Tranquilizing Card

Emperor Chu Ming was more than a decade older than his brother. He had not only children but grandchildren as well, and seeing his brother so delighted put him in unusually high spirits.

He teased, "I heard you say her name was Siqing just now. Did you choose it?"

Chu Hongle nodded bashfully.

Emperor Chu Ming laughed. "Siqing, Siqing-'thinking of my beloved.' It seems your devotion to your princess runs deep indeed."

Chu Hongle flushed. "Please don't tease me, Imperial Brother."

The two went to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility together.

Princess Yongfu had finally found an opportunity and was just about to mention yesterday's events to the Empress Dowager when Emperor Chu Ming and Prince Yu arrived together.

Empress Dowager Pei smiled. "The emperor is here too. Come and have a look at Siqing. She's such a sweet child."

Nestled in the Empress Dowager's arms, Chu Siqing could not resist studying the emperor curiously.

[Aaaah! As expected of a man standing at the very pinnacle of power in ancient times!]

Although Emperor Chu Ming's looks were only moderately handsome, his features carried an innate majesty. Chu Siqing was already considering how to latch onto this golden thigh.

She rapidly exchanged thoughts with the system.

[A-Tong, hurry and analyze this for me. How can I make Imperial Uncle like me more?]

The system replied,

[The system has detected that Emperor Chu Ming has frequently suffered from insomnia lately, leaving him mentally exhausted while handling state affairs. Host, you can approach the matter from this angle.]

Remembering the 200 points she had earned only yesterday, Chu Siqing quickly closed her eyes and began searching the System Shop.

[Found it! The Tranquilizing Card! System, redeem this for me, quick!]

After carrying out the transaction, the system announced,

[Host, the Tranquilizing Card has been redeemed. Points -150.]

The Tranquilizing Card was a skill card that allowed its user to soothe anyone she touched, relaxing their mind and helping them sleep.

Emperor Chu Ming smiled. "No wonder Hongle dotes on this child so much, if she can earn such praise from Mother."

As he spoke, he looked at the baby in the Empress Dowager's arms.

Chu Siqing looked back at him with her round little eyes.

Seeing the lively intelligence in the little girl's eyes, and knowing she was his brother's first child, Emperor Chu Ming took a liking to her.

He rarely held even his own children, lest he give his consorts too many hopes. Yet now, seeing Chu Siqing, he suddenly felt an urge to hold her.

He held out his hands. "Let me hold her too."

Empress Dowager Pei handed Chu Siqing over to the emperor.

Once Emperor Chu Ming himself had her in his arms, Chu Siqing immediately gave him a great big smile.

Seeing the tiny infant smiling so brightly, Emperor Chu Ming could not help the corners of his mouth lifting. He reached out a finger and gently tapped her chubby cheek.

Chu Siqing quickly seized the opportunity, reaching out her plump little hand and gripping his finger tightly.

At the same time, she told the system inwardly, [A-Tong, use the Tranquilizing Card now!]

Emperor Chu Ming suddenly felt his foggy mind clearing, and all his exhaustion was swept away!

State affairs had been piling up lately, consuming immense mental energy every day. Even when he went to bed, he could not sleep peacefully. During the day, his head often felt heavy and muddled, and he could only force himself to stay alert and struggle on.

Now, somehow, he felt much better all at once.

Emperor Chu Ming paused in surprise, then heard Chu Siqing babble a few times in his arms as she lifted her chubby little hand and touched his face.

"Oh!" Chu Hongle suddenly exclaimed nervously. "Daughter, you mustn't profane the imperial visage!"

His words made everyone laugh.

Emperor Chu Ming raised an eyebrow. "Hongle, what are you saying?"

Empress Dowager Pei could not contain her amusement. "You mischievous rascal. How can you toss around a word like 'profane'?"

Han Wanqing smiled. "Seeing Siqing so affectionate with His Majesty, Your Highness must be jealous."

Princess Yongfu chimed in as well. "Your Highness does love to joke."

She had wanted to plead with the Empress Dowager in private, but now that Chu Hongle was present, neither leaving nor staying felt right. It was terribly awkward.

Chu Hongle ignored Princess Yongfu and looked only at Han Wanqing. "My princess understands me best."

Then he said to Emperor Chu Ming, "Imperial Brother, you're exhausted from working on state affairs every day. Why don't you let me hold Siqing?"

Emperor Chu Ming smiled. "Holding her doesn't tire me."

He lowered his head to look at the baby smiling up at him and thought that perhaps it was this child's smile that lifted his spirits and made him feel more refreshed.

Emperor Chu Ming had only meant to tease his brother, but at that thought, he genuinely wanted to hold Chu Siqing a little longer.

Chu Hongle's eyes widened. Not knowing how to respond, he huffed, "I'm Siqing's father!"

Emperor Chu Ming merely smiled without answering.

Seeing Emperor Chu Ming being so affectionate with Han Wanqing's child as well, Princess Yongfu nearly tore the handkerchief in her hands to shreds!

She restrained herself. Since the mood was so pleasant, she decided to bring up yesterday's incident. Perhaps if the emperor and Empress Dowager relented, the matter would be put behind them.

Princess Yongfu squeezed out a tear and said to Prince Yu, "Royal Brother, I shouldn't have spoken so rudely at Siqing's one-month celebration yesterday. What happened before was my fault. I'll apologize to your princess, so won't you stop pursuing the matter?"

Chu Hongle's expression immediately turned cold. "If an apology could erase the harm done, what use would we have for the law?"

Princess Yongfu turned to the Empress Dowager and tearfully pleaded, "Your Majesty, I was possessed by demons before and wronged the princess. Now I know I was wrong, but His Highness still wants to send me to the Imperial Clan Court. You must save me!"

Chu Hongle told the Empress Dowager, "Mother, Yongfu had someone frighten my princess, causing her to nearly die along with our child during childbirth. Such vicious conduct must be punished!"

He looked at Emperor Chu Ming. "I've already reported this matter to Imperial Brother."

Empress Dowager Pei had never intended to intervene, so she asked, "What has the emperor decided?"

Looking at Princess Yongfu, Emperor Chu Ming said, "Her rank will be lowered from Princess to Commandery Lady, and Yongfu will be confined to her residence for six months."

Princess Yongfu could not believe it. "Your Majesty!"

Emperor Chu Ming frowned. "If you think it unjust, let the Imperial Clan Court hear the case."

Princess Yongfu dared not say another word. She lowered her eyes, a flash of resentment passing through them as her nails dug deep into her flesh.

It was all that damned Han Wanqing's fault!

She would never let that bitch off!

Night fell.

Emperor Chu Ming lay on his imperial bed, expecting another night of tossing and turning. To his surprise, he slept soundly.

In his dream, he took a little child out to fly a kite on a grassy field.

Emperor Chu Ming held the kite string while the child hugged his leg and watched him fly the kite.

As the kite soared higher and higher, his spirits rose with it.

Then he heard the child laugh and say, "Imperial Uncle, let it go higher! Higher!"

Emperor Chu Ming looked down, only then discovering that the child was his brother's daughter!

He could not help crouching down and patting the child's head. "Siqing, why are you here?"

The child replied, "Imperial Uncle, I came to help you fly your kite!"

Emperor Chu Ming was about to ask another question when he heard a eunuch beside his ear say, "Your Majesty, it's time to rise."

Emperor Chu Ming opened his eyes. Only then did he realize he had slept straight through until it was time for morning court.