Extra 5

Thanks to the Emperor's grace, Ziren's marriage was finally settled before the funeral of the late Prince Chun.

Due to being in mourning for the late Prince Chun, Princess Dunsu wore plain attire, with only two silver hairpins. She sighed, "Prince Chun is in deep mourning and has lost quite some weight these days. Yesterday, Queen Mother and I tried to console him for a long time. With the old prince gone, the entire family is now depending on him."

The late Prince Chun passed away on the Winter Solstice. That day, Qi Xiao also went and instructed the Imperial Affairs Department to make grand arrangements, as a way to repay the old prince's kindness towards him in the past.

"I haven't seen the prince since the incident, and didn't know..." Qi Xiao pondered for a moment, "Jiang Deqing, prepare some tonics and send them over. Tell the prince that I said to take care of himself."

Jiang Deqing quickly acknowledged the order. Princess Dunsu said with gratitude, "With Your Majesty showing such concern, it's all worthwhile. Since the old prince's passing, Your Majesty has been continuously comforting the Prince Chun's Household. Everyone there is deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace."

Qi Xiao gave a faint smile, "Aunt, are you blaming me for not allowing Prince Chun to inherit the title at the same rank?"

"How could that be?!" Princess Dunsu hastily clarified, "Did someone say something improper in front of Your Majesty?"

Qi Xiao leaned over and patted Princess Dunsu's hand, chuckling softly, "We are aunt and nephew having a heart-to-heart talk behind closed doors. There's no need to be so guarded. Just say what's on your mind."

Princess Dunsu sighed and smiled wryly, "Forget it, nothing can be hidden from Your Majesty. I'm not blaming you. It's just... I remember Your Majesty previously said you would bestow a great favor upon the late Prince Chun. I did wonder if it meant... Ah, it was just a momentary foolish thought. I never mentioned it to anyone else. What's past is past."

If Prince Chun could inherit the title at the same rank, he would become a Qin Wang. When Princess Dunsu's son-in-law returned, he would undoubtedly be granted the title of a prince. Naturally, for the sake of her daughter's glory and nobility, Princess Dunsu hoped Qi Xiao would bestow this great favor.

Qi Xiao smiled and after a while, slowly said, "I won't hide it from you, Aunt. I did consider this initially. Firstly, to console the late Prince Chun, and secondly, for the sake of my cousin. But now, some things have changed, and I have other thoughts..."

Princess Dunsu frowned, "Other thoughts?"

Qi Xiao nodded. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "The eldest daughter-in-law of the third branch of the Prince Chun's household passed away in early autumn, right?"

Princess Dunsu was quite puzzled but nodded, "Yes, that's right..."

Qi Xiao subconsciously touched the life token at his waist and said indifferently, "The third branch of the Prince Chun's household is truly pitiful..."

"Who can say otherwise." Princess Dunsu shook her head and sighed, "The year before last, the master and eldest young master of their third branch passed away one after another. Because of this, the late Prince Chun's condition rapidly deteriorated. When the elderly have to bury the young, who can bear it... Fortunately, their eldest daughter-in-law was remarkable. When the funeral was held, it was discovered that she was already two months pregnant.

"Heaven has eyes. It was even a boy. With this posthumous child, their eldest daughter-in-law managed to pull through. But after all, this pregnancy was precarious. During childbirth, there were complications, and within a year... she also passed away, leaving behind this child. How tragic..."

Qi Xiao nodded and asked, "Who is raising this child now?"

Princess Dunsu sighed, "The Old Princess Consort is."

Qi Xiao chuckled, "The Old Princess Consort is almost eighty this year, right?"

"Indeed." As both a relative and in-law, Princess Dunsu was reluctant to gossip behind people's backs. But since Qi Xiao asked, she couldn't refuse to answer and decided to tell everything.

