Chapter 242: Control Yourself
Mei Wanying did not object to Pei Yan’s decision.
She had little to say to Empress Dowager Gu. The purpose of this visit was twofold: first, to fulfill the Empress Dowager’s wish, and second, to secure another backer for Ling.
In the future, if Ling was in trouble, there would be one more person to help her through it.
They had eaten and played. It was the perfect time to leave the palace.
Empress Dowager Gu couldn’t bear to part with Ling, but instead of asking them to stay, she just told Ling to visit the palace often.
"Have your mother bring you, or your grandmother can send someone to pick you up."
Ling nodded obediently.
But inside, she was thinking, ’I’ll only come if Mother comes. If Mother doesn’t come, then I won’t either.’
Her grandmother was very good to her, but her mother hadn’t smiled the entire time, which was different from how she was at home.
Ling was still at an innocent age, but she could sense that her mother and grandmother’s relationship wasn’t that good.
Empress Dowager Gu added, "If Ling misses her grandmother, she can write me a letter."
Ling tugged at a tassel on her clothes and said with difficulty, "I... I don’t know how to write..."
She couldn’t write, nor could she read.
Her mother had to read everything to her.
Because she couldn’t write, when she wanted to write a letter to her father, she could only draw what she was thinking.
When her father wrote back, he would also draw a picture, and she could understand the pictures he drew.
There was her mother, Ling, and her father.
Her father would also draw flowers, trees, and fierce beasts... She could understand it all!
The Empress Dowager pinched the little one’s nose. "Have someone write it for you."
This time, Ling nodded. "Okay!"
As she spoke, Empress Dowager Gu’s gaze fell on her son out of the corner of her eye.
Seeing that he didn’t object, the Empress Dowager relaxed, a faint smile flickering in her eyes.
’Ah Yan won’t stop me from seeing Ling anymore...’
No matter how reluctant she was to see them go, Ling was still taken away by her father and mother.
Empress Dowager Gu stood in place, watching the tiny figure disappear into the distance, a wave of disappointment washing over her.
"Empress, the Little Prince will come to see you again. You mustn’t be sad."
Mrs. Feng comforted her, "In two days, it will be the Little Prince’s birthday. You can see her again then."
"You’re right."
Empress Dowager Gu’s mood improved. She ordered someone to find a Raccoon to give Ling as a birthday present.
"Pick one that is good-looking and has a gentle temperament. It must not, under any circumstances, harm Ling."
Mrs. Feng said admiringly, "You are too good to the Little Prince. The Little Prince mentioned it once, and you’ve already fulfilled her wish."
"The Little Prince is so intelligent. You dote on her so much, she surely knows it in her heart."
"The way the Little Prince clung to you today, she must like you very much."
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed by the flattery. "Does Ling really like Us?"
"More certain than pure gold. The Little Prince even served you food from the dishes, she’s always thinking of you!"
The Harem was never short of children. Empress Dowager Gu hadn’t been able to raise Pei Yan herself, but she had seen what other children were like when they were young.
Not one of them could compare to Ling.
She was clever, pure of heart, and considerate toward her elders—not like those who were born with a bad seed.
Such a wonderful child came from Mei Wanying’s womb.
Her affection for the child extended to the mother. Empress Dowager Gu suddenly felt that Mei Wanying was a very fine young woman as well.
In the entire Capital City, one couldn’t find a better match for Ah Yan than Mei Wanying.
A faint smile played on Empress Dowager Gu’s lips. "Once she gives Ah Yan a son, We will bring the matter of making her Empress out into the open."
After saying this, the Empress Dowager corrected herself, "She has already given birth to Ling. Even if we were to make her Empress today, We would have no objection."
This was a sign of her complete acceptance of Mei Wanying.
Mrs. Feng said with a flattering smile, "The Emperor dotes on Miss Mei. It won’t be long before Miss Mei is with child again."
"That would be for the best."
Ah Yan suffered countless injuries on the battlefield in his youth. Who knew if they had left any lasting ailments.
It would be a good thing for Mei Wanying to bear him a few more children.
