After regaining her balance, Lianxiang’s heart nearly stopped several times. All color drained from her face. She first looked down to check on the little prince, then quickly dropped to her knees in fear.
“Please forgive me, Your Highness. I did not do it on purpose. Just now there were several fireflies behind you. The little prince was curious and wanted to see them, so I carried him closer…”
Her clothes were already soaked with sweat, and a cold chill ran down her back.
She had only just received a reward from the prince, yet moments later she had almost dropped the little prince onto the ground.
She did not dare imagine what would have happened if she had really fallen while carrying him.
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became.
The seven-month-old little prince did not cry at all. Instead, he thought it was fun and turned his round little head, looking around curiously.
Yun Suiwu withdrew his hand and looked at the kneeling Lianxiang.
Her head was lowered deeply, revealing a section of her fair, graceful neck. A few loose strands of hair stuck to her jade-like cheeks. Her chest rose and fell with each nervous breath.
The sight reminded him of a noon two months ago.
At that time, her clear deer-like eyes had been filled with panic and helplessness. The naturally upturned corners of her eyes had been tinted with a peach-blossom red from shame. She had looked like a gardenia flower that had been bullied—fragile, delicate, and deserving of pity.
Now she looked just as weak and vulnerable, enough to soften anyone’s heart. Yet aside from fear and panic, there was nothing else in her expression.
And that was only natural.
She was merely a wet nurse. Two months ago, he had mistaken her for someone else while drunk. She should only feel fear toward him. She should not have any other feelings or thoughts that she should not have.
“Have someone catch some fireflies,” Yun Suiwu ordered before turning and walking toward Moon-Gazing Tower.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Aunt Pei helped Lianxiang to her feet and reminded her gently, “Nurse Shen, be more careful.”
Lianxiang looked at Aunt Pei in confusion.
She had almost stepped into empty space and dropped the little prince. She had expected the prince to punish her severely. She had even thought she would lose her position as wet nurse.
Yet the prince had not said a single word and simply left.
She still remembered the Dragon Boat Festival, when Taorui and Green Willow had brought her to the prince’s meditation room. Aunt Pei had punished her by making her stand under the hot sun for two hours.
Why was it different this time?
Instead of feeling relieved, Lianxiang became even more uneasy.
“As long as the little prince is unharmed, everything is fine. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. His Highness is taking the little prince to Moon-Gazing Tower to admire the moon.”
Seeing her anxiety, Aunt Pei motioned for her to hurry and follow.
She then ordered Taorui and Green Willow to fetch tools for catching fireflies so they could catch some for the little prince.
When Lianxiang looked up, the prince had already walked far ahead.
Although she still felt uneasy, she quickly picked up the little prince and followed.
This time she did not dare play or interact with him. She kept her head down and watched every step carefully.
Under the night sky stood the magnificent Moon-Gazing Tower. Moonlight poured onto its green-glazed roof tiles, covering them with a silver glow. The building looked elegant and luxurious, almost like a fairyland.
The tower had three floors. From the highest level, one could see the entire Zun Prince’s Manor.
Looking north toward the outer walls, one could even see Guangling’s busiest streets and the endless flow of traffic and people.
Prince Zun had always preferred peace and solitude. He disliked having too many attendants around him.
Therefore, despite the tower’s size, there were no servants in sight.
Lianxiang followed the prince up the rosewood staircase.
However, because she was carrying the seven-month-old little prince, her view of the steps was blocked. She climbed carefully, watching every movement.
The little prince had also grown much heavier over the past months.
After carrying him for so long, she was already becoming tired.
Yun Suiwu had already reached the third floor.
When he turned back, he saw that Lianxiang had only just climbed to the second floor.
She held the little prince with one arm and gripped the railing with the other, slowly moving upward step by step. She looked especially small and delicate.
He stood by the staircase with his hands behind his back and waited for a while.
Only after she reached the second floor did he enter the room.
He sat on the couch beside the window. Looking up, he saw a full moon hanging high in the sky.
On the low table were fruits, mooncakes, and a pot of osmanthus wine.
The moment the little prince spotted the bananas on the table, he immediately pointed at them and made excited sounds.
Then his dark eyes turned toward Lianxiang.
It was obvious he wanted her to peel one for him.
The little prince already had four baby teeth and could eat soft foods.
Ever since the nanny had asked Nurse Zhao to feed him a little banana, he had learned that bananas were edible. Whenever he saw one, he wanted someone to feed it to him.
“Little Prince, you just finished drinking milk. Your tummy is already full. You can’t eat anymore,” Lianxiang said gently.
Of course, she knew he could not understand her words.
So she added, “How about I give you one to play with instead?”
After speaking, she timidly looked toward the prince.
Leaning against a redwood armrest, Yun Suiwu nodded slightly, signaling her to place the little prince on the couch.
Just as the senior nanny had said, the little prince had become very active.
The moment he was placed on the soft couch, he wriggled like a little fish and crawled toward the low table, drool hanging from his mouth.
Lianxiang bent down, picked up a banana from the fruit plate, and handed it to him.
The little prince immediately grabbed it with both hands, hugged it tightly, and happily played with it.
Then she removed his tiny shoes.
Without the restriction of his shoes, the little prince immediately rolled around on the couch while hugging the large banana.
As Lianxiang placed his shoes on the floor, she suddenly felt someone’s gaze on her back.
Thinking that the prince was finally going to punish her, she quickly knelt down and bowed deeply.
“Your Highness, you may punish this servant however you wish. I only beg you not to drive me out of the manor. I promise… this will never happen again. I will take good care of the little prince…”
After her husband died, his brothers had immediately driven her and her child out of the family home.
Her own family only made a living by selling tofu.
Her second brother and younger brother were still unmarried.
If she lost her job as a wet nurse, she would have no choice but to return to her parents’ home.
Although her sister-in-law was kind and had helped care for her child while she worked in the manor, a widow living with her child in her parents’ home would make it harder for her brothers to find wives.
Yet if she left her family home, she had nowhere else to go.
The money she had saved was only enough to buy a small house. What remained would not be enough to support her child.
She truly needed this job.
“Help this prince remove his shoes.”
Yun Suiwu looked at the timid and frightened young widow.
She looked like a little lamb standing before a wolf.