Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 76

At the hour when the lights were lit, Xiao Yu returned to the Jingren Palace. The main hall of Jingren Palace was brightly lit, with large windows wide open. 

From a distance, Xiao Yu could see a lump of flesh resting on the woman’s shoulder, moving carelessly. 

Qin Ling had always been sensitive to heat. It was just the beginning of summer, and she had already tied up her black hair, revealing a glimpse of her snow-white, glistening neck. A few strands of loose hair hung on both sides, creating a gentle and graceful aura under the glow of the fire.

Momo Yuan whispered, “My lady, the little prince has gained some weight. Be careful not to strain yourself holding him like that.”

Qin Ling gently patted his back, her eyes filled with a tender and affectionate smile. “A little bean sprout who’s not even four years old, how heavy can he be?”

Xiao Yun was half asleep, half awake. Perhaps hearing someone suggesting their separation, his plump bottom wiggled discontentedly against Qin Ling.

Qin Ling chuckled and patted him twice before he settled down.

“The little prince truly enjoys being close to Your Ladyship,” Zhu Lan sighed beside them.

Qin Ling caressed Xiao Yun’s slightly damp body and turned to Zhu Xin. “Zhu Xin.”

“Your servant is here.”

Qin Ling said, “Fetch the new clothes I made from the fourth drawer.”

Zhu Xin quickly turned around, holding several satin garments of different colors. She approached and said, “Here they are, my lady.”

Qin Ling picked the topmost pale yellow garment. As she gently placed Xiao Yun on the bed and began to undress him, her fingers brushed against his small body. Suddenly, Xiao Yun opened his eyes and wriggled like a fish out of water.

“What’s wrong?”

Xiao Yun whispered, “Mum, it’s itching…”

But he couldn’t stay undressed even if he was itching. Qin Ling swiftly helped him wear the inner garment, adjusting the neckline. Xiao Yun immediately reached out toward Qin Ling and nestled back in his mother’s embrace in the blink of an eye.

Qin Ling softly said to Momo Yuan, “Momo, summer has arrived. Starting tomorrow, let’s put away Yun’er’s thick satin clothes.”

Momo Yuan replied, “Yes, I have noted it.” Momo Yuan was a senior figure in the palace, accustomed to the intrigues and dramas of the harem. Zhaoyi Qin was gaining more and more favor now. Momo Yuan wasn’t oblivious that once this young and beautiful consort had her own flesh and blood, she might have selfish wants.

Seeing how fond the eldest prince was of Zhaoyi Qin, he would surely get a great blow once he found out he wasn’t her biological child.

Yet, Momo Yuan looked at Qin Ling’s unabashedly affectionate eyes and once again felt that she had been overly worried. Even if it wasn’t a biological connection, the mother-child bond they shared was distinctly different compared to the emperor and Empress Dowager Chu.

At this moment, a series of respectful greetings came from outside, “May the emperor be in perfect peace.”

Qin Ling turned with Xiao Yun to look. She subconsciously put Xiao Yun down and greeted the emperor respectfully. As she began to kneel, a hand supported her elbow.

“No need for formalities,” the emperor said.

Qin Ling met his unwavering gaze and rose gracefully, softly saying, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yu lowered his head to look at his son.

Noticing the pattern from Qin Ling’s clothing imprinted on his cheek, he couldn’t help but use his thumb to brush it twice gently. “Have you practiced the characters I gave you the other day?”

The little prince nodded. “Would Father like to see?”

Xiao Yu nodded. “Go get them.”

Momo Yuan informed a young eunuch outside, and in a moment, Xiao Yu had two calligraphy pieces. The child’s young wrist was small, and while it was called writing, it was more like sketching, not to mention the elegance of brush strokes.

Xiao Yun’s eyes were heavy with sleepiness.

“Practice diligently, do not slack off,” Xiao Yu gently patted his head. “How far along are you in Tutor Yao’s ‘Youxue Qionglin’?”

Xiao Yun responded, “The world.”

… …

Hearing all this, Qin Ling couldn’t help but sigh. Every word was about studying; no wonder Yun’er stiffened whenever he saw him.

However, thinking back, Qin Ling guessed that when Xiao Yu was young, he must’ve eagerly hoped that Emperor Jiaxuan would supervise his studies like this. Unfortunately, Emperor Jiaxuan didn’t see him as his own then and favored Prince Yan and Prince Cheng, who were eloquent and knowledgeable.

After discussing studies for a while, Momo Yuan led Xiao Yun away. Zhu Xin picked up the little prince’s clothes from the table and withdrew with a bow.

In an instant, only the two of them were left in the hall.

