๎ฑฐโOutside, the nephew was still pounding on the door. Pei Huaijin had no choice but to briefly release his hand from Shen Youranโs mouth so she could speak and calm him down.
Fortunately, Shen Youran didnโt have to use much voice tonight; her tone remained clear as she called out to the child outside, โCheโer, itโs cold outside. You should go back to your room first. Auntie will come find you soonโฆโ
The child cried stubbornly, โNo, no! I want to see you now!โ
If Danruo had known what was happening inside the study, she too would have urged the young master to return. But that little troublemaker refused to leave, kneeling on the ground and crying pitifully.
Hearing this, Shen Youran could only ask Pei Huaijin to get up.
Luckily, Pei Huaijin had experience in this matter. He covered Shen Youranโs mouth again, saying, โThen Iโll be quickโฆโ
Che Mingcheโs cries masked the sudden intensification of movement on the bed. What should have taken another forty-five minutes ended after only a few breaths, and peace returned.
Pei Huaijin exhaled heavily and suddenly remembered he had been too impatient this time and had ended up inside her.
He had already removed the previously inserted needle. Over these years of intimacy, he had gotten used to withdrawing outside, knowing there was still a chance of pregnancy, but fortunately, luck had been on their side so farโno addition to the family yet.
Although his mother and grandmother pressured them, back when Shen Youran was pregnant with Yuan Yuan, she was still young. Pei Huaijin worried it would sap her vitality and wanted her to rest a few more years. So the matter of having a second child had not been brought up.
Now that it had happened, Pei Huaijin wiped her down thoughtfully and thought, โWell, let nature take its course.โ
After Shen Youran dressed, Pei Huaijin draped his cloak over her and then opened the door.
Che Mingche, his face flushed from crying, was still lying on the ground, unwilling to get up.
Shen Youran squatted down to pick him up, but her legs were weak, and she couldnโt lift him.
Seeing that she finally came out, Che Mingche crawled over to her and, blowing snot bubbles, said, โAuntie, why did you take so long?โ
โUmโฆโ
Shen Youran took a handkerchief from Danruo and wiped his face while trying to think of an explanation.
Before she could come up with a suitable excuse, he said, โWere you two painting in there?โ
โHuh?โ
โThisโฆโ He pointed at the red marks on her neck, โMy dad and mom often paint marks like that on each other too.โ
โIs that so?โ
โBut my dad can paint so many at onceโnot just on my momโs neck, but onโฆโ
Shen Youran quickly covered the boyโs mouth, โEnough talking about this. Come on, Auntie will take you back to sleep.โ
After staying over a month at the Pei residence, Xie Mingche gradually got used to the place. At night, he no longer clung to Shen Youran but instead ate and slept with Yuan Yuan.
Although a year older than Yuan Yuan, Mingche was born a chubby baby. Now three years old, he ate well and stood only slightly shorter than Yuan Yuan but was noticeably rounder. Since both children resembled their mothers more, sometimes when Shen Youran took them out, strangers unfamiliar with them even thought they were twins of opposite genders.
That little boy was extremely affectionate and reluctant to be separated wherever he went.
One day, an envoy from the palace arrived, saying His Majesty missed his great-grandson and wanted them to bring the young master to the palace for a visit.
However, since the children were still young and rarely went to the palace, they were very resistant to the palace envoys and refused to go inside with them.
The envoy had no choice but to ask Shen Youran to accompany the young master.
But a new problem arose: once Che Mingche was going to the palace, Yuan Yuan naturally wanted to follow. Mingche also clung tightly to his cousin, refusing to let go. But how could Shen Youran dare to bring an extra child into such a strict palace?
Seeing the two children inseparable, delaying would miss the appointed time. The envoy decided that Yuan Yuan could accompany them and stay in a side hall. Since the emperor was busy with state affairs, he likely wouldnโt spend much time with the young master, and they could bring the other child back afterward.
There was no other choice. Shen Youran took the children and Mingcheโs wet nurse and boarded the carriage to the palace.
The carriage stopped outside the vermilion palace gates, where a soft sedan chair was already prepared inside for the three-year-old young master.
The two children sat comfortably side by side as they chattered, being carried to the Qianqing Palace.
They waited in a side hall first. After the eunuch reported to the main hall, he returned to fetch Xie Mingche.
Mingche dared not go alone and clung tightly to Shen Youranโs leg. Helpless, she accompanied him.
Yuan Yuan also wanted to go but was coaxed to stay by Shen Youran with some snacks.
The main hall was scented with dragon incense, a pleasant aroma, but it was Shen Youranโs first time seeing the emperor. She held her breath nervously, afraid to breathe.
She held Che Mingcheโs hand and stepped forward to bow, sweat beading on her palms.
After signaling for them to rise, the emperor inquired about the young masterโs condition, then called Mingche closer to examine him.
Mingche was timid, wide-eyed and confused under the emperorโs hand, uncertain how to respond.
The young master was not intimate with him, so the emperor did not force anything and bestowed some gifts before dismissing them.
Once outside the main hall, the tight weight in Shen Youranโs chest finally lifted.
