"If she truly wanted to use you to gain temporary status in the harem, she should have been urging you to be well-versed in both civil and military affairs, so you could stand out in front of the Emperor." "But look at the bow hanging on the wall. Since the Emperor sent it, has she ever forced you to use it once?" Nanny Du reminisced as she spoke, and these words made the Second Prince feel uncomfortable. "I’m not afraid to speak from the heart with you. I’ve served two Emperors, and I’ve seen all kinds of people and spirits, the things you’re worried about are just problems you’ve overthought." "Every time she sees Doctor Dou, the Noble Consort always asks about the Second Prince’s current health, afraid that your body is still weak and can’t handle the studies after spring." "She has never demanded that you make a name for yourself, yet now you blame her for wanting her own children? Second Prince, listen to yourself, is this appropriate?" Nanny Du’s tone was somewhat stern, but her intentions were for the Second Prince’s good. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs noᴠelfire.net By thinking in such a stubborn way, he would not find happiness in the end. Instead, he would fall into endless suffering. The Second Prince was so provoked by her words that his face turned red. Clenching his teeth, he refused to say another word. "Second Prince, think carefully, is the Noble Consort really the same as those you’ve known before? I’ll go heat up some food for you now; it’s the time for growth, you can’t let yourself go hungry." The Second Prince did not respond, and Nanny Du did not force him. So she got up and left the rear hall. As she reached the Moon Gate, she met the Emperor. "This servant greets the Emperor, wishing the Emperor peace." "Nanny, no need for formalities, please rise." "Is the Emperor here to see the Second Prince?" "Yes, the noble concubine has many worries, and I hope she can rest well, so I came to check on the Second Prince. There’s some knot in his heart that perhaps only I can untangle for him." Nanny Du smiled and then stepped back to let him pass. "Then I’ll go prepare a meal for the Second Prince; he has been eating a lot lately and must not be full today." "Good, thank you, Nanny." Nanny Du nodded in acknowledgment and then respectfully stood by the Moon Gate. Only after the Emperor left did she head to the small kitchen. In the back hall, the Second Prince felt much relieved after Nanny Du’s counsel. Yet he still felt sad, as if something he cherished dearly had been taken away. Just somewhat unwilling. When the Emperor arrived, he was lying in bed, sighing. "Since when did the heirs of the Yuwen Family learn to bemoan themselves ?" The Second Prince jumped up from the bed in fright. With a face full of guilt and a bit of nervous murmuring, he spoke. "Your son did not know Father was coming and failed to meet you from afar, I beg for your forgiveness, Father." These words weren’t much better than when he congratulated Lin Wanyi on her pregnancy earlier. The Emperor stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down at him, then feeling perhaps a bit too stern and commanding, he took a seat on the stool. Then he directly asked, "Are you unhappy that your Lady Lin is pregnant?" The Second Prince shook his head. "To be honest, I do not like young people who lie." The Second Prince glanced at the Emperor and then hung his head low. He did not speak and neither nodded nor shook his head. "I came today not to trouble you but in hopes that you won’t make your Lady Lin sad. Even though I am not with you every day, I can see her dedication to you. You left in anger; your Lady Lin vomited in the main hall, even bringing up what she ate last night." "What? Is Lady Lin alright? Your son didn’t mean it, your son just... just couldn’t accept it for a moment... I..." The Second Prince couldn’t speak coherently in his worry. He was indeed a bit annoyed by Lin Wanyi’s sudden pregnancy, but hearing that she vomited severely, he couldn’t help but feel concerned. "I’ve never had an elder brother, only two elder sisters above me. They are the Empress Dowager’s legitimate daughters, pampered since childhood. One has a decent relationship with me, but the other is very antagonistic towards me!" "The most I heard back then was her disdain for my lineage, claiming that I only became Crown Prince because of the Empress Dowager’s family’s support and her favor, and without her, I wouldn’t know where I’d be." The Second Prince was shocked by these words. Even though he was young, he knew how precious the position of Crown Prince is. An ordinary Princess daring to be so presumptuous, did she not want to live? But then it dawned on him that his Father’s situation was no different from his own. If he stayed under Princess Consort Lan’s care, the Second Princess might have grown to be far more esteemed than him. Even if she said a few unpleasant things, it seemed somewhat reasonable. "Then how did Father respond? What about the Empress Dowager? Didn’t she stand up for you, Father?" "Only children want others to fight their battles. I am the future Emperor; I don’t need the Empress Dowager to act, I dealt with it myself." "How did Father deal with her?" "I mixed horse urine in her ink, so what she thought were exquisite ink masterpieces all reeked of horse urine." The Second Prince was speechless. He never expected someone as composed and serious as his Father to do such a whimsical thing. "So, are you thinking right now that I am a petty person who avenges every grievance?" The Second Prince awkwardly smiled, shaking his head almost like a rattle drum, trying to convey his inner thoughts. The Emperor saw this and let out a cold laugh. "It’s okay to think that, because that’s who I am. But I also know how to repay kindness a thousandfold. Indeed, back then, if it weren’t for the Empress Dowager’s wholehearted support and her family’s deterrence, I wouldn’t have been able to rule as peacefully as I have." "Especially after my marriage, the Empress Dowager handed over the governance power, and these years she has preferred to stay at Wutai Mountain, devoted to Buddhism, and has restrained her family from causing trouble. Therefore, I hold great respect for the Empress Dowager." The words of the Emperor relieved a lot of the burden in the Second Prince’s heart. "Compared to the Empress Dowager’s past behavior towards me, the Noble Concubine is much more tender and warm towards you. If you can’t even figure out something and end up hurting someone who truly cares about you, then it’s your own loss." "I won’t force you, but if you still feel uncomfortable, after spring and starting studies, you can move to the Prince’s Residence. Then you won’t have to see the Noble Concubine, and naturally, there will be no issue." "But think it over; if you do move out, the gates of Yihua Palace will not open for you again. I keep my word; do you understand?" The Second Prince shook his head repeatedly. Move to the Prince’s Residence! Does that mean facing the Third Prince’s false smile every day?