Chapter 697: Support

Editor: Atlas Studios

In the Duke’s Residence, Nanny Xia was teaching Little Madam Xia. “The Duke didn’t ask you to return to the Fan Residence for your own good. The Duke doesn’t have a good relationship with Old Master and Old Madam, so it’s inevitable that you’ll be caught in the middle. Logically speaking, as a wife, you should reconcile both sides. However, what Old Master and Old Madam did previously was too ugly—they pretty much tried to detain you in the capital by force. If Her Highness hadn’t been so domineering and forcefully brought you out, just look at Madam Su, who is being locked up in the Ju Prefecture’s residence now. In a few years, will there still be a place for you to stand in this residence?”

At the mention of this, Nanny Xia was filled with anger. She knew that it was rare for mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to get along well, but her mistress was docile and obedient. If Madam Xia could not even get along well with someone as mild-tempered as her mistress, it would indicate a problem with Madam Xia’s character.

Moreover, Madam Xia had clearly shown that she was very satisfied with her mistress previously. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were chatting and laughing, but Madam Xia then suddenly turned against Little Madam Xia.

From then on, Nanny Xia did not have much of a good impression of Madam Xia. Seeing that the Duke had the intention to support Madam, Nanny Xia did not want the heavily-pregnant Little Madam Xia to suffer. She taught her, “The Duke already told them that you’re not feeling well, so you just have to lie at home. The stewards and I will handle the other matters. As a last resort, we can ask the Princess Consort for help. If anyone from the Fan Residence shows up, His Highness’s (the Duke) men will deal with them. You just have to focus on taking care of your baby and give birth to the little prince. Fortunately, Old Master doesn’t enjoy a good reputation in the capital and it’s known everywhere that he’s unkind. Even if he accuses you and the Duke of being unfilial, you can still count on His Majesty…”

In short, Madam, you should just focus on eating and drinking and don’t worry about your in-laws, just like how it was back in Ju Prefecture.

Seeing that the trusted Nanny Xia was so confident, Little Madam Xia was reassured after her repeated persuasion and went to sleep in peace.

When Fan Zijin returned, he nodded slightly, satisfied with his wife’s calmness. At least, she was not making a fuss like she did on the road today.

The next day, Mu Yangling rode a carriage over to fetch Little Madam Xia into the palace. The Empress had sent someone to fetch them.

Seeing Little Madam Xia look at her nervously, Mu Yangling said with a smile, “Her Majesty is very gentle. You don’t have to worry.”

Little Madam Xia smiled cautiously. Although this was not the first time she had seen the Empress, she could not help but feel nervous.

Li Jinghua was holding Little Treasure’s hand and waiting for them in front of the hall. When Little Treasure saw Little Bear, he pursed his lips and smiled, waving at him excitedly. Little Bear let go of his mother’s hand and sprinted over like a missile to hug Little Treasure. The two children laughed and laughed.

Li Jinghua couldn’t help but smile. “Little Bear has grown up too. He’s half a head taller than Little Treasure, who’s older than him.”

Only then did Little Treasure realize that his younger brother was actually taller than him. He immediately pouted and said, “Mother, I want to eat two bowls of rice tonight.”

Happy to hear that, Li Jinghua nodded and said, “As long as you’re not picky with food, you’ll definitely catch up to your younger brother.”

Happy to hear that, Li Jinghua nodded and said, “As long as you’re not picky with food, you’ll definitely catch up to your younger brother.”

Although Little Bear loved meat, under Mu Yangling’s guidance, he also ate all kinds of vegetables. In addition, he had inherited his father’s tall and strong physique. Thus, although he was a year younger than Little Treasure, he was actually taller than him.

Despite being only three years old, this child looked like a five-year-old.

Li Jinghua got someone to bring the two children to the side hall to play, leaving only Wen Cui to serve them. Seeing that Little Madam Xia’s face was slightly pale, her limbs were thin, and her six-month-old stomach only had a slight bulge, she could not help but be a little worried. “It’s been six months?”

Little Madam Xia touched her stomach and said, “It’ll be seven months in eight days.”

Li Jinghua frowned. “This is too small. Are you unable to eat?”

Little Madam Xia lowered her head slightly. “I don’t have a good appetite and don’t eat much. Fortunately, I have the medicinal cuisine prescribed by Imperial Physician Wang, so I’m keeping up in terms of nutrition.”

