Consort Liu

Seeing Emperor Jinyuan leave, Dequan hurriedly pushed Xiao Yu after him.

Xiao Yu raised his eyes and glanced at Emperor Jinyuan's retreating back.

His thin lips parted. "Congratulations, Elder Imperial Brother."

His voice was quiet, but Emperor Jinyuan heard him all the same.

He snorted and ignored him, though his steps slowed a little.

Did Xiao Yu think he did not know he was mocking him?

Tsk, has the foolish emperor lost his mind...?

Everyone has their eyes on the vacant empress's seat, determined to claim it... and he's thrusting my imperial sister-in-law into the spotlight just like that?

Never mind how those women in the harem will gang up on her... isn't he practically telling his enemies that he cares about her and they can target her?

Unless... the foolish emperor doesn't care whether she lives or dies...

Hah! I really did give him too much credit! And here I thought he loved her so much!

In the end, even love couldn't withstand the passing years. His feelings have faded!

Dequan broke into a cold sweat, his hands trembling as he pushed the wheelchair.

An emperor's wrath leaves a million corpses and blood flowing for a thousand miles, Your Highness. Please, just shut your mind...

This old servant would like to cling to life for a few more years!

Emperor Jinyuan's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

Did he really seem that untrustworthy?

Unable to bear it any longer, he turned and glared at Xiao Yu.

"My feelings for Wanwan are sincere!" he said through gritted teeth.

"Oh," Xiao Yu replied blandly.

What good does telling me do? Go tell her!

Emperor Jinyuan looked at Xiao Yu, hesitating.

Resolve flashed in his eyes. "This time, I will protect Wanwan. I will never let her suffer the slightest injustice or harm again!"

Xiao Yu said, "Oh."

Why are you making promises to me? Am I your father-in-law?

Emperor Jinyuan, who had suddenly been shifted up a generation, was speechless.

Then, as though something had occurred to him, he said, "Qi'an, you're twelve now. You should understand the distinction between men and women. Remember to keep your distance from your imperial sister-in-law from now on."

"And don't let me hear any more nonsense about sharing a bed with her!"

"Your younger brother obeys," Xiao Yu replied calmly.

Tsk, what's the foolish emperor thinking? Does he really think I'd steal her from him? I just miss my mother...

She reminds me a little of the mother I remember. I can't help wanting to be close to her.

Emperor Jinyuan was speechless.

What a tangled mess of relationships!

"Since you've decided to be my younger brother, she is only your imperial sister-in-law from now on!" Emperor Jinyuan put an end to his muddled forms of address.

"Understood," Xiao Yu replied.

"Where are you going?"

Seeing Xiao Yu suddenly take a different path, Emperor Jinyuan could not help asking.

"Back to the Eastern Palace to eat," Xiao Yu answered truthfully.

Emperor Jinyuan felt envious.

He wanted to go too.

It had been many years since he had eaten a meal Wanwan had prepared herself.

But he still had memorials to review...

Besides, Wanwan did not want to see him right now. He did not want to make a nuisance of himself just yet.

"Remember to put in a few good words for me in front of Chang'er and Wanwan."

"You're not allowed to speak ill of me. Did you hear?" Emperor Jinyuan instructed.

"Understood!"

Without waiting for Emperor Jinyuan's reply, he pressed the mechanism on his wheelchair.

With a whoosh, he shot away from Emperor Jinyuan!

Caught off guard, Emperor Jinyuan got a faceful of dust and fallen leaves stirred up in his wake.

His expression darkened.

"Look at him! He's even throwing a tantrum at me now!" he said to Dequan beside him.

"Your Majesty is benevolent... Prince Yu is straightforward by nature. He feels close to Your Majesty, so naturally he dispenses with all those formalities..." Dequan replied.

"Hmph! He only dares because I spoil him!"

Emperor Jinyuan swept his sleeve and turned toward the Imperial Study.

He needed to finish reviewing the memorials quickly so he could dine at the Eastern Palace that evening.

Eastern Palace

As soon as Xiao Yu entered, he saw the crown prince and casually asked, "How are you feeling today?"

The crown prince's eyes lit up at the sight of him.

