Chapter 222

Chapter 222 Wan Linlang let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Consort Hua's words sting, but they are nothing but the truth." She kowtowed to Prince Jing. "This servant was indeed at fault today. Because of my selfish motives, I nearly delayed Sixth Young Master's treatment. But this servant also has her reasons..." She looked at Prince Jing with tearful eyes. "Ever since this servant entered the household, Side Consort Fang has made things difficult for me at every turn, finding fault with everything I do. If I had first sought her help and she deliberately delayed, then I truly would have delayed Sixth Young Master's treatment. I fear I would have had nowhere to turn for help then!" Prince Jing wanted to say that Fang Yuan'er would not dare do such a thing. But thinking of the things Fang Yuan'er had done before, he could not bring himself to say those words. Wan Linlang did indeed have selfish motives, but her concerns and worries were not without merit. "This servant has erred, and the Prince may punish me as he sees fit. But this servant's sincerity toward Sister Lian and Sixth Young Master is witnessed by heaven and earth!" "This servant wishes to raise Sixth Young Master not out of greed, but because my heart cannot bear otherwise." Tears slid down the corners of Wan Linlang's eyes. "Sixth Young Master lost his mother at birth, and being born prematurely, his constitution is weaker than that of ordinary infants. He needs the most careful attention." "But looking across the entire Prince's residence, if I may speak selfishly, I absolutely do not believe anyone else would care for Sixth Young Master with their whole heart." "In this world, no one is more sincere toward Sixth Young Master than this servant!" "And today we discovered lilies in his swaddling clothes—perhaps tomorrow, lily pollen will appear in his food and belongings... How old is Sixth Young Master? How can he defend against such open blades and hidden arrows?!" "This servant presumes to speak boldly, only begging the Prince to allow this servant to care for Sixth Young Master for a time. As long as I can raise Sixth Young Master well, I am willing to endure even a thousand cuts and ten thousand slashes." She smiled bitterly. "Even if I died then, I would have the face to meet Sister Lian in the underworld." After Wan Linlang's impassioned plea, even Eunuch Shian beside them felt a pang of sympathy. Prince Jing was also somewhat moved. After all, what Wan Linlang said was the truth—Little Six truly needed a foster mother who would devote herself wholly to him right now. But Wan Linlang overestimated her standing in Prince Jing's eyes. After hearing her out, Prince Jing's expression only softened slightly. "This matter, I still need to discuss with the Princess Consort." "The night is deep and the cold is severe. Take your people and return first." Wan Linlang stood frozen in place, then kowtowed several times before Prince Jing with tears in her eyes, allowing her maid to help her rise. But in her heart, she felt deeply disappointed. After leaving the courtyard, Suiyu asked worriedly, "Mistress, did the Prince not agree?" If he didn't agree now, once Sixth Young Master grew older and needed less care, there would be no chance later. Wan Linlang wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief and calmly stated the truth. "The Prince doesn't trust me." Suiyu was speechless. "This... what are we to do then?" "Nothing in this world is difficult—only a determined heart can overcome all." Wan Linlang's gaze darkened. "It seems the things I did before have made the Prince wary. He is now very guarded against me." "It's not that the Prince fears I can't care for Sixth Young Master well—he fears that after I raise Sixth Young Master, I'll think I have backing and become restless." Suiyu spoke up for her mistress: "If we're talking about being restless, Side Consort Fang is the first. Is there any matter in this household she hasn't meddled in? Didn't the Prince still grant her a high rank and favor?" "Even though the Prince is currently giving Side Consort Fang the cold shoulder, she still has a son, so she needn't fear truly losing favor." Wan Linlang sighed softly. "You're right. I still need a child." "With a child, even if one makes mistakes, the Prince will be more lenient for the child's sake. With a child, there is hope..." Whether or not that child came from her own womb. Suiyu asked worriedly, "Mistress, what do we do now?" Wan Linlang looked back at the Spring Mountain Courtyard behind her, a hint of determination in her eyes. "Wait!" "Wait?" "Yes, wait. Wait for an opportunity—a chance to atone for my mistakes through merit, to make the Prince trust me and be willing to entrust Sixth Young Master to me." Suiyu wanted to ask what they would do if the opportunity never came. But seeing her mistress's face full of confidence and certainty, she dared not speak. Wan Linlang gazed at the snow-covered landscape, her cold fingertips making her mind increasingly clear. "No need to rush." "As long as the Prince doesn't give Sixth Young Master to someone else to raise, I still have a chance. Even if he's raised elsewhere now and later sent to the front courtyard... I can still visit from time to time." "In the end, children grow close to whoever spends the most time with them." If she could coax Concubine Lian into trusting her wholeheartedly, how could she fail to win over a child? Suiyu nodded repeatedly. "With Mistress's intelligence and wit, it's only a matter of time before you bring Sixth Young Master to your side to raise." Wan Linlang showed no emotional fluctuation, but her hand unconsciously rested on her abdomen. In the past, she had thought about having a child of her own, not someone else's. But now that Prince Jing didn't come to her courtyard, she couldn't conceive at all. The only card she could hold in her hands now was Sixth Young Master. Inside the Spring Mountain Courtyard, Xie Run sat on the bed holding a hand warmer, listening to the maids report the news. Prince Jing hadn't specifically dismissed the servants, so every word Wan Linlang said was relayed to Xie Run's ears without omission. Dantao let out a relieved breath. "Thank goodness the Prince didn't agree." "Concubine Wan has finally settled down, but if she gets Sixth Young Master, she'll surely stir up trouble again." "Earlier, she and Side Consort Fang together turned the household into chaos..." Xie Run said lightly, "If she has a child, she'll stir up trouble; if she doesn't have a child, do you think she won't?" "This person won't stop until she achieves her goal..." Xie Run thought for a moment, "Tomorrow morning, find someone early and quietly pass this news to Side Consort Fang." Dantao nodded repeatedly: "This servant is just a bit puzzled—Concubine Wan came in haste in the middle of the night, and without getting the Prince's word, she was willing to leave just like that?" Xie Run glanced at her: "You didn't notice?" Dantao was taken aback: "Please enlighten this servant, mistress." Xie Run smiled. "She deliberately chose this time to come to Spring Mountain Courtyard—she was showing off her power to me." "If I hadn't spoken up today and exposed her selfish motives, the Prince might have agreed to let her raise Sixth Young Master." Xie Run had revealed that Wan Linlang had delayed Sixth Young Master's treatment for her own selfish reasons, leaving a very poor impression of Wan Linlang with Prince Jing. That was also why the Prince's stance was firm tonight—he hadn't changed his mind because of Wan Linlang's tearful pleas. Dantao, once enlightened by Xie Run's guidance, slowly came to understand, and then said, "Mistress, has Concubine Wan now taken a grudge against you?" "Let her hold her grudge." Xie Run was perfectly at ease. "Last time she reached her hand into my Spring Mountain Courtyard, a grudge was already formed between us long ago."