Chapter 651 - 654: I Don’t Need It
He Family spread her arms wide, about to bend down and hug her grandson.
However, Li Xun ran past her and dove headfirst into Hua Manman’s arms.
Li Xun opened his mouth to call out, "Mother."
Hua Manman quickly covered his mouth, stifling his cry.
He Family turned to look at them, her brow tightly knitted. She clearly couldn’t comprehend the situation before her.
’How could her precious grandson be so affectionate with a strange woman?’
Hua Manman secretly shot her son a look, signaling for him to play along. Then she let him go and took the initiative to explain.
"I was fortunate enough to have met the Young Master a few times. He’s taken a liking to me because I bear a slight resemblance to the Regent Queen."
Upon hearing this, He Family looked the young woman up and down.
’I didn’t notice before, but this young woman really does look a bit like Manman.’
’It wasn’t a resemblance in looks, but in the feeling she gave off.’
He Family had a moment of realization. ’No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity with this girl. I thought it was just my imagination, but it seems it’s because of Manman after all.’
Li Xun was very sharp. He saw what was happening and immediately understood that his mother couldn’t reveal her identity at this time.
So he turned and burrowed into He Family’s embrace, happily calling out, "Grandmother!"
He Family’s attention was immediately captured by her grandson.
She stroked her precious grandson’s small head, a benevolent smile on her face.
"I haven’t seen you in so long! You look like you’ve gotten taller. How have you been in the palace? Is there anything you’re having trouble getting used to?"
Li Xun immediately said, "I don’t like living in the palace. I want to go home. Grandmother, can you take me home?"
Before He Family could answer, they heard a familiar voice.
"Xun’er, haven’t I told you? From now on, this is your home."
Everyone looked toward the voice and saw Princess Consort Zhen approaching gracefully, surrounded by her entourage of palace attendants.
She wore a magnificent, wide-sleeved gown, and the golden hairpin in her chignon swayed gently, refracting a dazzling light.
A deep red plum blossom ornament adorned her forehead, making her snow-white skin and captivating eyes stand out even more.
Hua Manman took a single glance before quickly looking away, then curtsied along with He Family.
"Greetings, Noble Consort."
Princess Consort Zhen extended a hand in a gesture to help He Family rise, her voice soft.
"There are no outsiders here, Mother. There’s no need for such ceremony."
He Family straightened up.
She looked at the stunning beauty before her, her heart a whirlwind of complex emotions.
’She had always known Hua Qingqing was a clever girl, but she never imagined Hua Qingqing could climb to her current position on her own merits.’
’Meanwhile, her own daughter, Manman, now rests eternally beneath the ground.’
’The contrast between the two left a bitter taste in He Family’s mouth.’
Li Xun said sullenly.
"This isn’t my home! I want to go home!"
Princess Consort Zhen looked at the large tree behind him, then turned to the two little eunuchs.
"What just happened?"
The two little eunuchs were so frightened their legs gave out, and they dropped to their knees with a THUD.
"Just now, the Young Master insisted on climbing the tree. We couldn’t talk him out of it. It’s our fault for being incompetent! We know we were wrong. We beg the Noble Consort to spare our lives!"
Princess Consort Zhen said flatly, "Since you know you’re incompetent, keeping you around would be a waste of food. Take them away and dispose of them according to palace regulations."
Li Xun interjected at once, "I was the one who insisted on climbing the tree! It has nothing to do with them! If you’re unhappy about something, take it out on me! Don’t involve innocent people!"
Princess Consort Zhen followed up with a question.
"Why were you climbing the tree?"
Li Xun declared, "I wanted to climb over the wall to get out of here!"
The large tree was close to the perimeter wall. By climbing it, one could reach the top of the wall and escape from Yufu Palace.
Princess Consort Zhen ordered an attendant.
"Go chop that tree down."
Not only was the tree to be cut down, but the two little eunuchs were also being dragged away.
They were being taken to their deaths.
Li Xun tried to plead for them.
Princess Consort Zhen gave a faint smile. Her voice was gentle, but her words left no room for discussion.
"I ordered them to take good care of you. If anything at all happens to you, it’s a failure on their part. Failure must be punished. That is the rule of the palace."
Li Xun wanted to argue more.
However, Princess Consort Zhen had no desire to waste her breath on such a trivial matter. She simply had the two little eunuchs’ mouths covered before they were dragged away.
Hua Manman silently watched it all unfold.
’In truth, she had already steeled herself, knowing that Hua Qingqing must have changed a great deal.’
’The Hua Qingqing who was once so kind she wouldn’t even harm an ant could now decide a person’s fate with just a few words.’
’At that moment, Hua Manman recognized with stark clarity that the woman before her was no longer the gentle, kind Hua Qingqing of the past, but the high-ranking, ambitious Princess Consort Zhen.’
Seeing Li Xun’s unhappy expression, Princess Consort Zhen reached out to stroke his head and console him softly.
"Don’t be angry. They’re only two servants. It’s not worth getting upset over."
Li Xun turned his head away, avoiding her hand.
Princess Consort Zhen gave a helpless smile. "You’ll understand sooner or later. Everything I do is for your own good."
Li Xun shot back without hesitation.
"I don’t need it!"
He Family quickly pulled him back, whispering a warning, "Don’t speak to the Noble Consort like that."
’She was a Noble Consort, after all. If she were to truly get angry, a child like Li Xun would surely suffer the consequences.’
Princess Consort Zhen said gently, "It’s alright. Children are like that; they speak their minds without meaning harm. This isn’t the place to talk. Mother, please come inside and sit with me."
She took Li Xun’s hand to lead him back.
But Li Xun yanked his hand away and scurried over to his grandmother’s side.
He Family was a little worried that Princess Consort Zhen would get angry.
Fortunately, Princess Consort Zhen just gave another helpless smile, not taking the small slight to heart.
Inside the room, Princess Consort Zhen took the seat of honor. He Family sat in a guest seat beside her, with Li Xun right next to her.
While Princess Consort Zhen and He Family exchanged pleasantries, Li Xun kept stealing glances at his mother.
Hua Manman noticed her son’s subtle actions.
She walked over and said quietly to He Family.
"Your tea has gone cold. Allow me to get you a fresh cup."
He Family agreed.
Hua Manman picked up the teacup from beside He Family. At the same time, she glanced secretly at Li Xun and gave him a quick wink.
Then she carried the teacup out of the room.
Seeing his chance, Li Xun immediately jumped to his feet.
"I need to relieve myself! I’ll be right back!"
With that, he scurried out of the room.
Worried he might cause more trouble, Princess Consort Zhen immediately ordered someone to follow him.
Li Xun had slipped out to see his mother; he couldn’t have anyone following him.
He made a show of going to the latrine, left the attendant waiting outside, and then climbed out through the window.
Hua Manman carried the fresh, hot tea and deliberately walked back at a very slow pace, stopping every few steps to look around. She was growing anxious. ’Where is Gou Dan? Don’t tell me he didn’t understand my signal?’
The next moment, she saw Li Xun brace his hands on the railing and vault over it into the covered walkway.
"Mother!"