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.
