Chapter 95

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Chapter 95: Title

At the dining table, Gu Hengbo was eating some braised pork, while the cries of Little Hong’er had not stopped. The child’s mother was quite desperately trying to comfort him, and Madam Dou, feeling helpless, tried to approach but was held back by Gu Hengbo. "Lord Zou, your voice is almost sounding like a eunuch’s now; just say if you can’t take it anymore."

Out of respect for Lian Rong’s presence, Zou Yuan hesitated to scold loudly and continued to soothe Hong’er.

Lian Rong barely touched her chopsticks; she kept watching Gu Hengbo eat, picking up dishes and ladling soup. If Madam Dou hadn’t been there, she would have wanted to feed him personally.

Gu Hengbo frowned at her. "Aren’t you hungry?"

Lian Rong smiled but said nothing.

Perfectly timed!

"Lord Zou, give Hong’er to Lian Rong, and come over to eat. She knows how to care for children much better than you."

Madam Dou quickly spoke up, "Meisheng, I can go if needed."

Gu Hengbo tapped the table, looking at Lian Rong. "Did you not want to go out for a walk?"

After Lian Rong took Little Hong’er out, Zou Yuan sat at the table with a sigh. "It feels pretty good; my Hong’er might enjoy some of her royal aura. After all, it is Prince Rong." She actually took Hong’er out for a stroll, how surprising.

Gu Hengbo looked at her disdainfully. "Are you really that impressed by her?"

Zou Yuan shot her a glance. "What do you know? This is what we call being in good fortune and not knowing it."

Gu Hengbo shrugged. "I hope you marry Prince Rong."

Madam Dou gave her a light smack on the hand. "Meisheng, don’t talk nonsense."

Zou Yuan just picked up her chopsticks, and accidentally glanced at a certain something on someone’s neck. She leaned closer to Gu Hengbo with a teasing smile. "Hey little Gu, what is that on your neck?"

Gu Hengbo looked at her in confusion, reaching up to touch her neck. "What’s wrong?" She turned her face towards Madam Dou. "Mom, is there something on my neck?"

Madam Dou shot a reproachful glance at Zou Yuan before awkwardly shaking her head. "It’s nothing, just eat; it will get cold."

Gu Hengbo said "Oh," and lowered her head to eat again, but after a couple of bites, she felt something was off. Her mother’s expression was unusual, and suddenly, she remembered something. Her face turned red as a flame, and a warmth spread from her feet. She completely forgot about it, and such a reflex was really something.

Speaking of which, our prince was holding a soft bun and took it directly out for a stroll. Although the newly born Little Hong’er was wrapped tightly, soft cooing sounds still escaped from the blanket.

Lian Rong was in a good mood and rarely felt like shopping. On the busy street, a beautiful woman holding a child drew quite a few gazes. Hearing footsteps following her, Lian Rong smiled and asked, "How are things going?"

The white figure who followed closely behind was none other than Wuyang. "Master, the emperor’s illness has shown initial signs; he is likely to send someone to summon you back in the next few days."

"What about the second prince?"

"Master, this is precisely why I rushed here. The Crown Prince’s estate has sent news that the second prince may travel north in a few days," Wuyang said in a low voice.

Little Hong’er made soft sounds from the blanket, and Lian Rong smiled as she pinched that chubby face. "It’s just a matter of time before he comes to the Northern Region. Has the Southern Emperor left the royal city?"

Wuyang curiously peeked into the blanket. "The Southern Emperor is currently in the Northern Region." This woman truly seemed to have endless idle time.

Lian Rong paused her steps. "She is in the Northern Region?"

Wuyang looked at the little creature and couldn’t help but smile slightly. "This little fellow is quite amusing."

Lian Rong glanced at her. "Do you need me to arrange a marriage for you?"

Wuyang immediately spoke seriously. "Replying to my master, the Southern Emperor is currently at the brothel in the capital."

Lian Rong raised her eyebrows. "Very well, I just happen to have something to discuss with her."

"When do you plan to set out?" Wuyang asked.

