Concubine Wei felt as though knives were twisting through her heart. Her face turned deathly pale as she bit down hard on her lower lip so fiercely that blood seeped out, yet she didn’t even notice.
Her body trembled slightly, and Qiushui, standing behind her, hurriedly supported her.
What?
It was only some simple bruising, yet they had gone so far as to summon an imperial physician from the palace?
Then what did that make her Yuan’er?
Earlier that year, he had caught pox from another student and burned with fever for three straight days, yet the prince had merely glanced at him a few times.
She had once believed the prince was simply cold-hearted and incapable of caring for children.
But now it was obvious that wasn’t true at all.
So he wasn’t heartless after all. He had a gentle, loving fatherly side too.
It was just that poor Yuan’er had never once received it.
At that moment, she completely convinced herself that Jiang Li was truly Gu Zhanzhen’s son.
Not long afterward, the imperial physician arrived.
Escorted into the room by Steward Qin, his diagnosis matched the estate physician’s exactly.
By then, the medicinal decoction to improve blood circulation had already been prepared.
Steward Qin lifted the bowl from the tray and said respectfully to Gu Zhanzhen,
“My lord, Young Master Jiang’s medicine is ready.”
Gu Zhanzhen personally took the bowl.
He stirred the medicine gently with a spoon and blew softly across the surface. Then he tested the temperature against the tip of his tongue. Only after deciding it was no longer too hot did he scoop up a spoonful.
In a low voice, he coaxed gently,
“Drink it.”
At this point, not only the people in the room were stunned—even Zhu Xinyan found it unbelievable.
A tough man with a tender heart!!!
As expected of someone who had once cared for a child before—so attentive and thoughtful. She truly felt ashamed of herself in comparison.
Concubine Wei nearly twisted the handkerchief in her hands to pieces. She desperately hoped Jiang Li would fear the bitterness, throw a tantrum, and embarrass Gu Zhanzhen.
But Jiang Li merely frowned his tiny brows before obediently drinking the spoonful of medicine.
Then he reached out, grabbed the bowl himself, held his breath, and gulped the entire thing down in one go.
After finishing, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and grinned foolishly at Gu Zhanzhen.
Gu Zhanzhen’s heart nearly melted.
“Impressive. Very good.”
Jiang Li immediately turned around and buried his face in Zhu Xinyan’s arms, proudly boasting in a spoiled little voice:
“Mother, the prince praised me for being amazing!”
“Well, of course His Highness praised you. Our Li’er drank his medicine obediently. Come, Mother gives you a thumbs-up.”
Zhu Xinyan raised her thumb and lightly pressed it against the little boy’s forehead.
Jiang Li’s pink little lips planted a loud smack against his mother’s cheek.
Then he turned back proudly, patted his own chest, and solemnly promised Gu Zhanzhen:
“Thank you, Your Highness! Li’er will keep being obedient forever!”
Seeing the child’s adorable appearance and hearing him repeatedly call “Your Highness,” a strange ache suddenly rose within Gu Zhanzhen’s chest.
A bold thought abruptly surfaced in his mind.
“Li’er,” he asked directly, “would you be willing to let me become your father?”
The moment those words fell, everyone present nearly lost their minds.
The prince actually wanted to acknowledge this outsider child!
Under the many complicated gazes directed at him, Jiang Li tilted his little head and thought seriously for a moment before shaking it.
Zhu Xinyan inwardly sighed.
The child was still too young and unreliable—he had rejected such a wonderful opportunity without hesitation.
Though Jiang Li had entered the household with her after her remarriage and was nominally Gu Zhanzhen’s stepson, if the prince himself refused to acknowledge him, then it meant nothing officially.
The servants in the estate were all snobs. Without proper status, Jiang Li would always live under others’ roofs.
But now that Gu Zhanzhen had personally spoken, Jiang Li would become a legitimate young master of the estate.
His treatment and status would rise instantly. Who would dare look down on him anymore?
Moreover, princes’ sons in the Great Zhou Dynasty could study alongside imperial princes and enter the Imperial Academy without examinations.
In modern terms, it was like skipping twelve years of grueling schooling and receiving direct admission into Tsinghua or Peking University.
