Dantai Ji’s body stiffened. Looking at the innocent six-year-old girl before him, he could not help frowning deeply. “Consort Cui has only just entered the palace, and she already has Princess Fuxi by her side.”
Shengping’s eyes reddened again. “So she won’t like me?”
Dantai Ji clenched his hand, then slowly relaxed it. “You like Consort Cui?”
Shengping nodded shyly. “I’ve seen Consort Cui before. She’s very beautiful, and she’s very gentle with Big Sister. She’s a very, very good mother. If she were my mother, she would surely treat me well too.”
“Yuer, can we choose Consort Cui to be my mother?”
Dantai Ji’s gaze darkened. “Shengping! Don’t be willful. You know very well that your mother hurt Consort Cui.”
Shengping stared at Dantai Ji in a daze. Then, feeling wronged, she turned her head away and wiped at her tears. “That’s not how it is! Mother made a mistake, but Yuer never wanted to hurt Consort Cui. I really like Consort Cui. Father said I could choose anyone I wanted. Father doesn’t keep his word!”
Dantai Ji’s eyes shifted between light and shadow. He rose and looked down at the sobbing Shengping. “I’ll ask Consort Cui about this. If she refuses, then we’ll drop it. I’ll choose another consort to raise you.”
With that, Dantai Ji turned around and instructed the palace maids of Xiaguang Palace to take good care of the princess and the prince. Then he left Xiaguang Palace without looking back.
After Dantai Ji left, Shengping immediately stopped crying.
She watched her father’s departing figure, frowning as she wiped the tears from her face.
Father had truly given up on Mother. Judging from his attitude today, Mother would probably have to remain in Qiuling Palace for the rest of her life!
She was still young and had to find another source of support.
The Empress was a very good choice, but she was not favored. If only she could become Consort Cui’s daughter…
In Emperor’s Golden Branches, Noble Consort Cui was the emperor’s most favored consort, and even the daughter born to Noble Consort Cui was loved by the emperor simply because of her mother.
When she had first arrived in this world, she had wanted her mother to replace Noble Consort Cui, and she herself to take Princess Fuxi’s place.
Unfortunately, everything had returned to its original course.
All the things she had done over the years had come to nothing!
But she was unwilling to accept that!
If Father handed her over to Consort Cui to raise, would things turn out differently?
She had investigated the matter. Cui Huaiyin could no longer bear children and would have only Princess Fuxi.
If she became her daughter, then no matter how clever Princess Fuxi was, she was still only a six-year-old child. As long as Shengping employed a few schemes, she could certainly drive a wedge between mother and daughter.
Once Consort Cui and Princess Fuxi were estranged, Consort Cui would surely come to dote on Shengping as if she were her own daughter!
Then Father would value her even more!
Princess Fuxi would no longer be a threat.
Even though she still hated Cui Huaiyin, hated her for ruining her plans, that did not prevent her from using her.
When the time was right, she would naturally take revenge and kill that mother and daughter once and for all!
…
Cui Huaiyin’s face turned pale. She abruptly pushed away the person holding her and sat up warily, eyes wide as she stared at the man.
“What did you say?”
Dantai Ji hurriedly sat up as well and explained in a panic, “It was Shengping. Shengping said you were very gentle and a good mother. She said she envied Yaoyao for having you as her mother and wanted you to be her mother too.”
“Impossible!” Cui Huaiyin rejected him sharply, her eyes reddening as she faced Dantai Ji. “I only want Yaoyao! Even if I can never have another child, I only want Yaoyao. I absolutely will not raise someone else’s child—especially not Chen Yunxiang’s child!”
Dantai Ji reached out, attempting to pull Cui Huaiyin into his arms and soothe her, but she dodged him.
Dantai Ji explained in a low voice, “I’m not trying to force you. I only wanted to ask your opinion. If you refuse, we can have someone else raise Shengping.”
The anger on Cui Huaiyin’s face remained undiminished. “You shouldn’t have asked me in the first place. You know exactly what enmity there is between Chen Yunxiang and me. You know I could never like the child she gave birth to, yet you still came to ask me.”
