The Royal’s Little Lady

The newborn Little Young Master, Gu Sui’er’s little tadpole, was surrounded by the Old Madam, Madam, and also the two Young Madams, with them stroking his face every so often lovingly.

 

That tender and smooth little face, that ignorant little yawn, and that dignified expression were indeed quite amusing. So much so that these women were reluctant to let go of him.

 

Even when the nanny showed up outside the delivery room, they couldn’t bear to part with him. Finally, the Old Madam announced, “Sui’er still hadn’t seen the child after she woke up, right? Let’s go, we’ll carry him over to her.”

 

The two Young Madams and the Madam were dumbfounded. However, after realizing that she decided to carry him over simply because she couldn’t bear to let go of the little one, they promptly followed her inside.

 

After entering the room, they didn’t forget to smile graciously at Gu Sui’er and ask about her well-being. Besides, the Madam also let her subordinates fetch some top-notch nourishing tonics from the warehouse and deliver them over to Nanny An, instructing Gu Sui’er to take good care of herself.

 

Regardless of their fussing, Gu Sui’er was absolutely not in the mood to listen to anything else. All her attention was locked on her little tadpole.

 

She stared at the little baby by her side. He was too delicate; his tender skin was fair and clear. She couldn’t seem to be able to move her eyes away from his little face.

 

Her little tadpole looked very much like Xiao Heng, not at all like the nuisance called the third Prince.

 

His facial features were truly exquisite, he looked just like the little boy next to GuanYin1GuanYin [观音菩萨] – In Chinese mythology, GuanYin is the goddess of mercy and is considered to be the physical embodiment of compassion. The Chinese name ‘GuanYin’ is short for ‘GuanShiYin’, which means “[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World”. She is also believed to grant children and is occasionally depicted holding an infant in order to further stress the relationship between the bodhisattva, maternity, and birth. If you are interested to know more, click here. in the New Year’s painting, but his little face seemed whiter and more good-looking than the one in the painting.

 

 

Gu Sui’er stared at the baby without blinking, completely overlooking the presence of Old Madam, Xiao Heng and the others.

 

At this moment, she only cared about her own little tadpole.

 

When the Old Madam discovered the situation, she smiled: “This is the first time she became a mother so it’s plausible that all she has in her mind is her child. Let her take a good look at him ah.”

 

The Madam also smiled and said, “Whatever you need, remember to let Nanny An get it from me.”

 

It was only then that Gu Sui’er realized they were standing there and hastily responded respectfully.

 

After they all went out, only Xiao Heng, Gu Sui’er and the little tadpole were left in the room.

 

Xiao Heng couldn’t help but look down at his child.

 

This child was simply a miniature version of himself. He had the same facial features as him and even exactly the same expression.

 

As he looked at the little figure, Xiao Heng suddenly thought of the third Prince’s words. He really wished he could shove that man directly in front of his son and let him see who this child resembled.

 

Gu Sui’er also recalled the previous events and the bright and delighted expression in her eyes gradually dimmed.

 

She peeked at Xiao Heng and murmured in a low voice: “Third Master, I truly don’t know what the third Prince was talking about… I did see him once in the inn but at that time, he was with you…”

 

She lowered her eyes and continued in an even lower voice, “Nevertheless, I have nothing to do with him ah. I haven’t seen him since that time. Tha-that night…”

 

She remembered that night and for a moment, her cheeks turned red as if they were set aflame.

 

“That night, after I left, I hid in my room and was sent back to the village early the next morning…”

 

In this life, Xiao Heng was the only one she had been close with; there was no such third Prince.

 

She absolutely didn’t make a mistake.

 

However, before she could elaborate further, Xiao Heng raised his hand and covered her little mouth.

 

His big palm was rather strong. After being blocked by him, she couldn’t utter a word.

 

“You don’t have to say it, I am clear about this matter.”

 

Gu Sui’er bit her lip, remorseful and frustrated: “I have embarrassed you, third Master.”

