Chapter 25
Xu Qingshi could only pretend not to notice the Third Prince’s glare, his heart pounding uneasily. Could it be that those two items were of great importance to the Emperor?
Oh no. Would the Emperor have his head for this?
"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Liu, seeing Zhu Jingchen remain silent for so long, was momentarily stunned before softly calling out to him. He was puzzled—the Emperor didn’t seem like the type to bully youngsters. What was going on today?
"Oh, Little Third and Qingshi are here." Zhu Jingchen coughed awkwardly before forcing a smile.
"Father!" Zhu Hanyu glared at Zhu Jingchen in displeasure. He hated being called "Little Third."
In his anger, Zhu Hanyu even forgot his usual fear of the Emperor.
"Ahem, Little Third, what’s the matter?" Zhu Jingchen knew exactly why his third son was upset. He was aware that the boy disliked the nickname, but in his momentary embarrassment, he had slipped up. Now, seeing the Third Prince puffing up in indignation, he couldn’t resist teasing him.
"Waaah! Father, you’re so mean!" Without hesitation, Zhu Hanyu burst into loud, dramatic sobs.
Zhu Jingchen, who had only meant to tease him, was now dumbfounded. How could the child start crying so suddenly?
The wails were so deafening that Zhu Jingchen felt his ears might give out, his scalp prickling with discomfort.
And worst of all—he was the one who had provoked this.
Xu Qingshi stood frozen beside them.
So this was the legendary power of the Third Prince’s crying?
He had only ever heard rumors about it, but now, standing closest to the source of the ear-splitting noise, Xu Qingshi felt like crying himself.
All he could hear were the wails—nothing else.
"Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!"
Thinking that he might go deaf from this, Xu Qingshi threw caution to the wind and began bawling as well.
The Third Prince paused mid-sob, confused. Wasn’t he the one supposed to be crying? Why was Xu Qingshi joining in?
But then, a competitive spark ignited in him. No one in the palace could out-cry him!
With renewed determination, Zhu Hanyu wailed even louder.
Xu Qingshi, unwilling to lose to his friend, matched his intensity.
One crying child had already been unbearable for Zhu Jingchen.
Now, with two in full chorus, he was at a complete loss.
"Oh dear, young masters, this is no place for crying!" Eunuch Liu was baffled. How had things escalated so quickly?
Their cries were filled with such exaggerated misery, such heart-wrenching despair, that Eunuch Liu feared the Emperor’s wrath might land on him instead—after all, he was the one who had brought them here.
And neither of the boys would make a suitable target for the Emperor’s frustration.
At this point, even Eunuch Liu wanted to cry.
"Go find Xu Heming and tell him to come collect his little brat," Zhu Jingchen muttered, regret weighing heavily on him. What had he done to deserve this torment?
"At once, Your Majesty!" Eunuch Liu hurried out, relieved that the Emperor hadn’t blamed him.
Inside the study, Zhu Jingchen slumped in defeat as the two boys’ cries grew louder and louder.
How could such small bodies produce such deafening noise?
The entire palace must have heard them by now.
Anyone listening would think the Emperor had done something unspeakable to make them cry like this.
But Zhu Jingchen had no experience comforting children—he was utterly helpless.
"Your Majesty, Consort Lin requests an audience," a timid eunuch announced, trembling as he entered.
"Denied!" Zhu Jingchen snapped, too irritated to entertain Lin Lanzhi.
Besides, she was pregnant—what was she doing here, stirring up more trouble?
"Summon the Empress," he added, realizing that if anyone could handle the Third Prince, it was her.
"Your Majesty, this humble consort heard the Third Prince’s cries and wished to help soothe him. We mustn’t let His Highness disturb Your Majesty’s peace." Lin Lanzhi’s sickly sweet voice drifted in from outside.
She smirked to herself. With her pregnancy as leverage, if the Third Prince dared to act out against her, the Emperor would surely punish the Empress.
And as compensation, she might even be promoted—finally allowing her to raise her child herself.
Zhu Jingchen scowled at the door but ignored her.
The guards, under strict orders, barred Consort Lin from entering.
"How dare you? I am one of His Majesty’s consorts!" Lin Lanzhi glared at the two guards indignantly.
"Consort Lin, please return. His Majesty is… indisposed at the moment," the eunuch said wearily.
Internally, he scoffed. Did this woman really think a minor consort like her could rise above her station just because she was pregnant?
Many imperial consorts had carried children, but few ever saw them born alive.
Lin Lanzhi’s belly was already a target—yet she still flaunted her arrogance like a fool.
"Outrageous! You didn’t even announce me—how do you know His Majesty won’t see me? I carry the imperial heir! Do you dare defy me?" Lin Lanzhi thrust her belly forward threateningly.
"Consort Lin, this is the imperial study." The eunuch didn’t even bother hiding his disdain.
A mere consort who had lucked into pregnancy meant nothing. The Emperor’s indifference toward her spoke volumes.
And in the palace, the Emperor’s attitude dictated how servants treated everyone.
Especially the eunuchs of the imperial study—they were the sharpest of the sharp.
"Do you need to remind me where I am?" Lin Lanzhi fumed. Once she bore a prince, she’d make sure this insolent eunuch paid.
The Empress had heard the Third Prince’s cries from afar.
Hadn’t the boys promised not to cry today?
Why were they wailing now?
If it were just the Third Prince, she could understand—but even Xu Qingshi was crying! Had the Emperor struck them?
By the time the eunuch arrived to summon her, the Empress was already on her way to the study.
As she approached, she spotted Lin Lanzhi arguing with another eunuch.
"Why aren’t you resting in Yongshou Palace? What are you doing here?" The Empress frowned, her tone icy.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is already burdened with state affairs. Must the Third Prince add to his troubles with such childish behavior?" Lin Lanzhi lifted her chin haughtily, lecturing the Empress as if she were the one in charge.
The Empress nearly laughed at the sheer audacity.
"Consort Lin, do you truly wish to lecture me here?" The Empress’s voice dripped with sarcasm as the boys’ cries continued unabated inside.