"Early March."

"My master, Jingzhi and Congyu’s army has already departed from the Western Region. I have followed your instructions to let them act separately. There’s no need to think too much about the Northern Region; they only need to pass through the Southern Region. I worry about the Southern Emperor," Wuyang said, leaving the rest unsaid. Lian Rong understood her meaning.

Wuyang thought for a moment. "There’s one more thing. I believe my master should know that Zhou Li from the Ministry of War and General Zhao have been closely interacting with the Second Prince. General Zhao has always been at odds with Prime Minister Gu, which can be understood, but the actions from the Ministry of War seem a bit suspicious."

"What about Prime Minister Gu?"

"Prime Minister Gu and General Gu have been in contact with us. Prime Minister Gu even mentioned in his letter that the Second Prince rarely sends for him during meetings now."

Lian Rong watched the bustling crowd, her gaze growing deeper. "You can go ahead and do your job. I will handle the Southern Emperor.” If it comes to a confrontation, four hundred thousand troops are far from enough.

The two discussed matters for quite some time on the crowded street. After Wuyang left, Lian Rong stood still for a long time. Among the children, Lianyang was the most obedient and the easiest to manage. He was quiet and reserved, even when faced with something he liked; he would only watch from a distance and never fight with others. His mother, the Mother Empress, had lost her favor, and everyone looked down on him. The throne felt like something far out of reach for him. A child like him hid his true emotions too deeply, yet he found himself trapped in a whirlpool of struggle and pain.

If she could not get what she wanted after planning for over ten years, sacrificing some people was nothing. She was originally a heartless person; whether it was her brother or nephew, she could even turn against someone she once loved. There was nothing she couldn’t do.

"Father Emperor, everything I’ve done today is what you have given me. Since you cannot repay, let your son and his children pay instead. You do not allow me to live well; how can I let you rest peacefully in the afterlife? How you treated the Rong family and the Mother Empress back then, today, I will repay a thousandfold. You cherished my brother, didn’t you? I fought alongside him in my teenage years; now, I want to see him struggling to seize the throne only to hand it over to others. Your prince grandsons are just pieces on my chessboard in the grand scheme of a thousand miles. Father Emperor, your life of scheming went wrong when you shouldn’t have given birth to me, and you definitely should never have left my life intact," Lian Rong murmured, her face smiling with an unusual tenderness.

Gu Hengbo wandered the street for a long time without finding anyone until she saw the familiar figure in front of a fabric stall. She sighed in relief. "What are you running around with the child for? He hasn’t eaten anything since he got up this morning. Let me see if he’s hungry again."

Lian Rong smiled and placed little Hong’er in her arms. "Are you worried I would run away with him?"

"Of course! My Hong’er is so adorable. Oh? He peed!" Gu Hengbo felt under the blanket and exclaimed, "He’s all wet. Why don’t you hurry and take him home? It’s freezing today; what if he gets sick? What kind of person are you?"

Lian Rong paused for a moment; she had been too engrossed in her thoughts to notice. "Ah Heng, I—"

"Shut up! An explanation is just a cover. You’re an adult now, and you can’t even look after a child!" Gu Hengbo said, holding little Hong’er with a displeased look as she walked away.

Lian Rong followed behind, smiling helplessly. Gu Hengbo suddenly stopped and looked at her seriously. "Quickly say you were wrong. You shouldn’t have let little Hong’er get cold."

Lian Rong looked at her, wanting to laugh, but finally managed to keep a solemn expression. "Ah Heng, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have let little Hong’er get cold."

Gu Hengbo glanced at her sideways. "That’s better. Ugh, you are so annoying! What are you laughing about? Do I look funny?"

Lian Rong ignored her nagging and wrapped her arms around her waist, kissing her cheek. "Are you still going or not? You sound like an old lady, nagging endlessly."

"Do you find me annoying?!" Gu Hengbo puffed up her cheeks.

"I wouldn’t dare," Lian Rong said, noticing someone looking their way, and immediately pulled her back.