"Originally, the child was left in the care of the second branch's household. But their second daughter-in-law has a... not so good temperament. She can't tolerate the child. Before the child was even a year old, she didn't take good care of him. She only paid attention to her own son and daughter. Despite occupying the eldest branch's assets, she didn't show any concern. A few days ago, during the funeral, the prince's manor was in chaos. She actually forgot about the child and left him unattended for an entire day. When she went to check on him..."

Princess Dunsu gritted her teeth, "The boy's face was pale, his lips purple, and he had stopped crying... Only then did it alarm the Old Princess Consort. The Old Princess Consort was heartbroken and had someone bring the boy to her own courtyard."

"The Old Princess Consort didn't severely punish that vicious woman?! The child has no parents, and she allows her to mistreat him like this?!" Jiang Deqing, who had been listening on the side, couldn't hold back anymore and interjected. He immediately turned to Qi Xiao to apologize, "This old servant spoke out of turn."

Qi Xiao waved his hand without saying anything. Princess Dunsu smiled bitterly, "You make it sound simple. But the Old Princess Consort is advanced in years after all. Taking care of the child for a year or two is fine. But after she passes away, won't the child still have to be under the care of his aunt? If that woman is punished harshly now, it may be satisfying, but what about later? That second daughter-in-law already has children of her own. It's not like she can truly be divorced. If a grudge is formed now, the one who will suffer in the future is still this child."

Jiang Deqing was at a loss for words. He lowered his head and shook it without speaking. Qi Xiao's heart remained indifferent. He didn't care at all about who was pitiful or had a hard life. What he truly cared about was...

Qi Xiao looked at Princess Dunsu, "Aunt, please pass on a message to the Old Princess Consort for me."

Princess Dunsu quickly said, "Please speak, Your Majesty."

"The King of Lingnan..." Qi Xiao chose his words carefully, "has been frequently ill this year. I had the Imperial Observatory check his fortune. They said he needs... What is that child's birth data?"

Princess Dunsu was stunned by Qi Xiao's question and stammered, "This... I'm not too clear. I'll go and inquire for Your Majesty."

Qi Xiao nodded, "That's the birth data needed. Someone with this birth data can bring him good fortune. I think that child is most suitable. Please trouble you, Aunt, to inform the Old Princess Consort. If the Old Princess Consort is willing, ask her to send the child into the palace. I will have the King of Lingnan take good care of him and absolutely not let him suffer any more hardships."

Princess Dunsu was dumbfounded, "Bring... bring him into the palace? To be raised by the King of Lingnan?"

Qi Xiao affirmed, "Yes, just tell the Old Princess Consort what I said. She is a sensible person and will understand."

As they were talking, some noises came from the inner room. Jiang Deqing turned his head and instructed the palace servants, "The King of Lingnan is awake. Quickly go in to serve him, and tell those outside to swiftly prepare some refreshments."

Princess Dunsu never expected that Bairen would be resting in the inner room. It was already late in the morning, and he was just waking up... Princess Dunsu couldn't help but blush a little, becoming even more restless. She stood up and forced a smile, "Alright... I'll go to Prince Chun's manor right away."

Qi Xiao nodded, "Jiang Deqing... please see the princess off."

Princess Dunsu left the main hall and slowly walked towards the palace gate, puzzled by what had just happened... Earlier, they were discussing why Prince Chun wasn't allowed to inherit the title at the same level, and then Qi Xiao said it was because of another reason. Then the topic shifted to the posthumous child of the third branch of Prince Chun's manor, and then...

Princess Dunsu stopped in her tracks, her face turning pale.

"Princess?" Jiang Deqing looked at Princess Dunsu with confusion and smiled, asking, "What's the matter?"

After a long while, Princess Dunsu shook her head and let out a bitter laugh, muttering to herself, "This... is truly a great blessing..."

Jiang Deqing had already understood in his heart. Hearing her words, he shook his head with a smile and slowly said, "Princess... there are some things that when it's time to be muddled, one must be muddled. This old servant had also been too serious in the past, but later slowly came to understand. This old servant's half-life is for His Majesty. As long as His Majesty is happy, this old servant is happy. As for right or wrong... there's really no need to dwell on it too much."

