Chapter 506: The Pouting One Who Needs Comfort
Chapter 506: The Pouting One Who Needs Comfort
Liu Qingyun led Lu Yuan to a palace that was both familiar and unfamiliar.
It was familiar because Lu Yuan had passed by it several times, but unfamiliar because he had never set foot inside.
Lu Yuan looked up at the sign that shimmered faintly in the twilight—Everbright Palace.
Having lived in the imperial palace for so long, he naturally knew who resided there.
His steps faltered.
Liu Qingyun, who had been leading her son, suddenly found him stopping.
She turned around and said, "Come on in!"
Lu Yuan looked at her, "Are you sure?"
He then turned to glance at his stepfather, as if asking, "What's going on?"
Lu Zhaoyan said, "Your mother wants you to come in."
Lu Yuan smiled, "You didn't say that before."
Everbright Palace was Chen Fei's residence.
In the past, when he thought he was an adopted son, he didn't have the nerve to ask to meet Chen Fei. Later, when he learned he was genuine, he naturally wanted to pay his respects to his grandmother.
But his stepfather had told him, "Your grandmother likes peace and quiet. Don't disturb her."
Now, it seemed she no longer minded the disturbance?
"Also, I've been in the palace for so long, and I've never seen Grandma Chen. Your mother, on the other hand, met her the first time she came to the palace. What's the deal?"
Lu Zhaoyan spoke bluntly, "You're not as important as your mother."
Lu Yuan felt a thousand arrows pierce his heart.
"Come on, come on."
Liu Qingyun pulled her son into Everbright Palace.
Chen Fei was a simple and unassuming person, disliking extravagance. The courtyard was serene and filled with lush greenery, with orchids and roses planted, not of any rare variety, but they brought a sense of tranquility.
There weren't many attendants in Everbright Palace, making it seem rather quiet.
Passing through the Moon Gate, Lu Yuan saw Chen Fei watering the flowers in the small garden.
Chen Fei was usually very plain, but to meet her daughter-in-law and grandson, she had changed into a grand palace attire, which made her a bit clumsy when doing her chores.
The long sleeves of her robe kept getting in the way of the watering can. After several failed attempts, a large, well-defined hand took the can from her.
"I'll do it."
Lu Yuan said.
Chen Fei's eyes trembled as she slowly looked up at her grandson, who had come to her side. Her throat tightened with emotion.
She let go of the can.
Lu Yuan watered the flowers with precision, knowing exactly where and how much to water each one.
Chen Fei's eyes welled up with tears.
Lu Yuan's gaze fell on a pot of lush, green plants. "Why didn't you see me?"
His tone was calm, but a hint of hidden hurt was detectable.
"Don't you want to acknowledge me?"
Chen Fei hurriedly said, "How could I not... You passed Everbright Palace six times, and I knew. I..."
She lowered her head, a look of helplessness and embarrassment crossing her face, "I had a cold those days and was afraid of passing it to you."
"Lie."
Lu Yuan said sternly.
Chen Fei hesitated.
Lu Yuan huffed, "Do you think that because the Empress has no children, by not interacting with the Crown Prince's Mansion, you can make the Empress treat the Crown Prince as her own son and me as her own grandson? You don't like praying to the Buddha at all, but you act as if you're going to become a nun in the palace, just to tell the Empress that when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, you won't be the Empress Dowager."
Deep parental love often leads to far-reaching plans.
Chen Fei had indeed initially planned it this way.
She knew her humble origins couldn't provide any support to her son. If she could make the Empress a pillar of strength for the Crown Prince's Mansion, she was willing to give up everything and spend her life with the ancient Buddha and the green lamp.
But plans often go awry. Lu Qi turned out not to be Lu Zhaoyan's biological child, and the Empress ultimately sided with Prince Jin's Manor.
Chen Fei sighed deeply, "Your father said you are smarter than him. I didn't believe it at first. Who could have a faster mind than his?"
Lu Yuan replied, "Do you believe it now?"
"Yes", Chen Fei nodded, her voice soft, "Grandma was wrong. Can Yu'er forgive Grandma?"
Lu Yuan's little grievance and anger were instantly smoothed over.
But he still had to put on a show.
Who ever heard of someone getting angry and immediately making peace?
Was he supposed to have no pride just because he was the grandson?
Chen Fei pursed her lips and said to Lu Yuan, "Zhaoyan is inside. Go keep her company."
Lu Yuan snorted, "Who wants to keep her company—"
Chen Fei smiled, "Zhaoyan's teacher is there too."
"I'll leave the kettle here."
Lu Yuan put the kettle back on the shelf and walked away with a swift step.
Chen Fei watched the stiff back of the person and relaxed, turning to Lu Zhaoyan and Liu Qingyun, who were peeking from the doorway. "How was my performance just now?"
Liu Qingyun gave a thumbs up, "Perfect!"
Lu Zhaoyan said seriously, "Mother, when did I ever say he was smarter than me?"
Chen Fei laughed awkwardly.
When Lu Yuan reached the back garden, Bao Zhuzhu had already fallen asleep while feeding Little Horse, still clutching a handful of hay.
Meng Qianqian gestured for Lu Yuan to be quiet.
Lu Yuan huffed and scooped up the little one into his arms.
The little one struggled to open her heavy eyelids, thrashing about in her sleep, but exhausted, she soon fell back into a deep sleep in her "rubbish father's" arms.
Meng Qianqian smiled, "Grandson Prince."
Lu Yuan said coldly, "Did you teach her that?"
Meng Qianqian feigned ignorance, "Teach her what?"
Lu Yuan gave her a sidelong glance.
Chen Fei had been able to calm him down just by meeting him, and the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like someone else's technique.
Meng Qianqian cleared her throat and changed the subject, "Grandma Chen is beautiful and kind. It's a good thing for Grandson Prince to be recognized by Grandma."
"Hmph."
Lu Yuan huffed.
Bao Zhuzhu, feeling warm, turned over in his arms, sticking out one of her little feet.
"Let me take her."
Meng Qianqian said.
"Xier."
Lu Yuan called out.
Xier hurried over, "Your Highness!"
Lu Yuan handed the little one to her, "Take her away."
Xier looked pained, "Not really..."
The little miss was so heavy, she couldn't carry her...
Xier used all her strength to carry the sleeping little weight, inching out of the courtyard, "Lady... save me—"
Meng Qianqian watched Xier with concern, ready to rush over and take the child at any moment.
Lu Yuan said calmly, "She won't fall."
"Is she asleep?"
"Lady! Xier can't handle it anymore..."
"Didn't I tell you to eat more meat? You can't even carry a child..."
Liu Qingyun took the child into her arms.
"Feeling better now?"
Lu Yuan said jealously.
Meng Qianqian smiled, "Congratulations, Grandson Prince, on reclaiming your Qilin identity."
Lu Yuan muttered, "Now you congratulate me?"
Meng Qianqian said warmly, "Grandson Prince is wise and brave, the most powerful and valiant man Xiao Jiu has ever seen. Xiao Jiu's admiration for Grandson Prince is like an endless ocean, surging without end. The greatest fortune of Xiao Jiu's life is to have met Grandson Prince."
Who could resist such flattery?
Lu Yuan was floating on cloud nine, his soul ascending.
He said coldly, "Since you admire this Your Highness so much, will you agree if this Your Highness pursues you now?"
Meng Qianqian thought for a moment.
Lu Yuan's face darkened, and he clenched his fists, "Xiao Jiu Yan, you're actually hesitating?!"
Ha ha ha, he was angry, the kind that couldn't be calmed.
(End of Chapter)
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