Chapter 3
The new emperor compelled my mother to be buried with him and indirectly caused the death of my elder brother. Soon, he began to fear and target the Liu family, who held positions in the court, including my maternal grandfather and uncles.
Before long, my maternal grandfather was accused of seven crimes, and our entire family was exiled three thousand miles away. Grandmother, grandfather, my eldest and second uncles... They all died on the way.
The fate of the entire Liu family was so tragic!
Madam Liu and Lower Concubine Liu were both shocked.
The Fifth Prince clenched his fists.
He had never harbored any ambitions for the throne before, considering he was the fifth in line to succeed. All he wanted was to be a useful prince to the court.
But if what his younger sister said was true, then he... had to fight for the throne no matter what!
Otherwise, with the new emperor taking over, he and his maternal relatives would perish!
Little Xiao Chuchu, still a baby, expressed her determination, "I must find a way to protect my brother, my mother, and grandmother. I won't let such beautiful mother and grandmother, such handsome brother suffer and be harmed."
Madam Liu, Lower Concubine Liu, and the Fifth Prince couldn't help but be moved.
They couldn't help but lower their heads and look at the little girl in the swaddling clothes.
So young and tender.
And yet, she already wanted to protect them.
What a good child.
The more they looked at her, the more they loved her.
"Your Highness, the Fifth Prince, let this humble servant hold the little princess," Madam Liu said, disregarding the difference in status before the prince.
Without a second thought, she snatched little Xiao Chuchu from the Fifth Prince's arms.
The Fifth Prince: "..."
He still wanted to hold his younger sister.
But Madam Liu, holding her granddaughter with milk bubbles on her lips, didn't want to let go.
"Humble servant sees that the little princess is blessed with a bright and intelligent pair of eyes, surely she is a fortunate one," Madam Liu said, looking deeply at Lower Concubine Liu.
Was she the only one who could hear her granddaughter's celestial-like voice?
Seeing that Lower Concubine Liu wasn't surprised at all, Madam Liu felt she had to secretly remind her daughter.
Immediately, Madam Liu advised, "Lower Concubine, being able to have the little princess is a blessing. You must take good care of her. The true fortune lies ahead for you."
Lower Concubine Liu already cherished her young daughter more than anything, so she didn't need her mother to say it.
But just as she was about to respond, the serious Fifth Prince next to them spoke first.
He nodded and said, "Grandmother, rest assured. I will visit my sister every day after my studies in the study room."
Lower Concubine Liu was taken aback.
Previously, she intentionally ignored the Fifth Prince, and he would only visit once every three days.
However, Madam Liu was pleased and said, "The Fifth Prince is a good elder brother."
Having rarely entered the palace, she quickly asked about her daughter's situation in the harem.
She also pricked up her ears, wanting to hear any other sounds from little Xiao Chuchu in the swaddling clothes.
Although she didn't know if it was true or false, the content was too terrifying to be ignored.
But little Xiao Chuchu was just over a month old, and as she vaguely recalled the ending of the novel, she found her eyelids heavy and couldn't keep them open.
Comfortably nestled in Madam Liu's skilled embrace, she found the most comfortable position and settled in.
"So sleepy..."
"Baby wants to sleep..."
But as Xiao Chuchu closed her eyes, she struggled and made a noise.
"No, I can't sleep... Tonight, Mother will have guards keeping watch..."
[...I can't... sleep... I have to stay awake... I saw the wicked nanny not closing the window and wanted to cry... So that my mother and I... won't get seriously ill...]
However, she struggled for a while, but her small body couldn't hold on. Bound by the limitations of an infant, she fell into a deep sleep.
But the words she expressed before sleeping startled and angered Madam Liu and the Fifth Prince.
How could such a treacherous slave exist in the palace?
Targeting an unobstructive full-moon princess!
But when they thought about it, they understood.
Madam Liu wasn't considered favored in the harem. Six years ago, the emperor showed favor to her once, and she gave birth to the Fifth Prince, who was promoted to the position of a prince.
In these six years, the emperor would only occasionally visit Madam Liu a few times a year.
And yet, despite the scarce favor, Madam Liu gave birth to another healthy princess.
If they let her continue, it was very likely that she would have a second or third prince...