Jiang Deqing looked at Princess Dunsu and smiled, "His Majesty does things only for his own comfort and pleasure, and this old servant is the same."

Princess Dunsu felt a chill in her heart and lowered her voice, urging, "Aren't you afraid that His Majesty will give this world to the King of Lingnan!"

Jiang Deqing waved his hand, "Princess, you're overthinking again. That child doesn't have the Dongling surname."

Princess Dunsu was speechless. Jiang Deqing smiled again, "Besides, that child is so young, and his aptitude is yet to be determined. It's not certain how he will turn out. Princess, don't worry."

"He already has this intention! Even without this child, there will be others!"

Jiang Deqing spread his hands, "Isn't that the end of it? If the princess doesn't help His Majesty, His Majesty will have other ways. What His Majesty wants is not this child, but this child's lonely background. Princess..." Jiang Deqing stepped forward and took over the female attendant's job, supporting Princess Dunsu as they slowly walked towards the palace gate. "His Majesty trusts you, that's why he's asking you to help with this. You should think of it this way..."

Jiang Deqing accompanied Princess Dunsu all the way to the palace gate, patiently persuading her along the way.

Finally, he smiled and said, "His Majesty didn't say anything, and this old servant doesn't dare to speculate on the royal intention. Now, His Majesty is only doing this because the King of Lingnan has been ill recently, so he found such a comforting method. There's nothing else."

Princess Dunsu understood Jiang Deqing's meaning and nodded with a sigh, "Don't worry, I know the severity and won't say too much to others."

Jiang Deqing bowed and saluted, "Then I'll have to trouble the princess for this trip."

Princess Dunsu sighed and shook her head as she got into the sedan chair.

In the bedchamber, Bairen was drowsily dressed by the palace servants. He asked in a low voice, "Where is His Majesty?"

"Right outside." Qi Xiao entered the inner room with a smile, waving his hand to dismiss the others. He stepped forward to arrange Bairen's attire himself. "It's already so late, why are you getting up? The weather is cool today. If you still want to review documents, do it in the warm study here. Don't go to the study room again."

As the year-end approached, there were many matters in the south. Since autumn, Lingnan had been implementing Qi Xiao's "two sets of memorials" method. Although Bairen could be more at ease, the number of memorials had doubled.

Last night, Bairen reviewed documents until midnight and was only dragged to bed by Qi Xiao when it was almost dawn. Princess Dunsu, unaware of the situation, thought the two had been intimate late into the night again.

Bairen yawned and nodded, "Mm, will Your Majesty also come?"

Qi Xiao was about to go to the front, but seeing Bairen's flushed sleepy face, he couldn't move. He changed his words, "Alright."

The two sat together on the kang bed, reviewing memorials on the small kang table. During a break, Qi Xiao told Bairen about what had happened earlier. Bairen understood in an instant and suddenly lost his voice, "You..."

Qi Xiao smiled and sat next to Bairen, taking his hand and squeezing it. He said in a low voice, "The child will be taught and raised by you. I'm at ease."

Bairen understood in his heart that Qi Xiao did all this just to make the child be of one heart with him in the future.

Qi Xiao was afraid that Bairen would be unhappy, so he deliberately lowered his head to kiss him and teased, "You're still so young, can you teach and raise a child?"

As he spoke, Qi Xiao tickled Bairen's ribs. Bairen couldn't stop laughing and trying to escape. Qi Xiao rolled over and pressed on top of Bairen to tease him. After laughing for a while, the two lay down.

Suddenly, Bairen's eyes turned red, and he fiercely bit Qi Xiao's arm. Qi Xiao curled his lips and smiled, "You little brat..."

Qi Xiao rolled over and pressed on top of Bairen again, but this time it wasn't just tickling...