Fei Pin Ying Qiang

Chapter 71.2

Nanny Ning froze. “Alright,” said Chu’er. “Nanny Ning, you’re dismissed.”　　

Qi Yunruo took a seat opposite of Chu’er. “You’ll be entering the palace the day after tomorrow. Have you prepared everything yet?”　　　　

“The preparations have already begun.”

He looked at her. A sigh escaped his lips. “Second Young Miss, I think there is a misunderstanding between us.”　　

Somewhat alert, Chu’er’s gaze fell upon him, her little body moving in unease.　

“If I’ve guessed correctly, it’s because of Her Highness the princess consort.”

Biting her lip, Chu’er said, “You caused Mother’s death!”　

Young children had yet to master how to conceal their emotions. Just one sentence from Qi Yunruo, and she revealed all the hatred hidden in her heart. “I know it was you! They all told me my mother fell ill because of you. My mother died because of you.”　　

Qi Yunruo discovered that he could not refute her. He had no way of telling Chu’er that Qi Niqun had suffered from pent-up frustrations, that the accumulated poison from all the medicines she took broke out, causing her to fall severely ill. He also could not say that the evil things Qi Niqun had done lost her the prince’s pity. It would be too cruel to a child who loved her mother. And it wasn’t something a child her age was capable of bearing. Qi Yunruo said, “Princess Consort didn’t die of illness because of me… Second Young Miss, why are you unwilling to believe that I do good by you?”

Did Qi Yunruo treat her well? Naturally. He managed the inner courtyard and gave Chu’er and Ying’er the most exquisite things, took the utmost care of them. But no matter how great these material things were, it could not bring back their mother. Qi Yunruo said, “Perhaps you will understand once you grow up. I have never thought of harming anyone… In the future, it will be very hard for you and your sister to return to this estate. It’s sunny today. You can bring your younger sister out to play.”　　

Qi Yunruo rose to his feet. Prepared to leave.　　

Through eyes hazy with tears, Chu’er looked at him, yet not a word escaped her lips.

Jing’er led his younger brother by the hand back to Qi Yunruo. Mu’er had his head lowered, what was on his mind a mystery. Complacent, Jing’er said to Qi Yunruo, “I brought Little Brother back.”　

Mu’er’s personal maidservant was called Zijing. Qi Yunruo told Jing’er to bring Mu’er inside, and to have Zijing stay behind. Frowning, he asked, “Did Consort Wei say something she shouldn’t have?”　　

Zijing replied, “Her Highness Consort Wei only said she missed her son, but would not allow this slave to stay by his side to serve. This slave watched from afar. Consort Wei kept talking to Second Prince with a smile on her lips. Afterward, Second Prince could not bear to part from her.”　　

Although Qi Yunruo nodded, worry filled his heart. If Mu’er grew closer and closer to Consort Wei, his own attempts at obstructing them would only push Mu’er away. Sometimes, blood relationships were hard to sever. Yet, the moment he thought of Consort Wei’s methods, he grew afraid.  　　

“Oh right, Sir. Yesterday this slave heard that Her Highness Consort Wei once again invited Sacrificial Wine Specialist Wei to the estate. That once she entered the imperial palace in the future, father and daughter would meet even less, so she wanted to see her father more during this period.”　　

“Just meeting her father, not her mother?”　　

“Correct. Her Highness Consort Wei only invited Sacrificial Wine Specialist Wei.”　　

Qi Yunruo couldn’t help but think, If she misses her relatives, Consort Wei wouldn’t just invite Sir Wei over to the estate. Don’t tell me it’s because it’s for something only Sir Wei can do?　　

As the children prepared to board the carriages to leave, Qi Yunruo could not bear to see them go. He still didn’t know what the prince was planning, didn’t know when he could see those children again.　　　　

Yan’er was a sensitive child, the first to start crying. Her gaze was upon Qi Yunruo, making him feel even more forlorn. Jing’er led his younger brother onto the carriage by the hand, voice soft as he said, “I will miss you, Uncle Little Qi.”　　

Mu’er said, “Me too, me too. I will miss you.”　　

To which Qi Yunruo smiled. Meanwhile, Chu’er brought her younger sister into their carriage. After Qi Yunruo had sent off the children, he sighed deeply with emotion. From now on, those children would no longer have the simple identities of a prince estate’s young masters and young misses. Instead, they would be the sons and daughters of the most honorable person in the world. In the future, one of them would grow up to be the next generation’s emperor, one would become a prince of the first rank, and the rest would become imperial princesses, using the glory of the Son of Heaven to marry ideal husbands. In the future, there would be great attention on their each and every move, their lives recorded meticulously by historians.

Wearing a cloak, Consort Wei watched from afar as Mu’er grew farther and farther, gaze serene.　　

Consort Ji kept wiping at her tears with a handkerchief. Consort Wei smiled at her. “Elder Sister, perhaps very soon we can reunite with them.”　　

A smile spread through Consort Ji’s face, yet her heart was brimming with disdain. Her son would definitely be the most successful. In the future, Consort Wei and her son might have to spend their days depending on her own expression.