He walked straight over to Xiao Yu. "Thank you for your concern, Little Imperial Uncle. I'm much better."

"Have you heard the news?" Xiao Yu asked.

The crown prince paused.

"Yes. Wei Yi just came and told me that Emperor Father intends to make Mother... Consort Wan his empress..."

He looked up at Xiao Yu. "Little Imperial Uncle, does Emperor Father really-"

"Yes," Xiao Yu said.

Hearing Xiao Yu's confirmation, the crown prince breathed a sigh of relief.

Now he and his Consort Mother could openly and rightfully be mother and son.

Ever since learning that Consort Wan was his Consort Mother, he had been worried.

He had felt guilty, as though his position as crown prince lacked legitimacy.

Now, at last, everything would be rightful and proper.

The crown prince silently made up his mind.

He needed to work hard too.

He would become a steadfast pillar of support for his mother and keep the consorts in the other palaces from bullying her.

He would also work hard to support his Little Imperial Uncle, so he would not have to face those ministers' bullying alone.

Looking up, he noticed that Xiao Yu kept glancing around.

"Consort Wan should be here soon," he said.

He had barely finished speaking when footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Sure enough, Consort Wan walked in a moment later.

Upon entering, Consort Wan saw the two children waiting eagerly for her.

Her heart softened. "Have you been waiting long? It's my fault. I ran into Sister Liu and chatted with her for a while, which delayed me."

"It's my fault for holding you up, Sister."

Consort Liu followed Consort Wan inside and gave Xiao Yu and the crown prince a perfunctory bow. "I have kept Your Highnesses waiting. Please forgive me."

Seeing that the two children still looked a little puzzled, Consort Wan introduced her. "Your Highnesses, this is Consort Liu. We knew each other before entering the palace."

Xiao Yu and the crown prince both returned her greeting. "Consort Liu."

Xiao Yu lowered his eyes.

Consort Liu? Could she be the Consort Liu who grew up as close as a sister to my imperial sister-in-law?

She's hanging around her now because she must know the foolish emperor stayed here last night. She's hoping to run into him!

Unfortunately for her, he didn't come today. She's bound to be disappointed!

Consort Wan raised her eyes and glanced at Consort Liu.

When Consort Liu had met her earlier, she had said they had not seen each other in so long and that she had missed her terribly...

So she had an ulterior motive!

Consort Liu was puzzled by the sudden look Consort Wan gave her.

"What is it, Sister? Is there something on my face?" she asked.

Imperial sister-in-law!

You're still gazing affectionately at her! Don't you know that while you treat her like a dear sister, she thinks you're worth less than a weed?

Consort Liu has always compared herself to you. She even wants to steal your husband!

She was even the one who gave the foolish emperor that rotten idea to take the crown prince away from you back then.

She simply never expected him to make your child the crown prince outright.

She watched you grieve every day without telling you where he was. She was actually taking pleasure in your suffering.

Smack!

Consort Wan slapped Consort Liu across the face.

Consort Liu clutched her cheek and glared furiously at Consort Wan.

"Why did you hit me, Sister?" she demanded.

"There was a mosquito on your face!"

Consort Wan suddenly cupped her face and said with heartfelt emotion, "How dare it drink your blood! You're my dear sister. How could I stand by and watch it hurt you?"

Consort Liu was speechless.

It was only a mosquito. Why was she talking as though it were some savage beast?

Consort Liu suspected that Consort Wan had seized the opportunity to get back at her.

But remembering how erratic Consort Wan had been all these years, she found herself half believing her.

"So I misunderstood you, Sister?" she replied.

"Your face is all red."

Consort Wan stroked her cheek and asked, "Does it hurt?"

"The wound is on your face, but the pain is in my heart. Wait here. I'll find some ointment for you. We mustn't let it leave a scar..."

Consort Liu was bewildered by Consort Wan's sudden flurry of actions and felt rather uncomfortable.

As soon as Consort Wan found the ointment, she hurried back to Consort Liu.

Watching Consort Wan apply the ointment with such tenderness, Consort Liu's eyes flickered, and she silently cursed her-

Idiot!