Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The child was chubby and adorable, but due to his mother's departure, his emotions were unstable, and his eyes were filled with unease. He tightly grasped the clothing of Yongming Emperor, fearing that his father would abandon him as well. Although only three years old, the children in the Palace were more mature than those from ordinary families; he already understood what death meant and could keenly sense the malice from those around him, except for his father and the person who took care of him.
"I don't understand fortune-telling," Bai Tang waved at the child. The child's appearance inherited the best traits of his parents and was quite endearing.
Yongming Emperor thought Bai Tang was making excuses. Could a deity not understand fortune-telling?
"Young Master Bai, I sincerely seek your advice. Please name your reward."
Bai Tang twitched her lips: "Even if I don't, hasn't the emperor already made it clear about the prince's future?"
Thinking of Shunzhi and Consort Dong E's son, and then of Kangxi's crown prince, one had perished shortly after being named "First Son" by Shunzhi, while the other grew up under Kangxi's protection and guidance but was ultimately feared by his father and became a target for his brothers. He never had a peaceful life and eventually lost his position as crown prince. The chubby child before them was currently Yongming Emperor's most favored, but people's hearts are fickle; who could guarantee that Yongming Emperor would always favor him? This child was already hated by many who wished he would disappear; now that Yongming Emperor could still protect him, if there came a day when Yongming Emperor no longer protected this son, the child's fate would be even more tragic than the two mentioned above.
"..." Yongming Emperor fell silent, stroking the child's head in contemplation. He understood Bai Tang's meaning; he could protect this child for now, but what about in the long run? He couldn't keep watching over Xi Er without attending to other matters; the stack of memorials on his desk was already overflowing.
"Previously, I discovered that Xi Er's wet nurse drank poisoned soup; yesterday I found toxic substances on Xi Er's clothes; today I noticed something wrong with the incense in Xi Er's room... I'm afraid there will come a time when I can't protect him anymore, so I want to hand him over to someone who can."
Bai Tang pointed at herself: "That person is me?"
Yongming Emperor nodded heavily.
Damn! Bai Tang nearly jumped up to give Yongming Emperor a beating. Just because you can't protect your son anymore, you want to throw him at me to raise? Dream on.
"Your Majesty, I've been wandering outside for years and have no time to raise a prince," Bai Tang flatly refused. Although she found the child very cute, she wanted to return to modern times—how could she have time to take care of a child? It was even less possible to bring the child back to modern times.
"If Xi Er becomes your disciple, he will serve you closely. Don't worry about him suffering; I believe my child will learn that enduring hardship is essential for growth," Yongming Emperor insisted on Bai Tang.
Bai Tang considered the implications and troubles caused by the emperor's disappearance and ultimately suppressed her desire to beat Yongming Emperor and throw him into the Arctic. She glared at Yongming Emperor with a stern face.
Yongming Emperor smiled slightly and pushed his son forward: "Xi Er, quickly bow to your Master."
The child obediently knelt before Bai Tang as instructed by Yongming Emperor. Bai Tang's lips twitched as she saw her interface display that she had successfully accepted her third disciple.
“Young Master Bai, I entrust my child to your care. I have urgent matters in court, so I must take my leave.” Yongming Emperor, fearing that Bai Tang might change his mind, hurriedly left with a large group of people, abandoning his son.
“Father!” Baozi stared at the door, tears rolling down his cheeks in big drops, and the next moment, he burst into loud cries.
Bai Tang sighed and held Baozi in his arms, patting his back while comforting the child: “Alright, don’t cry. Your father didn’t abandon you; he had to do this for your safety. If you miss your father, you can go back to find him when you grow up.”
“Really?” Baozi sniffled and asked.
“Really!” Bai Tang took out a handkerchief to wipe Baozi's tears. Baozi's big eyes were already red and swollen from crying, resembling two large walnuts, which made him even more endearing.
“Pinky promise.” Baozi tilted his head and extended his right thumb.
Bai Tang smiled and also extended his finger to hook it with Baozi's thumb.
“Pinky promise, hang for a hundred years without changing.” Baozi said in a childish voice, “Stamp it.”
It seemed that Baozi often played this game with his mother.
After crying out all his energy, Baozi quickly fell asleep in Bai Tang's arms. Bai Tang gently stroked his head, placed him on the bed, and walked out of the room.
“Do not mention the young master’s affairs to anyone.”
“The old servant understands. Besides me, Dong Ming, Ma Shi, and Aunt Ma, no one else knows about the young master’s situation.” An Ping, being an excellent steward, gave the other workers time off after learning about Yongming Emperor’s identity—Qiqiao Pavilion was expanding and had hired several new workers, but these people worked only in the front yard and were not allowed into the inner courtyard. Yongming Emperor entered through the back door, so the people in the front yard did not see their group.
Bai Tang nodded in satisfaction and instructed Aunt Ma to prepare some easily digestible food for when Baozi wakes up.
The actions of Yongming Emperor were swift; by the next day, news spread throughout the capital that the prince had suddenly fallen ill and passed away. Bai Tang pinched Baozi's chubby cheeks; Yongming Emperor had cut off all escape routes for this child—he could never go back. If he didn’t take care of this child, what future would there be for him?
Baozi looked up in confusion, with bits of yellow steamed egg on his lips; his innocent appearance melted Bai Tang's heart instantly.
“Xi Er, after a while, Master will take you to a fun place.” Bai Tang thought that since the bun was recognized as a disciple by the system, it should be able to pass through the Time-Space Gate with him. Bai Tang wasn't entirely sure, but since live chickens from ancient times could still thrive in the modern world when brought to the gang's base, the bun should be fine too.
With uncertainty in mind, they finally arrived at the point of returning to the modern era.
Bai Tang placed the sleeping bun in the gang's base and pressed the button on the Time-Space Gate. After the familiar dizziness, Bai Tang returned to his room.
“Is my girl back? Are you hungry? I made some dumplings; would you like me to cook you a bowl?” Bai Ma greeted her daughter calmly as she walked out of her room. She and Bai Dad had already gotten used to their daughter's time travel.
“Mom, cook another bowl! I brought a child back!” Bai Tang quickly confirmed that the bun was safe and still sound asleep. Bai Tang moved him from the gang's base to her own bed.
“What? A child?” Bai Ma exclaimed with wide eyes. “Daughter, do you have a child now? Did you get married in that world?”
“Mom—” Bai Tang was both amused and exasperated; her mother's imagination was running wild!
“I’m not married; your daughter is still an unmarried young lady! This child is my disciple.”
Comment 0 Comment Count