Chapter 33 – Sister, Do You Have a Child?

Ling Gurong’s thoughts were actually quite simple. He just wanted to get to know her, to exchange ideas—nothing more.

He had no interest in stealing another man’s wife.

He looked at the unfinished strategy in his hand, and with some reluctance, told the secret guard to put it back where it belonged.

While Tang Chaoyang was simmering medicine in the kitchen, she also cooked a medicinal porridge.

When the decoction was ready, she filtered out the dregs and poured a bowl to bring to Gu Yuan’s room.

She knocked, and only after hearing the man’s assent did she open the door and enter.

Ling Gurong was fastening his belt. His clothes were neat and properly worn. In the lamplight, his bright eyes were fixed on her.

He had just finished soaking in the medicinal bath.

The disguise on his face seemed to have washed off.

His current youthful appearance looked six or seven parts similar to the face he’d worn earlier in disguise.

And it was actually rather handsome.

“Sister, thank you.”

His naturally magnetic voice calling her “sister” so willingly made Tang Chaoyang pause.

She stared, her pretty eyes instantly rounding in surprise.

It felt like the fierce beast standing in front of her had suddenly tucked away its claws and was softly asking for affection.

Tang Chaoyang’s face flushed awkwardly. She quickly shook off her messy thoughts.

“Drink the medicine while it’s hot,” she said.

“All right.”

Ling Gurong took the bowl, tested the temperature, found it acceptable, and without another word, tilted his head back and drank it down in two or three gulps.

Tang Chaoyang watched his slightly raised neck, his Adam’s apple moving as he swallowed the medicine.

“I’ve finished.”

Ling Gurong smiled, thinking of how she had just stared at him dumbfounded. He found it rather amusing.

Back in the palace, he had always had to pretend to be gentle and harmless just to survive.

He knew that this face of his, when it looked mild and harmless, was very deceptive.

Ling Gurong had been eager to see her real face under the disguise.

But he understood they weren’t that familiar yet.

If he rashly brought it up now, she would probably think he was being presumptuous.

So Ling Gurong restrained himself for the time being.

When people spent time together, they naturally became more familiar.

He could wait.

“Sister, look at my face—this is my real appearance,” he explained seriously.

Tang Chaoyang nodded slightly.

He set the empty bowl on the table and picked up a small box from the tabletop.

“Sister, do you have a child? This is a Nine Linked Rings puzzle. It’s perfect for children, or you can give it to a relative’s child.”

He opened the box.

Tang Chaoyang saw it held a complete set of iron Nine Linked Rings—a rare item.

After all, iron was strictly controlled by the government these days. Few people used it to make toys for children.

She thought, if her son saw this puzzle, he would surely be delighted.

Her gaze softened. “Thank you. I have a son. This is just right for him to play with.”

Ling Gurong felt he had chosen the perfect gift.

When he returned to the palace, he would have someone look for more suitable toys for children.

“I made a medicinal porridge. You can eat it before you leave.”

Tang Chaoyang didn’t remain in the room any longer. She picked up the empty bowl and the Nine Linked Rings and left.

**

Ling Gurong’s first action upon returning to the palace was to instruct Steward Feng to find a few toys suitable for little boys.

He gave precise orders: “Don’t pick anything too common, but there’s no need for anything overly expensive either.”

If the gifts were too extravagant, she probably wouldn’t accept them.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Steward Feng secretly wondered: whose child was this, so fortunate that the Emperor himself was personally arranging toys?

Ling Gurong buried himself in state affairs. It wasn’t until dinnertime that Steward Feng dared to remind him, “Your Majesty, tonight you still need to dine with the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace.”

Ling Gurong put down the memorial in his hand and rubbed his slightly aching forehead.

At least half of the reports he read were surely full of falsehoods.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t remove too many officials all at once right now.

Each of them had tangled connections behind them.

He considered it carefully. For the time being, he could only select a group of promising scholars from this year’s imperial examination candidates to cultivate.

While the Emperor was lost in thought, Steward Feng dared not speak again.

“Prepare the carriage to Cining Palace,” Ling Gurong said calmly.

