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T/N: Sorry for the delay guys, my health has not been the best these days ;-;

After being kicked by a child, the Empress merely got a few words of tasteless apology in response. This could be considered a big loss of face on her part. However, as the Empress, she must still continue hosting the banquet.

 

She furtively glanced at the child and noticed that he was also restless in the Emperor’s arms. He even tried to climb onto his shoulders by pulling on his arm.

 

Truly mischievous.

 

She squinted slightly, wondering if the Emperor would protect the child in case he scratches him? And yet, this naughty child unexpectedly grinned at the Emperor instead of scratching him.

 

The Emperor was pleased to see his well-behaved grandson smiling at him so sweetly. He didn’t want to let little Ah Chen go.

 

As a result, he instructed Gu Sui’er to leave little Ah Chen with him and enjoy the banquet because he wanted the child to accompany him for a while.

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However, Gu Sui’er was a bit worried to hear this; she looked at Xiao Heng for help.

 

Xiao Heng said softly: “You can relax. I will look after Ah Chen so that nothing happens.”

 

Only then did Gu Sui’er breathe a sigh of relief. “Please be careful. Don’t let him kick or scratch again.”

 

She was a little embarrassed to say this. At home, Ah Chen was so well-behaved. How did he become a devil incarnate as soon as they stepped inside the Palace?

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Xiao Heng nodded: “Alright.”

 

When the Emperor left after a while, everyone kneeled and bid him farewell. At this time, the other invited noble ladies arrived one after another, including Grand Princess Shengping, the Old Madam of the Marquis Ruiding family.

 

Seeing this, the Empress had no choice but to grit her teeth and begin the banquet.

 

Gu Sui’er didn’t know the others but the Old Madam’s arrival gave her some courage.

 

The Old Madam pulled her over to sit together and inquired if they had been able to settle properly in the princely residence by the time. 

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Gu Sui’er smiled: “Almost. I was thinking of inviting the Old Madam to come and stay in our new residence after returning.”

 

Upon hearing this, the Old Madam smiled: “I also want to go and see your new home. So that we can all gather to play mahjong and eat pastries.”

 

Today, the two Young Madams had also entered the Palace. Hearing the Old Madam’s words, they laughed. The second Young Madam, whose belly was getting bigger, asked Gu Sui’er about her pregnancy and the atmosphere became lively.

 

She also asked about Gu Baofeng: “If Baofeng wants to, he can go to the Tieqi Battalion. I will ask my elder brother to help watch over him.”

 

Upon hearing this, Gu Sui’er understood that the second Young Madam suggested this because she wanted to repay the favor of Bao’er saving Ru jie’er.

 

“Thank you, second Young Madam. I will tell him about this tomorrow.”

 

“This is not that urgent. After all, my father and older brothers are all in the army. Regardless of the one he chooses, there will always be someone to watch over him.”

 

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“Yes, we still have to rely on second Young Madam to take care of Bao’er’s future.”

 

Listening to their conversation, the Old Madam smiled and said, “When Bao’er gets a little older, let Ah Heng and the others discuss how he can progress smoothly.”

 

Progressing smoothly meant he could be promoted and climb to higher positions.

 

Hearing this, Gu Sui’er understood. With people of such status wholeheartedly wanting to nurture Bao’er, as long as he worked hard and improved himself, his future would naturally be bright.

 

Thinking of this, her heart warmed.

 

While they were talking, in a corner of the banquet, there was someone who looked at Gu Sui’er with frustration.

 

This person was none other than Princess Zhaoyang.

 

Princess Zhaoyang was initially angry at little Ah Chen and wanted to take him away to vent on behalf of her Mother Empress.

 

Unexpectedly, her Father Emperor arrived.

 

As soon as he appeared, she was so scared that she shut up and hid herself.

 

He was furious after she shoved Gu Sui’er into the water and punished her severely. She suffered quite a lot when she was forbidden from leaving her Palace. 

 

Now that she saw him, she felt a little afraid.

 

Moreover, Xiao Heng was also there.

 

She never expected him to be her imperial older brother.

 

The man she once wholeheartedly wanted to marry was now out of her reach. Just the thought of it made her feel uncomfortable.

 

After her Father Emperor finally left, she quickly came out to the banquet. Unexpectedly, as soon as she arrived, she saw Gu Sui’er talking to the people of Ruiding residence. They even looked like a close-knit family.

 

Her heart felt even more irritated to think that a lowly woman from the countryside became a consort and was loved and favored by the Old Madam.

 

Her child kicked someone and hit another, but her Father Emperor didn’t get angry at all!

 

Princess Zhaoyang sat aside, staring at Gu Sui’er with resentment.

 

On the other hand, Gu Sui’er also clearly felt something amiss. When she looked over, she saw Princess Zhaoyang staring at her intently.

 

She could only smile at the latter.

