Li Yu stroked Bao#1’s head and also didn’t move to hit Bao#2 and Bao#3’s butts.
Li Yu grabbed these three’s little soft hands and placed them together, on top of each other and said educationally: “You guys are blood related brothers. You all need to watch out and help each other, instead of starting internal strife. If your brother gets something good, you should feel happy for them, not try to take it away. Because–”
Li Yu abruptly paused. He realized what he was saying and glanced towards Jing-wang with discomfort.
Can he teach the kids this way? No matter what, they were kids of the royal family after all……
But he was also the one who gave birth to them. If he didn’t teach them, who would!
Jing-wang gently nodded his head towards Li Yu, indicating for him to continue.
Receiving encouragement, Li Yu finished saying his speech with a smile: “…… because what’s yours will still be yours in the end. What’s not yours, you won’t be able to hold onto even if you take it by force.”
Bao#1 looked at the cloth tiger, deep in thought. Bao#2 and Bao#3 were no longer in a hurry to throw the blame onto each other. They mischievously exchanged a look and voluntarily scooted their own butts in front of fish dad, willing to get spanked by fish dad.
Li Yu made them pull up their pants the same way they helped each other take them off.
Bao#1 understood his teaching and solemnly pulled out his most favorite brush that grandpa gave him. He placed it next to the sleeping Bao#4 and, imitating fish dad, he rubbed Bao#4 on the head.
Bao#2 and Bao#3 sat together, attempting to piece together the broken cloth tiger again.
However, the cloth tiger was practically split apart, unable to be put together again.
Bao#2 and Bao#3 also discovered this and lowered their heads dispiritedly. Wang Xi received an eye gesture from Jing-wang and carried over a few toys. Normally he always carried a bit of the little masters’ toys on him. One of them was the cloth ducky that Bao#2 loved and Bao#3’s favorite rattle-drum.
Imitating Bao#1, Bao#2 and Bao#3 also placed the cloth ducky and rattle-drum in front of Bao#4.
When Bao#4 woke up, his eyes lit up. His big brothers were all sitting around him in a pile, and they even placed plenty of good stuff in front of him. Seeing that he woke up, they all came over to kiss him.
Bao#4, who loved kisses, immediately forgot about the cloth tiger and started playing with the toys with his older brothers, and playfully giving each other kisses.
Li Yu successfully defused the little dispute between the kids. They practically forgot all about it in the aftermath.
Jing-wang had been listening to him educating the fish babies this entire time. Xiao Yu had many frank and open ideas and opinions that Jing-wang had never heard of before. The masters and graduate scholars don’t teach this either. Jing-wang was well aware that the respect between brothers of the royal family was just a mere pretense. However, now that the fish babies reconciled; on the contrary, he felt like this was how things should be.
At this time, a gold garment tail flashed past outside the palace hall. Wang Xi, who was near the entrance of the hall, discovered it and hastily shot meaningful looks at Jing-wang.
Wang Xi was afraid that wangfei might accidentally say something offensive and wanted to step forth and stop him.
Jing-wang shook his head, not allowing Wang Xi to go. He liked listening to Xiao Yu speak logically and didn’t feel like there was anything wrong with it.
Outside of the palace hall, the Emperor naturally also heard Li Yu’s speech. Emperors of ancient times all loved to eavesdrop. The Emperor originally wanted to see what the husband pair would say in front of Empress Xiao Hui’s departed spirit. He just secretly came over when he accidentally bumped into the wangfei educating the children. The Emperor didn’t really approve of Li Yu’s words and chided with a smile: “Absolute nonsense.” In actuality, he still remained and watched the children play energetically for a long time.
Head manager Luo accompanied him by his side and couldn’t help but curse internally. Although you say it’s absolute nonsense, you still look far more vigorous right now than any other time, your majesty.
Jing-wang waited until the Emperor had left before finally walking over. Li Yu, who was completely unaware that he had risen in reputation in the Emperor’s eyes: ?
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Alcu-kjcu geyyfv tlr tfjv klat j rwlif.
