Chapter 66: He’s Like a Rat in the Gutter

Chapter 66: He’s Like a Rat in the Gutter

She sent her disobedient husband back and kept over a dozen male companions at the princess’s residence, living a carefree and blissful life every day.

Tears of helplessness trickled down Bei Jing’s lips; it was simply her ideal life.

Princess Xianning’s wish was to have a child without involving a man.

She didn’t want to give birth; she was afraid of the pain.

But she also didn’t want to raise a child who wasn’t related to her by blood.

Moreover, a child without royal blood would not be recognized by the royal family, and she wouldn’t even be able to secure a title for the child.

However, children from the imperial clan all had their own parents, and she wasn’t the emperor, so it wasn’t easy to just take one.

Now, receiving a summons from the Empress Dowager, Princess Xianning got up from the chest muscles of her male companion, tidied herself up, and entered the palace.

“If I hadn’t summoned you, you would have been so happy that you’d forget your own name.”

Princess Xianning came over and held the Empress Dowager’s arm: “Look what you’re saying, Mother. Even if I forgot my own name, I couldn’t forget you.”

But it had been a long time since she last visited. Her new male companion had built a strong, muscular body, which had captivated her for quite some time, and she really hadn’t thought about paying respects to the Empress Dowager.

Princess Xianning quickly changed the subject: “The last time we saw the First Princess was when she was a month old. She’s grown so much already.”

“Look at that little face, I truly envy Brother.”

Bei Jing, who was used to being praised, didn’t feel anything anymore.

Hmph, she was just an invincible little cutie.

Princess Xianning had a fiery temperament and was also favored by the Empress Dowager.

Unlike Princess Guangde, who was favored by the Empress Dowager due to her sisterly bond with Consort Qiu, Princess Xianning won the Empress Dowager’s favor entirely on her own.

The Empress Dowager glanced at her: “Do you crave a child? You’re not willing to bear one yourself.”

Princess Xianning gave the same reason: “Mother, giving birth is so painful.”

“You know, Father died from a difficult labor.”

“Childbirth doesn’t care about your status, whether you’re a princess or an empress.”

“Those who are destined to die will die.”

“Besides, the imperial clan already has too many descendants. Don’t push me.”

“With this effort, you should go and urge Brother. He’s an emperor but still only has one child.”

“If you push him, you won’t have to push me anymore~”

“That’s right, after Grandmother gave birth to Father, she started using the Muscle Relaxing Pill.”

“If it weren’t necessary for the throne, you probably wouldn’t want to give birth either.”

“Speaking of the Muscle Relaxing Pill, it prevents pregnancy and keeps one youthful and beautiful.”

“How did such a divine item become lost? Fortunately, there’s still one here, hahaha.”

Empress Dowager: Showing off, are you?

“I’m not pushing you. This time, I’ve summoned you to give you a child.”

Princess Xianning: ? Such a good thing?

“Are you teasing me?”

The Empress Dowager sniffed lightly: “Take it or leave it.”

Princess Xianning: “I need to know who it is, otherwise, I’ll always feel like you’re hiding something.”

Empress Dowager: “Is this the image I have in your mind?”

Princess Xianning nodded firmly.

Empress Dowager: …

Bei Jing: Hahahahaha.

The Empress Dowager told Princess Xianning about Zhao Qin.

Princess Xianning’s reaction was also one of confusion: “But I haven’t given birth before, so I don’t know what it’s like to be a mother of twins.”

“But if Qin comes to me, he will be an only child.”

Thinking of getting a child for free, Princess Xianning smiled brightly, “Thank you, Mother. You thought of me first.”

Bei Jing: “Not really, you’re overthinking it.”

The Empress Dowager tactically took a sip of water.

“Go see Qin. The child has just gone through a change and must be feeling uneasy.”

…

At this moment, Zhao Qin was quietly reading a book.

After sitting for a long time, his body felt stiff, and he prepared to go out and stretch.

At the time when the sleeping chambers were being arranged, considering they were family, he and Zhao Yu were placed in adjacent rooms.

As a result, when he merely went for a walk and passed by, the scenes and sounds from Zhao Yu’s open chamber door would boldly intrude into his eyes and uninjured right ear.

"Mother, the medicine is so bitter. Can Yu not drink it?"

"Good medicine tastes bitter, but it will help your wounds heal faster. Yu doesn’t want to become a little fool, does he?"

Zhao Yu naturally pouted, "Yu doesn’t want to be a little fool. Is there any sweet medicine?"

"How could there be sweet medicine? Our Yu is a brave little man. You can surely overcome this small difficulty, right?"

Her voice was gentle and patient, finally making her seem like a mother.

It had always been like this, with Zhao Qin like a rat in a dark alley, secretly watching their mother-son affection.

In the past, he watched with envy and jealousy, hoping these things would happen to him.

Now, he just glanced numbly and walked away.

Only after the fatigue in his body dissipated did Zhao Qin return.

Princess Guangde had coaxed Zhao Yu for a long time before he finally drank the medicine.

Only then did she remember Zhao Qin.

Zhao Qin had returned to reading books.

The imperial physician said he needed to rest, and though he couldn’t understand the meaning of these books, he could only read to pass the time, quickly getting through this anxious period.

Because the Empress Dowager in the main hall was deciding his fate.

Princess Guangde always said he was incompetent, weak, gloomy, and disliked by adults.

Zhao Qin doubted that anyone would be willing to adopt a child like him and be his mother.

In fact, Princess Guangde’s words: “Even your own mother doesn’t like you, who else would?”

These words echoed in his mind.

If no one was willing to take him in, would he have to return to Princess Guangde’s residence?

But if he returned after the relationship had soured, his life would only be worse than before.

At this moment, Zhao Qin no longer yearned for the maternal love of Princess Guangde. Once his expectations were dashed, stepping back, he saw his situation clearly as an observer.

A young child forced to grow up.

"If you change your mind now, I can still forgive you."

The voice he least wanted to hear appeared, and Zhao Qin looked up to see a woman in purple entering.

Change his mind?

He only regretted why he was born from this woman’s womb.

She didn’t like him as a son, and Zhao Qin didn’t want her as a mother.

But if no one was willing to adopt him, this was the best opportunity to change his mind.

Zhao Qin began to think, though deep down, he was extremely unwilling to go back.

A figure in bright red gracefully entered, "Quite lively here, Sister is also here."

Princess Guangde turned around, a smile on her face, "Wan has come. Are you here to pay respects to Mother today?"

Wan was precisely the given name of Princess Xianning.