Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen: Forcing the Issue at Court

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“Are you saying Moonshadow was disturbing you? Everyone, please search for the most complete and fastest updates!” Upon hearing this, Moonshadow curled her lips slightly, a hint of grievance flashing across her delicate face—she had been speaking very quietly, after all.

“Speak up. What troubles you? Let me help ease your worries.” She turned over, lying on her side on the bed, adopting a posture of attentive listening.

“That’s good,” Moonshadow said cheerfully, kicking off her shoes as she climbed onto the bed, lying face-to-face with Bloodsnow. “Actually, it’s nothing much. After all, Lord Chengfeng treats me very well, and in Cheng Kingdom, he commands everything with ease. Yet, I always feel something’s missing.”

“Sounds like you’re bragging,” Bloodsnow concluded from her words.

“Am I such a boring person? Don’t misunderstand, sister,” Moonshadow hurried to explain. “It’s just that I feel a bit lonely, with no friends around. Chengfeng is always busy with state affairs, and his personality is rather dull and boring. You know, sister, although he treats me well, he’s really a blockhead. Like when we first married, he actually said he needed a scapegoat so no one would dare covet his position as the Regent Prince Consort. Ugh, it infuriated me! Why didn’t he ask for my opinion? I didn’t even want to covet the position of Prince Consort!”

By the end, it had clearly turned into a complaint, a venting of dissatisfaction against Chengfeng.

Though Bloodsnow couldn’t see Moonshadow’s expression at the moment, she could sense the emotions dancing across her face whenever she mentioned Chengfeng.

“Seems like you have a lot of grievances against the Regent Prince,” Bloodsnow nodded knowingly.

“Of course. Although he seems gentle, he’s very overbearing and doesn’t care about my opinions at all.” Naturally, her wish was to travel the world, explore picturesque mountains and rivers, not be confined to the mansion all day.

“You want to leave him?”

“Not at all. I’m sure you know Chengfeng’s health has never been good. So, I think he should put down this heavy burden as Regent Prince and let me accompany him on journeys around the realm, to see the customs and scenery. It’d be a life well-lived.” Moonshadow’s voice suddenly lowered, losing the earlier enthusiasm. “Besides, being the Regent Prince is a thankless task. That little emperor has secretly set countless traps for him. That little emperor is a thankless white-eyed wolf who bites the hand that feeds him. Every time I see him, I want to hit him!”

By the end, she was clearly filled with righteous indignation, her face full of earnestness.

“To achieve something in one’s lifetime is the value of his existence. Also, the little emperor you mentioned is the Regent Prince’s brother. The kingdom ultimately belongs to these two brothers. Since the little emperor is so foolish, how could the Regent Prince trust you to travel the world and neglect state affairs?” After all, responsibility to the country weighs heavier.

Hearing this, Moonshadow was silent.

“I know, so I can only vent to you, sister. But that little emperor is really too much. Although, after I hit him once last time, he seems to have behaved much better.” Moonshadow spoke somewhat proudly about her actions, as if it were a great achievement.

Noticing her mood swings—sometimes joyful, sometimes angry—Bloodsnow thought she still had the demeanor of a child.

“Alright, get some rest now.” She reached out and gently stroked Moonshadow’s hair.

“Mm.” Moonshadow nodded, feeling much better after sharing her thoughts with Bloodsnow.

But when Ji Wuqing returned to his room, this was the scene he encountered: the two of them cuddled asleep, and there was no space left for him on the bed.

“Looks like tonight, King Ji will have to sleep alone,” Chengfeng said, then turned and went back to his room to rest.

“...”

Ji Kingdom, Royal Palace.

A fine drizzle quietly enveloped everything in moisture.

At the study hall, he sat at the dining table, before him lay an array of delicious dishes, all the king’s usual favorites.

Unfortunately, though the dishes looked tempting, they were laced with deadly poison.

“Subordinates have been watching closely. It’s indeed the Empress Dowager’s doing—she bribed the palace kitchen staff to poison the king’s meals. The dosage is substantial; it seems the Empress Dowager is desperate to change the current situation.” Qinghe stood nearby, reporting on the Empress Dowager’s recent actions.

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“So there’s no filial affection at all.” Ji Wuqing shook his head, yet he didn’t understand why the king kept sparing her repeatedly. “Let’s see what she intends to do. The master should be back soon anyway.”

With that, he looked out the window. The rain was soft, the sky dim, and even the palace seemed to have quieted from within.

“What has the little princess been doing these days?” suddenly he asked.

He hadn’t seen her recently and wondered if she had been obediently attending school.

“The little princess has been much better behaved these days, but just now someone reported that she skipped school today and has been wandering around the palace with her maids.” Qinghe reported truthfully.

“Hm?” Hearing this, Ji Wuqing raised an eyebrow. His meticulously composed face bore a hint of coldness and concealed worry.

Though the rain was light, the ground was soaked. In a quiet corner of the palace, a certain little girl was climbing a tree, her pink clothes muddied and disheveled.

