Chapter 30: A Burden Too Heavy for a Son

Shen Mengli patted the Princess of Duan’s hand gently. "Mother, we are family. There is no need for such gratitude. In fact, I should be the one thanking you for your kindness and care toward me. Moreover, this is all thanks to Father. Given my age, no one would have trusted my medical skills had Father not placed his full confidence in me. Without that, I would never have had the chance to save you."

The Prince of Duan had not expected Shen Mengli to praise him. At the time, he had not given it much thought; his mind was entirely focused on his wife’s survival. With no other options, he had simply acted on impulse and allowed her to proceed.

"I didn't think much of it at the time," the Prince of Duan said with a sigh. "The Princess Consort told me the situation was dire and the imperial physicians had yet to arrive. I had no choice but to treat a dead horse as if it were alive and stake everything on you. Fortunately, the outcome was good."

"Li'er," the Princess of Duan said, "the physicians have ordered that I rest and avoid overexertion. For the time being, I am handing the management of the household over to you. Please look after the affairs of the manor. If there is anything you do not understand, consult Nurse Hu and Nurse Lin; they served in the palace and are very experienced in administration. If you are still unsure, come to Hibiscus Court and ask me; I will oversee things for you."

Shen Mengli demurred, "Mother, is that wise? I am still too young to shoulder the heavy responsibility of managing the household. Perhaps you should consider someone else."

"Li'er, never underestimate yourself. I believe in your ability to handle the responsibilities of this estate. Besides, you are the future mistress of this manor; these are experiences you must go through. While I still have some strength left, I will guide you. Proceed with confidence; if anything goes wrong, I am here to back you."

The Princess of Duan then turned to the servants. "From now on, seeing the Princess Consort is the same as seeing me. Her orders are my orders. If I find out that any of you have been disrespectful or negligent toward her, I will not show mercy."

Shen Mengli looked moved. "Thank you, Mother. I will do my best to manage the manor well and will not let you down."

After this display of familial affection, the Princess of Duan turned her gaze toward Qi Yunyan.

"Yunyan, have I not been good to you? I have worried about you in every matter and raised you with such meticulous care. Why must you anger me so? Do you truly want me dead? Do you think that once I am gone, no one will be able to control you, and you will be free to do whatever you wish, like a bird taking flight in the vast sky? So that no one will stop you from being with Lin Qingyu? My husband and I have poured our hearts and souls into you, yet in your eyes, are we worth less than a single hair on Lin Qingyu’s head? Your eyes have always seen only her."

Qi Yunyan appeared flustered and hurriedly waved his hands. "Mother, what are you saying? You are shaming your son. I know how well you and Father have treated me, and I care for you both deeply. It was only because Qingyu was injured at the time that I was so anxious and spoke that way. Please, can you forgive me? And please, stop holding a grudge against Qingyu. She is just a weak and small woman with no one to rely on but me. For my sake, can you please stop making things difficult for her?"

He genuinely wanted his mother and Qingyu to live in peace. Both were women he loved, and he could not bear to see either of them hurt. He had never imagined that his protection of Qingyu would hurt his mother so deeply. He truly felt wretched.

"What is so good about that Lin Qingyu that your heart is so tethered to her? She is a habitual liar and lacks propriety, which is why I punished her. If she would only follow the rules, I would turn a blind eye to her. Tell her to restrain herself. If she dares to use any more underhanded tactics or show disrespect to the Princess Consort again, I will have her cast out of this house. Now that Li'er is in charge, if she dares to cause trouble for her, see how I deal with her then."