Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 38

The criminal Su Huai’an.

The end of the year was around the corner, the north wind was particularly strong.

Snow began to fall in the night, and cotton wool-like velvet snow drifted all night. Towards the end of the day, there was still a slight sound of snow falling from the pillars outside the window, and the snow at the entrance of the hall was piled up half a foot high.

The eunuch and maid of Jingren Palace got up early to work.

Although Qin Ling was just a fourth-ranked jieyu, the female officials and court eunuchs had always been good at seeing people. Nowadays, everything in Jingren Palace was done according to the treatment given to a third-ranked zhaoyi.

Firewood and candlelights were always available, and the meals were always sumptuous.

Naturally all of this was approved tacitly by the emperor.

After breakfast, Qin Ling rinsed her mouth and wiped her hands. As soon as she put down the towel in her hand, a eunuch walked in quickly. He was smiling so much that his eyes seemed to disappear.

“Master, the eldest prince is here!”

Qin Ling’s eyes lit up: “So soon?”

It wasn’t a small matter for a prince to move palace. She thought it’d take some time.

The young eunuch replied with a smile: “Yes, they’re almost at the courtyard right now.”

Due to her “cold”, Qin Ling hadn’t seen her son for several days. Now as soon as she heard the words, the corners of her mouth rose.

Qin Ling got up and walked out. Her steps were obviously out of her usual composure.

In front of the main hall of Jingren Palace stood a row of maids who used to serve in Shou’an Palace.

The little prince was dressed in marten fur, with a belt made of gold and jade around his waist. Although he was not tall, Qin Ling found him at a glance.

Looking at each other, Qin Ling slowly squatted down and opened her arms toward the prince.

The little prince’s legs were short, but their strength couldn’t be underestimated.

The moment he pounced, Qin Ling was slammed and nearly fell to the ground.

Qin Ling stabilized her body, supported her knees, and got up awkwardly.

Xiao Yun raised his head and said solemnly: “Consort Mother.”

After finishing speaking, he stretched out his hands toward Qin Ling.

Qin Ling was unable to resist this kind of gaze, she immediately leaned over and picked up her son.

The three-and-a-half-year old child didn’t look big, but when carried in her arms, it still felt like carrying a block of rock.

Qin Ling was only sixteen, and her arms were as thin as willow branches.

Momo Yuan hurriedly said with a smile: “Otherwise, how about let him walk by himself, Jieyu?”

Xiao Yun, who was leaning on Qin Ling’s shoulder, did not even blink. He only thought that it was so good to be in his consort mother’s arms, that her hair smelled different from others. He didn’t mind anything else at all.

Qin Ling had no choice but to say: “It’s fine.”

In fact, she treasured Xiao Yun’s stickiness to herself. The innocence of a child would only last for a few years, and the innocence of a prince even less. She had already missed a few years. If she didn’t cherish the present, when Xiao Yun was older, the emperor would no longer allow him to rely so much on her.

Qin Ling carried him into the room.

The servants in the yard felt everything was well.

They recalled that just a few months ago, after the election had just finished, each palace chose their own servants, yet nobody wanted to go to Yushu Courtyard to follow Meiren Qin. Meiren Qin had the lowest status and her maternal family was not renowned, so naturally she was not in the limelight, unlike the two shuyis.

When they were chosen, they were already prepared in their hearts to enter the cold palace sooner or later, but who would’ve thought? After a few months of hard work, Jieyu Qin had already moved residence 3 times, and even got the eldest prince.

After all, women in the harem had to rely on their children.

No one was unaware of this fact.

Xiao Yun had never lived in other palaces since he could remember. Seeing his eyes full of curiosity, Qin Ling grabbed his hand and took him for a walk in Jingren Palace. She pointed to the warm pavilion on the side, and whispered to him that it was his future residence. There was only a wall between their residences.

Although Xiao Yun just nodded in acknowledgment, it could be seen that he was a little excited and he hopped about like a migratory bird watching the melting of ice and snow.

Xiao Yun had just recovered from his cold, so Qin Ling soon took him back to the hall.

Qin Ling put him on the couch and covered him with the quilt. Xiao Yun’s eyelashes flickered twice like a feather fan, before it closed tightly.

Qin Ling couldn’t hold back and reached out to squeeze his face.

After the curtains were closed, Momo Yuan sat next to Qin Ling and took out a list.

“These are the people chosen to be His Highness’ study servant and teachers, may Jieyu take a look.” Momo Yuan said with a smile.

