Shortly after the officials left, Fang Zhaoyi, having received the news, finally arrived at Xianyang Palace.
Although Jiang Yingcheng wasn’t her biological child, she had still raised her for so many years and had developed some affection for her.
Moreover, this was the baby girl her elder sister had carried for ten months before giving birth to, and she still carried the blood of the Fang family.
For as long as Jiang Yingcheng had sneaked out, Fang Zhaoyi had been searching the surrounding areas with her people.
Her eyes red, Fang Zhaoyi entered the room and, disregarding etiquette, rushed forward to embrace Jiang Yingcheng. With a slight force, she patted the little girl’s back, her suppressed voice still tinged with unshed tears. “Why didn’t you say anything before going out?”
Jiang Yingcheng, bundled up thickly today, didn’t feel much pain from the pat, but it still left her stunned.
After a moment, she said to 007 in a tone full of pride, 【She cares about me.】
【Hehehe.】
007, who had been driven to the brink of frustration by her earlier antics, replied gently this time: 【Mm.】
Jiang Yingcheng giggled, awkwardly wrapping her hand around Fang Zhaoyi’s neck and gently patting her back. “I’m sorry, Mother Consort, please don’t cry.”
【Father Emperor is still here, Mother Consort, you must look beautiful!】
Fang Zhaoyi’s body stiffened slightly.
the Little Princess’s clumsy yet heartwarming actions melted Changshun’s heart.
If this little dumpling weren’t the Emperor’s Little Princess, he would have stolen her away to raise in secret.
Jiang Yan Chuan’s gaze remained fixed on the two pastries for a long moment before he finally couldn’t hold back a low, deep chuckle.
After Fang Zhaoyi left with Jiang Yingcheng, Jiang Yan Chuan also had Jiang Xingran escorted back.
The vast hall fell silent in an instant.
Jiang Yan Chuan casually pulled out a piece of Xuan paper and wrote a few characters with his brush.
Tong Ge, male lead, Huai’an, Xingran.
Cooked Soil, embezzlement, poisoning.
On the far right side of the paper were two characters more prominent than the others:
Likes.
Because Jiang Yingcheng liked them, they could hear her inner thoughts.
Just before setting down the brush, Jiang Xingran’s utterly bewildered expression suddenly resurfaced in Jiang Yan Chuan’s mind—as if he couldn’t comprehend how a mere faint smile could bring Jiang Yingcheng such joy.
His eyes slowly focused on those two large characters.
There was no doubt Jiang Yingcheng also liked Jiang Xingran very much, yet Jiang Xingran clearly still couldn’t hear her inner voice.
After pondering for a while, he slowly added a few more strokes after the word “likes.”
Mutual.
The way Tan Songsheng and Changshun looked at Jiang Yingcheng was clearly filled with doting affection, like elders gazing at their adorable little granddaughter. Regardless of the origin of this sentiment, both of them undoubtedly held some fondness for Jiang Yingcheng.
This explanation fit perfectly.
Just as Jiang Yan Chuan completely set down his brush, Changshun happened to return from outside.
His forehead was glistening with a thin layer of sweat from hurrying, yet his entire face beamed with delight.
“Your Majesty,” Changshun bowed respectfully and said, “the eunuch who tripped the Little Princess has already been caned as punishment.”
The little one was fiercely loyal. Having declared her fondness for Changshun Gonggong, she truly took his matter to heart. Before leaving, she forcefully broke free from Fang Zhaoyi’s grasp, trotted over to the eunuch, and with exaggerated theatrics, pretended to be tripped—flopping onto the ground with a “thud” before bursting into loud, dramatic wails, insisting that Father Emperor deliver justice for her.
Though her cries were deafening, not a single tear was shed.
No one had ever dared to make such a commotion in Xianyang Palace before, making Fang Zhaoyi so anxious she broke into a light sweat.
Jiang Yan Chuan, plagued by a headache from the noise, had no choice but to grant her request.
The wailing ceased instantly, and Jiang Yan Chuan nearly laughed in exasperation.
Putting away the Xuan paper filled with writing, Jiang Yan Chuan suddenly asked Changshun in a measured tone, “What do you think should be done with that person?”
Changshun rubbed his hands excitedly: “This humble servant believes that person acts too recklessly and is likely unfit to serve before the throne. Perhaps he should be exiled from the palace and left to fend for himself.”
This was also what the Little Princess had originally intended—in a way, he was helping fulfill her wish.
Changshun thought gleefully.
This was the first time in so many years he had experienced the joy of someone standing up for him.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Jiang Yan Chuan turned his head directly and looked at him with a half-smile. “That person poisoned you until you bled from all seven orifices and died, yet you only wish to drive him out of the palace.”
“Aren’t you curious about who might be pulling the strings behind him?”
Changshun: “!!!”
What was going on? Was hearing the Little Princess’s inner thoughts such an absurd phenomenon, and he wasn’t the only one?!
……
Jiang Yingcheng sat in the exquisite palanquin arranged by her handsome Father Emperor, happily humming an unknown little tune.
Her tone was light and lively, though the melody was somewhat peculiar, it easily conveyed that the little one must be in a very happy mood.
And indeed, she was extremely happy.
【Tong Ge, Tong Ge, isn’t my mother consort also super! beautiful!】
The little one, who had been boasting all the way, was brimming with pride in her eyes. After listening to her for so long, 007 decided to humor her one last time: 【Beautiful, beautiful.】
Jiang Yingcheng giggled: 【Hehehe, I’ll be just as beautiful when I grow up!】
007 hesitated: 【Did I never tell you that you’re not Fang Zhaoyi’s biological child?】
Jiang Yingcheng was shocked: 【What?! I’m not Mother Consort’s biological child?!】
She had always thought that even if she were a fake princess, she would at least be Mother Consort’s child with someone else!
Fang Zhaoyi, who had been eavesdropping all along, instantly turned pale: What?! How did she find out about this?!