596 Dreaming the Truth
The Queen let go and took a deep breath. âOf course youâre your fatherâs child. Itâs just that your father left in a hurry back then and felt guilty about that child, so heâs always remembered him. And you grew up by your fatherâs side and gave him everything you could. He has no regrets, so he naturally doesnât have too strong a concern.â
Nangong Li didnât seem to believe him. âIs that so? Why do I keep feeling that recentlyâ¦â
The Queen interrupted him. âDonât think too much. Thereâs still a length to your ten fingers, and the palm and back of your hand are both flesh, but the flesh in your palm is thicker. Your father can only blame himself for being biased.â
Nangong Li was silent.
The Queen patted his hand. âWhy did you suddenly start thinking nonsense?â
âI canât say either. It clearly wasnât like this before, but suddenlyâ¦â Nangong Li shook his head.â Forget it, I shouldnât have suspected you so much. Please forgive me, Mother.â
The Queen smiled gently and stroked his cheek. âYouâre my son, so how can I blame you? In the face of a great enemy, we should work together and overcome the current difficulties.â
Nangong Li said guiltily, âMother is right.â
The Queen said, âYou donât have to suspect your background.â
Nangong Li said worriedly, âBut Father lives beside Yan Jiuchao now. He will definitely know who he is soon. At that time, heâ¦â
The Queen sneered. âSo what if he knows? Can he abandon us just because he knows? Yan Jiuchao is his son, and so are you. Even if he doesnât acknowledge me, he wonât abandon his own children.â
It was unknown if it was Nangong Liâs imagination, but his motherâs expression seemed to be a little wrong when she said this, but it was only for a moment. The Queen smiled slightly. âItâs getting late. Go back and rest early. Rest well before you can deal with those reckless fellows.â
Nangong Li stood up and bowed. âIâll take my leave.â
The Queen nodded.
Nangong Li turned around and left the room. He had already stepped out of the threshold when the Queen behind him suddenly called out to him, âLiâer.â
âWhatâs wrong, Mother?â Nangong Li turned around.
The Queenâs eyelashes trembled as she said gently, âItâs nothing. Take care of your sister for me. Sheâs the one person who canât accept your fatherâs matter the most. Iâm worried that sheâs young and insensible and will come looking for trouble again. Sheâs not a match for that group of people.â
Was this what his mother wanted to tell him? Why did he feelâ¦
Nangong Li collected his thoughts and nodded obediently. âI understand. Iâll keep a close eye on her.â
âGo,â the Queen said with a smile.
Nangong Li left. He went to his sisterâs courtyard.
The Queen looked at the figure that gradually disappeared into the night and revealed a tired expression. She had not dreamed for a long time, but that night, she fell into a nightmare the moment she fell asleep.
It was said that what one thought about in the day would cause one to dream at night. Originally, when Nangong Li asked about his background, the Queen thought that she would dream of that child. Unexpectedly, she dreamed of the first time the Prince Consort woke up in Nanzhao.
The young Prince Consort was handsome. The Queen had lived for more than ten years and had never seen a better-looking man. From the moment she saw him, the Queen knew that she would never be able to leave this man in her life. She had done everything she could to get him.
However, the first thing he said when he woke up was to ask her coldly, âWhat exactly do you like about me?â
She teased, âI like your face. Why? Canât I?â
It was just a joke. She never expected the Prince Consort to take it seriously. He grabbed the hairpin by the pillow and mercilessly slashed at his flawless face. If she said that she liked his heart, would he cut it out on the spot?
The Queen shuddered and sat up from the bed. She panted in shock. Her clothes were drenched in cold sweat, and the mattress was sticky. She raised her hand and wiped the sweat off her forehead.
When the female envoy on duty heard the commotion, she walked over with the lamp. âYour Highness, youâre awake? Are you alright?â
The Queen felt like there was a huge stone in her chest. She rubbed it uncomfortably and said, âPour me a cup of water.â
âYes.â The female envoy placed the oil lamp on the table, poured a cup of hot tea, lifted the curtain, and handed it to the Queen.
The Queen reached out to take it, but her hand trembled and the teacup fell to her feet. The tea splashed on her clothes. This was the Queenâs fault, but the female envoy did not dare to put the blame on her. She knelt down and said, âYour Highness, please forgive me!â
âWhereâs the Prince Consort?â The Queen asked in a trembling voice.
