Chapter 328: Secretly Growing Feelings (2)

"Don't go." Qingfeng coaxed the child while stopping her. "He drank milk before sleeping; it hasn't even been an hour, so he shouldn't be hungry. The Empress Dowager was here tonight, and Shen Yao took care of him all night, so she must be tired."

Fuling nodded, placed the candle stand on the low stool by the window, and lit two more candles, brightening the inner chamber. Qingfeng saw that she was fully dressed, not looking like someone who had rushed over after being woken by the child, and wondered, "Why are you on night watch tonight?" The rules of Qingfeng Hall were generally to have young eunuchs on night watch, and if something happened, they would be called.

Winter had arrived, and it was cold at night. Qingfeng wrapped the child tightly, while she herself was only wearing a single layer of clothing. Fuling picked up the cloak by the bedside and draped it over her before replying, "Ruyi has been accompanying you these days and must be tired. Since you just returned, it's better for this servant to be on night watch."

The cloak fell, bringing warmth that seeped into her heart. Qingfeng gently held Fuling's hand and sighed, "Thank you, Fuling."

Fuling's face flushed, and she said urgently, "My lady, please don't say that..." Actually, she wasn't on night watch tonight entirely for the mistress; she had her own selfish motives...

Qingfeng saw her head lowered and her face flushed, thinking she was just shy, so she didn't continue. She would just keep Fuling's kindness in her heart.

The child kept crying. Qingfeng frowned, placed him on the bed, and said to Fuling, who was still feeling guilty behind her, "He might have wet himself. Go get a piece of soft cloth."

"Yes."

Fuling brought the soft cloth, and Qingfeng had already untied the swaddling clothes; sure enough, he had wet himself. As soon as she removed the wet diaper, he stopped crying immediately. Fuling smiled. "He really did wet himself. My lady, you're almost better at this than those nannies now."

"Don't praise me. I learned from Shen Yao at the villa for several days." At first, she had been just as flustered, panicking the moment the child cried.

Fuling handed the soft cloth to Qingfeng, who skillfully changed the child's diaper, wrapped him up, and gently held him in her arms, coaxing him to continue sleeping. The faint smile on her face and the soft cooing were so gentle they could melt a heart. Fuling recalled what she looked like when they first met and couldn't help but laugh.

Qingfeng finished tidying up the child and looked up to see Fuling watching her and smiling. Qingfeng was puzzled and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. I used to hear that a woman changes after becoming a mother, and it's true." It had only been ten days or so, and she was now completely the image of a loving mother, with no trace of the sharp, cold arrogance she once had.

Qingfeng rolled her eyes at her, too lazy to bicker, and said softly, "When the little prince is born, we need to send red eggs to each palace to announce the good news in a few days. You go deliver them yourself, and use that as an excuse to go see Zhen Zhen and her child." After having a child of her own, she could understand Zhen Zhen more and more, but given her current status, it was truly inconvenient for her to go see her in person. Her gaze swept over the round table behind the screen, which was piled high with precious tonics sent by the Empress Dowager. Qingfeng added, "I certainly can't finish all these tonics sent by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. You pick some good ones that are easy to consume and send them to her as well."

Fuling smiled and nodded. "Yes."

Placing the child back on the bed, Qingfeng lay on her side beside him, patting him while saying softly to Fuling, who was guarding the bedside, "He's asleep; you go rest too."

Fuling blew out the candles she had just lit and took the candle stand out to the flower hall.

Not until the candlelight in the room was extinguished did Ming Ze blankly withdraw his gaze, which had been burning on the lattice window. This was the bond between mother and child, right? Even though it was just a shadow, he could feel her tenderness toward that child. Qingfeng... she used to be her sister, and now there was this child. To be loved and needed by her like this must be happiness. Inadvertently looking down, Ming Ze realized he was still holding the food box Fuling had forced upon him, and his handsome sword-like brows furrowed tightly again.

Fuling sat outside the flower hall for a while, and not until both people inside were asleep did she quietly retreat outside.

In the silent courtyard, Ming Ze was long gone, leaving only the food box sitting alone on the stone table by the big tree. The heavy hall door was left ajar, showing that he had gone outside to stand guard. Fuling smiled bitterly. She had originally wanted to send food to him, but instead, she had driven him outside. Walking to the stone table, Fuling gently opened the food box; not a single pastry inside was missing. Hadn't she already expected this? Why was it still hard to hide her disappointment?

This person was so hard to get along with.

Early the next morning, Fuling delivered the red eggs to the Empress Dowager's and the Empress's palaces. When the other consorts heard that the personal female official of Consort Qing was delivering the eggs herself, how could they dare to sit in their palaces waiting for her to deliver them? They had long since sent people to fetch them. By noon, the red eggs in Fuling's basket were almost all gone.

Fuling arrived in front of the Cold Palace. Because no one had come here for years, the gate, which was usually unlatched, was now tightly shut. The heavy gate blocked all view. Fuling knocked on the gate, but there was no response. She knocked forcefully a few more times before hearing footsteps, and the gate was pushed open a crack.

"Fuling?" Seeing it was her, Wu'er hurriedly opened the gate and, while pulling her inside, said urgently, "Come in and talk."

