Xiaoju felt aggrieved, thinking the little princess had been exchanged for the fourth young master’s life. If their young master were alive, he might have been able to read and write by now. The little princess had cried only once after birth and never made a sound again. Imperial doctors found no reason for her silence, leading to gossip in the palace. Some palace maids believed she had stolen her brother’s life and was now cursed, thus unable to speak. This small child was often cold with a fierce look in her eyes, leading many to describe her as “ferocious.” Rumors spread that she was possessed by her young brother, which explained her distance from her mother. Some palace maids even claimed that the Clear Concubine referred to the little princess as a fool.
Xu Qiuer had heard palace rumors and scoffed, believing the young master would protect his sister from heaven.
Observing the little princess’s actions, Xu Qiuer suddenly said, “Wrong.”
The little princess looked at her in surprise.
Xu Qiuer took a tree branch, smiled, and wrote on the ground next to the little princess, demonstrating patiently, “It’s written like this…”
The little princess stared blankly at Xu Qiuer, who was close enough for her to smell the faint, fresh fragrance.
Xu Qiuer looked up and asked, “Got it?”
The little princess remained silent and didn’t nod.
Thinking the child hadn’t seen clearly, Xu Qiuer wrote again and gently asked, “Can you see it now?”
Suddenly, the little princess dropped her branch and ran away.
Xu Qiuer watched her retreating figure, standing up after a moment.
Xiaoju muttered, “No manners at all. Our young lady was teaching her under the sun.”
Xu Qiuer shot her a cold look. “I don’t want to hear ‘fool’ again. Xu Qinger is Xu Qinger. There’s no need to be difficult with a child.” After today, she believed the little princess was quite intelligent, able to write without being taught.
She could somewhat imagine the child’s situation.
Xu Qinger didn’t care about the child, and the palace maids and nursemaids, being shrewd, were indifferent to an unloved child. Xu Qiu’er couldn’t understand why Long Hanjie seemed to lack affection for the little princess, who was born to the woman he loved.
Long Hanxie did not dislike the girl, but when he held her, memories of his deceased son filled his mind. The little girl, unable to speak and gazing at him like a stranger, made him uneasy. He recalled the palace maids’ words and began to avoid her, asking Xu Qiu’er to take care of her, feeling more at ease when she was out of sight.
Traditionally, Long Hanxie had already married Xu Qiu’er as his principal wife and should not bring in a new consort. However, he was now choosing another principal wife to stand equally with Xu Qiu’er, driven by the empress’s method of “good fortune” to pray for the declining emperor’s health.
The palace was bustling with preparations for the crown prince’s second marriage, especially after the unpleasant experience during his first marriage to Xu Qiu’er. This time, everyone aimed for perfection.
After several rounds of selection, ten beauties were chosen, with the final selection to be made by the empress and the crown princess. Speculation ran rampant that Xu Qiu’er would choose an unattractive woman to secure her own position. Upon hearing this, Xu Qiu’er merely smiled. The empress wondered if Xu Qiu’er would select someone inferior to herself, reflecting the palace’s gossip.
Xu Qiu’er glanced at the list and stated, “I believe one should marry a virtuous woman. I hope the new consort can do better than I have.” She paused and added, “In my opinion, the daughter of Prince Ping would be the best choice.”
Xu Qiu’er congratulated the empress on gaining a virtuous daughter-in-law before lowering her eyes.
Among the candidates, Hu Qingya had the closest relationship with the empress, who had intentionally included her relatives. Xu Qiu’er noted the potential confusion regarding how to address Hu Qingya, as there was already a Noble Consort Clear in the palace.
Xu Qiu’er was summoned to the empress’s bedchamber, and Xu Qing’er awaited the palace servants but none came. She sent Bing’er to inquire and learned that the empress and crown princess had lunch together. Enraged, she threw her jade ruyi to the ground.
With Little Girl present, Xu Qing’er noticed the palace maids lowering their heads in fear. Her child played calmly with a branch, further infuriating her. She struggled with the embarrassment of giving birth to a daughter while the crown prince was selecting a new principal wife. The impending arrival of a new consort meant she would have to pay respects, adding to her humiliation. In her anger, she vented her frustration on Little Girl, who had not been given a proper name. Grabbing the child’s tender arm, she shook her and demanded, “Say something! Say something!”
Bing’er, noticing Xu Qing’er’s panicked eyes, intervened, expressing concern for Little Girl’s well-being. Though the child did not cry, Bing’er could see that she was in pain. “My lady, please don’t do this. Little Girl will be hurt,” she pleaded, grabbing Xu Qing’er’s leg, crying, “You’re scaring Little Girl…”
Xu Qing’er looked at Little Girl, whose shadow seemed to have disappeared. She gestured for Bing’er to take the child away, feeling that it was better for them not to meet often.
The small child slowly descended from the warm kang and wandered outside, eventually squatting down and drawing random shapes with a branch.
Leaving the empress’s bedchamber, Xu Qiu’er noticed Little Girl from a distance. While Xu Qiu’er felt they were destined to meet, Xiao Ju recalled that this little girl had previously caused her mistress to scold her.
As Xu Qiu’er approached the child, Little Girl looked up at her, and Xu Qiu’er frowned at the marks on the child’s face and her pale lips. Anger surged within her as she picked up Little Girl, who initially struggled but then relaxed, drawn in by a fragrance different from Auntie Bing’s. She pressed her face against Xu Qiu’er’s chest.
Xiao Ju was amazed at Little Girl’s sudden intimacy with her mistress.
Xu Qiu’er stroked Little Girl’s hair and gently asked, “Would you like to come inside and have some water?”
In Xu Qiu’er’s expectant gaze, Little Ge Ge reached out her tiny palm and held it together with hers. When Xu Qiu’er grasped that small palm, tears almost spilled out. She pulled Little Ge Ge into the room and called the palace maids to prepare snacks.
Xiao Ju watched Little Ge Ge eating and remarked in surprise, “What’s going on with this Qingfei? Is she deliberately starving her own daughter?”
Xu Qiu’er glared at Xiao Ju, who felt sympathy for the child but recalled Xu Qing’er and thought, “Serves you right. Who told you to be Xu Qing’er’s child?”
After Little Ge Ge finished eating, Xu Qiu’er asked, “Do you want more?” Little Ge Ge hesitated and shook her head. Sunlight scattered overhead, filling the air with warm laughter.
Later, Bing’er returned and discovered Little Ge Ge was missing, which frightened her. She searched everywhere but couldn’t find her and reported to Xu Qing’er that Little Ge Ge was lost. Xu Qing’er, furious, sent people to search for her. The Crown Prince, hearing the news, also dispatched people, worried that such a small child might have fallen into water.
Long Hanjie roared angrily, “How could she be left alone? Where are the wet nurses and nannies?”
Bing’er trembled, and Xu Qing’er cried into Long Hanjie’s embrace, unable to control herself, saying, “Your Highness, if something happens to Little Ge Ge, this concubine cannot live…”
Xu Qing’er thought to herself, “You’d better not appear again.” Long Hanjie ordered a thorough search of the entire palace.
Meanwhile, the cause of the commotion was peacefully sleeping in Xu Qiu’er’s arms.
