Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“I know that too.” Consort Jing’s gaze flickered as she spoke softly. “A child rises with his mother, and a mother rises with her child. Once they truly become mother and son, every benefit and honor supports the other.”

As she spoke, she looked toward the matron beside her. “Matron Feng, what do you think?” This Matron Feng was someone Consort Jing had specifically transferred to her side when she was promoted to the rank of Consort. She was also a trusted aide Consort Jing had raised herself.

“Your Highness is right.” Matron Feng nodded. “Whether it’s an adopted son or an adopted daughter, you can’t take them in casually.”

“Then, Matron Feng, you don’t support me adopting the Fourth Prince.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Tell me your reasons.”

“This servant has overstepped.” Matron Feng bowed respectfully. “In this servant’s view, the Fourth Prince is not suitable to adopt.”

“Go on.”

“First, the Fourth Prince is too old,” Matron Feng said. “He’s already an eleven-year-old youth. He understands things. In a few years, he’ll be old enough to marry. In his heart, he grew up in Yuan Ming Garden. In the future, when people speak of the grace of being raised, he might sneer. So this servant doesn’t believe the Fourth Prince would sincerely be filial to Your Highness.”

“That makes sense.” Consort Jing nodded. “Continue.”

“Second, the Fourth Prince grew up alone,” Matron Feng went on. “Your Highness, a child who grows up by himself, without a mother’s care, and with the Emperor disliking him, clearly suffered many hardships. His heart will surely be filled with resentment and brutality. He’ll feel everyone has wronged him, and deep down, he’ll hate those who live better than him.”

“Matron Feng, why would you say that?” Consort Jing looked at her and warned, “Some words cannot be spoken carelessly. Do you understand?”

“Replying to Your Highness, this servant would never dare.” Matron Feng bowed at once, her tone firm. “Everything this servant said is fact. This servant would not deceive Your Highness in the slightest.”

“Continue, then.”

“Yes.” Matron Feng said, “Ever since the Fourth Prince began paying respects only to Your Highness, this servant deliberately went to investigate him.”

“You have quite the nerve.” Consort Jing frowned. Then she added, “I know you did it for my sake. This time, I won’t pursue it. Let there not be a next time.”

“This servant knows her mistake!” Matron Feng bowed again to beg forgiveness. “This servant thanks Your Highness for your mercy.”

“What did you find out?” Consort Jing’s expression grew serious. “Speak plainly. I want the truth.”

“Yes. This servant does not dare hide anything from Your Highness.” Matron Feng quickly recounted everything she had learned.

It included how the Fourth Prince had been mischievous as a child, playing tricks on and punishing the servants in the garden. When he studied, he went against his tutors, and after being beaten, he held grudges against them. It wasn’t until he was beaten into submission by the instructor who taught him archery and riding that he finally began to rein in his pranks. When he grew a bit older, he understood the difference between having a mother and not having one.

He also knew that his own father, the Emperor, had once been Empress Tong Jia’s adopted son. So the Fourth Prince began looking for an adoptive mother for himself. At first, he hoped the Empress would adopt him. But the Empress never spared him a glance.

After that, he set his sights on the favored consorts. He would deliberately recite books in front of them, or deliberately wear old clothes, hoping to earn their pity. Last year, he worked hard to find himself an adoptive mother, and he never expected he would almost cause the Empress to miscarry. He took a kick from the Emperor, and after his internal injuries healed, his body grew much weaker.

He also became cruel and vicious. Many maids and young eunuchs died by his hand. At such a young age, both hands were already stained with blood.

“Th-this… is all of that true?” Consort Jing was stunned.

Hearing what the Fourth Prince had done was completely beyond her expectations. Matron Feng knelt on the ground. “Your Highness, if this servant speaks even a single false word, this servant is willing to accept any punishment.”

“Get up.” A complicated look flashed through Consort Jing’s eyes. “I have no intention of punishing you. It’s fortunate you went to dig into the Fourth Prince’s background. If one day I suddenly softened and truly agreed to be his adoptive mother, it would be too late to regret it then.”

“Your Highness, if the Fourth Prince were pure of character, becoming his adoptive mother would not be a bad thing,” Matron Feng said. “He would remember Your Highness’s kindness and be grateful for Your Highness’s care. In the future, Your Highness could also have someone to rely on. But the Fourth Prince has been stubborn since childhood, and now his conduct is even more violent and unchecked. Not only will he be unable to become Your Highness’s support, he will instead drag Your Highness down. This servant feels the Fourth Prince is not suitable for Your Highness to adopt.”

“I understand.” Consort Jing nodded lightly. “I do hope to have a child by my side, but I never planned to adopt a ten- or eleven-year-old. Besides, I have no fondness for the Fourth Prince. Without that kind of affinity, there’s no fate.”

She looked at the people around her. “Leave this matter to you. I want the Fourth Prince to give up this thought as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“This servant obeys!”

… The Forbidden City. The inner palace. Bao Hua Hall. Zhen Huan knelt before the Buddha, eyes closed, softly chanting scriptures.

At that moment, a figure silently approached. Huan Bi, who stood guard outside, just happened to be away. In the entire Bao Hua Hall, only Zhen Huan was there.

“Huan’er!”

A familiar voice came. Zhen Huan, who had been chanting, abruptly opened her eyes. When she turned around, she saw that refined, gentle figure. Their eyes met, and Zhen Huan’s eyes instantly filled with tears.

Prince Guo’s face was full of pain. Without another word, he stepped forward and pulled the person before him into his arms.

“Huan’er, you’ve suffered.” Prince Guo held her tightly, his voice full of blame and guilt. “It’s all because I’m useless. I didn’t protect you properly. Huan’er, scold me. It’s all my fault.”

“Your Highness, it has nothing to do with you.” Tears kept falling from Zhen Huan’s eyes as she forced herself to be strong. “I was too careless. I didn’t plan everything well. I dragged so many people into dying for me. It’s all my fault. I’m the one who wronged them.”

“Don’t say that.” Prince Guo took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the tears from her face. “I already know what happened. It’s not your fault. It was all an accident. If there is blame, then it was Xiao Yun Zi being careless and not knowing his place. Because he lost his restraint and didn’t know when to retreat, he exposed himself and dragged all of you down.”

“No matter what, it was my idea,” Zhen Huan said, still full of guilt and regret. “So many people were implicated this time. I truly deserve to die.”

“Huan’er, I won’t allow you to say that.” Prince Guo cupped her grief-stricken face, his eyes full of pain. “Huan’er, you’re too kind. I already told you – this really has nothing to do with you. Don’t carry everything onto yourself. How could I possibly be at ease about you?”

“Wuwu… it was my fault.” Zhen Huan collapsed against him and cried out loud. “So many people lost their lives because of me. How could it have nothing to do with me? Your Highness, go. Don’t worry about whether I live or die.”

As she spoke, she stood up and shoved at him with all her strength. “Go, quickly. No matter what punishment I receive, it’s what I deserve. I should atone for them.

I should chant scriptures for them. I should pray for their next life, that they’ll be born into good families and live good lives…”

“Huan’er!” Prince Guo only felt more heartbroken.

He held her even tighter. “You blame yourself like this – how can I be at ease? Huan’er, I finally found a chance to enter the palace once. Let me stay with you properly, all right?”