A stiff smile froze on Princess Consort Ling’s face. She was about to voice her opposition when she saw Prince Ling nod.
“The Secondary Consort’s suggestion is excellent!”
“Your Highness, that the Secondary Consort shows such consideration shows that you have managed affairs well.”
“Share some of your duties with her, so she can help ease your burdens!”
Princess Consort Ling forced a gracious smile and said, “Your Highness is quite right.”
Secondary Consort Wei’s face lit up with delight. She stood and curtsied to Prince Ling and Princess Consort Ling.
“Many thanks, Your Highness!”
“Many thanks, Your Highness. If I ever fall short in anything, I humbly ask for your guidance!”
Princess Consort Ling nodded with a restrained smile.
Remembering the purpose of his return, Prince Ling turned to Princess Consort Ling.
“I hear the children in the mansion are preparing birthday gifts for the Emperor?”
At this, Princess Consort Ling beamed.
“Yes, Your Highness. An’er and Ning’er insisted on offering their respects to the Emperor.”
“So they’ve been busy preparing lately!”
Prince Ling nodded with great satisfaction.
“Then have them bring what they’ve prepared for me to see first!”
Princess Consort Ling promptly instructed the two children to fetch their gifts.
Secondary Consort Wei also hurriedly told her child to bring the prepared gift.
The other concubines looked bewildered.
They had received no such notice!
Seeing that several of his sons and daughters by other concubines remained still, Prince Ling furrowed his brows.
Princess Consort Ling picked up her teacup, pretending not to notice.
Secondary Consort Wei lowered her head to look at her hands, avoiding Prince Ling’s gaze.
“Father!”
Xiao Yun’an was the first to run back, followed closely by Xiao Yunming.
“Father, this is my calligraphy.”
Xiao Yun’an unrolled the scroll in his hand.
Prince Ling looked at it and nodded in approval.
“Not bad, An’er. Your calligraphy has improved!”
Hearing his father’s praise, Xiao Yun’an lifted his chin with pride.
Xiao Yunming squeezed up beside her brother and handed a pouch to Prince Ling.
“Father, this is the pouch I made for Grandfather!”
Prince Ling only glanced at it and nodded slightly, as if he had acknowledged it.
Xiao Yunming was dissatisfied. Clutching the pouch, she returned unhappily to stand beside Princess Consort Ling.
Princess Consort Ling patted her daughter’s hand reassuringly.
Just then, Secondary Consort Wei’s son entered.
“Father, this is my contribution.”
He respectfully unrolled his scroll.
“This is good!”
Prince Ling saw that on the paper, a large character for “longevity” was composed of many smaller “longevity” characters in different scripts.
Secondary Consort Wei beamed upon hearing her son praised.
“Your Highness, Lin’er poured so much effort into this.”
“The waste paper from his practice piled up as high as a table!”
“His hands even developed calluses.”
“When I saw it, I felt sorry for him, but he comforted me, saying he wanted to give a unique gift to help you save face.”
Prince Ling’s expression turned tender with pride.
He patted his son by a secondary concubine on the shoulder and said, “Well done!”
Xiao Yunlin’s face flushed with excitement.
“Thank you for the praise, Father. It’s only what I should do!”
Seeing his younger half-brother’s work and comparing it to his own unoriginal calligraphy, Xiao Yun’an seethed with anger.
Sly and scheming!
Resorting to such underhanded tricks!
Xiao Yun’an wanted nothing more than to destroy Xiao Yunlin on the spot.
But with Prince Ling present, he dared not move.
Xiao Yunlin returned to stand beside Secondary Consort Wei, holding his work.
Secondary Consort Wei sat up a little straighter.
At that moment, Song Shuyu also rushed in, breathless.
“Father, this is the pouch I made for Grandfather!”
Song Shuyu handed the pouch to Prince Ling.
Prince Ling glanced at it dismissively.
A woman’s virtue lies in her lack of talent—that was his belief.
So he did not expect much from his daughters.
What women could offer was no more than needlework.
Besides, Song Shuyu and Xiao Yunming were only a few years old—how good could their embroidery be?
The finest embroiderers were mostly in the palace.
Even the best work from the mansion couldn’t match the palace’s craftsmanship.
Still, gifts were tokens of sincerity.
What the Emperor valued was the intent; pleasing him was enough.
Prince Ling glanced again and was about to look away when his gaze suddenly fixed on the pouch.
He snatched it up and examined the pattern closely.
Princess Consort Ling lifted her teacup, pretending to see nothing.
Beside her, Xiao Yunming wore an expression of eager delight.
Meanwhile, Secondary Consort Wei, seated below, hid her mouth with her handkerchief, watching everyone at the head table.
Seeing Prince Ling suddenly grab the pouch, Song Shuyu felt her heart race with anxiety.
“Father, my embroidery isn’t very good,” she said.
“But this pouch is the best one I’ve made.”
Prince Ling’s face darkened. He set down the pouch and struck Song Shuyu across the face.
Song Shuyu spun around several times from the force and finally crashed to the floor.
Stunned, she forgot to cry.
She just stared blankly at Prince Ling, unable to understand why she was hit.
Princess Consort Ling was startled.
Beside her, Xiao Yunming quickly hid behind Xiao Yun’an, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
“Your Highness, please calm down! Anger is bad for your health!”
Princess Consort Ling hurriedly stroked Prince Ling’s chest.
“Someone! Escort the Commandery Princess Funing out at once!”
Princess Consort Ling called out.
Chunxiao, waiting outside, quickly ran in and helped Song Shuyu up.
Song Shuyu came to her senses, and tears poured down her cheeks.
“Father, why did you hit me?”
“What did I do wrong?” Song Shuyu felt as though an ocean of grievance was drowning her.
Seeing her pitiful expression, Prince Ling threw the pouch at her feet.
“What did you do wrong? Look for yourself!”
Song Shuyu bent down and picked up the pouch she had worked so hard to embroider.
She had stitched it every day and knew every detail by heart.
“Father, where did I go wrong?”
“In terms of embroidery, I dare say mine is better than Xiao Yunming’s!”
“You don’t scold her, so why criticize only me?”
“You’re unfair!”
“I knew it! I’m not your real daughter, so you don’t care about me at all!”
Song Shuyu, dazed from the slap and having endured recent grievances, exploded.
Hearing Song Shuyu’s words, Princess Consort Ling’s lips curled into a smile.
But her face immediately hardened.
“Funing, that’s not right to say!”
“Ever since you came to the mansion, His Highness has always put you first in everything.”
“Even An’er and Ning’er have come after you!”
“You don’t show gratitude, and instead you accuse His Highness like this—you have let him down terribly!”
Prince Ling scowled and turned to Xiao Yunming.
“Bring me your pouch!”
Xiao Yunming clutched her pouch and timidly handed it to Prince Ling.
