Chapter 55: Died Yesterday

[Father?] Someone entered the room.

The Tyrant looked up and saw it was the Third Prince.

[Father, is the Princess playing with the jade… jade seal?] The Third Prince spotted Ah Bao sitting on the soft couch.

Little Ah Bao was so small and cute, but the Third Prince hesitated when he saw the big jade seal she was holding.

At that moment, Ah Bao was using her tiny hands to examine the characters on the seal…

[Oh, the silly Third Prince is here again.]

[It’s the jade seal, Father gave it to me. Third Prince, come over and play with me!]

The Third Prince stood there, unsure if he should approach the jade seal.

The Tyrant, already in a bad mood, was further irritated when his conversation with Ah Bao was interrupted. [Third Prince, you look unwell. Didn’t you sleep well last night?]

Last night…

The Third Prince was suddenly nervous.

He hadn’t slept at all.

He had been digging a ditch all night until dawn.

[Haha, Tyrant’s question really hit the Third Prince where it hurts.]

The Third Prince lowered his head.

The Tyrant continued, [Today I went out of the palace and reached Tiansheng House…]

The Third Prince listened quietly, feeling quite pleased with himself. He considered himself the smartest of all the Tyrant Emperor’s sons.

How could he have predicted that the Tyrant Emperor would leave the palace?

All his hard work digging the ditch was not in vain.

‘Bang!’

The Tyrant slammed his hand on the table like a gavel, [Did you dig that ditch?]

[Um… ah, no, no.] The Third Prince quickly shook his head in denial but then remembered the sign with what seemed like his own name.

Oh!

Would Father recognize it?

He hadn’t written his name on it.

[If I can’t even guess your name, wouldn’t that make me as foolish as you?]

[Tyrant is angry!]

[Third Prince, you should admit your mistake voluntarily. Only by correcting your errors can you be a good child!]

The Third Prince hung his head, looking like a student who had made a mistake. [Father, I’m sorry… I won’t deceive you again.]

The Tyrant frowned and suddenly asked, [Third Prince, how do I usually treat you?]

The Third Prince bit his lip, [Well… pretty well.]

[Speak honestly.]

The Third Prince: […]

He didn’t dare to answer.

[Have I been too harsh on you?]

The Third Prince looked up at the Tyrant, [Father…]

[Ah, Father just wants you to mature quickly. It’s not because you are worse than the other princes.]

The Third Prince was greatly surprised.

He had thought that Father didn’t like him.

After all, he wasn’t as smart as the other princes.

But to his surprise, Father had high expectations for him!

The Third Prince felt a wave of emotions.

It was as if his years of silent effort had finally been recognized by someone he cherished.

[Next time, if you have something to say, speak up honestly. It’s okay to make mistakes as long as they’re not major offenses. Remember that?]

[Yes, yes, Father, I’ll remember.]

[Third Prince must be very touched. Tyrant still cares about you.]

The Third Prince looked at Ah Bao.

Little Ah Bao smiled at him.

[Princess Ah Bao…] The Third Prince walked over with a smile, but before he could reach her, the Tyrant had already scooped Ah Bao into his arms. [I’m taking Ah Bao out. If there’s nothing else, you may leave.]

The Third Prince was almost in tears.

Father, give me a chance to hug the Princess!

That night, the Tyrant Emperor kept Ah Bao in his own quarters.

The harem was in an uproar!

The next day, after the morning court, the Tyrant took Ah Bao back to the Yihe Palace to let her have some breast milk.

Ah Bao was only six months old and couldn’t eat much solid food yet; breast milk was still the best for her.

After a night without Concubine De’s milk, Ah Bao seemed to miss it quite a bit.

She didn’t quite understand what was wrong but felt a constant need to suckle.

Ah Bao thought it must be a habit of infants to want milk.

After all, not having milk was quite distressing for a baby.

When Ah Bao finally got to nurse from Concubine De’s soft, fluffy breast—like a steamed bun—she was overjoyed, kicking her little feet in happiness. She nursed eagerly for a while to relieve her discomfort.

[Your Majesty, I request a leave today to go out of the palace.]

Tyrant: “Hmm?”

Concubine De, comforting Ah Bao, sighed, “A few days ago, I saw Princess Changping come to the palace, and she left crying. I’m worried that if this continues, she might become ill due to her sadness. I want to go visit her and talk with her.”

Ah Bao, hearing that they were going to the princess’s residence, perked up.

[Find Auntie, see Auntie, don’t let Auntie be upset]

The Tyrant frowned. Could Changping really be so upset?

Who would dare make his sister unhappy!

[Dudu… Dudu…]

Concubine De looked down and chuckled, “Does Ah Bao want to go visit Auntie and play?”

[Perfect, I’ll go with you.] The Tyrant’s expression darkened. [I still need to settle accounts with the Prince Concubine over yesterday’s events!]

—

A carriage stopped at the princess’s residence.

When Changping learned that Concubine De and Ah Bao were coming, her gloom lifted.

Seeing Ah Bao, Changping couldn’t help herself and quickly took the little one in her arms, “Ah Bao, Ah Bao, Auntie missed you so much!”

Ah Bao waved her little arms and giggled when she saw Changping.

[A… hug…]

[Auntie hug!]

Being held by Changping, Ah Bao was overjoyed.

[Auntie’s embrace is as warm as Mommy’s]

[Auntie, Ah Bao missed you too]

Changping’s heart softened as she held Ah Bao, unwilling to let her go.

They all entered the hall together. Changping noticed the Tyrant’s grim expression and asked, “Elder Brother?”

[Isn’t the Prince Concubine at the residence?]

Changping was taken aback but then gave a slight smile. “This morning, I felt a lot of pressure in my chest, so the Prince Concubine, being concerned for me, went outside to get a doctor and medicine.”

[If you’re not feeling well, why not call for the imperial physician?]

[It’s an old ailment of mine. It’s not worth always calling the imperial physician into the residence.]

Since she married into the Shangguan family, she generally avoided using palace resources for minor issues to avoid appearing delicate.

[Pah! The Prince Concubine isn’t going to get a doctor; he’s visiting a mistress!]

Tyrant: ?

A mistress?

Whose mistress?

Changping’s face suddenly turned pale. How… how could this be?

The Prince Concubine was clearly…

Concubine De’s eyes lowered. If the Prince Concubine was fooling around with another woman at this crucial moment, that would be truly unacceptable!

Thankfully, the princess couldn’t hear this, or she would probably be furious!

[The mistress’s brother passed away yesterday. The Prince Concubine, feeling sorry for the mistress, is now probably with her, cuddling and rolling in bed]

[The Prince Concubine is shameless. This is infuriating!]

[Ahem.] Princess Changping coughed angrily but still carefully protected Ah Bao in her arms, afraid of accidentally dropping her.

But she was on the verge of tears.

Did the Prince Concubine really have another woman outside?