Zhao Hua immediately shook her head in denial,
"I only tampered with the oil, letting it be able to spew sparks when meeting borax. I was thinking Consort Hui must be close to the iron pot then, and would definitely be scalded, which could also be considered as revenge for Ruo Xin."
She looked at the scab on the back of Ruo Xin's hand that had fallen off, but the dark burnt area was still sunken, and her eyes could not help but churn up hatred,
"I do hate Consort Hui to the bone, but I would not be stupid enough to cause such a big commotion at the Emperor's birthday banquet. Also, I felt that Chengjing did not deserve a good end. With how Consort Hui treated Cheng Yu, why should I let her son be better off?
Older Sister Wan always tells me that children are innocent, but I don't believe in this reasoning. I only know that others will be treated by me the same way they treat me. Consort Hui wanted to bury my son alive, so her son was fated to not have a good death."
She was extremely resentful in her heart, so much so that her tone became gloomy,
"If I were to make a move, I would have given him a quick death, and would never use such cruel means to deal with a child. Also, Ruo Xin and Chenghuan were present that day. How could I let my daughter see such a bloody scene?"
Zhao Hua stroked Ruo Xin's cheeks and found them still hot. She hurriedly took out a wet towel, folded it, and placed it on the girl’s forehead.
She felt that there was no need to continue with the remaining words.
Rongyue had always known Zhao Hua’s personality. She understood that Zhao Hua would not, and had no need to lie to her.
It was precisely because of this that she became even more confused in her heart,
"If that's the case, then Chengjing meeting this fate today, could it be...it was truly heaven opening its eyes, to punish Consort Hui and her son?"
Whether or not this matter was Consort Hui’s retribution was still hard to define at this point.
However, Consort Hui was greatly grieved by this incident, which also agitated the fetus, showing signs of spotting blood.
Imperial Physician Guo ordered her to lie in bed to protect the fetus, so she was unable to attend Chengjing’s funeral and could not send off her child for the last time.
On the third day after Chengjing’s burial, at the memorial service on the seventh day,
Ning Wanshuang also held a ritual for Chengjing in her own palace after the offering ceremony at the Buddhism Hall.
In her heart, she also hoped that he could quickly cross samsara and be reborn into a good family in his next life, no longer suffering this life’s misery.
She scattered paper money offerings into the lotus flower urn for rebirth while chanting scriptures in a low voice
Liu Yue was puzzled, and advised from the side, “Esteemed Consort has worked hard for a day. Why take the trouble to do these things after returning to the palace? The Third Prince was Consort Hui’s son. He once hurt the Eldest Prince too...”
“No matter what, he was still a child.” Ning Wanshuang sternly cut off Liu Yue’s words. “Whether he was naughty or annoying, in the end, it was Consort Hui as his mother who raised him poorly. Children are always innocent.”
Liu Yue said, “What Esteemed Consort said is right. After all, Consort Hui cannot compare with you. Just look at how well you taught Chenghuan.”
She led Ning Wanshuang to look out the window,
Chenghuan was in the courtyard passageway, using a wooden horse to cheer up Jin Yue happily.
That day, Jin Yue was also scared badly. It was just that she did not directly see Chengjing’s miserable state, so her palpitations were much better than Ruo Xin.
After amusing Jin Yue, Chenghuan let the wet nurse take Jin Yue to play in the courtyard. He then returned to the room to take out a food box and headed towards Ning Wanshuang.
When he arrived, he first greeted Ning Wanshuang according to etiquette before saying,
“Imperial Concubine Mother, your son has come with you to offer sacrifices to my third younger brother.”
Ning Wanshuang nodded in acknowledgement, then asked again, “You saw it that day too. Are you not afraid?”
Chenghuan shook his head vigorously, but there were tears in his eyes. “Your son is not afraid. Your son only feels that third younger brother was pitiful. Your son is the Emperor Father’s eldest son. I originally had the responsibility to take good care of my younger siblings...”
Seeing Chenghuan so sensible, Ning Wanshuang was extremely gratified.
She gently stroked the child’s forehead and said lightly with a smile, “It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”
She also saw him bringing offerings to Chengjing in a food box and could not help but curiously asked, “What is that you’re holding?”
Chenghuan wiped his tears and calmly opened the food box,
“These were third younger brother’s favorite candied fruits. Your son has brought them for him.”
He lowered his eyes to look at the jade plate full of candied fruits, deep in wistful thoughts as he recalled the last time he saw Chengjing.
That day, he taught Chengjing that when no one was around, he could drill into the large iron orb placed in the courtyard to hide.
Chengjing was playful. He said he was afraid of the dark and was worried there would be no light at all if he crawled into the iron orb.
So Chenghuan took out a piece of candied fruit and mysteriously said to him,
"After eating this candied fruit, you will be able to see things clearly even in a dark environment. When you crawl into the big iron orb later, eat it and you won't be afraid anymore."
"Really?" Chengjing took the candied fruit and curiously examined it.
Chenghuan affirmed, "Of course. How could your Eldest Brother lie to you?"
To Chengjing, when he was most helpless, only Chenghuan was willing to comfort and accompany him.
How could such a good elder brother lie to him?
Thus, he fully believed Chenghuan’s words. Taking advantage of the dim moonlight late at night, he quietly crawled into the iron orb and ate the candied fruit Chenghuan had given him.
Little did he know, there was never anything in this world that after eating, one could see light in the darkness.
There was only medicine that after taking, could make one faint silently.
The flickering flames in the lotus flower urn for rebirth dazzled Chenghuan. His drifting thoughts snapped back in an instant.
Then he carefully picked out a large and syrupy candied fruit from the jade plate and threw it into the fire,
The curling flames were reflected on Chenghuan's face as he chanted ruefully with heart wrenching words,
“Third younger brother, you have eaten the candied fruit Eldest Brother prepared for you, so you may rest in peace now.”
