Chapter 255 - 255 Qin Canglan's Anger (1)
255 Qin Canglan’s Anger (1)
The sky cleared after the rain, and the capital was enveloped in a golden dawn.
A luxurious carriage slowly drove into the palace city and stopped in front of Taihe Gate.
The guard looked at the noble man who alighted from the carriage and hurriedly went forward to bow. “Your Highness!”
Xiao Zhonghua raised his hand calmly, and the guard was flattered.
The princes had a noble status and usually ignored them. Only the Third Prince was so approachable.
Xiao Zhonghua smiled and asked, “I should be the first to pay my respects to Father and Mother, right?”
The guard hurriedly said, “Her Majesty has been unwell recently. His First and Second Highness have also entered the palace.”
In Qixiang Palace, Consort Xian had just finished washing up and was sitting in front of the dressing table choosing earrings when she heard the palace maid report that the Third Prince had arrived.
Consort Xian’s eyes lit up. She casually took a pair of jade earrings and put them on. She went to the warm pavilion to see her son, whom she had not seen for months.
Consort Xian was so excited that she choked. She sat on the chaise longue and held her son’s face with both hands. Her heart ached as she said, “You’ve lost weight… Was the journey very difficult?”
Xiao Zhonghua smiled. “It wasn’t too hard. I made Mother worry.”
“Have you been to see the empress?” Consort Xian asked.
“I have.”
The empress was in the central palace. Even though Xiao Zhonghua was Consort Xian’s biological son, he had no choice but to pay his respects to the empress first.
This was a courtesy.
“Is my third brother back?” Princess Hui An said with a delicate voice as she gently tugged at her wide-sleeved flowing immortal dress and walked briskly into the warm pavilion.
“Third Brother! It’s really you!”
She ran over with a smile and sat between Concubine Xian and Xiao Zhonghua.
She had been pampered since she was young. The emperor doted on her, and so did Consort. As her brother, it went without saying that Xiao Zhonghua treasured her.
Consort Xian had not spent enough time with her son before her daughter pushed her away.
What could she say?
She had spoiled her.
“Hehe, Mother.” Princess Hui An did not forget to greet her mother.
Consort Xian rolled her eyes at her. “How old are you? You don’t look like a princess at all.”
Princess Hui An held Xiao Zhonghua’s arm and said coquettishly, “No matter how old I am, I’m still Mother’s daughter. I’m Brother’s sister, right, Third Brother?”
Xiao Zhonghua smiled dotingly. “Why are you up so early today? Did you come specially to wait for Third Brother?”
“Yes…” Princess Hui An’s eyes flashed.
Consort Xian chuckled. “I think you want to sneak out of the palace to look for Wei Ting again, right?”
Princess Hui An said stubbornly, “Who said that? I’m here to wait for Third Brother!”
Consort Xian continued to undermine her daughter. “Your third brother didn’t say that he would enter the palace today!”
Princess Hui An used all her wisdom. “We… we’re siblings. Our hearts are connected!”
Xiao Zhonghua chuckled softly.
Princess Hui An said, “Third Brother, did Father give you an especially important mission after you went out for so long this time? It’s fine if you don’t say it. I can guess anyway!”
Xiao Zhonghua was amused. “What did you guess again?”
Princess Hui An said coquettishly, “I don’t care. In any case, you must be Father’s most valued prince! When you become the Crown Prince in the future, I’ll be the Eldest Princess!”
Consort Xian glared at her daughter. “Stop talking nonsense. What if others hear it?”
Princess Hui An snorted. “Who will spread it? You? You? Or you?”
The little palace maids and eunuchs who were pointed at by her were so frightened that their faces turned pale.
“You.” Consort Xian tapped her forehead.
Xiao Zhonghua gently rubbed the top of her head. “Brother brought you a gift and got someone to send it to your bedroom.”
Princess Hui An hurriedly stood up. “Really? I want to take a look!”
The chattering sparrow finally left and the hall fell silent.
Consort Xian dismissed the palace servants and held her son’s hand. She said dotingly, “Let Mother take a good look at you. I heard that you were very sick in Qingzhou before the new year.”
Xiao Zhonghua said, “I was indeed sick. Fortunately, I met a powerful physician.”
Consort Xian felt a lingering fear.
Xiao Zhonghua comforted her. “I’m fine. Mother, you don’t have to worry.”
“How can I not be worried when you say so?” Consort Xian’s heart ached. Suddenly, she noticed her son’s slightly stiff left arm. “What happened to your arm?”
She reached out and accidentally touched the wound. Xiao Zhonghua gasped weakly.
Consort Xian’s expression changed. “What’s going on? Let Mother take a look!”
“It’s a small injury.” Xiao Zhonghua held Consort Xian’s hand and smiled. “It’s really fine.”
Consort Xian asked angrily, “Who did it?”
Xiao Zhonghua smiled as if nothing had happened. “Mother, I’m really fine. I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”