Gu Ying looked at the cute and milky white little face of the young one, and her heart was extremely happy.
This was the precious baby she had lost in her last life. She had regretted countless times for not being able to protect him well and let him come into this world. Now, her child was growing up, becoming more and more sensible and thoughtful, and she was increasingly gratified and proud in her heart.
“Yan’er has grown a little taller today.”
“Yan’er will grow taller and taller. When he grows up, he can protect Mother!” The little one was full of momentum, and the corners of his pink lips slightly curled up. Although he was very young, he gave off an aura of vigor and unrestrainedness.
Gu Ying happily tapped the tip of the little one's nose, “Who did you learn this from?”
The little one raised his small head, blinking his black and white eyes, grinning, “Father said that.”
The little one was innocent and romantic, with a clever personality, lively but also a little calm. Like father, like son. The little dumpling looked almost exactly like the Crown Prince, only more childish and still with a hint of milkiness, while the other was tall and handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and an aura of great power.
Gu Ying lowered her eyes to hold his chubby little body. His turquoise robe complemented her own dress nicely.
The little guy always had ideas.
In the morning when he woke up, he would first find out what color dress she was wearing, and then ask the servants to match him with a set.
The mother and son's outfits matched very well. Whenever the little one saw this, he would be very happy and proud. "Mother, isn't this called mother-son clothing? In the future, we will go out to banquets dressed like this, and make others envy us!"
The five-year-old little one really grew up fast. It seemed he was almost up to her waist now.
Gu Ying sighed softly, letting Yin Lan and Yanzhi sit down and rest first, and then ordered Hai Tang to take out the flaky pastries and chilled sweet soup that had been prepared long ago, to let the little dumpling try them first.
Zhao Yan scrambled into his mother's arms excitedly, and mysteriously took out today's gift from his sleeve, "Does Mother like this?"
Gu Ying looked down, and it was an intricate nine-linked ring.
"Oh, Yan’er started playing with this now?"
Other children at five years old were still playing mud, but this little guy had already started playing with something she didn't even know how to play with?
"Yan’er was worried that Mother would be bored at home, so I bought this for Mother to play with." The little guy closed his eyes smugly, "Baby has already figured it out. Mother doesn't know how, so Baby can teach you!"
Gu Ying chuckled. She cherished the little one's thoughtfulness.
The little one didn't know that she was not bored at all. Since taking over the Crown Prince’s great cause, she had many things to be busy with every day.
First, she arranged for Yanzhi to be married to one of the Crown Prince's capable generals, posing as the young lady of the Duke of Dongping. She also hosted the grand weddings of Yin Lan and Huai An.
Now, Yanzhi had left the manor with her husband, and was living a rich and fulfilling life. In her yard, there were only Yin Lan and Hai Tang left to serve her.
Apart from the affairs of the household, she and her four sisters joined with Ning Si to open a shop in Bianjing to do business.
In just three or four years, she alone had 50,000 taels of silver in annual income.
Five years ago, Emperor Tianqi saw through the mundane world, unwilling to deal with state affairs. He issued an abdication edict, made himself a carefree retired emperor, and traveled the world with his daughter Princess Yuan and son-in-law Su He.
The Crown Prince Li Hao ascended the throne and became emperor. His reign title was An Ping.
Ning Si was titled Empress, and entered the imperial harem. On the surface she enjoyed glory and splendor, free from worry, but the bitterness and heartache inside only she knew.
Empress Dowager Su held the empress's eldest grandson Li Yixing in her arms, but did not like the empress who gave birth to him. She arbitrarily selected beauties for the new emperor, filling the harem.
Li Hao was busy with state affairs, and basically could not manage the affairs of the harem. Seeing Ning Si’s increasingly difficult life in the palace, Gu Ying came up with the idea of doing business to earn money for her, so as to divert her worries and attention away from the struggles in the harem.
Now, no one knew that the Empress had quite a lot of money and treasure in her private coffers.
With money, a woman's status was really different.
Ning Si was more free and easy in the palace. She also became more confident in Zhenguo Duke Manor. Although no one would make things difficult for her in the Duke's manor, when she went out with her four sisters to participate in various spring banquets and elegant gatherings, they disdained mingling with those women who only knew to revolve around their husbands and children.
“Mother, what are you thinking about?” The soft and tender voice brought her thoughts back. The little one was sitting on the luohan bed, with his hands resting on the kang table. His lips were moistened red by the ice cubes, and his back was straight like a young willow.
Gu Ying smiled and patted the little one's head, "A few days ago your grandfather said he wanted to see you. It just so happens that you came home early today. Shall Mother take you to see Grandfather?"
Little Zhao Yan readily got off the couch, "Okay, Baby also misses Grandfather. Last time Grandfather said he would give Baby a red-tassel gun, so Yan’er will go get it today."
He had received too many gifts, but he would cherish every single gift carefully.
How could there be such a kind, sensible child who was never arrogant because of favoritism?
Gu Ying couldn't help but hug the little one, and kissed his cheek heavily.
Little Zhao Yan smiled with squinting eyes, "Mother's kiss is fragrant. Can Yan’er also kiss Mother?"
Gu Ying pointed to her cheek. Smack, the little one unceremoniously planted a kiss on her.
Usually when the Crown Prince was around, he would not allow the little one to kiss her.
Now, taking advantage of Father's absence, the little one had kissed her many times, still reluctant to stop. "If Father's possessiveness towards Mother wasn't so strong, then Baby's life as a child wouldn't be so miserable."
Hearing the little one’s precocious words, everyone laughed.
Hai Tang laughed so hard she leaned forward and back, "Little Crown Prince, what do you know about possessiveness?"
The little one pouted, "Like my Father is, who can't see it? I'm still small and sleep with Mother, that's fine. But he's such a grown up, how can he still sleep with Mother! Sleeping with Mother is one thing, why can't the three of us sleep together? He has to drive Baby out. Baby doesn't want to sleep outside tonight. I must sleep with Mother, humph!"
Wherever little Crown Prince was, everyone was always very happy, especially when teasing the little guy, they laughed endlessly at his golden words.
Gu Ying's face flushed, and her earlobes felt hot. It was normal for children to sleep separately as they grew up, moreover, she and the Crown Prince were young, passionate, and it was natural that they wanted more intimacy... it was just that the little dumpling was still too small to understand.
"Alright alright, hurry hurry, your Father will be back soon."
"See, Mother only has Father in her heart, so it's true isn't it, Mother and Father truly love each other, and Baby was an accident!"
"No, Mother loves Yan'er even more."
"Then Mother must not drive Yan’er away tonight."
"Okay okay, Yan’er will sleep with Mother tonight, okay?"
"That’s more like it."
Little Zhao Yan pouted his lips high, holding Mother's hand as they walked out swaggeringly.
...
