of Consort De's little baby. Mother and son enjoyed each other's company harmoniously, with laughter occasionally filling the bedchamber.
In winter, darkness fell extremely quickly; it was already pitch black by the hour of You.
Time passed unnoticed, so long that Yinzhen began to yawn. One reluctant to leave, the other unwilling to dampen the child's spirits, they forced themselves to keep talking. It was only when Dong Zhu came over to play the villain and remind them that mother and son finally rested.
Dong Zhu escorted Yinzhen back to his room.
After Yinzhen left, Zhilan soon entered the bedchamber and whispered a few words into Tong Lanshu's ear.
After the news of Consort De's pregnancy spread throughout the rear palace, some palace maids and eunuchs gathered to discuss the child in Consort De's womb. As Consort De's biological son, Yinzhen naturally became part of this discussion.
The palace maids and eunuchs spoke without restraint.
They said things like Consort De had never liked the Fourth Prince to begin with, and now that she had another child, if it was an Age, there would be even less room for the Fourth Prince in Consort De's heart.
After all, he wasn't the Imperial Noble Consort's own child.
"Who is spreading such gossip?" Tong Lanshu frowned. She had already suspected something about Yinzhen's condition today, and now she was even more certain. "What status do these palace maids and eunuchs hold? Are they the ones serving Yinzhen?"
"How does the Imperial Household Department perform its duties?"
"Master, please do not be angry. It is not worth damaging your health over these people." Zhilan immediately spoke up to console her, explaining that those palace maids and eunuchs were merely fourth-class servants of Chengqian Palace, mostly assigned to sweeping and cleaning tasks, with no opportunity to serve closely in daily life.
Perhaps they had been overheard by the Fourth Prince while gossiping behind others' backs.
"Find a pretext to dismiss them, and do not let the matter escalate." Tong Lanshu's voice was icy cold. Zhilan promptly agreed, earnestly urging Tong Lanshu to calm her anger.
But Tong Lanshu was not so easily appeased. She issued several orders in succession, instructing Zhilan to thoroughly screen all the palace servants in Chengqian Palace and expel any who showed disrespect.
"Your Highness, rest assured, this servant will handle the matter properly. Please do not be angry. You just had lamb hotpot today; if you become agitated and upset, this servant would not dare prepare such dishes for you in the future." Zhilan pleaded earnestly. Tong Lanshu, for the sake of the lamb hotpot, finally persuaded herself to calm down.
Zhilan and Dong Zhu were Tong Lanshu's dowry maids, holding high status in Chengqian Palace. However, even they needed a suitable pretext to discipline the palace servants.
Yet, the chief palace maid of Chengqian Palace had her own methods.
In just one late night, the palace maids and eunuchs of Chengqian Palace were replaced in batches, causing widespread unease. Zhilan did not conceal the matter too much, subtly hinting at the reasons.
Soon, all the palace maids and eunuchs in Chengqian Palace understood why those who had left met such a fate.
Zhilan coldly observed the expressions of the crowd, balancing rewards and punishments. Unwarranted gossip about one's master was a grave offense of disrespect. If any of the remaining servants harbored resentment, she would not hesitate to replace them again.
After the servants dispersed, Zhilan rubbed her temples and, after coordinating with Dong Zhu, finally settled down to sleep peacefully.