“Anning! Anning! What happened?”
Xiao Yun'an was so frightened that he hurriedly pounded on the door.
Inside, Xiao Yunming’s voice grew a little softer.
A moment later, the door opened.
Xiao Yunming’s eyes and nose were as red as a little rabbit’s. “Brother, Mother has awakened!”
The moment Xiao Yun'an heard this, he rushed inside.
“Mother, are you awake?”
Xiao Yun'an ran to the bedside and saw Princess Consort Ling lying there, her face deathly pale.
Princess Consort Ling looked at her son and daughter, and tears immediately spilled from the corners of her eyes.
She reached out toward the two children.
Xiao Yunming threw herself directly into her mother’s arms. After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Yun'an moved closer as well.
“Mother must have frightened you,” Princess Consort Ling said, her heart filled with guilt.
Xiao Yunming nodded vigorously.
“Mother, I thought—I thought you had died!”
“Mother, please don’t die!”
“Don’t leave us!” Xiao Yunming sobbed uncontrollably.
Xiao Yun'an was older, after all, and he could tell that his mother’s complexion was still far from good.
“Mother, don’t worry. Father has already sent someone to fetch a physician. He’ll be here soon!”
Princess Consort Ling forced a smile at Xiao Yun'an.
“Mother is fine. I only became ill because I was so angry that I couldn’t catch my breath.”
“Now that I’ve awakened, there’s nothing serious. You two can rest easy.”
Princess Consort Ling gazed at her son with deep attachment.
“Your father forbade you from entering the inner court for your own future.”
“If your father ascends the throne, that position will belong to you one day.”
“So you must listen to your father!”
Xiao Yun'an looked at Princess Consort Ling with a complicated expression.
“Mother, don’t worry. Your son understands.”
Princess Consort Ling stroked Xiao Yun'an’s cheek.
“An'er, you must work hard. You cannot let certain people have their way, understand?”
“You are the heir of Prince Ling’s manor. Everything your father possesses may only be inherited by you!”
Xiao Yun'an nodded firmly.
“Mother, I understand.”
“Good. Mother is fine now, so go back to the outer court and review your lessons.” Princess Consort Ling steeled her heart and began urging her son to leave.
Xiao Yun'an was extremely reluctant.
“Mother, I’ll leave after the physician arrives!”
Princess Consort Ling gently pushed him away. “There’s no need. Mother is fine.”
“Rest assured, for the sake of you children, Mother won’t be defeated so easily!”
As she spoke, a fierce hatred flashed in Princess Consort Ling’s eyes.
“Your Secondary Consort Wei has taken control of the household.”
“You must work even harder. Otherwise, your position as heir will be handed over to someone else!”
“This time, Mother was careless and allowed that slut to take advantage of the situation.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take it back very soon.”
“Focus on your own affairs for now. In the future, your mother and sister will have to rely on you!”
After hearing this, Xiao Yun'an nodded solemnly.
“All right. Your son will do as Mother says!”
Princess Consort Ling looked gratified. “Good. Go.”
Xiao Yun'an bowed to Princess Consort Ling, then looked at Xiao Yunming.
“Little Sister, take good care of Mother. If anything happens, have one of the maids come and call me.”
Nestled in Princess Consort Ling’s arms, Xiao Yunming nodded.
“All right.”
Only then did Xiao Yun'an leave.
Halfway there, he saw one of Prince Ling’s guards hurrying over with a physician.
Xiao Yun'an simply turned around and followed them back, waiting for the physician’s diagnosis.
The physician’s diagnosis was more or less the same as Princess Consort Ling’s own explanation.
She had merely fallen ill from excessive anger. Since she had awakened, there was no serious problem.
Only then did Xiao Yun'an set his mind at ease and return to the outer court.
After seeing the physician off, the guard went to the study.
When he found a moment, he informed Prince Ling of the physician’s diagnosis. Prince Ling merely snorted.
Then he continued discussing matters with his advisers.
The next day, a selection of dishes made with venison appeared on Song Shuyu’s table, just as she had wished.
“Secondary Consort Wei went to great lengths to have someone find this deer,” Zhenzhu explained. “There’s roasted venison, stewed venison, and cured venison. The cooks prepared all kinds of dishes for you.”
She pointed out each dish on the table as though reciting from a catalogue.
Song Shuyu stared at the tableful of food, her face filled with curiosity.
“Commandery Princess Funing, is there anything else you require?” Zhenzhu asked respectfully.
Song Shuyu’s attention was completely captured by the venison.
She waved her hand carelessly. “Nothing for now. If I think of anything, I’ll let you know!”
Zhenzhu lowered her head in a bow, a look of disdain flashing across her lips.
When she raised her head again, her face was covered by a bright smile.
“Then this servant will return to attend Secondary Consort Wei. Please enjoy your meal, Commandery Princess.”
Song Shuyu was quite pleased that Secondary Consort Wei had sent her personal maid over especially for this.
As soon as Zhenzhu left, she immediately had Chunxiao serve the food.
Chunxiao rolled up her sleeves and picked up a piece of roasted venison with her chopsticks.
Song Shuyu eagerly popped it into her mouth.
A wonderfully unusual fragrance spread across her tongue.
“This is delicious!” Song Shuyu exclaimed, nodding as she ate.
“Shall I get you another piece?” Chunxiao asked tentatively.
Song Shuyu nodded, and Chunxiao immediately placed another piece in her bowl.
Song Shuyu ate until her mouth was slick with oil, feeling that her life was even more blissful than that of an immortal!
It was far better than how she had lived at the Song residence.
This was what life was like for the wealthy!
They could eat whatever they wanted and do whatever they pleased.
Song Shuyu had completely forgotten that only yesterday, she had been thinking about returning home.
In the Office of Judicial Punishment, Duoduo rubbed her stomach, which was practically staging an empty-city stratagem.
“Commandery Princess, shall this servant bring you a piece of pastry?” Lüdou asked, her heart aching at the sight.
Duoduo hurriedly lowered her hand and stood up.
“I’m not hungry yet. I’ll walk around a little and get some exercise.”
After saying that, Duoduo began pacing back and forth inside the cell.
Lüdou anxiously went to stand beside Nanny Li.
“Nanny, do you think the Empress Dowager forgot to send food for our Commandery Princess today?”
“Or perhaps His Highness forgot to remind the Empress Dowager?”
Nanny Li’s expression did not change, but she still glanced outside the cell several times.
“Watch your words! Perhaps something delayed them.”
“Let’s wait a little longer and see. Besides, don’t we still have pastries?”
After hearing Nanny Li’s words, Lüdou hesitated for a moment before moving to the doorway and peering outside.
Duoduo walked around for a while, only to feel even hungrier.
There was no water in this place.
If she suddenly took out a fish, would people mistake her for a monster?
But she didn’t want to go hungry.
If only she could conjure up cooked food!
Roast goose, roast duck, pickled fish, pheasant…
Duoduo couldn’t help swallowing as she imagined every kind of delicious food spinning before her eyes.
Nanny Li heard the sound and picked up the food box, walking over to Duoduo.
“Commandery Princess, have a bite first to tide you over.”
Duoduo had been about to shake her head, but then her stomach rumbled loudly.
Just then, Lüdou called out joyfully, “Commandery Princess, someone is coming!”
