Back on New Year’s Day, the First Prince had been neglected by the nanny assigned to him. Zhen Huan had entrusted the matter to the empress, who later reported that everything had been dealt with.
Unexpectedly, nearly half a year later, the emperor’s eunuch Wang Qin suddenly arrived at the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility to invite the Empress Dowager to Changchun Palace, saying it concerned the First Prince.
Zhen Huan set off with Fuga.
When they arrived, she found not only the emperor and empress present, but also Consort Gao, Gao Xiyue.
When she asked what had happened to the First Prince, the emperor merely urged her to rest for a moment, saying they were still waiting for someone.
Zhen Huan looked around but couldn’t think of who was missing. Still, she followed the emperor’s lead and chatted casually with the empress and the others.
Until one of the empress’s maids entered and announced:
“Concubine Xian has arrived.”
…
How had the First Prince become involved with Ruyi again?
Hongli began to explain.
“Today, Consort Gao and I went to inspect Yonghuang’s studies. I asked him to write a few characters, but instead he kept staring at the pastries in Consort Gao’s hand.”
In this room, Gao Xiyue—the person who had been present—said nothing.
Zhen Huan—the boy’s grandmother—said nothing.
Fuca Langhua—the boy’s legal mother—said nothing.
Instead, Ruyi, who had not been present and had the weakest connection to Yonghuang of anyone in the room, spoke first.
“Yonghuang may be the First Prince, but he’s still just a child.”
Zhen Huan couldn’t help thinking:
Why does Ruyi always insist on accepting unfounded accusations on behalf of other people?
She had accepted responsibility for Hailan’s charcoal.
Now she was accepting that Yonghuang had been staring at the pastries because he was a greedy child.
Zhen Huan asked, “Has Your Majesty investigated the matter? Yonghuang is a prince. What delicacy hasn’t he tasted? Why would he fixate on a single piece of pastry?”
Hongli had also been caught off guard by Ruyi’s interruption. Grateful for the chance to continue, he quickly said,
“When I looked closer, I noticed several injuries on his arms. Yet none of the servants attending him had discovered them.”
Gao Xiyue immediately added,
“Exactly! The nannies caring for the First Prince are far too careless. They help him change clothes every day, yet somehow failed to notice the marks on his arms.
“Either they’re utterly negligent, or they weren’t the ones changing his clothes at all. It broke my heart to see those injuries.”
She continued indignantly,
“And the clothes Yonghuang was wearing today had clearly been thrown on him in haste. His old garments hadn’t been washed for three or four days. There were even grease stains on them.”
Zhen Huan’s first reaction was disbelief.
Yonghuang was a prince, wasn’t he?
How had a prince been neglected to this extent?
What, did the servants attending him have connections in the underworld?
Then she glanced at the empress.
She had specifically entrusted this matter to the empress months ago, and the empress had assured her it had been handled.
As these details emerged, Fuca Langhua turned to Suolian.
Suolian lowered her head, avoiding the empress’s gaze.
Feeling the Empress Dowager’s eyes upon her, Fuca Langhua hurriedly apologized.
“This is my fault. The newly assigned nannies must have become negligent and lazy. I will punish them severely.”
Negligent?
Lazy?
Zhen Huan didn’t believe that for a second.
Yonghuang wasn’t an unwanted prince.
Hongli cared greatly for his eldest son.
And judging by the fact that Gao Xiyue had accompanied the emperor to visit him, she likely had designs on raising the boy herself.
Gao Xiyue was the highest-ranking consort in the harem after the empress.
With such an important figure watching over the prince, would his servants really dare behave so carelessly?
Had they suddenly grown tired of living?
But with Gao Xiyue and Ruyi both present, Zhen Huan didn’t want to embarrass the empress in front of everyone.
For now, she held her tongue.
Only then did Hongli reveal the real reason he had gathered everyone here.
He wanted to find an adoptive mother for Yonghuang.
Zhen Huan raised an eyebrow.
“So the emperor favors Concubine Xian?”
The moment those words left her mouth, Gao Xiyue immediately protested.
Hongli coughed awkwardly.
“That isn’t what I mean. Since we’re choosing an adoptive mother, I think the child’s own wishes should come first. Yonghuang should choose for himself.”