Just as she planned to return to the side hall to get Yuan Yuan and the wet nurse, Yuan Yuan appeared pale and said, โHusband, just now a palace maid came with some cakes, but Yuan Yuan didnโt see herโฆโ
โDidnโt see her?โ
Shen Yan was strict; the children knew better. If she had wandered into forbidden areasโฆ
She dared not think further and hurriedly told the eunuch in charge. Upon hearing the child was missing, he ordered his men to search immediately.
โSurely she couldnโt have gone far in this short time,โ the eunuch said as he swung his dust whisk, suddenly remembering, โWait, thereโs a door between the side hall and main hall. Could that little girl have run into the main hall?โ
If she had, it would be a serious breach to the emperor. The consequences would be unimaginable.
Though this was the worst-case scenario, no one dared to search the main hall. They could only look around nearby.
Yet, after searching everywhere except the main hall, there was still no sign of Yuan Yuan.
The guards at the palace gates were certain she hadnโt slipped outside, so she must still be somewhere inside the palace.
Several pairs of eyes simultaneously fell on the last place they hadnโt searchedโthe main hall.
As suspected, Yuan Yuan had indeed sneaked through the side door into the main hall.
At that moment, the emperor had just sent Shen Youran and Xie Mingche out. He sipped his tea and glanced sideways to see a little figure in a peach-red dress peeking curiously in his direction.
The emperor turned his head to meet her gaze, surprised that the little girl was not afraid but boldly walked towards him.
The attendant on duty was shocked to see a child in the hall and was about to scold her, but the emperor raised his hand to stop him.
The little girl, with wide curious eyes, walked up to the imperial desk and looked up at him.
The emperor watched her with interest.
Earlier, when his great-grandson had seen him, there had been some timidity, but this little girl was bold, meeting his gaze without any sign of avoidance.
โWhere did you come from? Whatโs your name?โ
โMy name is Yuan Yuan. I came here with my mother and cousin Mingcheโฆโ
So she was from the Pei family.
โWhat are you doing here?โ
โNothing much. I saw a door and pushed it open, then I came in.โ Yuan Yuan looked at him curiously. โWho are you?โ
โMe?โ The emperor chuckled, โDo you know who I am?โ
โWhat does โIโ mean? Is it your name?โ
The attendant standing nearby was horrified and wiped sweat from his brow on behalf of this naive little girl.
Fortunately, the emperor was not angry and patiently explained, โNo, โIโ meansโฆ the lonely rulerโฆโ
Yuan Yuan was too young to understand โlonely rulerโ but could roughly grasp its meaning.
โYouโre very lonely?โ
โYou could say that.โ
โBut why are you lonely? Youโre as old as my great-grandfather and should have many children. Why are you still lonely?โ
โBecause my children are not by my side, and they always fight, causing me much trouble.โ
โFighting is not good. My cousin and I never fightโฆโ
โYou are a good child.โ
โThen donโt you have any good children?โ
โI have one, but I sent him away.โ
โWhy did you send him away? Was he not obedient?โ
โHe was very obedientโฆโ
โThen why did you send him away?โ
The emperor fell silent. The attendant tried to pick up the little girl, but she slipped away like a fish from his grasp, darted around the desk, and grabbed the emperorโs sleeve, glaring at him warily.
The attendant was at a loss. He feared that if this continued, this audacious little girl might get herself into serious trouble.
โYou havenโt answered my question yet,โ the little girl said, turning her gaze to the side eunuch.
The emperor was naturally suspicious and rarely opened his heart to anyone. Living in such a high position, he was wary of everyone around himโincluding consorts, his sons, and even his grandsonsโbut he never felt the need to guard against a three or four-year-old child.
Some things could not be told to those around him. Perhaps this little girl was a good listener.
โLittle girl, have you heard the story of how an eagle pushes its grown eaglets off a cliff?โ
โYouโre going to tell me a story? Wonderful! I love stories,โ the little girl said, climbing onto his lap. โIโm sitting nicely now. You can start telling me a storyโฆโ
Outside the palace, Shen Youran earnestly pleaded with the eunuch to help search inside the main hall.
The eunuch hesitated but suddenly saw a man in a deep blue official robe entering and brightened, โPei Dianjiโฆโ
It was none other than Pei Huaiโan, who had recently passed the spring imperial exam among the top three and joined the Hanlin Academy as a compiler thanks to his excellent handwriting and essays.
At this time, Pei Huaiโan and several colleagues were tasked with compiling books, and today they were to present the finished volume to the emperor, thus entering the palace.
Since he was going to see the emperor, he could take this chance to help look for the missing child.
Moreover, the missing child was his niece.
After hearing the full story and seeing Shen Youranโs anxious expression, Pei Huaiโan comforted her, โSister-in-law, donโt worry. Iโll go in and take a look right awayโฆโ
After palace guards verified and allowed him entry, Pei Huaiโan walked into the hall.
As soon as he approached, he saw his niece sitting on the emperorโs lap, holding her chubby cheeks and speaking softly, โSo the eagle pushes the eaglets off the cliff to teach them how to fly. The eagle is so kindโฆโ
Then they saw the usually formidable emperorโs beard twitch slightly as a faint smile appeared on his face.