Once a prince learned to walk and talk, they would be rules about his diet, movement, words and deeds. And after half a year, he would go to the study room every day to study.

Xiao Yun was the emperor’s eldest son, and he was the only son, so his studies could not be delayed even a day.

Thinking of this, Qin Ling couldn’t help thinking of Su Huai’an, and her eyes darkened.

Qin Ling looked back at the prince’s back, and said in her heart what she did not dare to say outside: Yun’er, you actually have an uncle. When Mum was pregnant with you, he said he wanted to be your teacher.

He is Su Huai’an, the son of Duke of Zhen, the stern high official of Supreme Court, and the top scorer in the palace examination of the 34th year of Yongchang era.

Someone full of political wisdom, and a man of great talent.

Mum really doesn’t believe that he would cooperate with enemies and treason.

Thinking of this, Qin Ling’s eyes turned red, and her chest also hurt.

Three years ago, some heart-piercing words kept getting into her ears.

“Hey, have you heard that the empress’ eldest brother has been removed from his official position?”

“I heard about it earlier.”

“It is said that the chief judge of this case is the high official of Ministry of Justice, Lord Xue. With Lord Xue’s methods, perhaps even the body of that infamous top scorer will not be left intact.”

“Guilty of treason, even if he’s scattered like ashes, nobody will pity him.”

“Who would’ve thought that the Su family, who has always been loyal for these few hundred years, is actually just a bunch of dogs.”

Qin Ling took a deep breath.

The little prince had just changed courtyard, so it was really difficult for him to fall asleep today. He couldn’t help turning over, sat up, and called at Qin Ling: “Consort Mother.”

Qin Ling looked at his shining pupils and after a while, she asked softly: “You can’t sleep?”

The little prince nodded.

“His Highness was impatient in the morning, and dragged this servant away before finishing his congee; perhaps he’s hungry now.” Momo Yuan said.

Xiao Yun was exposed by Momo Yuan, and he bit his lip in embarrassment.

Because it wasn’t time for dinner, Momo Yuan only brought some light snacks. Xiao Yun became sleepy after he was full, and after a fight with his eyelids, he fell asleep in Qin Ling’s arms.

Qin Ling hugged him and patted him on the back.

Momo Yuan looked at the scene before her, and couldn’t help smiling and sighing in a low voice: “No wonder the consort dowager was so protective.”

This was a predestined affinity of mother and son.

In the evening, the main courtyard of Jingren Palace was full of joy. Qin Ling heard the voice outside in unison: “This servant paid respects to His Majesty.”

The corners of Qin Ling’s mouth froze.

What was he doing by coming here?

She pulled Xiao Yun towards the door and said softly: “This concubine paid respects to His Majesty.”

Xiao Yun also well-behavedly saluted: “Erchen paid respects to Imperial Father.”

[T/N: Again, erchen is like, “Son-official”]

Xiao Yu looked at the two and felt like there was warmth in his heart. He supported her to get up, and his Adam’s apple moved: “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.” Qin Ling raised her eyes and said.

Xiao Yu nodded: “What a coincidence, then I’ll have dinner with you.”

After hearing this, Gonggong Sheng raised his eyebrows and pouted secretly.

Whether it was a coincidence or not, only he, the close attendant, knew.

The emperor always finished his work late. Firstly, it was because there were a lot of memorials to review. Secondly, because of the need to judge the authenticity of the memorials. The memorials regarding the matter in the capital were still alright, with the capital being right under the Son of Heaven’s feet. There were imperial guards and whistleblowers everywhere, so the officials had to restrain their actions, however, it was a different story with the farther regions.

The state of Great Zhou had been tossed around in the hands of the late emperor for decades, and it had become a mess that couldn’t be returned. Bad debts could not be settled in a day or two. He recalled during those days when the new emperor had just ascended the throne, there were memorials about the extravagant embellishment of the late emperor. The palace clearly couldn’t even come up with a single cent to make up for it, but the officials persistently talked about the well-being of common people. What was this if not incongruous? What a bunch of nonsense.

The regional officials covered each other up, forming an airtight barrier. The new emperor had no real power, so he could only analyze the situation outside through some memorials and incomprehensible reports, then arrange them state by state in order of geographic location.