Dantai Ji spoke somewhat flusteredly. “I didn’t think it through. It’s my fault.”
Cui Huaiyin’s expression turned cold, and a hint of mockery flashed through her eyes. She rose from the bed, found her clothes, and put them on. “I miss Yaoyao. I’m going to sleep with her tonight. Whether Your Majesty stays in Everlasting Joy Palace or leaves, I won’t be seeing you out.”
With that, Cui Huaiyin left the bedchamber and hurried toward the side hall where her daughter lived.
Dantai Ji came to his senses and quickly followed her.
The door to the side hall had already been shut.
Wang Zhong stared at it in astonishment. Then, realizing what had happened, he hurried into the inner room to fetch the emperor’s clothes and drape them over him. When he saw Dantai Ji standing motionless in the courtyard, Wang Zhong pinched himself and forced himself to speak.
“Your Majesty, will you remain in Everlasting Joy Palace or return to Liangyi Palace?”
Dantai Ji lifted his head and glanced at the sky. “Wang Zhong, do you think I was wrong?”
Wang Zhong bent even lower at the waist. “Your Majesty merely feels sorry for Princess Shengping and cannot bear to see her left without anyone to care for her at such a young age. After all, she is the first child Your Majesty watched grow up with his own eyes. It is only natural that you would dote on her a little more.”
Dantai Ji closed his eyes. “Do you think it was appropriate for me to ask Consort Cui whether she was willing to raise Shengping?”
Wang Zhong hesitated this time.
Dantai Ji said, “Speak.”
Only then did Wang Zhong answer. “N-no, it was not entirely appropriate. Consort Cui resents Chen Yunxiang, after all. Back then, Princess Shengping even accused Consort Cui of being involved with Little Niuzi… Consort Cui must still remember it. When Your Majesty asked her about this today, she likely thought that Your Majesty cared more about Princess Shengping than about her and Princess Fuxi.”
Dantai Ji said, “How could I possibly think that way?”
“Of course not,” Wang Zhong said. “But Consort Cui doesn’t know that. She may have misunderstood Your Majesty.”
Dantai Ji clenched his hands tightly. He stared at the side-hall door for a long time before finally speaking.
“Return to Liangyi Palace.”
Wang Zhong glanced at the emperor in confusion. “Yes, Your Majesty!”
…
When Rongyao awoke, she found herself nestled in a soft, warm embrace.
The moment she opened her eyes, she was delighted to discover her mother beside her. Rongyao pressed herself against her mother’s chest and rubbed against her happily, calling out in her soft, sweet voice, “Mother!”
But her mother did not answer.
Rongyao tilted her mother’s arm, puzzled, yet her mother still did not wake.
Rongyao’s eyes flew wide. She placed her little hand against her mother’s face.
It was burning hot!
Rongyao scrambled off the bed in a panic, her eyes turning red as she cried out, “Someone! Someone! Mother is sick! Mother’s ill!”
Daoxiang pushed open the door. “What’s wrong, Princess?”
“Mother is sick. She’s burning up. Aunt Daoxiang, hurry and call the imperial physicians to come examine her!”
Daoxiang’s face went pale with fright. She rushed out in a fluster to summon the imperial physicians.
Rongyao ran back to the bed and called for her mother again, but her mother could not even open her eyes. She was so hot—far too hot.
Why had Mother fallen ill? Why was she here with Rongyao? This wasn’t how things were supposed to be.
Rongyao’s eyes reddened, but she held back her tears. After getting dressed, she ran out to ask the palace servants of Everlasting Joy Palace what had happened the previous day.
“Last night, His Majesty discussed with Consort Cui whether Princess Shengping should be brought to Changle Palace to be raised there, with Her Highness becoming the princess’s imperial mother. But Her Highness was displeased when she heard this. She quarreled with His Majesty, left him behind, and came here to rest with the princess.” Juxiang, who had been on night watch yesterday, gave her answer.
Rongyao understood now. It was Father’s fault! It was Princess Shengping’s fault!
Because of them, Mother had fallen ill!