“If Yonghuang is to choose for himself,” Zhen Huan asked mildly, “then why was Concubine Xian the only person specifically summoned here?”
Hongli took a strategic sip of tea before answering.
“Concubine Xian has served by my side for many years. She is one of the few high-ranking consorts in the palace and is qualified to raise a prince.”
Zhen Huan smiled without commenting further.
She didn’t bother asking about Concubine Chun.
Hongli always had an excuse ready.
Still, she was deeply dissatisfied with the idea of Ruyi becoming an adoptive mother.
She didn’t dare imagine what kind of child Ruyi would raise.
Please don’t choose Ruyi, she thought.
If he does, I’ll have no choice but to disregard the emperor’s feelings. No matter what, Yonghuang is still young. His entire life can’t be sacrificed.
“Then bring Yonghuang in,” she said. “I want to examine his injuries myself.”
After Yonghuang entered and paid his respects, Zhen Huan beckoned him over.
Rolling up his sleeves, she inspected his injuries carefully.
Fortunately, none of them were severe.
But the mere fact that a prince could accumulate so many wounds was outrageous enough.
Meanwhile, Hongli asked Yonghuang to choose his new mother.
Yonghuang replied that he already had a mother—Consort Zhe.
Hongli gently explained that no one would replace Consort Zhe; they merely wanted someone to care for him.
Only then did Yonghuang turn to look at his legal mother and the two consorts.
Zhen Huan noticed him ignore Gao Xiyue’s soft words of encouragement.
Instead, his gaze locked onto Ruyi’s strangely tender smile.
And then he smiled back in exactly the same way.
Alarm bells rang in Zhen Huan’s mind.
No, no, no. Is he really going to choose Ruyi?
They had barely interacted, and he already looked as though his intelligence had dropped several points.
What would happen if Ruyi actually raised him?
More importantly, how had Ruyi become involved with Yonghuang at all?
Gao Xiyue had been the one visiting him.
Gao Xiyue had discovered his injuries.
Gao Xiyue had brought the matter before the emperor.
So why did Yonghuang seem more attached to Ruyi?
“Yonghuang, don’t rush,” Zhen Huan interrupted gently. “Come sit with Grandmother first. I still have a few questions.”
Yonghuang’s eye contact with Ruyi was broken as he obediently moved to Zhen Huan’s side.
She seated him beside her, shielding him from everyone else’s gaze.
“You’ve grown even thinner since the last time I saw you.
“Tell Grandmother honestly—have these servants always neglected you like this? Grandmother will stand up for you.”
Yonghuang glanced at her hesitantly.
Seeing nothing but concern on her face, he finally spoke.
“Nanny Li treated me the worst. After she left, someone else came, but they treated me badly too.”
“Then why didn’t you tell Grandmother or your father?”
Yonghuang lowered his head.
“Nanny Li said that if I caused trouble for Father, he would dislike me.”
Zhen Huan slapped the table angrily.
“How outrageous! You’re his son. How could he ever think you’re troublesome?
“Yonghuang, remember this: if someone mistreats you, tell your father. Or tell Grandmother or the empress.
“Even if Consort Gao had learned about it, she would have gone to your father on your behalf.
“Any one of your elders would immediately punish those insolent servants.”
Yonghuang looked confused.
Was that really true?
He had never told these people.
But Concubine Xian had known.
And she hadn’t gone to Father or punished the nannies.
Seizing the opportunity, Gao Xiyue quickly added,
“That’s right, Yonghuang. I’ve always wanted to raise you.
“If I’d known about this sooner, I would have dealt with those audacious servants immediately.
“How could I have allowed you to suffer for so long—to the point where you were injured and no one even noticed?”
Hongli nodded.
“Yonghuang, you’re my son. How could I allow a group of servants to bully you?”
Yonghuang looked from one face to another.
The empress was nodding as well.
Was it really this simple?
If he had just spoken up, would everything have been resolved?
Confused, he turned to look at Concubine Xian.
That wasn’t what she had told him.
But if Father, Grandmother, and the Empress Dowager all said otherwise…
Could they all be wrong?
Zhen Huan noticed his puzzled expression and the way his eyes kept drifting toward Ruyi, who had lost her earlier smile and now sat with a gloomy expression.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind.
