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Xie Qingyun felt a bit melancholic about her husband’s poor health and her own struggles to conceive, yet she had always loved children. Zhou Zhaoqin may not have been as cute in her eyes as Dongdong, but seeing the sadness on his face as he prepared to leave tugged at her heartstrings.
“Why…”
As she sighed, her handsome husband in the wheelchair leaned back and gently patted her hand.
“I’m fine. I just feel like I’ve put a burden on the child,” Xie Qingyun replied, shaking her head as she maneuvered the wheelchair back.
Xiao Huaiqi remained unfazed. A man who had faced countless battles wouldn’t easily show his emotions.
Especially considering that if the Xiao family chose not to act, it would be Dongdong and the others who would suffer the most.
As children of the Xiao family, they faced a harsh reality if their relatives proved incapable of protecting them in the future.
If they win, at least they won’t focus on just one child!
When Zhou Zhaoqin returned home, the outer courtyard was eerily quiet. The maids, servants, and nannies moved quietly, trying not to draw attention, and a heavy sense of oppression hung in the air.
This atmosphere had persisted since a few days before the Qiao family incident and continued until now.
Zhou Zhaoqin’s expression tightened, revealing more caution and anxiety. Upon reaching the main courtyard, he overheard his father scolding someone. “Enough! All you do is cry! What can I do now?! You were careless, and now look what’s happened! You’ve hurt me deeply!”
“Your Highness, my father did this for you. All the money our family has made over the years was given to you to win over the ministers. They simply can’t repay it. Please help us!” The woman’s voice was no longer filled with arrogance but instead laced with fear.
When the truth about the Qiao family’s high-interest loans was revealed, His Majesty became furious. An order was issued to collect all debts within ten days; otherwise, the entire family would face execution!
If they could gather enough money, only the Qiao father and son would die. This way, the Qiao family’s legacy could be preserved. But all the money was with the Third Prince!
“Give it to me? Don’t think I don’t know your Qiao family has plenty stashed away,” the Third Prince snapped, growing angrier. “Besides, the sum is so large; how can Your Highness produce it? Speak like that again, and don’t blame me for forgetting our friendship!”
The Third Prince’s wife began crying harder, realizing their previous friendship meant nothing now. The Third Prince might even want her dead to eliminate any leverage against him. But if she died, what would happen to her son?
Seeing her distress, the Third Prince softened his tone. “Jinxin, you know my intentions. Your father-in-law’s sacrifice is worth it. Everything isn’t ready yet. I can’t act rashly now. Once I ascend the throne, I will avenge your Qiao family!”
The Third Prince’s wife cried even more. After a moment, he comforted her, “It’s all for a reason. Don’t worry. I promise that when I become Emperor, my son Qin’er will be the crown prince! His position will be unshakeable. I will remember all that your father-in-law has done for me!”
Her cries began to quiet, as if she had resigned herself to her fate.
Zhou Zhaoqin couldn’t catch much of the conversation; it was vague and unclear, but he sensed his mother’s deep sadness and his father’s despondency. Suddenly, he heard hurried footsteps.
Instinctively, he kicked his calves and hurriedly hid in a corner with the palace servants. The man walked by in a daze, oblivious to the movement. Once he left, two figures—one large and one small—reappeared.
Zhou Zhaoqin silently took a lunch box and entered the house.
The usually composed Third Prince’s wife now sat on the ground with disheveled hair and swollen eyes, all alone in the yard without anyone to help her.
When she heard the noise, she looked up and saw her son. She quickly attempted to rise but found her legs numb from kneeling. As she stood, she stumbled back down and awkwardly wiped her face, sniffling. “Why are you back? Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”
Zhou Zhaoqin lowered his head, shook it, and whispered, “Mother, I made these steamed buns. Sister Shu asked me to bring them back for you to try.”
The Third Prince’s wife felt a rush of warmth despite her earlier despair, momentarily forgetting her questions about a sister named Shu and how her son managed to cook for himself. She simply felt touched by his thoughtfulness, and her heart warmed a bit.
She nodded eagerly, “Alright, let me try them.”
Zhou Zhaoqin took out the buns, which looked quite misshapen. A tear fell as he presented them to her.
The woman took a small bite; they were still warm and a bit salty, but the sweetness of the dough and the savory filling made them delightful. They were a bit ugly but delicious.
Having not eaten well or slept properly these past few days, the sight of a meal made by her son brought her joy. The Third Prince’s wife took small bites, nodding in satisfaction, “You’re amazing, my son! These buns are delicious!”
“Yes!” Zhou Zhaoqin agreed eagerly.
She managed to calm herself and smiled, “Alright, I’ll try to get up.”
This time, she mustered all her strength. Though her knees ached, she finally managed to stand. Feeling embarrassed about her disheveled appearance, she hesitated to call for help, fearing ridicule. Holding herself steady, she walked toward the inner room.
Zhou Zhaoqin followed closely, entering the inner room with a warm charcoal stove. As she lifted her skirt, the red marks on her knees from kneeling were exposed, and she winced in pain.
Zhou Zhaoqin watched her, clenching his fists tightly. He fought to suppress his emotions but couldn’t hold back any longer. He threw himself into his mother’s arms, crying, “Wah wah wah…” His hands trembled as he reached out to touch the red marks but hesitated. He sobbed, “Mother, it hurts, it hurts…”
The Third Prince’s wife opened her mouth, wanting to say she wasn’t in pain, but the words wouldn’t come out.
It hurt—how could it not? What hurt more was her heart.
Since marrying the Third Prince, her father and brother had sacrificed so much. Whenever the Third Prince needed money or support, they did everything they could to help him, even when it meant engaging in unscrupulous activities.
Now, when trouble struck at home, he remained unyielding. No matter how she begged on her knees, he never relented. This small pain was nothing compared to what her family faced. In just ten days, her blood relatives might lose their lives!
She couldn’t save them, and she felt powerless to save the child in front of her too…
The Third Prince’s wife managed a desperate smile. He still thought about rebelling?
Although the emperor was unwell, the other princes were tough to handle, making failure seem likely.
She worried about her son’s future, knowing she might face two charges. Suddenly, she asked him, “Where did you get this bun?”
“I learned to make it from Sister Ah Shu. She gave me some and told me to bring them back for you,” Zhou Zhaoqin said, snuggling in his mother’s arms, crying.
The Third Prince’s wife took a deep breath, stroked his head, and whispered, “I understand.”
***
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