Just thinking about those prestigious schools made Zhu Xinyan feel sore inside.
Back when she lived in Beijing, people from her own department had once asked why she hadn’t attended Tsinghua or Peking University.
What kind of stupid question was that?!
She had nearly cursed on the spot.
As if I didn’t want to go! My scores just weren’t high enough, okay?!
And now, seeing Jiang Li about to miss out on the ancient equivalent of elite university admission because he refused this bargain father—
Of course, that wasn’t even the most important part.
The truly important thing was that if Gu Zhanzhen died someday, Jiang Li would inherit part of the estate.
No matter what, this was Prince Rui’s Manor.
Free money lying on the ground and you don’t pick it up? Wasn’t that idiotic?
Frustrated at the child for not understanding, Zhu Xinyan forcefully held his head down and pressed it several times.
Naturally, Jiang Li disliked being manipulated by his mother. Pouting his little lips, he rubbed the back of his head and leaned backward, exposing the whites of his eyes as he asked:
“Mother, why are you pushing my head down?”
If he hadn’t said anything, everyone could have pretended not to notice.
But now that Jiang Li bluntly exposed it, all eyes instantly turned toward Zhu Xinyan.
No wonder people said it wasn’t scary to have a godlike enemy, but terrifying to have a pig-like teammate.
Why call him Jiang Li? They should call him Little Pig Jiang instead.
“Haha~”
Zhu Xinyan covered her mouth awkwardly and laughed exaggeratedly.
“Mother saw a mosquito on your head, so I lightly slapped it away.”
As she spoke, she waved her hand around theatrically and pointed randomly.
“Look, there’s another one over there too…”
Jiang Li feared becoming collateral damage again, so he quickly scooted his little bottom toward Gu Zhanzhen instead.
Meanwhile, everyone else’s faces darkened awkwardly.
It was already autumn, and the room was filled with expensive incense.
Where would mosquitoes even come from?
This ability to lie through her teeth without blushing or missing a heartbeat—Concubine Zhu had truly mastered it to perfection.
Beside them, Steward Qin could only shake his head.
This Concubine Zhu was far too unreliable, openly making little schemes right in front of everyone.
Did she think their prince was blind?
Since the mother was unreliable, then this old servant would step in personally.
Feeling sorry for Jiang Li, Steward Qin helped smooth things over for the child.
“Young Master Jiang is still small. Perhaps he has some unspeakable reason for declining my lord.”
Then he bent down and gently asked Jiang Li,
“If His Highness wishes to become your father, why are you unwilling?”
Jiang Li lifted his chubby little hand and pointed upward.
Everyone instinctively followed his gesture and looked up.
Above them was only the gauzy canopy hanging from the bed frame.
Zhu Xinyan’s heart instantly rose into her throat.
This child… was he about to say the canopy objected?
While she was still utterly confused, Jiang Li’s soft childish voice rang out.
“Steward Qin, Li’er already has a father. He became an immortal in heaven.”
Then he pointed back at Zhu Xinyan and continued:
“Mother said that when Li’er grows up, Father will come down from heaven to find me.”
Then Jiang Li looked toward Gu Zhanzhen, tightened his little face seriously, and said:
“So, Your Highness, I can’t call you Father. But I can call you Daddy. Would that be okay?”
Good heavens!
This child really knew how to pause dramatically before finishing a sentence.
The heart Zhu Xinyan had been holding tightly finally dropped back into place.
After being rejected by Jiang Li, Gu Zhanzhen’s disappointment had doubled.
Who would have thought the child simply hadn’t forgotten his biological father—and was actually such a loyal and affectionate boy?
Joy appeared on Gu Zhanzhen’s face as he nodded.
“Good.”
Jiang Li’s mouth was especially sweet, and he immediately changed the way he addressed him.
“Daddy!”
While the three of them looked warm and harmonious together, the atmosphere around Concubine Wei darkened completely.
Her expression stiffened until she resembled a piece of dead wood.
She had thought the child was simply ignorant and ungrateful.
But no—he was playing hard to get.
As expected of a “good child” raised by Zhu Xinyan.
Just like her, skilled at using seductive tricks to charm people.
Before she could even free herself from her jealousy and hatred, Gu Zhanzhen dealt her another crushing blow.