Chapter 360

Chapter 360 Xie Run was troubled by the Sixth Prince's clinginess, unaware of the little schemes brewing in every corner of the harem. A child over a year old couldn't be reasoned with, nor scolded or struck—only coaxed. The next day, Noble Lady Xian came by again. The moment the Sixth Prince saw her, he looked as if he'd spotted a kidnapper and began wailing at the top of his lungs. Noble Lady Xian could only leave with a face full of grievance. The little fellow had probably been traumatized during the day. That night, the moment his gaze lost sight of Xie Run, his lips began to quiver and the tears came. Taotao wasn't naturally prone to crying, but he couldn't resist joining in on the commotion. He'd been playing happily on his own, but the moment his ears caught someone crying, his eyes rolled, and he too began to howl at full volume. The usually quiet Zhaohua Palace had turned into a stage for opera these past two days. Palace attendants passing by could always hear the rising and falling cries and wails. Three days passed in a row, and Noble Lady Xian was about to lose her patience—Xie Run was too. "Your Ladyship, what are we to do? The Sixth Prince is so attached to you that Noble Lady Xian will surely resent you to death, and our palace hasn't had a moment of peace day or night." Xie Run massaged her temples. "Someone, help me change. I'm going to the Imperial Study to request an audience with the Emperor!" Dantao and Xiaoshu exchanged bright-eyed glances. Everyone assumed Xie Run was at her wit's end with the Sixth Prince and was going to ask the Emperor for a solution. Little did they know, Xie Run was afraid the Emperor might get a sudden impulse—seeing how the Sixth Prince clung to her—and simply hand the child over to her to raise. She had to strike first and never give the Emperor a chance to speak. After changing, Xie Run even made sure to have herself made up to look more haggard. Then she brought two wet nurses, one holding Taotao and the other holding the Sixth Prince on either side. Xie Run made a grand procession to the Imperial Study to request an audience. Eunuch Shian hurried inside to report to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, Consort Zhaode has arrived." The Emperor was reviewing a memorial in his hands, utterly unruffled: "If she's here, she's here. Why are you flustered?" "What, are you afraid she'll eat you?" The Emperor was still in the mood for jokes, which showed his spirits were good. How could the Emperor not know about the commotion in Zhaohua Palace these past few days? He was simply enjoying the spectacle, waiting for Xie Run to come begging to him. Eunuch Shian paused. "Consort Zhaode has brought both the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince with her." The Emperor looked up, his dark gaze settling on Eunuch Shian's face. "What did you say?" Eunuch Shian emphasized again: "Consort Zhaode has had attendants carry both the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince here." "Nonsense! The snow is this heavy outside, and she's running around with two children..." The Emperor scolded with his mouth, but in his heart, he was wondering what mischief Xie Run was plotting. Even the Emperor sometimes couldn't quite read Xie Run's temperament. Eunuch Shian quickly added: "Indeed! It's still snowing outside. Should Your Majesty have Consort Zhaode bring the two princes inside quickly?" The Emperor: "Well, go on then?" Xie Run received the summons, pressed her lips together slightly, and strode into the Imperial Study. "Your subject greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years." The Emperor's brow furrowed the moment he heard this—the more formal she was, the more abnormal she seemed. He rose from his seat, walked to the front of his desk, and reached out to help Xie Run up, saying gently, "The snow is falling heavily outside. Why have you come? Were you chilled?" Xie Run said with grievance, "Your subject wasn't chilled, but after listening to half a night of crying yesterday, I truly cannot endure it any longer." The Emperor blinked. Xie Run continued: "Your Majesty, I truly cannot manage two children. Today I must take a moment to shirk my duties!" With that, she gave a bow. "Your subject takes her leave. I shall leave the Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince in Your Majesty's company, so that you may enjoy the pleasures of family!" Xie Run never gave the Emperor a chance to react—she turned and fled. Even when the Emperor called after her, she pretended not to hear. Within three breaths, a cry suddenly rang out from the Imperial Study, followed by another, even louder wail. Xie Run quickened her pace, waving her hand as she walked: "Have someone wait at our palace gate. If Noble Lady Xian comes calling again, send her straight to the Imperial Study to see the Emperor. Tell her I've already handed the Sixth Prince over to His Majesty." Xie Run hadn't coordinated this move with her attendants, and Dantao and Xiaoshu both nodded with some bewilderment. Xiaoshu reacted quickly and immediately asked, "Then Your Ladyship isn't planning to return to the palace?" Dantao also realized something was off. "Your Ladyship, if we're not going back, then where are we going?" Xie Run: "I left the palace to escape the children. If I return to Zhaohua Palace, won't the Emperor catch me in one grab?" Dantao and Xiaoshu fell silent. They thought to themselves—as long as you're in the imperial palace, isn't finding you just a word from the Emperor? Xie Run decided decisively: "To Fengyi Palace! Tell them I've gone to attend to the Empress's illness!" The snow had been falling heavier and heavier these past few days. The front lines had hung up the truce banner, but the Empress had suddenly fallen ill and, taking the opportunity, had also excused the Six Palaces from morning greetings. Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor stared at his two sons crying as if in competition, nearly laughing in spite of himself. The Emperor suppressed his smile and scolded, "Will someone quiet the young princes down?! If they keep crying like this, what if they ruin their voices?!" The two wet nurses scrambled in a fluster. The nurse holding Taotao said helplessly, "Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince only cries because he hears the Sixth Prince crying. As soon as the Sixth Prince stops, the Fifth Prince will be fine immediately." The wet nurse holding the Sixth Prince anxiously tried to soothe him, but no matter what she did, she couldn't calm him down. Her eyes were filled with helplessness and panic. "Your Majesty... this servant, this servant cannot soothe the Sixth Prince. The Sixth Prince will start crying and fussing the moment he cannot see Consort Zhaode." The Emperor's expression stiffened slightly. At first, the Emperor had been in the mood to watch the show. But after the two children had cried for less than ten breaths, the Emperor could no longer bear it. "Quickly send someone to find Consort Zhaode!" "She is far too presumptuous—leaving her child in my imperial study and walking off, not even wanting her own son?!" For some reason, the more the Emperor spoke, the more he wanted to laugh. Xie Run, who was usually gentle and virtuous, only made him feel comfortable, without stirring much other emotion. But Xie Run, who occasionally threw a little tantrum and stirred up something new, made him especially amused. Eunuch Shian immediately said, "Your Majesty, this servant will send someone to find Consort Zhaode and bring her back." The Emperor waved his hand. "Go quickly!" After all, they were his own sons. The Emperor could not simply harden his face and let the children cry without care. He immediately called for several experienced wet nurses and senior palace maids, promising a reward to whoever could soothe the Sixth Prince. Just as the Emperor was trying to find a way to calm the Sixth Prince, his gaze swept to the side and caught sight of the Fifth Prince, who had been crying loudly all this while—yet not a single tear could be seen on his face. The Emperor fell silent. Taotao cried for a while, then felt a little tired. He rested his chin on the wet nurse's shoulder and rubbed his eyes with his chubby little fist. When he opened his eyes again, he met his Imperial Father's dark, heavy gaze.