 

She was aware that if today’s matter spread out, Xiao Heng would lose face.

 

She was Xiao Heng’s concubine, but she was charged with carrying the third Prince’s child in her womb.

 

She became Xiao Heng’s concubine because of the child in her womb. However, if a rumor that this child belonged to be the third Prince spread, she really won’t be able to live.

 

Surprisingly, Xiao Heng mumbled, “Sui’er, it’s not your fault. It’s entirely someone else’s fault. In fact, this matter… has nothing to do with you.”

 

He knew what exactly happened that night.

 

When he went to DanDong to handle a case of corruption, the third Prince was ordered to visit the famous master in Southeast Mountain. The two of them happened to meet at the foot of XuShan and agreed on staying in the inn together.

 

At that time, Princess ZhaoYang, who was dressed as a man, was also accompanying the three Prince.

 

As they had met after a long time, he and the third Prince decided to drink some wine that night.

 

However, barely after he took a few sips of the wine, he had a sense of foreboding. Realizing that he was very likely caught in someone’s scheme, he immediately stopped drinking. But the third Prince had already drunk a lot by that time. So, he spilled the rest of the contents in the wine pot on the floor and pretended it to be an accident without my delay. Thus, the two were ‘forced’ to stop drinking.

 

After that, he somehow managed to walk back to his room and ordered some tea, which Gu Sui’er happened to bring in for him and everything happened.

 

Although the third Prince’s room was right beside his, he had no idea of the situation there.

 

In any case, he really didn’t know thee identity of the woman in the third Prince’s room.

 

That person certainly couldn’t be Gu Sui’er but Xiao Heng didn’t expect the third Prince to be muddled enough to cause such a misunderstanding.

 

“But… the third Prince said…” She was still a bit anxious.

 

Noting her helpless eyes, Xiao Heng pursed his lips slightly. He raised his hand and gently stroked her hair.

 

Due to sweating profusely during labor, her jet-black hair was damp. He combed her half-dry hair with his fingers and coiled a lock around it.

 

He lowered his head a little and approached her.

 

“It’s alright. He just talked nonsense. No one will believe him. Little tadpole is my child. If someone dares to talk nonsense about him, I will naturally not let them go.”

 

‘Little tadpole’, this was not a very graceful name. At first, he must have disliked it, but now, he could easily accept it.

 

——As if the child ought to be called little tadpole.

 

Gu Sui’er felt relieved when she heard his words. Owing to relief, exhaustion set in, making her drowsy.

 

In her daze, she remembered how he fought with the third Prince just because he said those things. Therefore, no matter who it was, as long as someone dared to talk nonsense, he would really go and beat them.

 

No one will laugh at her little tadpole.

 

She pursed her lips and smiled softly. She wanted to speak, but she could only smile at him as her consciousness became blurry.

 

Xiao Heng was keenly aware of her tiredness. Knowing that she had lost a lot of blood before eating the congee, he pushed her sweaty hair aside, revealing her bright and clean forehead, saying: “You should sleep now.”

 

His voice had a rare tinge of gentleness. It wasn’t her imagination; it was indeed warm, completely different from the cold tone of the past.

 

This reminded Gu Sui’er of her childhood. At that time, after contracting a serious illness, when she lay on the bed, covered with a quilt and with an earthen stove burning beside it as her mother stroked her forehead with her warm hand.

 

She felt fatigued but relaxed, so relaxed that she couldn’t even keep her eyes open.

 

She shut her eyes lazily, her mind slowly slipping into a dark, fuzzy but sweet dreamland.

 

However, with a sudden jolt, she opened her eyes again.

 

The woman who had already fallen asleep suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him with those bright eyes that seemed to overflow with moisture.

 

“Hm?” Xiao Heng inquired in a low voice.

 

“I—I have something I forgot to give you.”

 

“What?”

 

Gu Sui’er hurriedly reached out to look for it.