Ol Te: “…….”
Djb#1, Djb#2, Djb#3, jcv Djb#4 ujatfgfv abufatfg jcv mtjaafv lc yjys ajix. Vb olrt vjv jirb ilxfv ufaalcu tlr tfjv geyyfv?!
Pc ogbca bo atf olrt yjylfr, olrt vjv ecfzqfmafvis rajgafv yiertlcu.
“Yt gluta, sbeg tlutcfrr!” Ol Te oilqqfv atf mibat alufg bnfg ab rtbk atf rlvf klat atf fwygblvfgfv kbgvr. Lf tjcvfv la bnfg obg Alcu-kjcu jcv Qjcu Wl ab ibbx.
Wang Xi looked at it repeatedly a few times, then touched it a bit before saying with certainty: “This is a custom of ChangChun Palace. If one of the servants made something, they needed to leave a mark in an inconspicuous place. However, the Pu Liu here…… if this old servant may speak directly, I have never heard of before. However, no need to worry, wangfei. This notation is most likely a person’s name. I can go investigate the files of ChangChun Palace’s previous workers. It should say.”
Li Yu hastily thanked him. Who knew if there’d be any progress this time or if the result was even related to the secret that he’s been mulling over.
Wang Xi ordered an attendant to fetch the files. Soon afterwards, the attendant came back to report. After Empress Xiao Hui passed away, ChangChun Palace had misplaced a bunch of things. Unfortunately, one of the items was a booklet of names. Wang Xi took what’s left over of the files and flipped through them. However, he was unable to find Pu Liu.
Wang Xi knew this was how the people in the palace threw away the blame. Missing items were spoken as misplaced. Wang Xi was just about to scold when Li Yu hastily said: “I was only curious who made this cloth tiger, nothing else.”
Outwardly, nothing was found. However, in a pile of booklets of names, just this one managed to get lost. Instinct told him that this was somewhat odd.
He also heard from the person responsible, the booklet had been lost for many years already. The names recorded on that booklet, then, must be from many years ago, and not of the current palace servants.
Bumping into a wall once again, Li Yu decided that he still needed to go ask head manager Luo regarding if Jing-wang had some other wet nurse before, and regarding who Pu Liu was.
He was still thinking about the room that he saw inside the secret. As Jing-wang watched the kids play, Li Yu said: “TianChi, can I look around a bit?”
Jing-wang permitted it, but he didn’t let Wang Xi follow Li Yu or order Wang Xi to stay behind to watch the kids. Instead, he picked up two of the kids and ordered Wang Xi to carry the other two. Then, everyone followed behind Li Yu. Li Yu was responsible for walking around. Jing-wang was responsible for taking care of the kids and protecting Li Yu.
Li Yu grinned widely and found a palace servant to lead the way. They started to wander around, room by room.
After the stroll was completed, he still couldn’t find the room that was in the memory.
Li Yu had thought about it before. The rooms inside the imperial palace should all be pretty much the same. The decorations might change, but the ceiling, supporting frames, and that kind of stuff wouldn’t change. Li Yu originally hoped to use these aspects to find the room in the memory. However, he couldn’t find it. Searching around in a circle, he discovered that the stroll was already done.
Li Yu counted the rooms that he visited and felt that something didn’t seem quite right.
Normally the total number of rooms would be even, with the rooms coming in pairs. The Jing Estate was like this. The Palace of Empress Xiao Hui should also follow the same pattern. However, he clearly remembered entering an odd number of rooms.
Li Yu mentioned it offhandedly. The servant leading the way knelt down, trembling with trepidation: “Originally there’s one more room, but his majesty sealed it……”
Li Yu was shocked. He was only guessing based on the setup of the Jing estate. It was actually true?
The servant pulled away a heavy curtain and revealed a yellow worn out seal.
So this curtain concealed a room that he hasn’t visited yet.
“His majesty had sealed this room when Empress Xiao Hui was severely ill, and did not permit us servants to open it.”