“Your Highness, this is too dangerous! Please come down quickly...” A palace maid below nervously watched the girl’s movements, her voice trembling with concern.

“Your Highness, please come down quickly! The queen mother will be angry if she finds out...”

“It’s dangerous, Your Highness...”

Yet, the little girl was fearless, completely ignoring the maids’ warnings. She climbed leisurely, nimble and deft, reaching for strange fruit on the branches.

However, she was still a child with little strength. Slowly, she began to lose her grip, her body swaying precariously, clearly about to fall.

“Your Highness, be careful!” The maids below were terrified, sweat beading on their brows.

Given the little princess’s standing in the queen mother’s and king’s hearts, any accident would be unbearable.

“You’re making too much noise.” The little girl remained calm, complaining with a pout, “If you keep talking, I won’t play with you anymore.”

The maids dared not speak again, but inside they were in turmoil.

Despite the girl’s calm, she was indeed tilting dangerously and about to fall. The maids panicked even more, “Your Highness, be careful!”

Suddenly, a blue-and-white paper umbrella appeared, accompanied by a slender figure who swiftly arrived through the rain, catching the rosy little girl in his arms. The maids recognized the visitor and shuddered in fear.

“We humbly greet His Majesty. Please forgive us, Your Majesty!” The maids knelt, heads bowed, unable to meet the emperor’s gaze.

Ji Wuqing coldly glanced at the kneeling maids but said nothing.

“Old man, you came just in time. Help me pick that fruit.” The little girl was delighted by his arrival, unfazed by his cold expression, tugging his arm excitedly as she looked at the solitary fruit.

Ji Wuqing looked at her for a moment, then coldly said, “Just for that fruit?”

“Not really. I think the leaves on that tree are pretty too.” She twisted her fingers, seeming conflicted.

“Alright, I understand.” With that, he set her down, handed her the umbrella, then leapt up to pluck the fruit and leaves. “Don’t be so naughty next time. It’s too dangerous.”

Standing before her, the stark height difference between them perfectly embodied the charm of the cutest height gap.

Holding the umbrella, the little girl looked up at him with sparkling eyes, then hugged his leg. “I knew old man was the best. But this umbrella is a bit heavy, you carry it.” She made a gesture as if passing the umbrella to him.

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The fine rain fell like silk. He held the umbrella gracefully; the little girl clutched his robe with one hand and the fruit in the other, her face full of contentment.

The maids behind them dared not make a sound but exchanged looks of disbelief, sensing that the king had grown increasingly doting toward the little princess.

“Why didn’t you go to school today? What if your mother finds out?” Ji Wuqing glanced sideways at the little girl’s joyful face, a peculiar smile playing on his lips, tinged with indulgence.

“I want mother to know. I haven’t seen her in so long.” Upon hearing this, the little girl’s face quickly shifted to one of grievance. “You said I could see mother within half a month at the latest, but half a month has already passed...”

“...” Suddenly, he felt he shouldn’t have brought the topic up. “Why did you pick this fruit?” He thought for a moment and changed the subject.

“This? Don’t you think this fruit looks lonely growing all alone on the tree? Its kind have all fallen to the ground, becoming part of the soil. Only this one remains solitary, just like me. No mother to care for me.”

“...” Ji Wuqing was silent. Apparently, he shouldn’t have spoken.

So, expressionless, he held the umbrella as they walked, the two of them—one tall, one small—quieting down quickly.

As they approached the study hall, it grew lively ahead. Not just lively, but an imposing scene.

The little girl looked up, her face showing some puzzlement. “Old man, did thieves come? Why are there so many people?”

Ji Wuqing looked on, a bad premonition stirring in his heart.

Sure enough, it was the Empress Dowager and her followers. The Empress Dowager stood before the study hall’s grand gate, majestic and dignified, but clearly hostile.

The little girl seemed oblivious to the danger and cheerfully said to the Empress Dowager, “Grandmother, why have you come? I haven’t seen you in so long.”

Her voice was sweet, her smile revealing faint dimples—utterly adorable.

“Little one, it’s dangerous over here,” the Empress Dowager said kindly, beckoning to the girl. Her warning was clearly aimed at Ji Wuqing.

“Has something happened, Grandmother?” The girl’s face showed confusion, her eyes flickering with hesitation.

“Do you know who this person beside you is?” The Empress Dowager suddenly asked the girl.

The girl nodded without understanding. “He is Father.”

“Everyone, look! Even our princess has been deceived by this rebellious traitor. Today, I shall rid Ji Kingdom of this menace, this traitor who plots against the king.” The Empress Dowager’s voice was cold. “Little one, he is not your father!”

“Grandmother, how do you know? He really isn’t father.” The girl’s face showed some doubt. “Grandmother, how do you know? That’s strange.” Her words astonished everyone present.

“So you also see that he is a rebellious traitor?” The Empress Dowager was stunned, not expecting such a response from the child.

“What does rebellious mean? He’s Uncle Miao Jian.” The girl tilted her head. “I asked Uncle Miao Jian to cheer me up, so he pretended to be father and played with me.”