She Was Bad?

A sheen of tears swiftly gathered in the little one's eyes again, leaving 007, who had never looked after a child, unusually flustered.

But it had to fulfill its duty and tell Jiang Yingcheng the truth:

[You are the daughter of Consort Fang's elder sister.]

[Back then, Noble Consort Rou relied on her family's influence to cause several little princes to fall gravely ill soon after birth. These princes were left either mentally impaired or disabled; not one met a good end. But Emperor Mingze was wholly focused on expanding his territory at the time, and the consorts dared not report it.]

[As it happened, your mother gave birth to a baby girl a few days before Consort Fang delivered. Your mother took the opportunity to devise a plan: if the child Consort Fang was carrying really was a little prince, she would switch you into the palace.]

There was no need to explain the rest. The fact that she was now living in the palace said it all.

Jiang Yingcheng lowered her head and sniffled for a long while, making Consort Fang's heart ache along with her.

She could not help recalling all the little moments she had shared with the child over the years.

The little one rarely cried. Even when she grew hungry in the middle of the night or bumped herself, she neither fussed nor made a scene. Since this was her own elder sister's child, Consort Fang had taken considerable care of her.

Over the past few months, however, the little one had become especially clingy, following her around all day like a little tail. The way she stumbled along yet still tried so hard to keep pace was utterly endearing, and the more time they spent together, the more devoted Consort Fang became.

Consort Fang raised her hand, intending to draw the little one into her arms and pat her gently in comfort. But before she could put an arm around the child's shoulders, that inner voice rang out again-

Then Chengcheng likes her too! Jiang Yingcheng lifted her head, her gaze resolute, as though making a solemn vow.

She had already spent three months with Imperial Consort! No one knew better than she did how Imperial Consort treated her each day!

Counting on her fingers, Jiang Yingcheng listed all the proof that Consort Fang liked her too for 007.

Imperial Consort is so nice! She secretly tucks Chengcheng in at night!

When the palace sends our meals, Imperial Consort always gives Chengcheng the meat first!

Imperial Consort also hums really pretty lullabies for Chengcheng!

Anyway, Chengcheng likes Imperial Consort!

Consort Fang froze. Then warmth burst from her heart, coursed through her entire body, and gathered in her eyes.

Her eyes brimmed with hot tears. Her hand settled naturally on the little one's shoulder, and she drew her into her arms.

Consort Fang had never known how to handle their relationship. The little one was clever and adorable, and she loved her dearly, but there was always an empty space in her heart reserved for the child outside the palace.

She had always felt that if she could not love this child wholeheartedly, she did not deserve the child's love in return.

But now, those misgivings were gone.

She must have done countless good deeds in her past life to receive such a treasure in this one!

Startled by Consort Fang's sudden embrace, Jiang Yingcheng spoke in a sweet little voice that sounded veiled in mist from within her arms. "Imperial Consort?"

Her inner voice was much clearer: What's wrong with Imperial Consort?

Consort Fang took several deep breaths before swallowing the lump in her throat. "Nothing. Imperial Consort was just so worried about you. You mustn't run off to play without saying a word again, understand?"

Jiang Yingcheng wriggled twice in Consort Fang's arms and nodded. "Chengcheng understands!"

Then, as though she had suddenly remembered something, she squirmed out of Consort Fang's embrace and produced the pastries she had filched from Emperor Mingze. Offering up her treasure, she held them before her with both hands. "Imperial Consort, eat!"

I filched them from Imperial Father. They're really sweet!

Looking into the little one's sparkling eyes, Consort Fang finally smiled through her tears. "All right. Chengcheng should have some too."

So what if she had not given birth to her? After raising her for so long, this was her little cub!

Jiang Yingcheng took a bite of the mung bean cake Consort Fang held to her lips. It was sweet, just like her mood.

She felt so happy she could practically fly, and could not resist finding someone to share it with. System Bro, System Bro, are you there? Are you there?

007 answered:

[I'm here.]

Jiang Yingcheng kept stealing glances at Consort Fang's face, the delight in her eyes almost taking solid form. She boasted, Imperial Consort really does like Chengcheng.

007 hesitated for a moment, then ventured:

[What about your birth mother?]

My birth mother? Jiang Yingcheng paused. Is she as pretty as Imperial Consort?

This time, 007 answered quickly:

[She is.]

Jiang Yingcheng's mother and Consort Fang looked very much alike. They shared both parents; otherwise, Consort Fang would not have felt comfortable letting her sister raise her son in her household.

But whenever 007 thought of that woman's actions, irritation surged through it.

From its interactions with 996 today, it was easy to see that the little one was desperately craving familial affection. It truly did not know how to broach the subject and warn her to be wary of her birth mother.

The mung bean cake was rather dry. Jiang Yingcheng's cheeks bulged, and she could not swallow for a long while. Hehehe, then Chengcheng will definitely be really pretty when she grows up too!

She had yet to lose her baby fat, and Imperial Consort's feeding had made her especially round lately. Although she looked adorable, she still wanted to look like Imperial Consort.

Round eyes, a high nose, and a pointed chin.

In short, really, really pretty!

"Hic~"

Jiang Yingcheng finally swallowed the dry mung bean cake. Finding no water in the sedan chair, Consort Fang could only pat the little one's back gently, over and over, though her attention had long since been drawn to the child's inner voice.

The "System Bro" who kept speaking with Chengcheng seemed to have mentioned her birth mother. Consort Fang did not know what he intended, but she unconsciously held her breath and listened closely.

Why had he suddenly brought up her elder sister? Surely he was not trying to persuade Chengcheng to leave the palace and find her birth mother?!

That would never do!

If the fact that they had exchanged Chengcheng for a prince came to light, it would be the crime of deceiving the emperor. They could lose their heads!

A moment later, she finally heard that sweet little inner voice again.

Huh? She was bad?

She told my younger cousin who he really was?

A roar thundered in Consort Fang's ears, and waves of white light flashed before her eyes.

Her elder sister had told Jinshu who he was?

Hadn't they agreed not to tell him?!

He was still so young. What was the point of telling him all this?

An ominous foreboding rose in Consort Fang's heart. She had a feeling her elder sister's motives could not be simple.

Sure enough, the next moment, Chengcheng's inner voice gave her the answer-

Um... my birth mother told my younger cousin that Imperial Consort didn't want him anymore?

She wants to become the empress dowager herself once my cousin successfully ascends the throne??

Consort Fang froze as a terrible chill swept through her entire body.

How could the elder sister she trusted so deeply do this to her?!