The date written on the seal confirmed the palace servant’s words. Since this was the Emperor’s seal, Li Yu also couldn’t open it rashly. However, the positions of ChangChun Palace’s rooms were all symmetrical. Li Yu made a comparison with the room on the opposing side and came to the conclusion that the room he was looking for should be the one behind the seal.
If one can say that the words, Pu Liu, which were sewn on the cloth tiger, didn’t have anything to do with the secret; then it must be said that this room was definitely related to the secret.
It looks like even the Emperor knew this secret. Otherwise why would he seal the room?
And it was even while Empress Xiao Hui was severely ill. That’s very dismissive of Empress Xiao Hui’s reputation. Wasn’t he afraid of upsetting Empress Xiao Hui?
Li Yu didn’t believe that the Emperor would disregard Empress Xiao Hui. That meant that the existence of this room exceeded Empress Xiao Hui’s reputation.
Just what kind of secret was this. Why was it that every time he felt like he was getting closer to the truth, even more mysteries would surround him?
Li Yu asked the palace servant: “Do you know the situation inside here?”
In the memory, he saw the wet nurse eat a bag of powder, but he didn’t know what happened afterwards. Could the wet nurse have died of poison inside this room later on? That’s why the Emperor sealed it up?
That was pretty discomforting after all. Just thinking about it, Li Yu felt it was rather discomforting.
The servant shook their head, saying: “This servant was transferred to ChangChun Palace later on. When I arrived, the room was already like this. I also don’t know what’s inside.”
Li Yu also expected this and stopped asking.
Jing-wang discovered that Li Yu was staring off into space, facing the sealed room, and sensed a hint of abnormality.
What’s the matter? Jing-wang shot him a questioning look.
Li Yu slowly shook his head. This thing was a bit hard to explain to Jing-wang. The main reason was that Jing-wang was still too young at that time and didn’t have any impression of it.
“Your highness, wangfei. The Emperor has rewards for you.” Head manager Luo’s voice traveled in from the outside.
The Emperor came over to eavesdrop. After returning to Ganqing Palace, he then ordered head manager Luo to come over bearing gifts.
Li Yu was shocked. They had just left Ganqing Palace not long ago. The Emperor was really acting a bit like the saying “Not seeing each other for one day feels like being apart for three seasons.”
However, since the Emperor wanted to reward them, it’s not like he can be stopped.
Jing-wang and Li Yu listened to the rewards while holding the kids.
The Emperor rewarded Bao#1 the smallest sized writing utensils for his little chubby hand to hold. The other three Baos got exquisite toys of the twelve zodiac animals.
Li Yu thought internally, actually the Emperor already rewarded them a lot, so why was he suddenly gifting the kids again?
Nevertheless. The Emperor’s love for Bao#1 was extremely apparent. Perhaps the one making the Emperor “feel apart for three seasons” was Bao#1, who knows.
Other than rewarding the kids, the Emperor also rewarded the kids’ dad– Li Yu, a painting of Mother Meng teaching her child.
Li Yu: “……”
Why did he feel like the Emperor misunderstood something here? Was the Emperor trying to hint that he should learn from Mother Meng and move around with the kids?
“Your highness, wangfei. There’s also this.” Head manager Luo personally brought over two boxes of fish food.
“His majesty knows that you love to raise fish. So he ordered this old servant to bring over some fish food as well. This fish food has the taste of the capital’s shredded pork with soybean jam. It’s a new flavor that the Imperial Kitchens just created.”
Saying this, head manager Luo handed the boxes of fish food to Wang Xi. Wang Xi immediately accepted it.
Because it counted as food, Wang Xi opened it for inspection, per usual. When he opened the box, the smell of fish food immediately traveled and dispersed outward. Absent-mindedly, head manager Luo saw the little masters of the wangfei all staring unblinkingly at the fish food.
Bao#1, Bao#2, Bao#3, Bao#4: It’s been so very very long since we ate fish food. So delicious. Really want to eat!!
