It was that young widow.
Along with the sound of rain outside, Yun Suiwu suddenly seemed to sober up.
“My cousin… went to sleep in the side room, so she asked this servant to sleep beside the little prince…” Lianxiang said while hugging her chest tightly. She shrank back nervously, her voice barely coming out, and her eyelashes trembled constantly.
Heavy rain beat against the windows with rapid tapping sounds.
Yun Suiwu’s face was hidden in the darkness, making it impossible to see his expression. Only his black eyes seemed darker than the night itself.
Meeting his gaze, Lianxiang hugged herself even tighter and kept moving backward.
She was terrified.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, and her whole body felt as hot as boiling water.
She only hoped the prince would leave quickly.
Or at least allow her to get off the bed and leave.
But he showed no intention of moving.
Suddenly, a loud crash of thunder exploded outside, followed by a flash of lightning that lit up the room.
In that brief moment of light, he saw the young widow in his arms.
Her dark hair framed her red lips.
Tears shimmered at the corners of her reddened eyes like morning dew on flower petals.
Before the tears even fell, one could already feel the heat of her emotions.
The thunder frightened her, and she cried out softly.
Her delicate body trembled.
It made people want to pull her into their arms and protect her carefully.
But she was not the person he had mistaken her for.
The next second, darkness returned to the room.
Then came the little prince’s loud cry.
Lianxiang immediately forgot her fear and hurried to pick up the frightened baby and comfort him.
Lady Song was awakened as well.
Hearing the baby’s loud crying, she rushed over before even putting on her shoes properly.
Taorui and Green Willow also came inside.
The rain outside grew heavier and heavier.
Curled up in Lianxiang’s arms, the little prince cried pitifully with tears on his face.
When Taorui lit the candle on the table, there was no sign of the prince anywhere in the room.
“Don’t cry, little prince…” Lady Song said as she reached out to hold him.
But the little prince buried his tear-streaked face against Lianxiang’s chest instead.
His tiny hands tightly gripped her clothing.
As Lianxiang gently covered the baby’s ears, she looked around the room.
Everyone was focused on comforting the little prince.
There was no sign that the prince had ever been there.
Could it have all been a dream?
With the rain, thunder, and darkness, she truly could not tell.
It felt as though traces of the prince’s presence still lingered on her face and lips.
Yet he was nowhere to be seen.
Then it had to be a dream.
Otherwise, how could the prince simply disappear after a clap of thunder?
And why would she dream something so embarrassing?
In the dream, the prince had mistaken her for her cousin…
Lianxiang’s thoughts were a mess.
Her heart raced, and her delicate ears turned bright red with shame.
She felt too embarrassed to face her cousin.
Her husband had been dead for less than half a year.
Yet she had dreamed about herself and the prince while lying on her cousin’s bed.
It was madness.
And yet the dream had felt so real.
She did not dare ask Taorui or Green Willow about it.
If the prince had truly returned to the residence, the gatekeepers would certainly know.
But she waited until evening and heard no news that the prince had come back.
Aunt Pei visited the little prince as usual and even brought some new toys sent from the capital.
It seemed that everything that happened at noon really had been only a dream.
Because of this, Lianxiang secretly pinched herself several times as punishment.
Fortunately, it had only been a dream.
…
When the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived, the prince truly returned from Mo City.
The huge and solemn Prince Zhenguo Residence was like a sleeping lion that had finally awakened.
Everyone in the household became busy.
That evening, after a rainfall, flower petals covered the garden paths.
Yun Suiwu stood before the offering table with the little prince to worship the moon.
The lantern light shone upon him, making him look noble and dignified.
After the ceremony ended, a feast was held.
Throughout the entire event, Lianxiang stood beside the senior nanny while holding the little prince.
Perhaps because she still remembered that vivid and embarrassing dream from two months ago, she seemed nervous and uncomfortable.
Fortunately, the prince never looked at her.
Then, in the next moment, he raised his eyes and looked toward the little prince.
Even though he was not looking at her, she still felt tremendous pressure.
She lowered her head even further.
The exposed part of her neck felt cold.
Seeing this, the senior nanny instructed Lianxiang to bring the little prince forward so the prince could see him.
The moon was full, the osmanthus flowers were fragrant, and it was a perfect night for enjoying poetry and moonlight by the window.
Yun Suiwu’s gaze remained on the little prince.
Occasionally, he reached out to play with him.
The little prince, however, looked at him with caution and unfamiliarity.
It was almost as though he feared the prince might take away the toy in his hands.
After a while, the little prince became bored.
He turned his head and looked at Lianxiang with his dark, jewel-like eyes.
He repeatedly puckered his lips and made soft sucking sounds.
Clearly, he was hungry.
“Your Highness, the little prince recognizes people now,” the senior nanny said with a smile.
“He chooses which wet nurse he wants. He likes Nurse Shen’s milk the most. Whenever he gets hungry, he looks for her.”
The senior nanny was very satisfied with Lianxiang’s work.
Lady Song had truly recommended the right person.
Lianxiang had taken excellent care of the little prince.
Although they were discussing the baby, Lianxiang’s face quickly turned red.
Then she felt the prince’s dark gaze shift from the little prince to her.
His eyes were cold and distant, yet strangely heavy.
The look made her both shy and nervous.
Her fingers twisted the handkerchief in her hand.
More and more, she believed that the incident from two months ago had really been just a dream.
How could a cold and emotionless man like the prince ever be as gentle as he had been in that dream?
“Your Highness, shall Nurse Shen take the little prince away to feed him?” the senior nanny asked.
“Mm.”
Yun Suiwu gave a short reply.
His cold eyes briefly swept across Lianxiang.
The moment she adjusted the little prince in her arms, he became even more eager.
The sucking sounds he made grew louder.
His eyes stared directly at Lianxiang, and even a little drool escaped from his mouth.
Anyone who had ever cared for a child could tell that the little prince was craving milk.
The weather in August was neither hot nor cold.
Lianxiang’s clothing was loose-fitting and usually hid her figure well.
But with the little prince pressed against her, the soft curves beneath her clothing became much more noticeable.