The new emperor endured for two years before he could figure out what was going on outside. Gonggong Sheng recalled that at the beginning of the year, the governor of Jiangxi came to the capital to report his duties. He had swindled some of the court money, so not wanting the emperor to be clear about the affairs in Jiangxi, he said that the harvest of that year was particularly bad because of drought. However, the emperor was unexpectedly very clear about the big and small matters in Jiangxi province. The emperor smiled slightly and ordered for someone to serve the governor tea. The governor immediately sweated bullets, resigned his official hat, and cried bitterly in Yangxin Hall on his knees.. After kneeling for three days, the emperor let him out of the palace.

Once the governor got back home, while rubbing his neck, all he talked about was the mighty grace of the emperor.

It was not until later that the lord governor came to a sudden realization. How could one become an emperor if they didn’t have any skills? The emperor acted like that when he treated him back then, not because he was soft-hearted. The emperor had just ascended the throne and hadn’t grasped the smaller regions in his hand. Perhaps what he had done to Jiangxi was intentionally killing the chickens to warn the monkeys.

Therefore, in the past few years, Gonggong Sheng had been used to accompany the emperor to read memorials until late at night, but today was different. Even though the emperor still devoted himself to handling official business, he occasionally asked for the time.

How could Gonggong Sheng not know the reason? His eyes couldn’t be clearer. As soon as night fell, the emperor put down the brush and said it was time for dinner.

Gonggong Sheng turned his head and said to the eunuch: “Inform everyone that His Majesty is having dinner at Jingren Palace today.”

Dishes were served one after another, the three people sat together at the table.

Qin Ling silently served Xiao Yun’s food. Whatever she added, the prince would obediently open his mouth to eat. Xiao Yu looked at the way they were eating, and suddenly remembered when she was just pregnant—

Their son didn’t come easily. Xiao Yun only came into existence after he ascended the throne. At that time, she always lost her appetite and lacked energy, he thought she was sick.

When the imperial physician diagnosed a pregnancy pulse, she became foolish. She even overlooked the most important rule on normal days.

She asked again and again: “Third lang, is it true? Is it really true?”

At night, she would let him touch her stomach, and then asked: “When do you think he will start to move? Do we still have to wait a long time?”

She asked, he replied. They talked nonsense for half the night in Kunning Palace.

In all fairness, his joy of becoming a father was no less than her.

It was the eldest son whom he had been looking forward to for many years.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yu suddenly felt it was fine that she didn’t remember anything.

For the rest of his life, he would just protect her unreasonably.

When she lit the candles, Momo Yuan saw that the emperor wanted to stay with Jieyu Qin tonight, so she took the prince away.

The little prince looked at Qin Ling reluctantly and almost took a step back.

Qin Ling could only cruelly ignore him.

The candle was flickering. Xiao Yu was about to change his clothes when he heard Gonggong Sheng knocking on the door: “Your Majesty, this servant has something to report.”

Xiao Yu: “Come in.”

Gonggong Sheng pushed in the door and looked at Qin Ling, hesitant to say something. It was obvious that he couldn’t say it in front of her. Knowing this, Qin Ling got up and said: “This concubine will retreat first.”

However, Xiao Yu said: “Just speak.”

After receiving his words, Gonggong Sheng didn’t hide it anymore and said directly: “Your Majesty, Lord Xue seek an audience.”

Xiao Yu said slowly: “Did he say anything else?”

“Lord Xue said… it seems that he has found Su… Su…” Gonggong Sheng considered his words before saying: “It seems that he has found a clue to the criminal Su Huai’an.”

There was a thump in Qin Ling’s heart.

It was like her heart had jumped up to the throat.

He was actually investigating Su Huai’an…

Did he already know that Xue Xiangyang was looking to the bottom of the matter?

That suffocating feeling from three years ago rushed back at once. When Qin Ling was still dazed, Xiao Yu got up to wear his cloak, then lowered his eyes to see her: “Go to rest early. I will come to accompany you another day.”

Qin Ling sighed slightly and lowered her head: “Your Majesty, take care of your body.”

“Mm.” After that, Xiao Yu paused and pulled her hand. While rubbing her cold fingertips, his brows furrowed. He asked softly: “Are you cold?”

Qin Ling raised her head and answered with a blushing face: “This concubine is indeed a little cold.”

Xiao Yu looked at her clear eyes and the thin middle clothes on her body: “The room is too cold. Use more firewood, you just got better.”

Qin Ling bowed her head and said: “Thanking Your Majesty. This concubine understands.”

When Xiao Yu left, her whole body felt like it was out of power. She just sat back on the couch and didn’t return to her senses for a long time.