Li Yu: “……”
Although Li Yu’s fish instincts activated and he also wanted to eat, he was deeply aware that he couldn’t expose himself in public. He could also control himself. However, the kids couldn’t. Fish food and peach blossom cookies were two delicious cuisines that they’ve been yearning for since they were still young fishes. However, after changing into humans, they could only have peach blossom cookies. When the kids saw the fish food, their eyes all became fixed.
Why would there be little kids who loved to eat fish food? That’s too preposterous!
Seeing the Baos about to call out, Li Yu gave them a vicious glare. The Baos, #1-4, all were terrified by fish dad’s frightening look and didn’t dare to move. They also didn’t dare to call out.
Li Yu quickly seized the opportunity to slam the box of fish food shut and nimbly stuff it into his sleeve.
Jing-wang was practically observing Xiao Yu every single moment in time. Since Xiao Yu already put away the box, Jing-wang collaborated seamlessly with him and swiftly pulled out a few peach blossom cookies to block the Baos’ mouths. The Baos immediately forgot the fish food to the back of their heads.
Head manager Luo rubbed his eyes: Looks like he must have really been blind to have believed that Jing-wang’s little masters liked fish food……
“Head manager Luo, can I ask you something?” While head manager Luo sat down to drink a cup of tea, Li Yu took the chance to ask him quietly.
“As you please, wangfei.” Head manager Luo had a very good impression of this wangfei. He was also happy to answer Wangfei’s questions.
Therefore, Li Yu asked: “Does Luo-gonggong know someone called Pu Liu? They should be a woman and might have worked in Changchun Palace before.”
“Why are you asking this, wangfei?” A hint of unnaturalness flashed across Luo-gonggong’s face, which was captured in Li Yu’s eyes.
Li Yu paid more attention and pulled out the ripped cloth tiger, making head manager Luo look at the words embroidered inside. Randomly finding an excuse, he said: “The kids accidentally broke this cloth tiger, therefore I saw this mark. I heard it’s a person’s name so got somewhat curious.”
“So it’s like this……” Head manager Luo said with a smile: “Wangfei, you guessed right. This is the mark of a wet nurse who once worked for Empress Xiao Hui. She was once the wet nurse of the 1st Prince and 4th Prince. Empress Xiao Hui was extremely trusting of her. Originally, she was going to continue being Jing-wang’s wet nurse. However, soon afterwards, she made a huge mistake and couldn’t take care of the prince anymore. Empress Xiao Hui had no choice but to expel her from the Imperial Palace. The Emperor also sealed up the room that she once lived in.”
Li Yu: “…….”
Li Yu felt like he touched a glimpse of light which tied together quite a few perplexing questions.
Pu Liu was really a person’s name, a wet nurse to be specific. The age also matched up. She once took care of Jing-wang for a short period of time and then the Emperor later sealed her room……
“Is it that sealed room inside ChangChun Palace?”
Was the wet nurse the one that killed the 1st and the 4th prince? When their death was mentioned it feels suspicious or maybe I just forgot and read it wrong
Also Thank You For The Chapter!!
But that means that it’s possible the 6th prince isn’t the final boss. Someone back then had to have been plotting against the Empress and her kids; the other princes would have been far too young. It’s possible it could have been their mother’s, but they’ve already been dealt with and fallen out of the story so it’d be awkward storytelling to bring them back up at this point of the narrative.
Thanks for the chapter!
Ahh, it’s a conspiracy!!! 🤩
Nursemaid made huge mistake, possibly to do with the 1st and 4th princes that died, nursemaid possibly took poison, and a cliffhanger before we’ve figured out the pieces… Thanks for the updates 😁
Thank You for the chapter (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤
Maybe the reason the 1st and 4th prince died is because someone forced the maid to eat poison before breastfeeding like we saw in the secret. The only reason Jing Wang survived was because they found out in time but he was still caused a disability…
Then why are they acting like “Jing Wang couldn’t speak from the birth, and his future kids also won’t be able to talk”
Because if they knew it, i mean if they found out jing wang was being poisened, they wouldn’t think such things. And they would totally know that his future children will be able to talk naturally
oh my god this could be the case
thanks for the chapter!