Chapter 77: Heroine, Heroine, You are Here

“What’s wrong with you today? Why are you saying such useless things? Have you been doing what I asked? Have you been visiting your father more often? Have you been making regular visits to the Grand Tutor’s residence?”

“Mother, I’ve told you before, I’m not cut out to be an emperor. I won’t do the things you ask me to do. I’ll only do what I like.”

“What you like? As a member of the royal family, you don’t have that choice! If you don’t climb higher, when your brothers reach the top, you’ll be left to die.”

“If I die, that’s my fate, and I’ll accept it. But before that, I won’t do anything to harm my brothers or my father.” The Third Prince turned away. “Mother, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

He seemed to finally understand why his mother wasn’t close to him.

From the beginning to the end, he was just a pawn in his mother’s quest for power.

She never saw him as her son.

Concubine Hui watched his retreating figure, her brows furrowed.

“What’s wrong with the Third Prince today? Why does he seem so strange?”

Concubine Hui turned directly toward her small Buddha hall.

Concubine Hui was a devout Buddhist, which was no secret in the harem.

On the incense table in the small hall was a small cloth doll covered with a red cloth, making it impossible to see the doll’s appearance.

Concubine Hui knelt on a prayer mat, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes to pray devoutly.

Recently, nothing she did seemed to go right, and her mood had been terrible.

Today, her brother was imprisoned, and the Third Prince was causing trouble.

She had to come and pray to the little Buddha, hoping for its protection.

After pouring out her heart’s troubles in prayer, she slowly opened her eyes, and to her surprise, the small doll under the red cloth began to emit a faint red glow, as if it had heard her prayers.

…

That evening, Ah Bao received a new vest made by her mother.

It was bright red, made of pure cotton, and adorned with small floral patterns.

Ah Bao was delighted.

“Your Highness, look at how happy the little princess is, rolling around on the bed,” Zhilan said with a light laugh. The little princess was the cutest child she had ever seen.

Of course, other babies were cute too, but Zhilan especially adored her own little mistress.

“Ah Bao’s happiness is all that matters,” Concubine De said with a smile. “With the New Year approaching, and the first snow bringing the coldest weather, I must prepare more clothes for Ah Bao.”

“Mother, you once had the courage and ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with men, but now you’ve willingly taken on the role of caring for me, cooking and sewing. Thank you, Mother~” Ah Bao’s thoughts filled with warmth.

Concubine De’s smile didn’t wane.

It’s not hard at all.

As a mother, caring for her children doesn’t feel like a burden, as long as they are healthy and happy.

Later that evening, Concubine De played with Ah Bao on a little wooden horse until Ah Bao was so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open.

Concubine De understood her precious daughter’s feelings.

She must be craving snacks.

She wants to eat something between meals.

Recently, Ah Bao has been having stomach issues, not eating properly, and drinking very little milk.

Concubine De has therefore banned all her snacks.

Ah Bao throwing a tantrum in bed does no good.

Concubine De has been stricter with Ah Bao regarding her health than usual.

【Waaah, I want candy, I want meat, I want chicken…】

Ah Bao sat on the soft couch, pointing outside with her little hand, “Chicken, chicken, chicken…”

“Ah Bao, you can’t eat just anything until your stomach is better. You can only drink milk and porridge.”

Ah Bao: “…No… not drink…”

She refuses to drink porridge!

“Meat… slurp slurp.” Ah Bao tugged at Concubine De’s sleeve, her big eyes looking pitiful, her lips pressed together and on the verge of pouting, tears welling up in her eyes, almost crying.

Afraid Concubine De might not understand, she made slurping motions and pointed at her belly, “Cold… hungry…”

Her belly is hungry!

Meat, meat!

Concubine De didn’t relent to Ah Bao’s pleas. Ah Bao knew her mother was strict in this regard and felt helpless.

Finally, so hungry that she couldn’t stand it, she drank a whole bottle of milk and fell into a deep sleep.

In her dreams, Ah Bao sucked on her little finger, slurping away.

Being a person is exhausting.

Being a baby is even more tiring.

…

Two months passed quickly, and Ah Bao was now eight months old.

She had acquired a new skill: crawling faster and occasionally taking a few steps.

However, wearing thick winter clothes was somewhat inconvenient.

But that didn’t stop Ah Bao from exploring everywhere.

Ah Bao woke up as usual in the morning, rubbed her eyes, and drank milk from her cup obediently.

Concubine De dressed her in a little outfit.

Yet Ah Bao’s eyes remained fixed on the chickens running around in the courtyard.

Concubine De couldn’t help but laugh and decided not to point it out.

She had a feeling that the chickens wouldn’t be around for much longer.

Hmm… Ah Bao is staring at the chickens, or rather, at the walking meat.

“Your Highness, the Queen Mother has sent a message asking for you to visit Cining Palace today. She specifically mentioned to bring the little princess. The Queen Mother might be missing our little princess,” Zhilan reported proudly.

Concubine De agreed. After preparing, she and her maid took Ah Bao to Cining Palace around noon.

When they arrived, they saw Princess Changping, along with Concubine Hui, Concubine Rou, and Concubine Chun.

“Sister-in-law,” Princess Changping was the first to approach Concubine De.

“Dudu…” Ah Bao reached out to be picked up by Princess Changping.

She liked her aunt.

Princess Changping smiled brightly. This past month, her mood had improved significantly, and she missed Ah Bao even more.

The other Concubines watched this scene and couldn’t help but click their tongues.

Princess Changping had always liked children, but it was clear that among the imperial descendants, she seemed to favor Ah Bao the most.

“Ah Bao, this is for you.” Princess Changping gave Ah Bao a golden key.

She hung it around Ah Bao’s neck.

Ah Bao’s eyes sparkled, “Thank you… Dudu…”

【A golden key!】

【Mother gave me a golden key, and now my aunt gives me one too. Is it fashionable to give golden keys now?】

The other Concubines widened their eyes. “I’ve heard Princess Changping’s dowry was quite substantial. The late emperor prepared a lot for her.”

“This golden key can’t be from Princess Changping’s treasury, right?”

“…”

Concubine De quickly intervened, “Princess Changping, this is too valuable.”

Princess Changping smiled, “It’s not valuable. Ah Bao is the most valuable. No treasury can compare to Ah Bao.”

If it weren’t for Ah Bao, she would have long become someone else’s stepmother, raising others’ children and waiting to be mistreated.

“Let’s put it away. As long as Ah Bao is happy, I’m happy,” Princess Changping said, kissing Ah Bao’s little face, clearly adoring her.

Ah Bao looked at Princess Changping’s head.

【The dark aura is gone, it’s all white now. Auntie is going to start having good luck!】

【A flash of red light, the red star is moving, Auntie’s second spring is coming! Hehehe】

Princess Changping’s thoughts shifted.

Second… spring…??

Soon, the Queen Mother appeared.

It had been almost five months since her last birthday, and the New Year was approaching.

Back then, the court doctors said the Queen Mother wouldn’t make it through the year.

But over the past few months, the Queen Mother’s condition had been improving day by day.

…

: The next chapter will reveal the female lead~ Ahh, so excited!