Li Jinghua nodded slightly. “Although that’s the case, you still have to eat more. The further into your pregnancy, the more the fetus eats and the stronger the suction. Seeing as you’re already so thin now, how can you utilize your strength when you give birth? Fortunately, it’s much more convenient now that you’re back in the capital. I’ll get the Chief Imperial Physician to take a look at you later.”

With a sigh, Li Jinghua continued, “His Majesty only has Little Treasure now, so he values children very much. Like Haoran, Zijin was raised by His Majesty like his own child. Previously, he instructed me to take good care of you. It’s just that I couldn’t do anything while you were in Qiannan. Fortunately, Ah Ling is a capable person and has shared a lot of the burden for me, her eldest sister-in-law.”

She was actually speaking of Fan Zijin in the same breath as Qi Haoran.

Heart beating wildly, Little Madam Xia couldn’t help but look up at Mu Yangling, only to see that Mu Yangling was used to it. She said to Li Jinghua, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Cousin-in-law looks thin now, but her health is actually better than before. It’s just that she hasn’t recovered from the rushed journey here.”

Only then did Li Jinghua nod in satisfaction. “I can’t take care of you guys while I’m in the palace, so you have to spend more effort outside the palace. Since Zijin is two months older than Haoran, it’s not good for the difference between the eldest sons to be too big. Otherwise, it won’t be easy for them to play together in the future.”

She then said to Little Madam Xia, “You just have to focus on recuperating now. No matter what happens, it’s not as important as you. Leave the matters in the residence to Ah Ling and leave the matters outside to Zijin. If there’s something that’s beyond Zijin’s means, there’s still the Emperor. Considering this is Zijin’s first child, His Majesty is also looking forward to it.”

Little Madam Xia couldn’t help but feel happy. The Empress had made it clear that the Emperor would stand up for her and the Duke.

When Mu Yangling and Little Madam Xia left in the afternoon, these words were also spread to Fan Siwen’s ears. He could only stop what he was doing.

The Emperor’s attitude was very clear—he would not allow Fan Siwen to interfere in any matters concerning Fan Zijin’s offspring at this time.

Fan Siwen was both happy and angry.

While he was happy that his son was so highly favored by the Emperor, he was furious about being restricted by the Emperor’s threats despite the fact that he was Zijin’s father. He truly felt aggrieved.

The people in the capital who had been watching the joke also retracted their thoughts and began to correct their attitudes to refocus their attention on the political matters instead. Now that the Emperor had interfered, if they continued to watch the joke, they might get themselves into trouble.

Hence, everyone began to discuss the various matters of conferring the Crown Prince and welcoming the emissary of Dali.

Little Madam Xia rested at home and ate and exercised according to the schedule set by Mu Yangling and Imperial Physician Wang. Her face gradually turned rosy, and was no longer as skinny as before. Her stomach even puffed up like a balloon. Not only Mu Yangling, but even Fan Zijin and Qi Haoran heaved a sigh of relief.

She began to look forward to the arrival of the unborn child in her stomach.

On the second day after Mu Yangling left the palace, she was summoned into the palace by Li Jinghua and asked to bring Little Bear along.

Little Treasure specially ran back during lunch break. He held Little Bear’s hand and said to Mu Yangling, “Aunt, can I bring Little Brother to class?”

Mu Yangling stroked his head and said, “Since he hasn’t started studying yet, he won’t be able to understand even if he goes. Lest he causes trouble for you, it’s better for him not to go.”

Little Bear pouted unhappily and refused to let go of Little Treasure’s hand. Unwilling to part with Little Bear either, Little Treasure looked at Li Jinghua and Mu Yangling eagerly.

Li Jinghua advised, “Just let them go. There are no academic classes in the afternoon. It’s just martial arts and music lessons. The teachers mostly read moral stories to them and they won’t have to study.”

The princes needn’t take the Imperial Examination, and Little Treasure was destined to be the Emperor in the future. Therefore, other than the art of ruling and the necessary books, the other courses that Qi Xiuyuan arranged for him were mostly to nurture his interest. He was still young now, so the academic classes only occupied the morning. In the afternoon, there were other lessons. Sometimes, the teacher would read to them all kinds of stories, and sometimes, he would teach them the six arts that they could learn at their age, spanning a broad range of content.

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