The female envoy replied, âThe Prince Consort is at Ziwei Pavilion.â
The Queen was stunned. Yes, the Prince Consort had moved to Ziwei Pavilion and lived beside Yan Jiuchao. He had been snatched away.
Jealousy and unwillingness surged like a tide.
The Queen tightened her grip on the mattress bit by bit.
In Ziwei Pavilion, the Prince Consort, Yan Jiuchao, Yu Wan, and the three little black eggs had just had dinner. Because the Prince Consort woke up late, dinner was also prepared late.
This was the first time Prince Consort, now they should call him Prince Yan, ate with a few juniors. The three little fellows ate very well. They were not picky and did not lose their temper. They ate whatever Yu Wan put in their bowls.
When they encountered something they didnât like to eat, they would inadvertently frown, but they still ate it all. Although Prince Yan could not remember the past, he seemed to know what Yan Jiuchao looked like when he was young when he looked at them.
Xiaobao was the most similar to Yan Jiuchao, be it his appearance or personality. Of course, Prince Yan did not know about this. It was Yu Wan who guessed that Yan Jiuchao was like Xiaobao when he was young through Uncle Wanâs description.
He was especially capable of causing trouble. And loved to wheedle. And a little stupid. He could not compare to Dabao in terms of strength, nor could he compare to Erâbao in terms of softness and cuteness. But he was the best at being clingy.
After dinner, Dabao and Erâbao were brought down by Fu Ling to take a shower, but Xiaobao hung on Yu Wan and refused to come down.
âXiaobao has a headache. Xiaobao hasnât recovered yet. Cough, cough, cough!â He even coughed hypocritically as he wheedled.
Yu Wan looked at him and hummed. âOh, you havenât recovered. Then you have to drink medicine.â
ââ¦â Xiaobao obediently came down.
Yu Wan smiled and went to tidy the table. This time, she only brought a chef and two maidservants with her. When they were busy, Yu Wan would help.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Xiaobao lowered his head dejectedly.
âCome to Grandpa.â Prince Yan waved at Xiaobao.
Xiaobao was not shy with strangers. Moreover, they had seen each other once when he left home. They could be considered bosom friends.
Xiaobao walked over eagerly and looked at the mask on his face. âWhy are you wearing this?â
He and Erâbao had only been talking for less than a month, but they could already speak a long sentence.
âWhy didnât Xiaobao have one?â Xiaobao pointed at his face.
âYou want it?â Prince Yan asked.
Xiaobao nodded.
Prince Yan raised his hand to take off the mask on his face, but a memory suddenly flashed across his mind. It was the young Nangong Li. He asked the same question and wanted his mask. He took off the mask for him, but it frightened the young Nangong Li to tears on the spot.
The young Nangong Li cried and did not want to get close to him. Now, he could face this sudden memory openly. However, back then, he felt a little uncomfortable being feared and despised by his biological son.
Prince Yan did not want to scare Xiaobao, nor did he want to feel uncomfortable again. He put down his hand and said to Xiaobao, âIf Xiaobao likes it, Grandpa will buy one for you tomorrow morning.â
Xiaobao shook his head. âI want yours.â
Prince Yan sighed. âBut Grandpa is very ugly. If I take off my mask, Iâll scare Xiaobao.â
Xiaobao widened his eyes with an âhow is that possibleâ expression? Even though Prince Yan was old, with only his eyes and smooth chin revealed, he could be considered a beauty. Xiaobao did not know anything about being beautiful, but he knew that this person was very good-looking.
âXiaobao is the boldest!â Xiaobao patted his chest and said.
Children were like this. The more he didnât let him see it, the more he wanted to see it. Xiaobao stared curiously at Prince Yanâs mask, looking left and right, wishing he could see a hole.
Prince Yan hesitated for a moment before taking off the mask. Xiaobaoâs eyes widened when he saw the scar that crossed the left side of his face. A trace of panic flashed across Prince Yanâs heart. He shouldnât have taken off the mask. He had frightened the child.
Just as Prince Yan was scrambling to put the mask back on, Xiaobao suddenly reached out and touched the scar on his face. âDoes it hurt?ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
His hands were soft and cold after washing them. Prince Yan felt his heart burning. There was no fear or disdain in Xiaobaoâs clear eyes.
Xiaobao moved a small stool over and stepped on it. He stood on his tiptoes and blew gently at his face. âIt wonât hurt anymore.â