10 Consumed by Fire (III)
Li Mei Palace
"Bixie arrives!" Eunuch Wu announced loud and clear in Li Mei Palace.
Just as Emperor Yang Long was about to enter the big chamber of Li Mei Palace, at the corner of his eye he could a small figure running away.
His brows became slightly knitted for the maid did not dress the same light pink outerwear like how the maids in Mei Fang's chambers.
...Light purple outerwear? If that was not from the Empress' palace?
Nevertheless, he could only shake his head before entering the chamber.
...Was he too tired lately?
Once he was inside, Emperor Yang Long could finally see the person he had been wanting to see. When he emerged through the door, the beautiful person from inside slowly turned around from the window side.
As she turned around, her long silky hair flew smoothly behind her back. Her usually bright eyes seemed to have slightly dimmed out and were no longer shining. With her light purple dress seemed to make the entire room even bluer.
"Bixie? You are here? I thought…" Even her tone was softer than her usual voice.
The frigidness from before had entirely vanished from that pretty face of hers. All that was left were those sad eyes. She painted herself as if she were a flower that had been crumbled up and it was no longer standing tall and brightly.
The Emperor felt bitter in his heart. All he could do was to walk and wrapped his arms around her gently.
She must have heard the news.
He slowly moved his face closer to her ears and whispered, "Zhen is waiting for our baby, do not fret, you have Zhen."
A tear ran down Li Cai Ren's sad eyes. She looked like she was trying her best to keep in the misery of having to share one's husband with another.
Emperor Yang Long moved in closer and kissed her tears away softly. He placed his two big hands gently on the sides of her head and made her look at him as he spoke, "Fang-er, leave everything to me, all you need to do is to take care of your own health and the new life inside your belly, hm?"
Mei Fang closed her eyes softly and more tears came out. However, she gave a soft gentle nod to him as to acknowledge what he had spoken to her.
Though it was as if she was compiling to his request on the outside, she was, in fact, trying to hide her roaring emotions that would show in her eyes for him to see.
...Yes, she was also pregnant. But that woman had to announce it first!
Seeing her following along, Emperor Yang Long pulled her into his broad chest and gave her a warm embrace. Gently he began patting her head as his gaze was on the brilliant scenery outside.
However, Mei Fang's eyes that had been sad were now turned all cold.
He was her lover. But he was also a dangerous man. However, she knew him too well, maybe even more than he knew himself.
In his words, he had only mentioned that he would not give anything or show any favour to the newborn baby and mother, but he had not mentioned that he would destroy them? In the end, that baby was still his baby, so how would he have the heart to kill his baby by himself?
If she left it to him, then maybe her baby would not even get to see the end of his years.
If that wrench had given birth to a girl, then she would not have to think about this, but it was a boy. A boy was a danger to her and to her baby, so if that was so, then they should not even think that they would live to see the day her baby was born.
Mei Fang slowly moved her hands to patted her small belly bump, she too was pregnant, 6 more months to go before she would see her baby. In these 6 months, she would do anything to protect her baby…
...Don't worry son, mother will not let anyone get into our way…
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A month after
Kunning palace
Hui Lan was sitting in her small pavilion beside the lake that was in her palace. In her arms, there was a small life sleeping soundly. Standing closely beside her was Su Rong who was watching over the mother and son dearly.
Throughout the month, Hui Lan had her baby with her at all times. She even breastfed her baby on her own and was watching over her baby, unlike any mothers at that time.
However, her baby boy had yet to receive an official name from his father. The reason was simply because the Emperor had yet to see her baby prince. Until now, her baby was nameless, but to her heart, she had already given a baby name to her boy, Yun, like the Mt. Yun from where she came from.
From time to time, the Empress Dowager would visit her and so did Physician Jin. However, other than these two figures in the palace, no one else had paid a visit over Kunning palace, not even the Emperor himself.
Today was the day that the banning was over and people could come to her palace, but until now, there were no signs of anyone paying a visit.
...Sigh, that was also good.
She became more used to the lonely palace now. However, she still missed the free landscape of mountain views and fields.
Just as Hui Lan thought no one was going to visit her, a loud announcement was made from behind.
"Bixie arrives!"
As Emperor Yang Long walked over towards the small pavilion, his usual cold eyes gazed indifferently at the back of the other person that was in the pavilion.
On the surface, there were no changes in his expression. However, there was only a small part of him that was slightly looking forward...looking forward to seeing the small baby…
Inside the pavilion, Hui Lan showed no signs of getting up from the bench. She had thought that it was just merely a voice that was in her head. Tut tut, even hearing the eunuch's announcement? Sigh, how much did she love him to feel this much…
Little did she knew that he was truly behind her.
On the other hand, Su Rong completely ignored the announcement and simply stood closely beside Hui Lan. Though she had heard the announcement, if her friend was not going to pay her greetings, then she would fully support her friend in this one for she too did not want to give any respect to this kind of person.
