Chapter 64: Wow, are you trying to cheer me up?

Fresh blood trickled down Xiao Huaiqing's forehead. He looked with disbelief as his Imperial Grandmother shielded Lin Yue behind her, while Lin Yue merely gazed at him with a mocking expression, her eyes filled with chilling indifference.

That gloating look completely chilled Xiao Huaiqing to the bone. Unable to vent the suffocating pain rising in his throat, he allowed the servants to drag him away.

Upon returning to the Prince's Estate, Xiao Huaiqing locked himself in his room, refusing to see anyone.

At that moment, it suddenly dawned on him that the woman in the palace was simply not Lin Yue.

The real Lin Yue would never treat him this way, let alone hurt him. Therefore, the person in the palace must be a ghost—an evil spirit that had usurped Lin Yue's body.

He had to find a way to bring the real Lin Yue back. He wanted the former Lin Yue to stay by his side, guarding the Prince's Estate for the rest of their lives, forbidden to go anywhere else!

As Xiao Huaiqing thought of this, his bloodshot eyes were filled with the agonizing pain of unrequited longing.

Hearing that he was injured and guessing that he had suffered grievances in the palace, Nurse Wang hurriedly went to comfort him several times, even preparing Xiao Huaiqing's favorite braised pork meatballs. Yet, Xiao Huaiqing refused to open the door.

With no other option, Nurse Wang went to ask Su Yingyue to persuade him. To her surprise, Su Yingyue replied lazily, "If the Heir apparent wants to be left in peace, then let him be. When he wants to come out, he naturally will."

"Nurse, you should go attend to your own matters and not tire yourself out."

Filled with dissatisfaction and venting her resentment, Nurse Wang said, "You'll be satisfied only when something happens to the Heir apparent! Let's see who will protect you then!"

With that, she turned and stormed off.

A maid beside Su Yingyue remarked, "Nurse Wang is always so overbearing, completely failing to see who the future mistress of this estate really is."

Su Yingyue replied, "She raised the Heir apparent. Though she is called his wet nurse, the truth is he has never had a birth mother since the day he was born, which is why he has always held her in such high regard."

"Never mind, these matters are not for us to manage."

When Nurse Wang returned, Luo Qingyu stepped forward to greet her happily. "Mother, Chief Steward Deng from the Empress Dowager's side has sent me a pass to enter and leave the imperial palace. From now on, I can freely come and go from the palace."

With that, he handed the token to Nurse Wang for her to see.

To his dismay, Nurse Wang merely glanced at it before coldly saying, "What is there to be happy about? The Heir apparent suffered a grievance, yet you didn't even go to check on him. It must be that woman Lin Yue sowing discord again; I knew she harbored malicious intentions."

"A woman lacking in wifely virtue—bah! She will get her retribution sooner or later."

Luo Qingyu's expression fell, but he quickly recovered and said, "I asked Chief Steward Deng, and he said that when the Heir apparent entered the palace, he didn't even get to see the Princess Consort. He was punished solely because he contradicted the Empress Dowager."

Nurse Wang snapped impatiently, "What kind of person is Chief Steward Deng? Would he tell you the truth? Now that the Princess Consort is in the palace, he is bound to speak in her favor. To think that you actually believed him?"

"Remember, if it weren't for the grace of the Heir apparent, you would still be nothing more than a servant. How could you ever become the Commander of the Imperial Guards?"

"Your benefactor is the Heir apparent, and you must pledge your loyalty to him for the rest of your life. Even in death, you must never betray him."

A pang of sorrow pierced Luo Qingyu's heart. In his mother's eyes, it seemed he would forever remain an appendage to the Heir apparent, never permitted to achieve anything of his own within the estate. Even if he did, it would only be to pave the way for the Heir apparent.

He knew that as a subordinate, these were things he ought to do, and he had never harbored the slightest complaint.

Yet, seeing his mother so fiercely protect the Heir apparent while treating him like dirt, he still could not help feeling a sense of grief.

Still, so as not to disappoint his mother, he nodded and said, "When I enter the palace tomorrow, I will make discreet inquiries to find out what really happened."

Nurse Wang's expression softened upon hearing this. "That's more like it. Go and persuade the Heir apparent to eat something. If he refuses, tell him that you will keep a close eye on the Princess Consort's every move and report back to him, so he needn't worry—that woman cannot take away anything that belongs to the Prince's Estate."

Luo Qingyu refused, saying, "I can agree to anything else, but the Princess Consort is also my master. That, I cannot do."

With a sharp crack, Nurse Wang struck Luo Qingyu hard across the face.

Furious, she scolded, "I was the personal maid of the late Princess Consort. It is precisely because of the late Princess Consort that the two of us have lived a stable life!"

