They Had Simply Discovered a New World

In the end, faced with Jiang Yanchuan's unyielding attitude, Jiang Huai'an was carried by palace servants to Consort Yan's residence.

As he was taken out, Jiang Huai'an's wails rang through the entire hall. Even long after he had left, the echoes still seemed to ring in everyone's ears.

Jiang Yingcheng also took advantage of the lull to guide her imperial father's gaze toward the palace maid named Zitang with a wounded look, hinting that he should avenge her.

Jiang Yanchuan fell silent for a moment. In the end, considering how hard the little one had worked at rolling around, he ordered Changshun to have the palace maid flogged-even though she had never actually kicked the child.

Noble Consort Rou cried so hard that she fainted, but Jiang Yanchuan offered not a single word of concern. He simply strode out with Jiang Yingcheng in his arms.

Noble Consort Qing hurriedly pulled Consort Lan and Jiang Xingran along after him.

The little one was in a splendid mood, and her inner chatter barely stopped the entire way.

Heeheehee, heeheeheeheehee.

Today's such a wonderful day~

Everything I wished for came truuue~

Auntie Yunmeng had been saved, and she had secretly tucked the little sachet beneath the chair in the seat of honor.

Her beautiful imperial father had even helped her exceed her mission's requirements by separating Jiang Huai'an from Noble Consort Rou outright. Surely the Seventh Prince would be able to enjoy peaceful days for a good long while now!

Hehehe~

Before Emperor Mingze carried the little one onto his imperial carriage, Noble Consort Qing and the others even heard her slightly silly giggles.

Noble Consort Qing and Consort Lan each returned to their own residences, while Emperor Mingze ordered the carriage to head straight to Bamboo Cloud Pavilion, where Consort Fang lived.

The little one had not taken her afternoon nap that day, and her earlier crying and fussing had truly consumed a great deal of energy. She stubbornly stayed awake until they reached her courtyard, but no sooner had the nursemaid responsible for her care taken her into her arms than she drifted off to sleep.

Emperor Mingze gave Consort Fang a meaningful look, then the two went inside alone. He dismissed all the palace servants, leaving only Changshun to guard the door.

Consort Fang had thought Emperor Mingze intended to spend the night at Bamboo Cloud Pavilion. Yet they had barely sat down when he confronted her with a question. "After the Eleventh Princess returned yesterday, did her inner voice mention any important information?"

Consort Fang went rigid and abruptly raised her head to look at Emperor Mingze, seated in the place of honor.

A constant buzzing roar filled her mind. Though her head swam, Consort Fang chose not to play dumb.

"Your... Majesty, Yingcheng went to sleep as soon as she returned yesterday and only woke at dinner. Her attention was entirely captured by the food, so she didn't reveal any important information..."

She could not help feeling that this was only to be expected.

How could something as absurd and fortunate as hearing the little one's thoughts happen to her alone?

Since Emperor Mingze had asked this question, it meant he could hear them too. He had also learned more than she had and knew that she could hear that inner voice as well.

She dared not conceal it.

Consort Fang was dazed, but what little reason she retained still made her instinctively omit the information concerning Jinshu.

Her position in the palace was unstable, and she could not withstand the thunderous wrath that a charge of deceiving the emperor would bring. She could only continue keeping it hidden.

It was just a pity that her little Jinshu could not remain by her side from childhood.

Fortunately, little Yingcheng had already thought of a way for her to bring Jinshu into the palace too.

As long as she had opportunities to see Jinshu, everything would develop in a better direction.

Jiang Yanchuan said nothing upon hearing this. His knuckles tapped steadily against the wooden table, as though beating out a rhythm for Consort Fang's heart.

Panic rose within Consort Fang, and she could not stop her thoughts from running wild.

Did His Majesty know something?

Could there be a spy His Majesty had planted in this courtyard who could also hear the little one's thoughts?

Who could it be?

The nursemaid responsible for looking after the little one?

Or the palace maid assigned to her courtyard just last month?

She desperately wanted something to distract herself, but in a sudden flash of inspiration, she recalled an important piece of information. "Your Majesty, I've just remembered something about the system that speaks with Yingcheng in her mind!"

The tapping stopped at once. "What is it?" Jiang Yanchuan asked.

Consort Fang swallowed. "It concerns merit points..."

Their conversation continued for nearly two hours. By the time Jiang Yanchuan emerged from the room, Fang Siwan's rank had leaped three levels on the spot, rising from a Consort of the Principal Fourth Rank to Consort Wan of the Principal Third Rank.

When Jiang Yingcheng woke from her dreams, she thought she was still dreaming.

"What are they doing?" she asked the nursemaid holding her.

Everyone in the courtyard was frantically packing their belongings, while her mother was nowhere to be seen.

Could they be getting thrown out?!

Jiang Yingcheng nearly burst into tears at her own guess.

If they really were thrown out, would she never get to eat so many delicious little pastries again?!

Nanny Zhang's face brimmed with joy. "Her Highness has just been made Consort Wan. We're moving to a bigger courtyard!"

Jiang Yingcheng froze, then a brilliant light burst into her eyes. "A bigger courtyard?"

Nanny Zhang nodded with a smile.

Jiang Yingcheng wriggled like a silkworm pupa in Nanny Zhang's arms. Once she reached the ground, she raced wildly around the courtyard. "Ooh, ooh, ooh! We're getting a bigger courtyard~~~"

A passing palace maid nearly collided with Jiang Yingcheng. She hurriedly steadied herself, her voice full of laughter as she said, "Your Little Highness, do take a rest. Wouldn't it be better to run once we reach the bigger courtyard?"

Her words made everyone nearby laugh as well, and for a while, the little Bamboo Cloud Pavilion was filled with cheerful voices and laughter.

Jiang Yingcheng did not get her wish to run freely around the new courtyard that evening.

Back at Bamboo Cloud Pavilion, she had been too excited to stop and had run around for ages. After arriving at Starfrost Hall, she ate only a few pastries before falling fast asleep again.

Early the next morning, Nanny Zhang woke Jiang Yingcheng much earlier than usual.

It was still dark and hazy outside. Jiang Yingcheng rubbed her eyes, her voice heavy with sleep. "Nursemaid, why are we up so early today?"

Remembering Consort Wan's instructions, Nanny Zhang dared not reveal too much and answered vaguely, "Her Highness said Eunuch Changshun will come to take you to play with His Majesty again today. She wants you up early and ready for him to collect you."

Jiang Yingcheng immediately stood up, brimming with energy. "Really?"

Fang Siwan had just entered the room when she heard that excited request for confirmation. She smiled. "Really, really. So can our little sleepyhead get out of bed now?"

Jiang Yingcheng's eyes shone even brighter, and she reached both hands toward Fang Siwan. "Mother, pick me up!"

This was definitely going to be a super wonderful day!

With Eunuch Changshun holding her little hand firmly, Jiang Yingcheng walked slowly along the route to see her beautiful imperial father.

Court had just adjourned, and they kept encountering officials walking together in twos and threes. Whenever they met someone coming toward them, she lifted her little face and gave him a huge smile.

Even as she successfully won the affection of many officials, her inner chatter never stopped for a moment.

Aah, aah, aah! A good official!

Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! Rotten corrupt official!

Heeheehee, what a pitiful uncle.

The officials: "..."

Huh? Why do their expressions look so strange?

Eunuch Changshun glanced cheerfully at Jiang Yingcheng.

It was fine. They had simply discovered a new world.