Chapter 4

Chapter 4

On the third day, when Prince Jing left, he specifically assigned Xie Run homework, saying he would return the next day and would test her on it.

He seemed to be in high spirits.

However, on the fourth day, Prince Jing did not come as promised, because the second young master of the residence was ill.

Prince Jing had few offspring; so far, he had only two sons and one daughter.

Both sons were born to Cefei Ning, the elder being four years old and the younger two.

The daughter was born to the favored Shiqie Yun, now three years old, and was granted the title of Princess upon birth, with the name Ruyi bestowed by the emperor.

Xie Run had once suspected that Prince Jing had a tendency to enjoy teaching others, purely because he had few children and they were too young for him to enjoy the pleasure of educating them.

There were only three young seedlings in the prince’s residence, and if one of the younger ones fell ill, it was a major matter.

Xie Run expressed her full understanding and turned to prepare the open space in the courtyard with her maidservants.

The flowers from the greenhouse were of good quality; she needed to plant them quickly to add some vitality to the yard.

Hearing that Prince Jing was not coming that day, Dan Tao worried that Xie Run might be upset and rushed to comfort her: "Master, don’t be sad. Today it’s because the second young master is unwell that His Highness didn’t come. His Highness definitely has you in his heart."

"I’m not one to be sentimental," Xie Run said with a smile. "If His Highness doesn’t come, does that mean I stop living? There will be many days like this in the future; you all need to get used to it."

Seeing that she truly didn’t mind, Dan Tao was less worried, but still couldn’t feel happy.

It was good that the master didn’t care much for the prince’s favor, but it wasn’t entirely good either.

Xie Run’s face held a smile, showing no sign of sorrow; instead, she eagerly directed Yuli and Xiaoshu to break ground.

Watching the plot of weeds gradually turned over, Xie Run felt a great sense of accomplishment.

At that moment, she suddenly understood the feeling Prince Jing had when teaching her chess.

If nothing unexpected happened, Prince Jing would definitely come to her again this month.

After all, this apprentice of his was nothing but a patch of wasteland that had just been cleared; only after tilling, fertilizing, sowing... and bearing fruit would his curiosity fade.

By then, she would have some confidence.

To live safely and healthily in the prince’s residence, Xie Run could never lack Prince Jing’s favor, even if it were just a trace, it would make her life many times easier.

When Prince Jing arrived at Lanxiang Garden of Cefei Ning, he learned the reason for the child’s illness and flew into a great rage.

"Ying’er is only two years old! You, as his mother, don’t pay attention, and you expect the servants to be thorough?"

It turned out that the second young master loved playing in water and would refuse to come out during baths.

Whenever the wet nurse said it was time to dry him, he would start crying.

Cefei Ning had been troubled recently by her eldest son’s education and found the younger son noisy. To gain a moment of peace, she had indulged the younger son’s water play.

But a moment of carelessness led to the child catching a chill.

A mere two-year-old catching a chill would suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, panicking Cefei Ning, who quickly sent for Prince Jing.

Upon learning the details, how could Prince Jing not be furious?

Cefei Ning was also regretful, wiping her tears: "Your concubine knows her mistake. Please, Your Highness, don’t pierce my heart. Both children are my life; if either falls ill, my heart feels like it’s being cut."

Seeing her crying pitifully, Prince Jing frowned. "Shi An, go fetch Physician Zhang and Physician Liu."

Eunuch Shi’an quickly nodded: "This servant will go at once."

Cefei Ning wiped her tears and waved to her eldest son beside her: "Jue’er, come pay respects to your father. In a few days, you will go to the front courtyard. Be sure to obey your father’s words."

The four-year-old eldest young master looked a bit bewildered but obediently nodded: "Your son will definitely listen to Father. I will study diligently, become knowledgeable, understand propriety and righteousness, and one day relieve Father’s burdens."

Prince Jing was initially pleased with his son’s words.

But the last sentence was clearly not something a four-year-old could come up with; Cefei Ning had likely taught him that.

Cefei Ning beamed with joy, holding the eldest young master: "Your Highness, Jue’er has learned a few more poems recently. Why don’t you test him?"

Prince Jing glanced at the second son lying on the bed with a flushed face, and couldn’t help but frown.

It was not the first time he noticed that Ning was not attentive enough toward the second son.

Such blatant favoritism today truly disgusted Prince Jing.

Prince Jing said: "No need. Let’s wait for the physicians to see Ying’er first."

Realizing Prince Jing was displeased, Cefei Ning thought he was still angry about her neglect of the child, so she awkwardly shut her mouth.

After the physicians finished their diagnosis, Cefei Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, it’s getting dark. Would you like to stay for dinner in Lanxiang Garden tonight?"

In the prince’s residence, aside from the Princess, Cefei Ning was the most honored.

On such days in the past, Prince Jing would usually stay overnight at Cefei Ning’s place.

This was also why the women in the rear courtyard all wanted to bear children.

Even if the prince didn’t favor them, for the sake of the children, he would still stay once or twice to give them some dignity.

But today, Prince Jing acted out of character, saying coldly: "No, I’m going to the Princess’s place tonight. Since you can’t take care of two children alone, I’ll have the Princess help find a capable nanny to share the burden."

Cefei Ning’s heart immediately leaped to her throat.

After seeing Prince Jing off, she collapsed into the arms of Nanny Zhang beside her, both angry and frightened: "Nanny Zhang, what do you think the prince meant by that? Is he implying that I can’t take care of the children?"

Nanny Zhang quickly comforted Cefei Ning: "Cefei, don’t overthink it. His Highness is just concerned about the second young master. Having a nanny who knows how to care for children is a good thing."

"A good thing?!" Cefei Ning didn’t believe it. "That venomous Princess was the one who prevented Jue’er from becoming the heir back then. If His Highness lets her recommend a nanny for Ying’er, isn’t that sending a lamb into the tiger’s den?!"

Nanny Zhang said: "Precisely because it’s someone recommended by the Princess, she wouldn’t dare to pull any tricks. If anything happens to our second young master, it would be entirely the Princess’s fault."

Hearing this, Cefei Ning calmed down a bit. "Are you sure?"

Nanny Zhang whispered reassuringly: "Of course, I’m sure. How would this old servant dare deceive you, Cefei? The Princess has always been cautious; she probably won’t even take on this task."

"If that’s really the case, then good. If not..." Cefei Ning’s face showed a hint of ruthlessness: "Don’t blame me for being ruthless."