Chapter 54: The Crown Prince, Ex-Husband of the Transmigrated Woman (2)

Xie Shen noticed the hint of amusement in his father’s eyes. His small brows furrowed, and in his panic, he instinctively grabbed onto the hem of his father’s robe.

The moment he realized what he had done, his face turned pale. He had wrinkled his father’s imperial robe! Frightened, he hurriedly reached out to smooth it before his father could notice, but just as his small hand extended, it was gently caught by Xie Hui.

The tiny hand in Xie Hui’s palm was ice-cold. He patiently warmed it and softly asked,

“Shen’er, what’s wrong?”

Xie Shen hesitated for a moment before deciding to confess his mistake.

“Erchen* shouldn’t have wrinkled Father Emperor’s clothes.”

(*Erchen: a self-addressing term used by a prince when speaking to the emperor.)

The original host had once flown into a rage over a similar matter, so now, just hearing anything related to it made the child particularly anxious.

In the original host’s mind, imperial authority was supreme, and anything associated with it was to be revered. As an emperor, he could not tolerate even the slightest desecration—even if it was just a piece of clothing.

“It’s fine.”

Xie Hui casually smoothed out the fabric. At that moment, the clean clothes had arrived, and an observant young eunuch had already prepared warm water.

The nanny who attended the crown prince stepped forward, ready to take him from the emperor’s arms. However, Xie Hui, still holding the child, walked past her and went behind the folding screen.

The nanny was briefly stunned before instinctively following.

Behind the screen, a basin of hot water was steaming in the cold winter air. A brazier burned nearby, keeping the room comfortably warm.

Xie Hui removed Xie Shen’s wet clothes piece by piece and placed them aside. Xie Shen’s pale face flushed red. He wanted to protest but didn’t know how to voice it. The nanny knelt at the side, not daring to say a word.

In the royal family, there was a saying: “One may carry their grandchild, but not their child.” Though Xie Shen had been conferred the title of Crown Prince when he was barely a year old, everyone in the palace knew it was only because the emperor had few heirs, and he was the only physically healthy prince.

Even so, Consort Song, his mother, had never received much favor from the emperor, despite giving birth to the crown prince.

Since Xie Shen’s title was granted, the emperor had never stepped foot in the harem again, dedicating himself solely to governance.

This was the first time Xie Shen had ever been this close to his father. Before even entering the bath, his entire body felt as if it had been boiled like a shrimp.

When he saw his father pick up a washcloth, clearly intending to bathe him, Xie Shen mustered up all his courage, wrapped his small hands around his father’s wrist, and said in his soft, childish voice:

“I… Father Emperor, Erchen can do it himself.”

Xie Hui easily freed his hand and asked in a low voice,

“You don’t want Father Emperor to help you?”

“N-No.”

Xie Shen instinctively denied it, but by the time he reacted, it was already too late to refuse.

Xie Hui patiently bathed him, helped him change into fresh clothes, and then casually tossed him onto the bed in the side hall where the original host usually rested. He turned and ordered,

“Have the Imperial Pharmacy prepare some ginger soup and bring it here.”

After all, the child had been kneeling in the snow for a long time. In ancient times, child mortality rates were already high, and young children under four were especially prone to illness. He had to be extra careful.

Xie Shen, now dressed in sleepwear, curled up under the blankets, peeking his head out and watching his father with curiosity. However, his mind was still preoccupied with his earlier request. Once his father finished speaking, he cautiously asked,

“Father Emperor, may Erchen go see Mother Consort one last time?”

Xie Hui didn’t want to leave the child with a lifelong regret like the original host had, but he also had no intention of letting Consort Song have her way.

The original host had shown mercy to her while she was pregnant, sparing her father from exile. Yet, her father had not repented and had even abused his status to seize young women, leading to the wrongful death of an innocent girl.

Neither the original host nor Xie Hui believed that Consort Song’s father deserved any mercy.

Especially when Consort Song was now trying to use Xie Shen to gain sympathy and plead for her father’s case—Xie Hui would never allow it.

“If you wish to go, you naturally may.”

As soon as Xie Hui said this, Xie Shen immediately tried to climb out of bed. But before he could, Xie Hui pressed down on the blanket and looked down at his eager expression. He asked in a low voice,

“If this were truly the last time you’d see your mother consort, I wouldn’t refuse. But what if it isn’t?”

The original host had not wanted the child to be influenced by Consort Song’s petty, small-minded ways, so he had kept them apart since infancy. Their relationship was not deep.

If anything, Xie Shen’s concern for his mother now was merely a natural bond between mother and child.

“Father Emperor, what do you mean?”

Pinned down under the blanket, Xie Shen was anxious but dared not defy his father’s will. His forehead started to sweat from frustration.

“Drink the ginger soup and rest for a while. Once you wake up, I will allow you to visit your mother consort.”

Xie Shen knew his father disliked his mother consort. He had also overheard palace servants whispering about how, since his birth, the emperor had never visited the harem again.

The fact that his father had now agreed to let him visit his mother consort was already a rare mercy.

After convincing himself internally, Xie Shen nodded and agreed.

“Yes, Father Emperor.”