 

It was only then that she remembered the pouch she had stitched with great trouble. Initially, she intended to be give it to him right after he returned, but unexpectedly, she ran into the third Prince first which blew up the incident, and then she gave birth.

 

The pouch… Where is the pouch?

 

She fumbled in her sleeves, unable to find it anywhere. Her skirt was ripped by the midwife during labor, so she couldn’t find the small pouch now.

 

“It’s gone, it’s not here…” She murmured, frowning slightly, her eyes lost and troubled: “Where did it go…”

 

Xiao Heng stretched out his hand in front of Gu Sui’er holding something.

 

“Looking for this?”

 

Gu Sui’er took a look, and as expected, there was a pouch lying in his palm. It was exactly the one made by her.

 

The pouch she embroidered for him was made from the highest quality kesi2Kesi [缂丝] – Kesi, sometimes also referred to as k’o-ssu, are Chinese tapestries that have been around since the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). Kesi are notorious for being light and delicate while having a sharp, clear image or pattern. The name itself literally means ‘cut silk’, because the distinct and unblended areas of color in these tapestries give the illusion that the threads have simply been cut. These tapestries are reversible, with a perfect weave on both sides. (Source: Nazmiyal Collection) , embroidered with mountains and rivers, birds and animals, with meticulous needlework and top-notch embroidery skills. The purple-gray kesi having its borders stitched with golden threads looked as dignified as a man who earns the family expenses.

 

Seeing the pouch, Gu Sui’er finally breathed out a sigh of relief: “En, this is it.”

 

After she finished speaking, she remembered that she hadn’t told him it was specially made for him.

 

“Do you— do you think…” She blinked, “this is pretty?”

 

She was afraid that he would not like it.

 

“Pretty.” Xiao Heng looked at the pouch.

 

He didn’t like wearing these things very much. He just wore simple robes and a jade belt to secure it in place.

 

But since she took so much effort to make it, he would naturally wear it.

 

Caressing it, he asked again, “Did you make it for me?”

 

Gu Sui’er nodded her head again and again.

 

Without speaking any further, Xiao Heng promptly hung the pouch from the jade belt around his waist.

 

Gu Sui’er looked at the tall and straight figure standing in front of the bed. With the purple-gray pouch hanging against the white robe, he looked even more handsome.

 

She pursed her lips and smiled softly, murmuring, “I think it’s pretty too…”

 

Xiao Heng raised his eyes, noticing her upper and lower eyelids fighting to stay open: “Sleep ah.”

 

Gu Sui’er was indeed very sleepy. She closed her eyes obediently.

 

But she suddenly seemed to remember something again and couldn’t help but glance at the little tadpole lying next to her.

 

His two chubby little hands were lightly clasped and placed on both sides of his little head. His little nose flaring as he slept soundly.

 

She was worried about him.

 

“I’ll call you when he wakes up.” He assured softly in a deep and low voice.

 

Hearing this, she was finally at total ease and closed her eyes, falling asleep with a smile.

Thanks for reading ٩(๑ᴗ๑)۶! If you found any typos or want to suggest some corrections, feel free to do so in the comment section or in our discord server. And if you like my translations, please consider rating it on NU and supporting me on:

 

 

1GuanYin [观音菩萨] – In Chinese mythology, GuanYin is the goddess of mercy and is considered to be the physical embodiment of compassion. The Chinese name ‘GuanYin’ is short for ‘GuanShiYin’, which means “[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World”. She is also believed to grant children and is occasionally depicted holding an infant in order to further stress the relationship between the bodhisattva, maternity, and birth. If you are interested to know more, click here. 2Kesi [缂丝] – Kesi, sometimes also referred to as k’o-ssu, are Chinese tapestries that have been around since the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). Kesi are notorious for being light and delicate while having a sharp, clear image or pattern. The name itself literally means ‘cut silk’, because the distinct and unblended areas of color in these tapestries give the illusion that the threads have simply been cut. These tapestries are reversible, with a perfect weave on both sides. (Source: Nazmiyal Collection)