Chapter 37: Ah Bao Longetivity

“This child is really growing up beautifully.”

It seemed that she was more adorable than any previous royal offspring.

With the Queen Mother’s praise, Ah Bao grinned widely, showing her teeth.

[Yay, Grandma praised me!]

[Hello, Grandma, nice to meet you. I’m your little granddaughter!]

The Queen Mother’s smile froze.

She heard it again!

Indeed!

She could hear Ah Bao’s thoughts.

Despite her long life and countless experiences, the Queen Mother had never encountered anything so strange.

“Is that you, Ah Bao?”

[Yes, Grandma, I’m here.]

The Queen Mother: “…”

It was confirmed!

Once or twice could be mistaken for auditory hallucinations.

But three or four times? That was something else.

The Queen Mother was afraid she might accidentally drop Ah Bao if her hand trembled.

Ah.

The Queen Mother soon came to a realization. Perhaps it was because she was old and nearing the end of her life that heaven had granted her this special ability.

But why can she only hear Ah Bao’s thoughts and not anyone else’s?

The Queen Mother felt this was a special bond between her and Ah Bao.

“It seems that Mother truly likes the Tenth Princess,” Concubine Rou said enviously.

This made her think of her own son, the Fifth Prince, and how he was faring in his fief.

Concubine Shu sighed, “Mother, you still need to take care of your health.”

Concubine De quickly stood up, “Mother, let me hold Ah Bao. This little bundle weighs around twenty pounds.

Your health has not been good lately; if holding Ah Bao tires you out, it would be a disservice to her.”

The Queen Mother’s smile deepened, “No need, I can hold Ah Bao myself.

Though I am old, I can still manage a child. Besides, I like Ah Bao.”

The Queen Mother’s statement surprised the concubines present.

Her health had been particularly poor recently.

She had been bedridden for almost a year and had only just started to improve.

The birthday celebration was a chance to cheer her up.

[Ah, Grandma is so kind, but her life is short; she might not make it through the year.]

Ah Bao sighed while chewing on her little hand.

Concubine De’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

Fortunately, the Queen Mother couldn’t hear Ah Bao’s thoughts; otherwise, Ah Bao might bring disaster upon herself.

However, the Third and Fourth Princes heard it.

They were terrified, their faces paling.

Grandmother is going to die?

They had been mentally prepared for this, given how the Queen Mother’s health had been deteriorating over the years.

The Queen Mother calmly pinched Ah Bao’s little face, surprised that the child could perceive her lifespan.

[Though Grandma was a talented soldier and a hero of the Heavenly Sage Dynasty, she suffered from tuberculosis due to her hardships in her youth. Her health has been declining rapidly.]

The Queen Mother was shocked.

Ah Bao knew about her past experiences?

[But don’t be afraid, Grandma. With Ah Bao here, you will surely live a long life.]

The Queen Mother was amused by Ah Bao’s thoughts.

She thought of it as the ramblings of a baby and didn’t give it much thought.

Life span is predestined.

The King of Hell would not let you live if he had decreed otherwise.

What the Queen Mother didn’t know was that Ah Bao was like a little King of Hell.

The length of life others talk about might not matter, but what Ah Bao says does.

As the Queen Mother’s life drew to a close…

Concubine De looked at the Queen Mother with concern in her eyes.

The Third Prince’s brows twitched.

The Princess was still a child.

How could she really believe that wishing for Grandma’s long life would make it happen?

It seemed like she believed she could control someone’s lifespan.

The Fourth Prince’s eyes flickered. Ah Bao was such a fascinating little girl.

Everyone knew the Queen Mother’s health was poor, so they quickly shortened the celebration to allow her to rest more.

Gifts were presented as appropriate.

Several concubines brought their gifts.

Some had bought their gifts outside the palace, while others had entrusted their families to prepare them.

No matter the gift, each represented the sentiments of the women of the harem towards the Queen Mother.

“Grandmother, this is a longevity peach from me. I hope you recover from all ailments and live a long life,” said the Third Prince as he stepped forward to present a large, elaborately crafted peach made of dough, decorated with a small figure resembling the current Queen Mother, albeit in a miniature version.

The Queen Mother smiled, “How thoughtful of you, Third Brother. It’s both edible and delightful to look at.”

The Third Prince beamed with pride at the Queen Mother’s praise.

He sighed inwardly, thinking he might not see Grandmother again next year.

The Fourth Prince prepared a safety talisman for the Queen Mother, wishing for her peace and safety.

“Seventh Prince, did you prepare a gift for me?” The Queen Mother glanced at the otherwise silent Di Zian.

Di Zian’s face was pale, and his eyes were red, reflecting his sense of impending loss.

The Queen Mother: “…”

Had she not been holding Ah Bao, she would have stood up and given Di Zian a scolding.

“Seventh Prince, what kind of expression is that?

Are you here to wish me a happy birthday or to grieve?”

[Oh no! My brother is about to get scolded!]

[Sigh, all the other princes are receiving praise, but my brother is being scolded. How unlucky!]

Di Zian sighed deeply.

“Still sighing?!” The Queen Mother glared at him.

Di Zian quickly picked up a delicate paper box, “Grandmother, please don’t be upset. It’s not worth ruining your health over.”

“You know it’s not worth it, but you still make me angry! Seventh Prince, you really are something,” the Queen Mother  was at her wit’s end with him. “What’s in this little box?”

“It’s a gift for you. I passed by the Lantern Festival last night and specially bought it for you.”

The Queen Mother’s eyes narrowed, “A soccer ball?”

Other concubines couldn’t help but laugh.

Concubine Xue said, “Seventh Prince is quite original, preparing a single ball. It… doesn’t cost much, does it?”

Concubine Rou frowned, “Seventh Prince, this is a bit shabby.”

Concubine Hui, of lower rank, merely glanced at it and said nothing further, her look tinged with mockery.

Concubine Shu, known for her straightforward nature, couldn’t hold back, “Hahaha, Seventh Prince is quite amusing. A small toy like this might as well have been replaced with a box of pastries for the Queen Mother.”

Who gives a ball as a birthday gift? Especially a common soccer ball.

What kind of gift is that?

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