"Don'open your mouth and think that just because you're the Commander of the Guards you can do whatever you please, losing all respect for your elders just because Lin Yue promoted you. I am still of humble slave status, and the Prince only made an exception to promote you because the Heir apparent begged that favor for you! If you anger me, I'll drag you right back to the countryside to farm and let you dream of being a general for the rest of your life!"

"Hmph, ungrateful wretch!"

"You're just like your dead-beat father, completely devoid of a conscience!"

"Bah! I should have strangled you the moment you were born!"

Luo Qingyu took a deep breath, his heart aching beyond measure. Yet, clutching the token, he looked up at the sky and let out a helpless, bitter smile.

His mother was far too extreme, but asking him to spy on the Princess Consort and report back to the Heir apparent was something he could never, ever do.

As Luo Qingyu turned and walked away, Nurse Wang continued to hurl abuses.

Unable to bear the sight any longer, a servant ran off to report the incident to Chief Steward Bai.

Frowning, Chief Steward Bai instructed Housekeeper Qian to intervene, while he himself went to look for Luo Qingyu.

Finding Luo Qingyu gnawing on a dry flatbread, Chief Steward Bai said, "Care to come over to my quarters for a drink?"

Luo Qingyu replied, "I won't trouble you, Steward Bai. I have to go on duty shortly."

Clapping him on the shoulder, Chief Steward Bai said, "Some of the older folks are simply muddle-headed; you needn't pay them any mind. Filial piety is fine, but it must not be indulged blindly, otherwise, it becomes mere foolish devotion."

With a smile, Luo Qingyu replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Steward Bai. I understand."

Nodding in response, Chief Steward Bai turned and walked away.

Meanwhile, within the Pine Moon Hall.

Sensing Lin Yue's distress, Xiao Jingyun remarked, "Xiao Huaiqing is not without his weaknesses. What he fears most is his maternal grandfather, the venerable Elder Duke Cui."

"Have the Empress Dowager send someone to invite Elder Duke Cui into the Ding Prince's Estate; then Xiao Huaiqing won't dare to act rashly."

Hearing this, Lin Yue's eyes instantly lit up.

At the same time, Xiao Jingyun added, "There are many rare and exotic treasures in the desert. Would you like some? I can tell Xiao Jingyun to have them sent to you."

Lin Yue sighed. "Stop trying to fool me. I know you are Xiao Jingyun."

On the other end, Xiao Jingyun gripped the small mirror in silence for a long time.

Skipping a beat in his chest, he wondered how she could possibly have known.

Yet, accompanied by a subtle, ineffable feeling, she had apparently known all along.

After a long silence, Lin Yue whispered softly, "I didn't dare say anything because I was afraid you'd treat me like some kind of monster."

Xiao Jingyun replied, "I wouldn't."

"You are wonderful. Just be yourself; you don't need to dwell too much on the past."

Lin Yue murmured, "It's enough that you know I don't like your son. He is truly awful. I don't understand why so many people like him."

Xiao Jingyun: "..." He didn't understand either.

Still, after all, he was his own flesh and blood. Having spent most of his time away and neglected his upbringing, he harbored a deep sense of guilt.

However, if that child had already begun to harm others, he could no longer tolerate it.

"On the multi-layered shelf in the Yunshui Pavilion, there is a hidden compartment right where the vase sits in the middle. Open it. Inside, you'll find a night-pearl the size of a fist."

Lin Yue's eyes brightened. "Is it for me?"

Xiao Jingyun: "Mn."

Lin Yue: "Wow, are you trying to cheer me up?"

A faint flush tinged Xiao Jingyun's cheeks as he stroked the small mirror, remaining silent for a moment.

Lin Yue chuckled lightly. "All right, I won't hold it against you for getting old. Hurry back quickly."

With a dark expression yet exceptionally bright eyes, Xiao Jingyun thought to himself: How was he old?

He was robust and in the prime of his youth!

Hmph, this little girl wasn't the least bit adorable anymore.

...

In the Fourth Prince's palace, the old eunuch with the broken leg had been found.

He was bound inside the dilapidated palace where Consort Shu used to live. Having been abandoned for a long time, the courtyard was desolate, and accompanied by the mournful howling of the wind, it exuded an eerie, gloomy atmosphere.

Yet, as Xiao Huaizheng walked into the place once more, he felt only a profound sense of familiarity... and an overwhelming urge to weep.

He was finally on the verge of touching the truth of what had happened back then, and at long last, he would be able to comfort the spirits of his birth mother and younger sister in heaven.

Glancing toward that dark well, a flash of bloodthirsty hatred crossed Xiao Huaizheng's eyes.

Everything was in place; he was just waiting for nightfall!