Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 112

When Qin Ling woke up, Xiao Yu and their son were by her side. By her pillow lay her newborn son.

Xiao Yu took her hand, rubbed her fingertips, and whispered, “You’re awake.”

Qin Ling nodded, then looked at the cradle where her wrinkled little baby lay. At that sight, her heart melted.

In her past life, she had died in childbirth, barely able to hold on after glimpsing her elder son. At that moment, she only wished not to burden him further. She didn’t dare hope to hold her own child again. Qin Ling reached out and gently touched the second baby’s cheek.

“The imperial physician has checked. This child cries loudly, healthy in body. Ah Ling, you’ve worked hard,” Xiao Yu said lightly, smiling faintly. “Indeed, as you said, he’s a prince.”

Qin Ling’s eyes were red, completely focused on the newborn prince.

The baby’s fists were chubby, skin tender and delicate, making one hesitate to touch too hard. Qin Ling smiled, leaned in, and kissed his hand.

The scene was heartwarming, and Xiao Yu couldn’t help but show a smile.

There were many people in the hall. The crown prince stood at the back, silent for a long time. He couldn’t describe what he felt, hesitating to approach. After a while, when everyone left, he finally walked over and softly said, “Mother.”

Only then did Qin Ling turn to her elder son. “Yes?”

Xiao Yun whispered softly, “Mother, in the future, I will take good care of my younger brother.”

These words shattered Qin Ling’s heart. Only then did she realize she had overlooked her eldest son, who was only four years old.

There were many gossips in the palace, and the fact that the crown prince was born of the former empress was undeniable. Even though Xiao Yun paid no heed to such things, as he slowly grew up, he couldn’t help but think about it more.

Qin Ling reached out to him and whispered, “Yun’er, come here…”

Xiao Yun took another step closer, asking, “Mother, are you tired?”

Qin Ling kissed his face affectionately. The crown prince looked up in surprise.

After the birth of the second prince, Xiao Yun became an elder brother. Almost every day after school, he would visit his little brother. It seemed like he had grown up overnight.

Moreover, he had learned to hide his feelings. Qin Ling was the first to notice the disappointment on Xiao Yun’s face every time he looked at his brother. After two days of observation without improvement, she decided to talk to him. But no matter how she asked, Xiao Yun remained as tight-lipped as a clam. Helpless, Qin Ling sought out Momo Yuan. Seeing the worried look on the empress’ face, Momo Yuan instantly chuckled and straightforwardly revealed Xiao Yun’s concerns about the little prince.

“It’s not that Yun’er is refusing to talk to you. His Majesty specifically instructed him not to keep asking for a younger sister.”

Only then did Qin Ling realize she had overthought things. The child’s sadness stemmed from the grand visions that had fallen apart.

One day, when Xiao Yun returned from school, he was alone in the study, lost in thought. Qin Ling appeared before him and asked softly, “What are you thinking about?”

Xiao Yun closed the book, stood up, and asked, “Mother, why have you come here?”

Qin Ling sat beside him. Noticing his uneasiness, she gently asked, “Your birthday is next month. Is there anything you want?”

Xiao Yun hesitated, saying, “Mother, your concern is enough. I… don’t want anything.”

“You don’t want anything at all…?” Qin Ling deliberately elongated her tone, leisurely continuing, “Mother still wishes for a younger sister for you.”

At her words, Xiao Yun looked up in astonishment.

His father had long ago told him not to mention his desire for a sister and not to dwell on it, as there wouldn’t be one.

Being a five-year-old child, despite the yearning in his eyes, his lips remained sealed shut.

Qin Ling rubbed his head, leaned closer, and gently said, “If you make a wish, perhaps it might come true.”

Xiao Yun, swayed by his mother’s gentle voice, lifted his slightly hesitant face and asked, “But Father said…”

Qin Ling assured him, “Your father doesn’t have the final say in this matter.”

As soon as the words fell, the crown prince seemed to be amidst a lantern festival, with three thousand bright lanterns rising slowly. He felt as if he were floating, encountering a miraculous opportunity.

In the evening, Xiao Yun hurried back to the warm chamber and approached Xiao Rui, saying, “Little Brother, Mother said we might have a sister.”

Xiao Rui was deeply asleep, not even opening his eyes, but he waved his hand towards his brother.

The crown prince raised his fist and gently bumped it against his brother’s hand.

With the birth of the successor, the court was once again filled with intriguing whispers and sighs from all levels. It seemed as if everyone anticipated a scene where the two legitimate imperial sons would clash in the future, while the present empress, relying on favoritism, meddled in politics.

Little did they know, the current empress had no interest in governing, only in using cunning methods to captivate the emperor. The selection of consorts was rejected uniformly, disregarding the virtue and morals of an empress. Her name couldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath as the virtuous Empress Su.

But an ineffective empress could be overlooked.

The court’s cunning old foxes also expected the crown prince and Prince Yu, destined to be enemies, to clash. Yet, contrary to their expectations, the anticipated sibling rivalry never happened, as the prince developed a liking for scaling the palace walls.

The crown prince, diligent and disciplined since childhood, almost a mirror image of the emperor, was seen by the old imperial tutor as the nearly perfect future ruler. Yet fate had it that Prince Yu, a person lacking in scholarly pursuits, always managed to lure his brother out of the palace.