In the eyes of some people, this was undoubtedly a threat!
Seizing the opportunity when the little princess turned one month old, if something happened to her and Madam Liu, who had just given birth, fell seriously ill, it would be a double blow.
What a cunning plan!
The Fifth Prince's eyes darkened.
"Mother, the north wind has been fierce in recent days. Eldest Brother and Second Brother have caught a slight cold and keep coughing."
The Fifth Prince pondered for a moment before speaking, "Mother and little sister should also take care to keep warm. Eldest Brother and Second Brother have been practicing archery and horseback riding since childhood, and they can't withstand the cold wind entering their bodies. Not to mention that Mother just gave birth and little sister's body hasn't fully developed yet. We should be more attentive."
Better to believe it than to doubt it.
"The warm stove should never be extinguished during the day. At night, in addition to the wet nurse taking care of the little princess, it would be best to add another meticulous and reliable eunuch as a guard."
Madam Liu nodded repeatedly.
Her grandson's words were just right.
She also offered some advice to Lower Concubine Liu, "What the Fifth Prince said is true. If you can't find a reliable candidate for now, I suggest letting Qiu Li, who has been with you for six years, take extra care. She is usually bold and meticulous. It would be better to let Miss Qiu Li handle it these days."
"Especially recently, with heavy snow and strong winds..."
Lower Concubine Liu glanced at the clever and obedient young girl in the swaddling clothes, and she became alert as well.
"Alright, I will make arrangements today."
"Cheng Qian, it's almost time for you to go to the study room. Don't be late and make Master Lu angry."
As she spoke, the Fifth Prince's solemn face brightened up.
Mother even knew that the teacher in the study room was named Lu.
His sister's thoughts... were not wrong.
Mother had indeed been secretly concerned about him, and he had misunderstood her before.
"Yes. Your son will go now." The Fifth Prince stood up and respectfully saluted Madam Liu and Lower Concubine Liu.
After he left, Madam Liu and Lower Concubine Liu chatted for a while longer.
Madam Liu gave many reminders to her daughter, "The little princess is fragile when she is newly born, so only reliable people should handle her food and belongings."
Madam Liu couldn't stay in the palace for long.
Today, she took the opportunity of the little princess turning one month old to see her daughter.
Before leaving, Madam Liu hesitated for a long time but decided not to tell Lower Concubine Liu about the strange thoughts of the little princess.
After all, the palace walls have ears.
If such strange matters were spread, the little princess would be regarded as a monster and would not have a good ending.
Madam Liu didn't dare to say too much, especially since Lower Concubine Liu had just given birth and couldn't handle any more stress. At least wait until her daughter's health stabilized.
Moreover, she didn't know if her granddaughter's thoughts were true or false.
Just in case, what if it's her own imagination, some kind of hysteria, and it has nothing to do with Little Geges? Madam Liu suppressed her thoughts.
"Promise me, you must remember to let Qiu Li take care of Little Gege."
Before leaving, she obtained Lower Concubine Liu's promise and reluctantly took her leave.
"Take care of yourself and your father too."
Lower Concubine Liu thought that at least she had to wait until the Awarding Gold Festival, when the palace would invite officials and their wives. Only then could she possibly see her birth mother again, and tears fell uncontrollably.
Mother is still calm and scheming.
Unlike her, if she hadn't heard her daughter's strange inner thoughts, she wouldn't have doubted the wet nurse at all.
Although she didn't know if it was true or false, she dared not risk her daughter's life!
"Qiu Li, you will accompany me tonight in the inner room."
After everyone had left, Lower Concubine Liu gently placed the sleeping Zhang Yue on the bed in her own chamber.
...
In the winter night, the moonlight poured through the cracks in the coffin-like window, casting a silver-white glow on the bed in the inner room.
The ground was covered in a blanket of silver, and inside the room, it was quiet and still.
But it didn't take long for a stealthy figure to silently approach the window.
Creak...
The window of the room opened from the outside.
The north wind immediately rushed into the room!
The shadow was about to leave in a hurry, but just as it took a step back, a pair of hands reached out from the window and firmly seized it!
"You wicked servant! How dare you plot against Gege and Lower Concubine Liu!"
The entire courtyard suddenly lit up.