What if Ruyi already knew Yonghuang was being mistreated?
A normal person would either punish the abusive servants or inform someone who could.
But who knew how Ruyi’s mind worked?
If Ruyi had known all along…
Then perhaps Gao Xiyue had visited Yonghuang many times before.
Yet somehow, his injuries were revealed only today, when she happened to arrive with the emperor.
And despite Gao Xiyue discovering his injuries and helping him seek justice, Yonghuang felt grateful to Ruyi instead.
Could it be…
Today’s events had been planned all along?
Gao Xiyue had merely played one role in the plan.
And there was a very good chance Ruyi had devised it.
Zhen Huan tightened her grip on Yonghuang’s hand.
“Tell Grandmother the truth.
“Did someone know you were suffering but refuse to help you or let you tell your father?
“Did they tell you to endure it until things became serious enough that your father would have no choice but to act?”
Yonghuang thought carefully.
Grandmother hadn’t guessed that it was Concubine Xian who had advised him.
Nor had she guessed that he had deliberately injured his own wrist.
Father wouldn’t think he was lying.
And Concubine Xian’s involvement would remain secret.
Besides, she really had said that only by making the situation serious would Father stand up for him and find him an adoptive mother.
So he nodded.
Zhen Huan gently tapped his forehead.
“Silly child. You’ve been deceived.
“You’re a prince. Do you think your father would stand by and watch servants bully you?
“If you’d simply told him, you could have escaped this situation immediately.
“Instead, you suffered for nothing and gained only what was already yours by right—while becoming indebted to someone who did nothing to deserve your gratitude.”
Holding his forehead, Yonghuang stared blankly ahead.
He had believed Concubine Xian would never harm him.
But wasn’t Grandmother right?
He had felt grateful to Concubine Xian because of her advice.
He had almost chosen to become her son.
Today, the moment Gao Xiyue and Father learned what was happening, they had immediately arranged to remove him from Xiefang Hall.
Yet Concubine Xian, who had done far less than Gao Xiyue, had nearly gained a son.
Having lost his mother at a young age, Yonghuang had always overthought things.
Previously, he had believed the nannies around him were all-powerful.
Now he realized they could have been dealt with in a single sentence.
Then why had Concubine Xian never helped him?
Why had she encouraged him to injure himself and lie?
What was her true purpose?
He couldn’t figure it out.
But when he looked at the woman who had once seemed so kind and gentle, every smile and every gesture now appeared calculated.
Hongli watched Yonghuang’s gaze remain fixed on Ruyi after hearing the Empress Dowager’s words.
His heart skipped a beat.
The person Mother was referring to…
Surely she didn’t mean Ruyi?
At that moment, Ruyi turned to him, pouting innocently.
Naturally, she didn’t think she had done anything wrong.
In fact, she believed the Empress Dowager was oversimplifying matters.
The empress oversaw the entire harem, yet Yonghuang had suffered for so long.
Surely that meant the empress had allowed it to happen.
If Yonghuang had reported the matter to the emperor, the empress would have covered it up.
There was no guarantee Yonghuang would have received justice.
And Hongli would have been forced to choose between his eldest son and the powerful empress.
Wasn’t she doing this for Hongli’s sake?
As for Yonghuang’s suffering…
The nannies would never dare injure him too seriously or let him die.
He only needed to endure a little longer.
Hadn’t Hailan endured for a long time as well?
In the end, Hailan had been allowed to move into Yanxi Palace.
Everything had worked out.
Surely Yonghuang could endure too.
Suppressing his doubts, Hongli continued when he saw that Zhen Huan had no intention of speaking further.
“Yonghuang, now that Grandmother has finished asking her questions, tell Father—who would you like to be your mother?”
At this point, Yonghuang felt as though everyone around him had ulterior motives.
He didn’t want to choose any of them.
But his birth mother was gone.
He was alone in the palace.
He needed someone powerful to protect him.
He looked at them one by one.
Concubine Xian—he no longer wanted her.
The empress had her own legitimate son and had never shown him much affection.
As for Consort Gao…
Perhaps her sincerity had limits as well.
But she had no children of her own and likely wouldn’t mistreat him.
And among the emperor’s consorts, she held the highest rank.
After a long pause, Yonghuang made his choice.
“I choose Consort Gao.”