Every so often, he would dine there with Dowager Empress Dong, fulfilling his duty as a filial son.

“I heard Xinrui and the Princess Royal held a donation event at West Lake,” the Dowager Empress said gently as she picked up food to place in Ling Gurong’s bowl. “Those two are quite thoughtful. You should give them proper commendation.”

Ling Gurong inclined his head slightly. “I know. They were indeed thoughtful to try to relieve the people’s hardship.”

Seeing him nod, the Dowager Empress smiled faintly and continued, “Xinrui has always been a sensible child.”

“Mother speaks truly.” Ling Gurong smiled.

After that, they ate in silence.

When the meal was over, the palace maids served water for rinsing their mouths and poured tea before quietly withdrawing.

Madam Gong led a woman into the hall. The woman had a graceful figure and a light, elegant step.

The Dowager Empress looked at her, then turned to Ling Gurong.

“Your Majesty, Lihé has learned proper manners and has a gentle temperament. I think she would be most suitable to attend to you.”

Ling Gurong’s gaze swept over Lihé without any expression.

Lihé bowed low, her posture demure and respectful, not daring to show any impropriety.

Her heart was tense with both nervousness and anticipation.

After all, the Emperor’s harem had no women yet. If she could be the first, and by good fortune conceive a prince…

Ling Gurong’s face revealed a faint smile, but his tone left no room for debate.

“Mother, let us wait until the Empress enters the palace.”

He didn’t have the energy right now. Dealing every day with the craving for opium was exhausting enough. On top of that, his body was always aching. Where would he find the will to do such things?

The Dowager Empress sighed softly but still smiled with kindness. “I can’t do anything with you.”

Lihé’s face instantly went pale.

Ling Gurong left Cining Palace and returned to the imperial study. He began drafting an imperial edict.

The decree praised Dong Xinrui and the Princess Royal and awarded them some gifts.

After he finished writing, he shook his head.

The person he most wanted to commend was someone else.

But unfortunately, Sister probably didn’t want others to know.

By now, calling her “Sister” had come naturally to him.

It was just a pity her strategy wasn’t finished yet.

When she finally completed it, he still didn’t know what excuse he could use to get the manuscript.

“Steward Feng, prepare a woman’s hairpin for me.”

A hairpin as a gift would not be inappropriate.

Steward Feng was once again astonished.

The Emperor had gone from arranging toys for a child to preparing a hairpin for a woman. The whole situation just felt…strange.

**

Tang Chaoyang didn’t know that someone was secretly thinking about her unfinished strategy.

At that moment, she and Fei An’an were cozily nestled together on the soft couch.

She watched Fei An’an playing with the Nine Linked Rings, smiling gently.

Just watching him like this, she didn’t feel bored at all.

Fei An’an stretched out his plump little toes and tucked them under the blanket covering his mother’s lap.

“Mother, this is so fun. Do you want to try? An’an can teach you.”

“All right.”

Tang Chaoyang reached out to hug her son, holding the puzzle as he instructed her how to play.

Madam Wu came into the room and saw the mother and child enjoying themselves wholeheartedly.

Her face softened into a kindly smile. “Miss, the First Madam just sent over a few sweet melons, and the Second Madam also sent six sets of clothes suitable for the young master.”

Tang Chaoyang paused her hands and looked up. “Madam Wu, tomorrow bring the new health-preserving tea I blended to my eldest aunt and second aunt. This tea is good for their health.”

She also planned to bring some health tea to Gu Yuan tomorrow, to thank him for sending the Nine Linked Rings for her child.

Madam Wu agreed and left the room so as not to disturb the mother and son’s time together.

Tang Chaoyang played with her son a while longer. When it was bedtime, she picked him up and carried him into the inner room.

“Mother, wait—An’an needs his shoes.” The child’s voice sounded a bit anxious.

He had been so engrossed in playing that he only just now realized he needed to use the chamber pot.

How embarrassing.

His little face turned red with shame.

Tang Chaoyang laughed and set him down, helping him put on his shoes.

Fei An’an scurried off in a hurry.