Chapter 14
As Lower Concubine Liu slept, the earth dragon's tossing had no impact on the infant Xiao Chuchu's slumber.
When she awoke the next day, she heard Qiu Li speaking softly with her mother Zhang Jia, "Fortunately, we have nothing of great value here. Cheng Qian broke a bowl from the previous dynasty on that side, and it troubled her terribly..."
Cheng Qian indulged a little more than Lower Concubine Liu.
But while Cheng Qian's maternal family was in business, they were generous, and the Inner Palace reciprocated by giving her many nice things.
Lower Concubine Liu frowned with some concern, "Any news from the Qianxi No.5 Residence? What about outside the palace?"
"This servant sent someone to the Qianxi No.5 Residence early on, and it was calm on the princes' side, with just a few eunuchs clearing broken tiles."
"But I'm not sure about outside the palace."
Lower Concubine Liu relaxed slightly, glancing at the infant girl Zhang Jia was holding.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She didn't know the condition of Zhang Jia's husband - whether his injury was serious or not.
However, her father knew a skilled bonesetter outside the palace. If they couldn't summon the imperial physicians, she could have her father seek his help.
"Any news about the Emperor?" Lower Concubine Liu asked Qiu Li.
But as she spoke, footsteps approached from outside.
"Great news, Lower Concubine Liu!" came a call from beyond the door.
It was none other than Wei Zheng, the most prominent senior eunuch in the Emperor's service.
Before Lower Concubine Liu could react in surprise, he had already entered, beaming as he bowed to her.
"The Emperor has summoned Lower Concubine Liu to bring the young princess to dine at the Chonghua Palace at noon."
Lower Concubine Liu was taken aback.
Wei Zheng squinted with a smile, "Lower Concubine Liu, prepare early, but there's no need to be nervous."
"Last night, as the earth dragon stirred, the Fifth Prince happened to rush into the Qianqing Palace and saved the Emperor."
Wei Zheng even refused the reward money Qiu Li tried to offer him. "With the Fifth Prince's actions, Lower Concubine Liu will surely have great fortune hereafter."
Xiao Chuchu was astonished to hear this and rolled over in Zhang Jia's arms, unable to resist giving her brother a thumbs up.
[Wow Mother, let's go give Brother a call!]
At the Chonghua Palace...
The imperial physician removed the acupuncture needles from Emperor Xiao Yunzhou's right foot after washing his hands. "Your Majesty need only rest for two more days, and there will be no further issues."
"Fortunately, the compression was brief this time. Your Majesty escaped in time; otherwise, it could have affected your tendons and bones, making recovery more difficult."
Hearing this, Xiao Yunzhou couldn't help but feel relieved.
He recalled the previous night, immediately locating his Fifth Prince Cheng Qian amidst the rubble.
Had it not been for the child's alertness, he estimated his leg would have been in serious trouble.
When escaping from the Qianqing Palace, the child's warning had also prevented him and his guards from nearly being struck by falling beams again.
In terms of filial piety, courage, and intelligence, Cheng Qian was unquestionably commendable last night.
"Reward the Head Guard Pang Rusong with the hereditary title of Thousand Households Captain."
Xiao Yunzhou decided as he thought about it.
As for the Fifth Prince, he couldn't openly reward him.
But last night, with his injured leg making it difficult to sleep, he had contemplated the matter all night in bed.
The Fifth Prince, raised by Consort Li, was young but excelled in his studies and was filial to the Emperor—his courage was admirable.
In contrast, Consort Li's own Fourth Prince was unfit for significant responsibilities. As the elder brother, he lacked any notable qualities and couldn't even focus on his studies.
Compared side by side, the difference between the brothers was stark.
Evidently, the Fifth Prince's character and intelligence had nothing to do with Consort Li but were inherited from his birth mother, Lower Concubine Liu.
Xiao Yunzhou then thought of the relatively ordinary Lower Concubine Liu, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
Where did this Lower Concubine Liu's fortune come from? He had only been with her a few times.
Yet, she not only bore him a prince but also had a princess this year.
Reclining on the dragon bed with his eyes closed, Xiao Yunzhou pondered whether to promote Lower Concubine Liu's father from his current fifth-rank position.
"Your Majesty, Lower Concubine Liu and the Third Princess have arrived."
Xiao Yunzhou motioned for them to enter.
Wei Zheng promptly placed a cushion behind the Emperor.
In recent years, Xiao Yunzhou had increasingly taken to meditation and cultivation.
Apart from the Empress, who was the daughter of the former Chancellor Xu and his childhood sweetheart the Noble Consort, Xiao Yunzhou hadn't summoned any other consorts from the harem in a long time.
But as Xiao Yunzhou looked up, he saw the usually low-profile Lower Concubine Liu dressed in a brilliant red satin gown today, making her formerly mild and ordinary features appear radiant and alluring, like a spring pool.
Moreover, there was a faint, lingering fragrance wafting towards him.
As he took a whiff, he felt as though the pain in his left foot had somehow subsided compared to before.
Xiao Yunzhou was astonished.
But soon, as Lower Concubine Liu accepted the yellow satin bundle containing the little princess from Zhang Jia while draped in a silver ermine cloak, Emperor Xiao Yunzhou was even more stunned into silence.
[Ah, so this is my imperial father?]
Xiao Yunzhou was so startled that he nearly dropped the tea Wei Zheng handed him!
He couldn't help but gaze at the yellow satin bundle in Lower Concubine Liu's arms.
[My handsome brother must have inherited my imperial father's looks.]