In the future, if there were people to share Ah Yan’s burdens, he would be able to take better care of his health.
Ling is a girl. Being born into the Royal Family was indeed glorious, but without full brothers to support her, her situation would become difficult once Ah Yan grew old.
Just like her mother.
When General Mei passed away back then, the Mei family was nearly wiped out.
After returning to Jiangnan, they were bullied endlessly by their clan relatives.
If not for Xun and Ah Yan protecting her, Mei Wanying would have been torn to pieces.
How could she enjoy her current glory?
Empress Dowager Gu asked, "When will Xun return to the Capital City? Can he make it back for Ling’s birthday?"
"That incident is a thorn in Ah Yan’s heart. It’s not good for it to fester. When Xun returns, while they are all here, We will explain the situation to them. Ah Yan is no fool; he will surely understand Our good intentions."
"Ah Yan and Xun are cousins. Untangling this knot will be good for them both."
Mrs. Feng felt that the Emperor wasn’t dwelling on it obsessively.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given Lord Gu the opportunity, transferring him back to the Capital City from the provinces and placing him in a key post in the Ministry of War.
She mumbled under her breath, "What the Emperor is angry about is probably the matter of Miss Mei seeking a husband; it has nothing to do with your previous arrangements."
When all was said and done, the Emperor was just being jealous.
He couldn’t take his frustrations out on the woman he loved, so didn’t he just take it out on Lord Gu instead?
If Lord Gu hadn’t had feelings for Miss Mei, after being given a hard time a few times, the matter would have blown over.
But he was stubborn, insisting it had to be Mei Wanying and no one else.
The Empress Dowager looked helpless. "Why does the Gu Family only produce such lovesick fools?"
Mrs. Feng said, "This is all fate, Empress. It’s best you don’t interfere. In time, the Emperor will let it go on his own."
"This is also for Lord Gu’s own good. If he were to see Miss Mei, he might not be able to let go again..."
What she said made sense.
The Empress Dowager was deeply worried. "It’s not right for Xun to remain unmarried. I wonder if my brother has made any plans for him?"
Mrs. Feng said, "Lord Gu is handsome and refined. There are plenty of young ladies who admire him. As long as he can move on, he won’t have any trouble finding a good wife."
They are the Emperor’s maternal family; countless people want to climb that social ladder.
Whatever kind of young lady Lord Gu wants, he can find.
The prerequisite is that he must get over Mei Wanying!
Everyone was worried about Gu Xun’s marital prospects.
Pei Yan had just brought Mei Wanying and Ling back to the Imperial Study Room when a Palace Attendant came to report that Mr. Gu was outside seeking an audience.
Pei Yan didn’t want Mei Wanying to see anyone from the Gu family, fearing she would be reminded of Gu Xun.
His expression turned cold.
Ling was confused. "Father, what’s wrong?"
’Why is Father’s face so dark? He looks like he’s in a bad mood.’
Ling had been settled on the Imperial Throne. Paper and a brush were placed before her, and she was busy scribbling and doodling.
Her father had said he would show her and her mother where he worked.
How could his expression turn so dark in the blink of an eye?
Ling tilted her head up, her large, clear eyes filled with confusion.
How could Pei Yan tell her the truth?
It would make him seem as petty as the eye of a needle; he’d be laughed to death.
When Mei Wanying glanced at him with a faint, knowing smile, Pei Yan had the feeling he’d been seen right through.
He felt a pang of embarrassment.
His expression became awkward.
Mei Wanying beckoned to Ling. "Come down. Mother is taking you home."
"Oh."
Ling put down the brush, slid off the imperial chair, and took Mei Wanying’s hand, ready to leave without a hint of reluctance.
Pei Yan quickly placed a hand on the little one’s head, stopping her. "We haven’t been held up from important matters. There’s no rush to leave."
Looking into Mei Wanying’s eyes, he said, word by word, "You are not allowed to think about Gu Xun!"
Mei Wanying said helplessly, "You should be telling that to yourself."
’We both know who thought of him first!’