Qin Ling couldn’t help but say, “Haste makes waste. Yun’er is still young, Your Majesty, don’t be too hasty…”

“As the saying goes, what is learned in youth is carved in stone. Because he is still young, establishing rules is important,” Xiao Yu said seriously. “Ah Ling, in the hundred years of life, the foundation is laid in youth. As a prince, he naturally needs to work harder than others and be prepared for his significant responsibilities.”

Qin Ling’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she looked at him. 

Why did this man always give her the feeling that he wanted Xiao Yun to grow up overnight?

Xiao Yu looked into her eyes and added, “The Royal Workshop and the Bureau of Imperial Clothing are not decorations. You keep making Yun’er’s clothes; be careful not to strain your eyes after doing so much.”

Qin Ling said, “Chenqie is now seventeen, and her eyesight is excellent.”

Xiao Yu was momentarily surprised, then lifted the corner of his mouth and softly said, “As you wish.”

After they washed up, they returned to the bed. Xiao Yu reached for her waist, exerted a little force, and embraced her completely.

Her hair was still slightly wet, and water droplets flowed down slowly along her temples. The man’s kisses followed the wetness, trailing downward.

As they shifted positions, she was pinned down by him again. 

In the past few days, he had been like this, like a monk breaking his vows and indulging in worldly desires, developing a certain addiction.

Xiao Yu had sharp features—deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. Looking at his appearance, one could guess that he might have a cold and aloof demeanor, especially in matters of intimacy. However, this facade turned into an inferno whenever he was close to her, and even his breath became scorching.

Qin Ling’s shoulders were sore, and tears rose in her eyes.

Xiao Yu gently kissed her eyes and said, “Look at me.”

Qin Ling choked back her sobs as she pushed him, but he didn’t ease up. She was forced to open her eyes.

As their eyes met, Qin Ling suddenly felt that this man was meticulous in separating the roles of father, monarch, and husband. At this moment, he showed no signs of being the instructive figure he had been before.

The night was long…

Having exhausted her strength, Qin Ling was about to close her eyes when the man leaned close to her ear.

He cleared his throat and sighed, then cleared his throat again. He hesitated for a while, unable to speak. Qin Ling’s breath grew shallow as if she were falling asleep. He spoke, “Ah Ling, why don’t you make something for me?” In the past, my inner garments were all made by you.

She moved a little, like she’d heard him, or maybe she hadn’t.

Before she could respond, Xiao Yu slowly closed his eyes.

***

Days and nights passed, time fleeting like a breeze.

Two days later, in the early evening…

Xiao Yu and Qin Ling had their meal together. After they set down their chopsticks, Xiao Yu said, “During our visit to Mount Li, try to avoid Qin Wang.”

Grand Scribe Qin was a fifth-rank official and held positions related to astronomy, calendar, and sacrificial rituals, among other official duties.

“Chenqie understands.”

“For the banquet with the Mongolian envoy, at least a day before, the palace ladies should attend. You cannot drink; remember to have water prepared in advance.”

Qin Ling nodded in agreement.

After a few more instructions, as Xiao Yu was about to return to his residence, Qin Ling stopped him, took a piece of clothing from the fourth drawer, and placed it on him.

It was a lunar white robe.

Xiao Yu’s hand paused, and he looked at her. “Did you make this?”

Qin Ling nodded.

With the current affairs in the palace not under her management and the empress dowager not favoring her enough to summon her, her days in Jingren Palace were relatively leisurely. Considering the duties of a concubine and remembering his words to “live a good life,” she had indeed made this for him.

A hint of amusement appeared in Xiao Yu’s eyes. “When did you make it?”

Qin Ling replied, “The day before yesterday.”

The day before yesterday, he realized. It seems she did hear what he said.

“I haven’t finished the final stitching,” Qin Ling said softly. “Would Your Majesty like to try it on?”

Xiao Yu nodded with a smile.

Unfortunately, as soon as he put on the lunar white robe, Qin Ling realized that the size was a bit too small.

“It’s a bit small. It needs some adjustments…” Qin Ling said gently, “Wait, let me measure Your Majesty’s shoulder width again.”

All in all, Xiao Yu’s physique was truly pleasing to the eye, with a towering stature and a straight back. Looking at him now, it seemed like his shoulders were broader.

Qin Ling used a measuring tape to measure his body and then made a few marks with chalk. She softly said, “It’s done.”

Xiao Yu turned to look at her and said, “Thank you for your hard work…”

As the years passed quietly, like the horses passing by the window, some things changed without a sound.

For instance, the dimensions of the lunar white robe were no longer the same as they used to be.

For instance, the various scars of different shades on his body.

For instance, her using a sachet to mask her scent.

Furthermore, she was now seventeen, and he was twenty-seven; there were ten years of time separating them.