Chapter 304: It’s Hard to Raise a Child
“Sister Mo’er!”
Li Tingqian held the pastries, sobbing loudly.
She was beaten to death just for a few pastries.
Human life, is so cheaply discarded.
Li Tingqian wept for a long time.
Not a single servant outside dared to come and take a look.
It was only after a long time that Deshan opened the door and saw the dead one on the bed and Li Tingqian lying on the ground, unconscious.
It’s unclear whether he was exhausted, hungry or cried himself into unconsciousness.
After all, he was the emperor’s eldest grandson. No matter how much they ignored him, if anything serious happened to him, it would be bad for the Crown Prince, and they slaves would surely not be spared from the blame.
Deshan quickly carried him out and commanded someone to dispose of Mo’er’s corpse.
She dared not summon the Imperial Physician, for fear of alerting the Emperor.
Li Tingqian fell ill.
Lying in bed, he was dazed and confused.
Ms. Ma came over to take a look and ordered someone to give him some water.
Deshan was somewhat frightened, “Princess Consort, should we call in the Imperial Physician? If something happens to the emperor’s eldest grandson…”
“In these days, it’s hard to raise a child. Particularly a child as young as him falling ill and not surviving is quite common,” said Ms. Ma indifferently. “In our East Palace, one son is enough. Is there really a need for an ’emperor’s eldest grandson’ to exist?”
The title of ’emperor’s eldest grandson’ is not merely about order of succession, but a bestowed title.
He is the third-generation Crown Prince candidate favored by the Emperor.
That is to say, the existence of the emperor’s eldest grandson, poses a threat to the future prospects of the son of the Princess Consort.
She must plan for her own first-born son, who is only half a year old.
Jiang Ning didn’t sleep well at night as she kept thinking about Xiaoqian, about the desperate look in his eyes when they parted, and his fear when he looked at the Princess Consort.
Sigh.
Such a young child, without a father or a mother and with his most dependent Fifth Imperial Uncle gone.
Living alone in the East Palace with the unfamiliar Crown Prince and Princess Consort, it must be hard for him.
After a sleepless night, as soon as dawn broke, Jiang Ning got up immediately, got ready and without even eating breakfast, she ordered Jiang Fu to prepare the carriage to enter the palace for an audience.
Since she made a promise to Xiaoqian, she would definitely fulfil it.
The Emperor was holding court.
Fortunately, today was a small court gathering. Jiang Ning only waited for half an hour in the inevitable path of the Emperor’s departure from court, then saw the Emperor walking over with his hands behind his back, she quickly wheeled her chair over.
“Jiang Ning pays respect to Your Majesty!”
The Emperor was pondering something with a frown and didn’t notice her. Upon hearing her voice, he looked up to see a clear and beautiful face, his mood immediately lifted and he said warmly, “What a rare visitor, little Ning’er. Why have you come to the palace so early?”
“Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask.”
“I knew it. If you don’t need anything, you wouldn’t come to the palace. Let me hear it.” The Emperor chuckled heartily, his face looking at Jiang Ning’s, which resembled his first love, was full of warmth, like the warm sun in March.
“I would like to take Xiaoqian to the Prince of Yu’s Mansion for a few days.”
“Oh, Xiaoqian is living well in the East Palace, studying daily. If you miss him, you can visit him in the palace. Don’t let him live outside and become undisciplined.”
“Only for a few days, it won’t make him undisciplined.”
Jiang Ning clung to the sleeve of the emperor’s robe, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, just for three days, just three days.”
“You can take him out for a stroll and bring him back before dinner.” The Emperor was unmoved.
Just as Li Hongyuan said, a woman is just a woman, favoritism is just favoritism, it’s hard to influence the Emperor’s judgment.
Although he had feelings for Lin Zizi, he would definitely not put those feelings above matters of the state.
Jiang Ning pondered for a moment, then smiled, “Alright, I’ll take Xiaoqian out for a stroll. Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ll go to the East Palace to fetch him
now..”