Chapter 83: Chasing the Child at the Crematorium

Chapter 83: Chasing the Child at the Crematorium

"No one likes your foul temper. Reflect on whether you've done anything to upset your classmates."

"If you changed your temper, you wouldn't have trouble getting along with your peers. Yuer wouldn't end up like you."

Beiqin thought he had long forgotten those memories.

But upon recalling them, they vividly resurfaced in his mind, as if they had happened yesterday.

Was it because he had a good memory, or because the memories were too deep to forget?

Beiqin wasn't sure, nor did he know how long it would take to forget them, or when he could heal from his past.

Meanwhile, his mother was clenching her teeth, wanting to scold someone but forcing herself to hold back, her face turning red in the process.

Beiqin felt a bit better.

He considered himself lucky; things were slowly improving.

Hmm... if only the teacher assigned less work.

"How preposterous!"

If not for the fear of scaring the child, Bei Jinwan would have flipped the table in anger.

Lately, Bei Jinruo had been persistently visiting her and bringing gifts.

She pitifully begged, disregarding her dignity as an older sister, just to see the child.

Bei Jinwan knew what she was scheming; there was no way she'd let Bei Jinruo take Beiqin away.

But seeing her genuine remorse, her heart softened a little due to their sisterly bond, and she decided to maintain a closer aunt-like relationship in the future.

Good heavens!

Even she, who had always been sharp-witted, still had moments when her judgment was clouded by familial affection.

If this person weren't her own sister, she would have broken her legs and thrown her out of the city.

Just seeing her was maddening.

Reconciliation?

A close aunt?

Does she even deserve such treatment?

Consort Qiu was also a clever person, and the late emperor even more so.

How did these two produce the useless fool Bei Jinruo?

Bei Jinwan couldn't understand.

"Qinger, don't you want to take revenge?"

"Are you going to let those little beasts off the hook?"

Even if they are young, if they do something wrong, it’s still a mistake, and if they hurt someone, it’s still harm.

Isn't her Qinger also a child?

Who gave him a pass?

Beiqin swallowed the food in her mouth and smiled. "Of course I want to. I am quite resentful. I remember everyone, but I’m not in a hurry."

"What can be gained from immediate revenge? It’s merely about notifying their families to punish them, and it will be over once the beating is done."

"Once they grow up and understand, I’ll cut off their paths to official positions and their means of earning a living."

"They will have no choice but to come begging to me, the weakling they once bullied freely, and that’s when the real revenge happens."

"I won’t show mercy just because they beg, just as they showed none when I begged them."

This was the first time she revealed her dark side, but she knew her mother could accept it.

Sure enough, Princess Xianning did not object; she only said, "You can seek revenge now and later."

Beiqin blinked, but Princess Beijinwan cut her off before she could say more. "Don't think of any tricks. Now is the time for you to focus on your studies. I'll handle this for you; you just enjoy the results."

"Thank you, Mother!"

Beiqin handed her a list that included not only students but also a tutor named Dou Fuzi.

Beiqin said, "I asked for his help before, but he sided with those bullies."

"I was naive and unaware of the ways of the world before Mother's guidance. Since my aunt didn’t allow my true identity to be known, the others are all openly noble."

"This tutor curries favor with the powerful, so he didn’t help me, not because I did anything wrong."

Princess Beijinwan reviewed it and put it away.

"Alright, Mother understands. Qinger, just wait for the news."

When Princess Guangde visited again, she was turned away.

Princess Beijinwan was about to go out and handle those people when she saw Princess Beijinruo's carriage just sitting at her door.

So, she’s been stubbornly hanging around, huh?

Good, she was already angry; she might as well scold her first.

"Beiw!"

Her maid informed her that Princess Xianning had left the residence, and Princess Beijinruo called out to her by lifting the carriage curtain.

"Just a moment." She hurriedly got out of the carriage.

"What's going on today? Why won't you let me send the things inside?"

Those were the things she prepared for Qinger, and Princess Beijinwan thought, might as well accept them since they were offered.

A child who has been well nurtured wouldn’t just run back happily because of some good gifts.

If Beiqin really did that, it would mean she misjudged him, and it's better to see it clearly sooner rather than later.

Princess Beijinruo was also an eldest princess, so she couldn’t simply expel her from the capital.

Under the same sky, we'll eventually meet.

However, after hearing about her remarkable deeds today, Bei Jinwan felt annoyed, and even the sight of her belongings irritated her.

Instead of answering, she countered with a question, "Do you know what I'm going out for today, Elder Sister?"

Princess Guangde shook her head in response.

Bei Jinwan laughed coldly and said, "Elder Sister, you have indeed raised an exceptional son."

"You probably don’t know that the Head Scholar of Hongwen Hall congratulated me. Qinger is exceptionally intelligent and can handle everything he learns there effortlessly."

"I couldn’t help but wonder why this child didn’t excel at Wenqin Academy before."

"It wasn’t until I investigated that I discovered he was frequently bullied."

"But who would dare bully the son of a princess to the point where he loses interest in his studies?"

"I asked Qinger and learned that his mother was practically nonexistent. Not only did she fail to support him, but she also scolded him."

"Do you remember this, Elder Sister?"

"Do you remember what you said to him when he sought your help?"

Princess Guangde’s face grew paler with each word Bei Jinwan spoke.

Bei Jinwan mocked, "Since his birth mother is incapable, it’s time for me, his foster mother, to step in."

"I must hurry to support Qinger; otherwise, people might think my child is easy to bully."

"But it’s true that being Elder Sister’s child makes one easy to bully."

"Farewell."

As Bei Jinwan's carriage drew away, Princess Guangde stood still for a long time, like a stiff statue.

When the maid could not stand it any longer, she softly asked, "Your Highness?"

Only then did Bei Jinruo realize that her legs were numb.

Her voice hoarse, she said, "Tell me, am I really unfit to be a mother?"

"Now that I think about it, he was very obedient."

"When I see his face, I'm reminded of Zhao Feiyang, and that makes me impatient with him."

"But apart from his face, there’s nothing about him that resembles Zhao Feiyang."

Her voice gradually choked with sobs.

"Why did it take me so long to figure this out?"

"What does it matter if his personality isn’t likable or if he doesn’t look like me?"

"When I was pregnant with him, all I wished for was for him to grow up safely."

"Why did I start expecting more from him after he was born, and why should I be disappointed just because he didn’t turn out the way I hoped?"

Tears streamed down her cheeks, stinging in the cold winter wind.