 

Princess Zhaoyang turned her face away in disdain.

 

Hmph, what is there to smile about? She doesn’t care!

 

She snatched her Xiao Heng away, and now it was impossible for her to get him in this lifetime. Just this thought was enough to break her heart! 

 

The noble women present all watched this scene and understood something clearly.

 

This little concubine from the countryside had now become a consort of the fifth prince. Her position was not high but the child she gave birth to was highly favored by the Emperor.

 

He hit the Empress and snatched the Emperor’s jade crown, but the Emperor didn’t blame him at all!

 

Everyone sighed in amazement. Just as they were busy feeling stunned, the Empress left the banquet claiming she was feeling unwell.

 

At this, they felt relieved and grabbed this opportunity to approach Gu Sui’er and strike up a conversation.

 

The kindhearted Madam Han was somewhat acquainted with Grand Princess Shengping. She came over with her daughter-in-law and daughter and very soon, they all quickly became engrossed in conversation.

 

Madam Han’s daughter-in-law was named Qin Miaoyun. She quickly made an appointment to visit the princely residence with her younger sister-in-law.

 

The second Young Madam would introduce others to Gu Sui’er as they approached her from time to time. In a short while, she made acquaintance with several madams and young madams of the capital.

 

When the banquet finally ended, Gu Sui’er stayed on with the Old Madam and the others for a while. She left after Xiao Heng sent people to pick her up.

 

He was delayed for some reason so she waited outside the Palace Hall.

 

While waiting, she happened to see a few attendants surrounding a person as they walked by.

 

At first, Gu Sui’er didn’t pay attention, but then, she recognized that it was the third Prince.

 

When she recognized him, her heart jumped in fright.

 

Because the third Prince now looked truly haggard. He was thin as a stick and his gaze was blank as if he had experienced a major tragedy.

 

She couldn’t help but frown. How could the honorable third Prince fall into such a state?

 

What she didn’t know was that after Xiao Heng ‘kindly’ hinted at the third Prince last time, he had a huge misunderstanding. He always thought that the person he had slept with was his full-blooded younger sister, Princess Zhaoyang.

 

Since then, he had considered himself a heinous sinner and was unable to sleep, eat or meet others. He even contracted a serious illness, and although he had recovered physically now, he was still mentally exhausted and depressed these days.

 

For this, the Emperor reproached him many times, but he still couldn’t muster any zeal.

 

Moreover, the revelation of Xiao Heng unexpectedly being his Father Emperor’s son dealt him an even bigger blow.

 

It was not that he disliked Xiao Heng; he just had a feeling that he had been fooled.

 

Before when they had a pretty good relationship, Xiao Heng never brought up this matter.

 

He even felt that he, as a prince, was a little different from Xiao Heng, the son of an ordinary marquis’s family.

 

Who would have thought that suddenly, he had to share his own Father Emperor with Xiao Heng and that the latter would also become his most favored son.

 

The third Prince was uncomfortable. 

 

Catching sight of Gu Sui’er from a distance, he almost couldn’t believe his eyes. 

 

Dressed in the gorgeous robes of a graded lady, with a phoenix hairpin inserted in her thick hair, her beautiful brows, her peach-like eyes, and her bright, fair and snowy skin, she was truly an outstanding beauty. 

 

At first glance, who would have even thought that this stunning woman was a little peasant girl carrying a bucket at a desolate inn last year.

 

Beauty was like jade; it really depended on the attire. 

 

Now, if someone said she was a Young Miss from a noble family or an imperial concubine, no one would doubt it. 

 

The third Prince was already downhearted from the psychological shock, and now, after seeing Gu Sui’er, his gloom worsened. 

 

He clearly thought that the person he had been intimate with was this unique beauty, so how did it become his own younger sister? 

 

When Gu Sui’er recognized the third Prince, she felt uneasy. She lowered her head, intending to wait for him to pass by, but to her surprise, he stared straight at her without moving. 

 

At that moment, dislike grew in her heart, so she could only lower her head even more. 

 

Seeing this, Guizhi stepped forward and shielded Gu Sui’er, blocking the third Prince’s line of sight. 

 

When the peerless beauty turned into an ordinary maid, the third Prince turned his head away with no interest and sighed lightly. 

 

“Wonderful, wonderful. A former countryside girl has now become a respectable guest. What’s ridiculous is that at this time last year, there wasn’t even a fifth Prince but now, there’s even a consort of that said prince!” 

 

This summed up the bitterness in his heart. His Father Emperor was taken away, and the woman was also not his own. 

 

But just as he finished speaking, he heard a slightly cool voice: “How come third brother has the time to be so melancholic here?” 

 

A tall and solemn figure appeared before him. 

 

It was Xiao Heng, holding a chubby little child. 

 

Against the backdrop of the red Palace walls, Xiao Heng was grave and stern, while the child was soft and cute.

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

 

 

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