Chapter 0223: Trivial Matters

Chapter 0223: Trivial Matters

He Jinli embraced Yun Li: "Do you look at me just because I'm handsome?"

Yun Li blinked: "At first, yes. I thought you were handsome, and then I realized you're a good person. Wise, just, and charming."

"Charming?" He Jinli narrowed his eyes, clearly dangerous.

Yun Li hugged his waist: "Yes, yes, very charming... my young lord..."

He Jinli tightened his grip: "Courting death!"

"Hmph~ Then let go," Yun Li pouted.

He Jinli scooped her up and headed inside: "Don't cry later."

Crying was not an option, but after their exertions, they were famished. That's when they called for a late dinner.

Fortunately, they had brought food earlier; they had a small kitchen here, so warming it up was quick and didn't require fetching meals from the imperial kitchen.

Lying back down, Yun Li leaned on He Jinli: "My legs are weak."

"Wasn't it Yun'er who took the initiative?" He Jinli raised an eyebrow.

"I only spoke the words, but Your Majesty took action. Can you blame me?" Yun Li hummed.

He Jinli, in a good mood, caressed her waist: "Then Yun'er must bear the consequences."

Yun Li bit his shoulder, mumbling: "Will Your Majesty come tomorrow... I'll miss you..."

Her words were quite muffled, but being so close, He Jinli couldn't possibly misunderstand.

He didn't rush to reply, simply stroking her black hair.

Looking into her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation, He Jinli sighed inwardly, finally saying: "Alright."

Yun Li buried her head in He Jinli's neck: "I like you the best."

He Jinli continued to gently stroke her hair: "Sleep now."

Yun Li hummed, her eyes clear and devoid of complex emotions.

It was He Jinli who struggled to fall asleep for a long while.

Well, her heart is full of him; visiting her more often wouldn't hurt.

Early the next morning, Yun Li went to pay her respects.

She arrived neither too early nor too late.

Upon entering, she encountered Yu Xiao Yi and Zheng Yu Nu.

This time, Yu Xiao Yi didn't ignore her but approached with exceptional politeness: "Lady Xiu Yi, greetings."

Yun Li waved her hand, looking at her with interest: "Let's go."

The three of them entered the main hall together.

Upon Yun Li's arrival, everyone's gaze turned towards her. It was customary for those who served the Emperor the previous night to receive special attention.

Yun Li smiled: "Greetings to all my sisters."

The others stood up to greet her in return.

"Why don't I see Consort Lan?" Yun Li asked as she sat down.

"She took leave. Consort Lan is pregnant and sometimes feels unwell," Shu Zhao Yi explained.

Yun Li nodded in understanding.

Consort Lan's caution was real, but necessary, given her difficult pregnancy.

"Speaking of which, Xu Xiao Yi is also absent?" An Ji Yu inquired.

Everyone looked around and indeed she was absent.

They were unaware of the specifics until the Empress mentioned that Xu Xiao Yi was ill and hadn't gotten up today.

The others merely expressed their concern in passing.

With Consort Lan absent and Wu Zhao Rong quiet, no one confronted Yun Li today.

Thus, the morning greeting session ended very peacefully.

But in this harem, peace is often short-lived.

Yun Li overslept during her nap and woke up to hear that the three-year-old Third Prince had injured the five-year-old Second Prince's head.

"Hmm... How did it happen? Aren't they always accompanied by attendants?" Yun Li was quite surprised.

For such young children to fight without restraint, were their attendants dead?

"To reply to Your Highness, they initially met in the Imperial Garden and started playing together. Somehow, they disagreed, and the Third Prince suddenly lashed out. The attendants tried to intervene, but the Third Prince threw a small stone from the lake... Unexpectedly, it hit the Second Prince and broke his skin. However, the Imperial Physician said it's minor and, with proper care, won't leave a scar. Would you like to visit?"

Yun Li sighed: "Let's go. It's improper not to show concern when a prince is involved."

She then changed into a light purple dress and headed for Zhao Hua Palace.

By the time she arrived, both the Emperor and Empress were there.

The Second Prince was still crying, his sobs quite heart-wrenching.

The Third Prince, looking pale, was being held by Consort Lan on the veranda.

Consort Lan scolded him: "How dare you throw stones? Look, you've injured your brother's head."

The Empress sighed: "Children fighting is one thing, but why resort to stones? What if it hit his eye?"

"It's my fault for not teaching him well. I beg for punishment from His Majesty and Your Highness," Consort Lan said, kneeling.

Seeing his mother kneel, the Third Prince also knelt down and burst into tears: "Second Brother bullied me. He bullied me."

"How did he bully you?" He Jinli asked.

"Wuuu, Second Brother said mother won't want me anymore once my brother is born, wuuu... mother doesn't want me..." the Third Prince cried.

Consort Lan hugged her child: "Nonsense! You are my child, how could I not want you? Did your Second Brother really say that?"

The Third Prince nodded, seemingly not making it up.

The Empress frowned: "Consort Jin De, what's this about? How could the Second Prince say such things?"

Consort Jin De hurriedly responded: "I will investigate immediately. The attendants serving the Second Prince are still the same; I was afraid changing them would upset him..."

"Lan Xiu, go and find out who dared to spread such nonsense," Consort Jin De said, frustrated.

"The Second Prince isn't seriously hurt, is he?" Yun Li inquired.

"Thank you for your concern, sister. It's nothing serious, just a cut on his head. The Imperial Physician said that with proper care, he'll be fine. It's just that the pain made the child cry continuously," Consort Jin De sighed, looking very sympathetic.

She appeared very distressed.

"That's good. It's just children fighting after all. But let's admit, our Third Prince has quite the aim. When he grows up, riding and archery with his father the Emperor, he's sure to excel," Yun Li said, smiling at the sobbing Third Prince.

He Jinli was amused: "Alright, everyone get up. It's not a big deal. Third Prince, stop crying. Your mother hasn't abandoned you."

The Third Prince, hiccupping through tears: "Okay. Thank you, Father."

Consort Lan stood up, tapping the child's head: "Did you hear that? When you're older, you'll ride and shoot arrows with your father. Don't ever throw stones again; if there's a next time, see how your mother will punish you."

"I'll remember, Mother. Please don't be angry," the Third Prince said.

Consort Lan pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face: "There, no more crying. Go and apologize to your brother later. He didn't mean what he said. You and your brother are only months apart, both just little kids who don’t understand yet."

The Third Prince nodded, taking his mother's words as absolute.

Observing this scene, everyone thought Consort Lan played her part perfectly.

The Third Prince genuinely respected and accepted his mother.

Wouldn't this make the Emperor very pleased?

[I was delayed by some matters today, and despite checking, there were still typos. Am I blind? Wailing, I must be blind.]