Right after the old tutor left, Prince Yu leaned against the door and said, “Brother, let’s go.”

The crown prince remained silent, holding his brush, but Prince Yu continued, “Come on! The show’s about to start, Su Lingyi and Su Youlin are both going. Aren’t you going too?”

The crown prince gripped the brush tightly, sighed, and remained silent.

Prince Yu added, “If you’re not going, then I’ll go and entertain Anle.”

Snap.

The crown prince set down his scroll, turned, and ran off with Prince Yu.

Upon learning of this incident, the infuriated old tutor just wanted to quickly send Prince Yu away and keep him from returning to the capital.

Little did he know… Prince Yu leaned back in his chair with legs crossed. His fan opened and closed as he taunted the tutor, “I won’t leave the capital. Ever. Grand Tutor, just hurry up and kick the bucket.”

The counsel regarding the unpredictable behavior of Prince Yu also fell on deaf ears with the crown prince.

It wasn’t until much later, when a plague erupted at the border of Great Zhou and the adamant Prince Yu, who refused to leave the capital, became the first to volunteer for the expedition.

He said he didn’t seek fame or fortune in his life, nor did he care about leaving a mark in history.

But if it was for a battle in support of his elder brother…

He’d brave any peril without hesitation.

In truth, likening Prince Yu to a capital villain wasn’t entirely accurate, considering there was someone he couldn’t bring harm to—Princess Anle.

Princess Anle, born in the seventh year of Yanxi, traveled from the inner palace to the estate of the grand princess, then to the estate of the Duke of Zhen, and finally to the estate of the Count of Cheng’en. She had access to every prominent resident in Yunli Street.

It’s said that the day Princess Anle chose her husband was as significant as a certain emperor selecting his wife in a particular year.

However, all of this is a tale for another time.

***

In the courtyard bathed in the evening glow, the leaves of the parasol trees fell gently. As autumn arrived, old afflictions would faintly trouble Xiao Yu.

The shortened lifespan due to his reincarnation was just one aspect. The most significant was the old injury left from the previous expedition.

Thinking back to the year Qin Ling returned to the palace, Xiao Yu’s cough seemed as ordinary to her as the song of a warbler outside. There was no ripple within her. But after their reconciliation, everything changed. She couldn’t help but check Xiao Yu’s temperature daily when he entered the room, ensuring he was properly clothed and taking his medicine.

Love and lack thereof were so plainly evident.

It’s often said that for men who strategize for the world, their emotional fortitude often outweighs others’. That innate strength and firmness Xiao Yu displayed would fade away once he entered Kunning Palace.

For example, at this very moment.

After returning from court, Xiao Yu called for Ah Ling. With every step, he held a fist against his lips, coughing lightly.

Qin Ling approached him and offered the lukewarm medicine, and after Xiao Yu finished drinking, she’d even cajole him like a son, offering him candied fruits.

In the evening, after they both bathed, they retired to the bed together. Qin Ling leaned against him, her fingertips tracing the scar on his chest, softly murmuring, “Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu glanced at her, “What do you want now?”

Qin Ling said, “Your Majesty… after you’re done with court every day, how about practicing some martial arts?”

Xiao Yu furrowed his brows slightly. “Ah Ling, it’s not that extreme. There are plenty of veterans from past wars who live to a ripe old age.”

Qin Ling’s soft fingertips traced down his chest. “But they don’t toil day and night…”

Xiao Yu lowered his head and kissed her. “You truly worry too much about me. I am grateful for your concern.”

Qin Ling raised her hand, her fingertips brushing against the corner of her eye. Tears welled up, her voice choked as she said, “But I’m only nineteen.”

Xiao Yu watched her intently, his expression unreadable.

Qin Ling continued, “Although Your Majesty still maintains your appearance, with autumn comes evident signs of aging. The accumulation of state affairs is like a mountain. It’s better to ensure your well-being sooner.”

He didn’t hear the rest of her words.

When Qin Ling mentioned “evident signs of aging,” his gaze instantly darkened.

She presented a set of martial arts technique, encouraging him, “Give it a try.”

Suddenly, he grabbed the martial arts set from her hand, flipped her over, pinning her beneath him.

Restraining one of her wrists, he undid his waistband, and as Qin Ling’s leg trembled, she asked, “What are you doing?”

The emperor bit her neck, his deep voice rendering her weak, “Disciplining my wife.”

***

The embroidered mat collected fallen leaves while mist veiled the window, marking another year’s Mid-Autumn Festival on the night of the full moon, the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month.

Deep within the courtyard, Xiao Yu dismissed the palace attendants, sitting by a mahogany table inlaid with Han white jade, holding his wife close while enjoying the moonlight with their son, sharing wine.

Their joy was boundless, the atmosphere harmonious.

However, the empress had become increasingly stern, forbidding even the consumption of wine.

As Xiao Yu lifted the golden cup, Qin Ling kissed him and whispered, “Third lang, let’s switch to tea.”

Her charming appearance was captivating; his thin lips brushed her ear as he pleaded softly, “Just one cup.”

Just one cup.

May the green wine in the cups match the intentions of those present as the blossoming flowers and moonlit nights remain ever seen.