[Oh my goodness, I had assumed the Emperor would be an older, greasy, pot-bellied middle-aged man. I never expected this imperial father to be so handsome, looking only around twenty years old.]
Xiao Yunzhou was so amazed that he almost laughed out loud.
He had ascended the throne at fifteen and had never heard anyone praise his looks so directly before.
During the previous dynasty, none of the officials or harem ladies would have dared to call the Emperor handsome to his face.
But who didn't enjoy flattery!
"Ahem, have a seat."
After all, Xiao Yunzhou was the Emperor and had seen many grand occasions, so he quickly regained his composure.
The attending eunuchs hurriedly brought a round stool and placed it five steps from Xiao Yunzhou's couch.
Xiao Yunzhou frowned, "Closer."
The eunuchs were surprised but didn't dare utter a word as they moved the stool two steps forward.
Xiao Yunzhou frowned again.
Even the senior eunuch Wei Zheng behind him was astonished now.
Wei Zheng glanced at Lower Concubine Liu, his expression becoming exceedingly respectful.
It seemed this cold palace maid was about to be ignited!
"Place it right before the Emperor. After the third month, the Emperor hasn't even seen the little princess yet." Wei Zheng spoke up on the Emperor's behalf.
Lower Concubine Liu hadn't expected that after telling her son Cheng Qian just the previous day that the Emperor would not get close to her, today she would be seated so near him!
But she wasn't intimidated, as her entire family faced an uncertain future anyway.
What was there to fear about the Emperor before her, who would die even sooner than her family?
"Thank you, Lord Wei." Lower Concubine Liu calmly expressed her gratitude and sat down unhesitatingly at the spot almost beside Xiao Yunzhou's bedside.
Xiao Yunzhou couldn't help but study her closely.
She was indeed neither servile nor arrogant.
Previously, he had never noticed that despite her ordinary background, with an unremarkable father and brother, she was quite bold.
No wonder Cheng Qian had such an admirable character - it was inherited from her.
Xiao Yunzhou gained a new appreciation for Lower Concubine Liu.
But soon, his attention shifted to the little princess in her arms.
Chuchu was the name he had personally bestowed upon the little princess, albeit casually at the time without much thought.
But now, as he observed Chuchu nestled in the yellow satin, her delicate face fair as snow, her little lips rosy and moist, and her most captivating feature - a pair of clear, soulful eyes that were adorably lively, he realized the name suited her perfectly.
When she grew up, she would undoubtedly be a charming beauty.
Xiao Yunzhou didn't pay much attention to the children in the harem, as the first five children born to him after his accession at fifteen had all perished.
He had invested considerable effort in his eldest son, the Crown Prince, after he came of age.
But as more children were born and his position became more secure, he grew increasingly indifferent.
Yet at this moment, he couldn't resist the urge to hold the little princess.
However, he soon decided against it.
[Alas, how is my imperial father injured? Does it hurt?]
Xiao Yunzhou's heart softened.
He had ordered Wei Zheng to summon the mother and daughter for an audience.
Wei Zheng reported that upon reaching the doorway, he overheard Lower Concubine Liu expressing concern for the Emperor's well-being.
Her status was low, and he rarely thought of her.
Yet she was a kind soul, always mindful of him, the Emperor.
Her newborn princess, too, was wholeheartedly devoted to her imperial father.
Xiao Yunzhou's opinion of Lower Concubine Liu and her family changed entirely!
Like mother, like child - no wonder the Fifth Prince was so filial.
The answer was clear - it was all due to Lower Concubine Liu's excellent parenting.
While Lower Concubine Liu's father and brother were not particularly successful officials, perhaps a bit dull, this family seemed to be loyal and pure, devoted to filial piety.
Without changing his expression, Xiao Yunzhou pondered whether to promote Lower Concubine Liu's father from his current fifth-rank position.
This pure and innocent person, with a kind heart and no deception, would be more suited to working in the Ministry of Rites, or serving as a remonstrating imperial censor!
Xiao Chuchu did not realize that she had merely thought a few things, and the Emperor Xiao Yunzhou had already decided to promote the Liu family.
Now, as she saw Xiao Yunzhou attempting to embrace her, her mind was filled with more scattered thoughts.
[Oh, Father Emperor, your injury must be really painful. I wish I could blow on it to soothe the pain.]
Xiao Yunzhou suppressed a laugh.
This was a silly child; there were imperial physicians present.
But before he could finish laughing, the arm he had extended froze in mid-air.
[If only your foot injury didn't hurt, then you wouldn't start frantically consuming tonics for longevity.]
[Then, the Noble Consort would not have poisoned the tonics, leading to your death three years later.]
Xiao Yunzhou's face instantly changed color!
[After your death, your closest childhood friends, the Noble Consort and the Humble Empress, who you loved like a husband loving his wife for a hundred days, none of them would commit suicide to accompany you in the afterlife.]
[Instead, they would order my mother, an uncherished concubine, to commit suicide for your burial...]
[The new Emperor would kill my elder brother Cheng Qian, who was the only prince diligently working for the people's benefit throughout the court!]
[That's not all, after ascending the throne, the new Emperor would recklessly execute virtuous officials and massacre a hundred thousand soldiers!]
[The Xiao Dynasty would not last even two years before being overthrown!]
[We would be captured and imprisoned in the palace, as the dynasty changed hands!]
[Your tomb would even be desecrated, your body exposed to the wilderness, while all the burial treasures were looted!]
Xiao Yunzhou's handsome face was completely darkened!