The ginger soup had a strong, spicy taste that was unpleasant, but the child, unlike most children who needed coaxing, simply furrowed his brows and drank it all in one go. Once finished, he obediently curled up under the blankets.

Xie Hui stood beside the bed, staring at the small lump beneath the covers, lost in thought about Consort Song.

The original host had disliked her, and Xie Hui felt no differently. If he had to entangle himself with a woman emotionally, he would rather spend his time in an ultimate version of an infinite world, fighting bosses every day.

Besides, considering what Consort Song’s father had done, there was no way Xie Hui would let him live. Otherwise, what would that say about the rule of law?

The biggest issue was that his mission target in this world was still a child—not even four years old, still yearning for a mother’s love. Even if his mother had never been close to him or even cared for him, it didn’t change the fact that he longed for her.

Just then, from beneath the blankets, Xie Shen—unable to fall asleep—cautiously peeked out, wanting to see if his father had left.

To his shock, he met his father’s gaze directly. Startled, he quickly retracted his head, burrowing back under the covers. His heart pounded wildly in his chest.

Xie Hui was amused by the child’s swift movements. He suppressed his laughter with a light cough, stood up, and walked out, making sure to close the door with an exaggerated sound to reassure him.

Returning to the study, Xie Hui sat at his desk and opened a memorial, but for once, he couldn’t focus on a single word.

If Noble Lady Song truly loved Xie Shen, it wouldn’t be so bad. But it was clear that she saw him only as a tool to be used.

These kinds of things couldn’t be explained to a child barely over three years old. Even if someone whispered in his ear a hundred times that his mother wasn’t a good person, he wouldn’t believe it. Instead, he’d likely think the person speaking ill of her had ulterior motives.

Xie Hui leaned back in his chair, closed the memorial, and tossed it aside. A eunuch stepped forward and began massaging his temples to ease his fatigue.

“Has the imperial physician been sent to check on Noble Lady Song?”

“The physician has already examined her, Your Majesty. He reported that aside from being weak in constitution, she has no other ailments…”

In other words, the rumors of her severe illness were false.

“Send someone to bring Noble Lady Song’s father, her mother, and her younger brother—all of them—to the capital.”

Perhaps because Xie Hui had inherited some of the original host’s cold-heartedness, he saw no perfect solution to this matter. Instead, he chose to cut through the mess with a sharp blade.

“Execute Noble Lady Song’s father in front of her. Then remind her—if she dares to use the crown prince again, I will sever one of her brother’s fingers.”

“If she dares to seek death, I will send her mother and younger siblings to the underworld to accompany her.”

“If she dares to speak nonsense in front of the crown prince again, I will cut out her mother’s tongue.”

“If she wants her mother, brother, and sister to stay alive, she must play the role of a loving mother before the crown prince.”

The eunuch, startled by the emperor’s ruthlessness, accidentally pressed too hard while massaging. He quickly withdrew his hands and knelt down in fear.

“Your Majesty, this servant knows his mistake.”

Xie Hui waved his hand lightly and picked up another memorial. There was already a large stack of them, and if he didn’t finish today, more would pile up tomorrow.

“It’s fine. Go carry it out.”

He wasn’t like the original host, who would punish servants at the slightest displeasure.

The little one sleeping in the adjacent room didn’t wake until dusk. After a warm bath and a change of clothes, he drank a bowl of ginger soup and slept soundly.

When it was time for dinner, the nanny led Xie Shen in, dressed in a bright red padded jacket.

His fair skin made the red outfit look even more festive. With a tiger-head hat on his head and rabbit fur lining the edges of his clothes, he looked exceptionally spirited.

“Greetings to Father Emperor.”

Xie Shen knelt at a respectful distance of half a step from Xie Hui. Xie Hui responded with a soft “Mm” and beckoned him over.

After what had happened in the afternoon, Xie Shen was much quicker this time. His little legs moved swiftly, and he ran straight to his father’s side.

A perceptive eunuch immediately brought over a stool. Xie Hui lifted the child onto it, while a palace maid handed him a bowl and chopsticks.

“Join me for dinner.”

“Yes.”

The original host had instilled in this child from a young age that as the crown prince, he had to behave accordingly—no childishness, no frivolity, and no obvious display of personal preferences while dining.

It was as if an enormous framework had been constructed around him, forcing him to grow according to the original host’s expectations.

Xie Hui noticed that the boy’s gaze lingered on the sweet and sour ribs for a long time. He picked up a piece for him and watched as Xie Shen’s cheeks puffed up, chewing earnestly. For some reason, he felt an urge to poke those soft little cheeks.

“Why is Father Emperor staring at me?”

After swallowing his food, Xie Shen curiously looked up at his father.

Under the lamplight, the flickering candle flame reflected in the boy’s dark eyes. Xie Hui’s heart softened for no reason. He picked up a handkerchief and wiped away the sauce that had unknowingly stained the boy’s mouth.

“Be more careful while eating.”

After the reminder, Xie Shen became noticeably more restrained. Without needing any attendants to serve him, he finished his bowl of rice cleanly.

He actually wanted another piece of sweet and sour ribs, but when he saw his father had already put down his chopsticks, he hurriedly set his own down as well.

After dinner, he brought up an old request once again.

“Father Emperor, may I now visit Mother Consort?”