Chapter 121

Chapter 121 Prince Jing sighed. "This is the first time I regret not taking more women into my household." Even if there were just one concubine who could stand on her own, Prince Jing would have been willing to make an exception and let her raise the child. But things simply refused to go as he wished. Xie Run couldn't comfort him, so she simply offered him the baby. "Your Highness, would you like to hold the child?" Prince Jing started, then forced a composed expression. "Nonsense!" "I'm a grown man—why would I hold a child?" Even as he said this, he glanced at the child in the swaddling clothes. "So small. What if I accidentally bump or bruise him?" He actually wore an expression of facing a great crisis. Xie Run suppressed her laughter, knowing she couldn't persuade him. But she deliberately teased Prince Jing anyway. "Though the saying goes 'hold a grandson, not a son,' Your Highness is still young and vigorous—it may be many years before you get to hold a grandson." "Why not start by holding your son? At least you can enjoy some family happiness." "What family happiness?" Prince Jing said with utter seriousness. "I lack nothing of the sort." The moment he finished speaking, he noticed Xie Run quietly laughing. Her peach-blossom eyes brimmed with mirth, as if a spring scene had been crushed into them. Tender and affectionate, soft enough to melt into one's heart. Prince Jing reached out and pinched her nose. "You're a mother now, and still so mischievous!" Xie Run cast him a coy glance. "Your Highness is a father now, and aren't you still holding grudges?" Prince Jing feigned annoyance. "Keep talking nonsense, and there'll be no reward." Xie Run fell silent at once, raising her hand to cover her mouth. Her clear, big eyes looked at Prince Jing with eager pleading, as if she truly wanted his reward. Prince Jing let out a soft laugh and drew from his sleeve a white jade plum-blossom hairpin of fine texture. The hairpin was small and exquisite, the head and stem carved as one piece, each plum petal distinct, delicate and lifelike. White jade wasn't particularly rare, but such masterful craftsmanship and carving were rarely seen in the world. Xie Run's gaze was clear, her eyes hiding a smile. "Thank you, Your Highness, for the gift." Prince Jing placed the white jade plum-blossom hairpin in her hand. "When I have time, I'll personally pin it in your hair." "This hairpin—only you have it in the entire household." When he said this, Prince Jing rarely revealed a touch of tenderness. Xie Run's eyes instantly grew moist, yet a faint smile lingered at her lips as she spoke softly. "This concubine is blessed beyond measure to have entered the Prince's household and serve at Your Highness's side for life." She leaned gently against Prince Jing's chest, soft as water, tender and shy. Prince Jing felt a stir of emotion. "To have Suisui is also my fortune." Because Prince Jing had returned late, he took his evening meal at Spring Mountain Court. In the bedchamber, Xie Run judged that enough time had passed, and quietly wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. In an instant, those peach-blossom eyes, full of feeling and ready to speak, turned red, and tears slipped silently down. Dantao came in to check on the child and turned to see her mistress's eyes completely red. Immediately, she said with concern, "Mistress, whatever is the matter? Why are you crying?" "The imperial physician said that right after childbirth, you mustn't shed tears, or it may leave lasting problems." Xie Run dried her tears and said softly, "I know. Go see how the child is doing." "The Fifth Young Master is sleeping soundly. Please don't cry anymore..." Xie Run obediently nodded. As Dantao left the room, her brows were tightly furrowed, and she let out a sigh. After finishing his meal, Prince Jing appeared from somewhere, his voice cold. "On such a fine day, what are you sighing about?" Dantao was startled badly and immediately bowed. "Forgive me, Your Highness. This servant... this servant... is just worried for my mistress." Prince Jing frowned. "What happened?" Dantao glanced around, saw that Prince Jing was accompanied only by Eunuch Shian, and seemed to steel herself before saying, "Your Highness, today when my mistress was giving birth, a young maid suddenly mentioned outside the window that the eldest master of her family had broken his leg, which nearly made my mistress's labor difficult..." Prince Jing's eyes darkened. "When did this happen? Why haven't I heard of it?" Dantao said with reddened eyes, "That maid has already been tied up and thrown in the wood shed by Chunjuan, waiting for my mistress to finish her confinement before being questioned." "But my mistress is worried about the eldest master, and is quietly crying right now." "This servant was only worried for my mistress, and that's why I lost my composure." Prince Jing had never seen Xie Run cry. Back when Xie Run had spoken improperly and angered him, Prince Jing hadn't even seen fear on her face, let alone tears. Now, hearing that Xie Run had cried, Prince Jing felt deeply unsettled. Prince Jing paid Dantao no further mind and strode into the bedchamber. The moment he entered, he saw Xie Run on the bed moving in a fluster, as if hiding something. Xie Run kept her head down. "Why has Your Highness come? Have you finished your meal so quickly?" Prince Jing said flatly, "Raise your head." Xie Run's body stiffened, and she slowly lifted her head, revealing a pair of red-rimmed eyes. Prince Jing's face, which he had barely managed to keep cold, could no longer hold its facade. When he spoke, the pity and concern in his voice were nearly overflowing. "What grievance have you suffered, that you're crying here in secret?" "Tell me, and I'll get it back for you." At this moment, Prince Jing was thinking someone had tried to harm Xie Run, and his chest was full of pent-up anger. But who would have guessed that Xie Run hesitated for a long while before saying, "This concubine has erred. Please punish me, Your Highness." Prince Jing's brow furrowed even deeper. "You've given me a healthy son—what error could you possibly have?" "Are you worried about your father?" "I will send someone to Chen Commandery to check on them when the time comes. You need not worry too much." Xie Run's fair face showed a clear moment of surprise, as if she had even forgotten her grief. After a moment, seeming to have registered what was said, she gave a bitter smile. "Did Dantao tell Your Highness?" Prince Jing said, "There are not that many coincidences in this world." "That little girl chose to tell you such things at the critical moment of your childbirth—she harbored improper intentions that should not exist. Even execution would not be a pity!" "Your father is a thousand li away. News of his broken leg did not come early, nor did it come late—it came precisely at this time. Someone deliberately intended to harm you and your child." By the time Prince Jing finished speaking, his expression had already turned quite grim. "Rest assured, I will not let this matter go lightly." Xie Run wiped away the tears that had fallen unbidden from the corners of her eyes and said softly, "Your Highness, what this concubine must confess is not this matter." "Then what is it?" Xie Run clutched the quilt tightly and lowered her head. "This concubine has one matter that she has never confessed to Your Highness." "Now that this matter has been seized upon by someone as a pretext, this concubine has grievances she cannot voice." "All of this is the fault of a mistake this concubine made in her young and ignorant years." Prince Jing said in confusion, "If you do not tell me what the matter is, how am I to know whether you are truly at fault or not?" Xie Run dared not meet Prince Jing's eyes, as if she were about to march to her death with valor. "Your Highness, back then this concubine was unwilling to enter the prince's household as a concubine." Prince Jing: "..." The moment Xie Run uttered those words, the room fell into utter silence. Was Prince Jing pleased? Of course not—he was rather angry! His beloved concubine, having just given him a healthy son, chose the moment of his greatest joy to tell him that she had not actually been willing to marry him. Who could be pleased by that? Had he been a man of strong pride and rigid face, he might well have stormed out then and there.