Fuling followed Wu'er into the courtyard. Compared to her last visit, the cold little courtyard hadn't changed much, except that thin, light blue coarse cloth curtains hung in front of the doors and windows, allowing sunlight to shine into the room while preventing anyone outside from seeing inside.

To protect this unknown little prince, Consort Hui had truly racked her brains. Wu'er lifted the curtain, and Fuling walked into the room. The large room was empty. On the simple wooden bed, a thin cotton quilt was laid, and a thick quilt was folded and spread at the innermost part of the bed; that must be for the child to sleep on.

Zhen Zhen, dressed in plain clothes, sat on the edge of the bed holding the child. Seeing her enter, she was stunned for a moment before nodding and smiling at her. After more than a month, she had lost weight, but there were more smiles on her face.

Fuling stepped forward and paid her respects. "Fuling pays respects to Consort Hui."

Zhen Zhen smiled. "Sit. I haven't been Consort Hui for a long time; just call me Zhen Zhen. Did you come in person because something happened?"

Zhen Zhen seemed somewhat nervous, so Fuling hurriedly explained, "Nothing. This servant is here to deliver red eggs today. Even if someone sees, it doesn't matter." After saying this, Fuling took the red eggs out of the bamboo basket and placed them on the wooden table by the bed.

"Red eggs? Qingfeng gave birth?" The timing wasn't right. Could it be... premature? "Are she and the child alright?"

"There was a bit of an accident, but fortunately, both mother and child are safe. You don't need to worry."

An accident? Zhen Zhen shook her head gently, sighing in her heart, but she didn't ask for details. She glanced at the five eggs on the table—boys are odd, girls are even—so Qingfeng had given birth to a son.

"By the way, these are tonics the mistress asked me to send for you to nourish your body. They are easy to consume; just soak them in water and take them." As she spoke, Fuling lifted the cloth under the eggs and handed the tonics inside to Wu'er.

"Thank her for me." Just by glancing at them, Zhen Zhen saw many precious medicinal herbs for nourishing blood and Qi. She felt grateful to Qingfeng; besides "thank you," she didn't know what else she could say.

"Can this servant see the little prince?" This was also something the mistress had instructed when she left this morning.

"Of course." At the mention of the child, the smile on Zhen Zhen's face grew wider. She held the child higher so Fuling could see him clearly.

Although this child was born a month early, perhaps because Consort Hui was feeding him alone and he wasn't eating well, he was thin and small, just like the little master born prematurely in her own palace. Fuling hesitated for a moment but still asked, "Has he been named?" After the princes reached one month, the Emperor would bestow names, but this child...

A flash of melancholy crossed Zhen Zhen's eyes, but fortunately, it quickly dissipated. She smiled and replied, "He doesn't have a formal name yet; his nickname is Han'er."

"Han'er."

Perhaps hearing his name, or perhaps feeling someone staring at him, the little one, who had been curled up in Zhen Zhen's arms, stretched his neck. His little eyes opened wide, staring straight at Fuling. Being stared at by such a pair of pure black pupils, Fuling felt her heart soften. She smiled. "So cute."

It was almost time for the noon meal. Fuling stood up, picked up the empty basket, and said, "It's getting late; this servant will take her leave." Fuling walked to the door when she suddenly heard Zhen Zhen call out softly from behind, "Fuling, wait."

Fuling turned back to see Zhen Zhen hand the child to Wu'er, squat by the bed, gently lift the thin quilt, and rummage under the pillow. Before long, she found an object and held it in her hand.

Zhen Zhen walked to Fuling and, after a good while, handed over what was in her hand. "This... is my gift for the child."

Fuling looked down to see a pouch about half the size of a palm. The fabric of the pouch wasn't very good, but the embroidery was of the highest quality. The fiery red Qilin looked as if it were about to leap off the indigo fabric, and even its tiny white teeth could be counted. Fuling took the pouch and replied, "Rest assured, this servant will definitely deliver it to the mistress."

The pouch really couldn't be considered a precious gift, and seeing Fuling being so solemn, Zhen Zhen felt shy. "Mm, hurry back."

Fuling bowed, and Wu'er saw her out.

Walking along the quiet palace path in front of the Cold Palace, Fuling's pace was much slower than when she had come. Looking at the pouch lying quietly in the basket, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart. If Consort Hui hadn't been cast into the Cold Palace, or if the mistress hadn't come to the Cold Palace that night, perhaps they would have become enemies. Instead, they were now able to get along peacefully; the way people get along is sometimes truly subtle. Speaking of getting along, Fuling couldn't help but think of that cold person again...

She could clearly feel that he wasn't actually a cold-hearted person, but why did he always keep a cold face, making people feel at a loss? What exactly was he thinking? Fuling was lost in thought and didn't notice someone coming toward her, nor did she notice the large shears used by the gardener to trim branches placed by the palace path.

Ming Jian had been investigating the Ling Shui Alliance for days and finally had some leads. At this moment, he was rushing to report to the Emperor before the noon meal. Normally, he wouldn't pay attention to a few palace maids he met on the palace path, but the woman walking toward him was truly strange. She was carrying a large basket, and judging by the fact that she was carrying it with one hand, it shouldn't have been heavy, but she was walking extremely slowly. At this pace, she would probably take half an hour to walk this short palace path.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 329 =====