A few minutes had past and by then, Emperor Yang Long was slowly entering the pavilion. He stepped inside the pavilion, but there were no reactions from the other person.
One of his brows could not help but rise in wonder...
Seeing this unusual scene, Eunuch Wu was about to announce again but was stopped by the Emperor himself.
Emperor Yang Long revealed a small yet dangerous smile before it vanished just as fast, "So, are you now not going to greet Zhen from now on?" He proclaimed his presence to the other person haughtily.
Hui Lan's body shook in surprise. This voice?
Slowly, with the help of Su Rong, she got up from the bench. Once she turned around, there, her eyes could not help but slightly widen. Different kind of emotions began boiling up in her sad-looking eyes that even the cold-hearted person wavered slightly, but only slightly.
Just as a tear was about to fall down her pretty face, Hui Lan had to quickly push it all back down when she saw something else.
From behind the Emperor, another figure took a step out revealing her beautiful face, "Chenqie greets Niang Niang." A sweet lovely voice resounded in the entire pavilion.
To that, Hui Lan's arms that were holding onto her baby trembled. Being disturbed, the young prince began moving and his arms began moving all over the place. In the end, a loud baby cry was heard amid the adults.
Before Hui Lan could even greet or say anything to the people that had just come, her focus was entirely on her baby boy. She was slowly swaying him in the air and shooing him with her gentle voice, but nothing seemed to be working for him.
"Leave us." Emperor Yang Long gave out his order to all his followers and towards Su Rong. Without speaking more, the eunuchs and court ladies left the pavilion to stand slightly further away. Only Su Rong who seemed very hesitant to leave her lady alone between the two lovers, but she did not want to make anything worse for her friend. The little prince was crying non-stop unlike his usual calm self...why of all the days ah...
To that note, someone seemed to also want to lend a helping hand to the Empress, "Niang Niang, would it be alright if chenqie help you out? Chenqie...chenqie is very good with babies…" Li Cai Ren's soft voice trialled off in the air.
On the other hand, Empress Shen's heart trembled, even more, she did not know this person. Nor did she trust anyone in this palace. To let this person hold her baby? Very less likely…
Hui Lan's motherly love showed all over her face. Unlike her usual compiling attitude, she spoke with some hostility, "No, thank you. He is fine."
To that, Emperor Yang Long who was on the side watching this unfold, his brows became slightly knitted as he heard the Empress' response. In the corner of his eye, he could see Mei Fang's spirit slowly lose its brightness.
"Empress, pass the prince to Li Cai Ren. She has more experience with babies than you, Zhen does not like hearing hi, crying." His voice came out harsher than he had intended to, nevertheless, his words were absolute.
Reluctance was shown in the Empress' face and her arms began clinging onto her baby, even more, causing the little prince to cry even more. Her pleading eyes were directly shown towards Emperor Yang Long, but he merely turned sideways to gaze at the lake.
...He completely turned his back on her…
Hui Lan bit her lips to contain her boiling emotions.
...Why…
Empress Shen showed no signs of passing the little prince to Li Cai Ren and the little prince showed no signs that he would stop crying.
It was Li Cai Ren who came up closer to Hui Lan and lend out her arms as if she was ready for Hui Lan to pass the little prince to her.
However, Hui Lan's arms around the little prince did not move anywhere.
Seeing the fear in the Empress' eyes, Li Cai Ren tried assuring the Empress with a friendly smile before initiating and slowly took the little prince away from the Empress.
Now, the little prince was brought into someone else' embrace.
Almost immediately, the crying stopped and the little prince began to slowly calm himself down in Li Cai Ren's arms.
To that, Hui Lan's eyes looked at her baby in astonishment. This…
With eyes full of adoration, Li Cai Ren began playing with the little prince.
Emperor Yang Long turned around slightly, before turning back.
...Tut, tut...if the Empress was this easy to deal with, then that old tiger Feng would not be hard at all...
Soon...he thought...everything will go as planned.
Then after, Li Cai Ren sat down and played with the prince while the Empress watched over her baby from the opposite seat. Meanwhile, the Emperor joined Li Cai Ren when she called out his name. There Hui Lan witnessed the picture that she had in mind when she entered this palace. However, the lady that was beside the Emperor and holding onto his baby was not her, but someone else...
When Li Cai Ren played enough with the little prince, she reluctantly gave him back to the Empress. Even on her way back, she kept talking to the Emperor non-stop on how adorable the little prince was.
On the other hand, the Emperor simply listened silently, but that was his expression of showing his attention to the other person. He was not a man of words, but he would listen to those he cared for. This lady was one of them…
As the two away, Hui Lan could not help but look with tired eyes. They seemed...so in love with each other.
Her gaze was still lingering at the way the two had exited her palace, only until Su Rong had to wake her up, "Niang Niang, it's getting late. Let's go inside hm?"
Hui Lan looked up at Su Rong with watery eyes, before nodding.
Slowly the day in Kunning palace passed and the lights were all dimmed. The Young mother had tucked her baby son into bed and all slumbered into a deep sleep.
