CH 102.2

After leaving the main hall, the crown princess was surrounded by palace maids. As she turned a corner, she ran into a person dressed as a member of the Imperial Guard.

She lowered her head. The other party glanced at her, then moved to the side, and the two passed by each other.

After the crown princess left, Zhao Zuo put away the light smile on his face. The look in his eyes showed clear disgust.

“Clean up the mess and have Concubine Qiao serve him.”

Standing in the corner, a eunuch said, “Yes.” 

But the crown prince suddenly scolded: “…you dare to look down on Lao Tzu. Who are you to look down on Lao Tzu? You were born of Lao Tzu…”

Zhao Zuo looked over. He had thought that the crown prince was pretending to act crazy under the pretext of being drunk but when he looked closer, his eyes were shut, and he was only mumbling drunk words…

Look at how resentful he was. He didn’t even forget to scold him in his dreams.

But he does look down on him!

Useless one! Except for getting drunk, venting your anger with a woman was likely the only thing you could do!

“Why can’t you call him Dad? He has been angry all day.”

After taking a bath, the mother and son spoke while sitting on the couch.

With his head lowered, Xiaobao was playing with a little wooden horse. When he heard this, he raised his head and grinned at Yaoniang.

Seeing this smile, Yaoniang didn’t know what to say.

Perhaps Xiaobao simply didn’t know how to say ‘father’. Children at this age address others in no particular order. Some said ‘father’ first and some said ‘mother’ first. Others even called ‘grandpa’ or ‘grandma’ first. As for what Jin Wang had said about Xiaobao being extremely clever and smart, the child was indeed smart, but perhaps not to that degree. The child likely did those actions intuitively and a part of it may have been an exaggeration on part of the adults. 

Yaoniang could only use these words to convince herself why Xiaobao has yet to call him ‘father’.

“Why don’t Mother teach you? Otherwise, who knows how long he’ll be angry for.”

Normally, Xiaobao would sit there honestly, but today he seemed to be very interested in the little wooden horse and rolled away with it in his arms.

Jin Wang came in and saw this scene.

Yaoniang was a little surprised when she saw him. When they had returned from the palace that afternoon, Jin Wang went away, sulking. She’d thought he wouldn’t come back until midnight.

“Your Highness.”

Jin Wang nodded then went to the bathroom.

“Just try to call him father, would you?”

Xiaobao rolled into the corner of the bed while holding onto the little wooden horse. Yaoniang could only shake her head, helpless.

But Xiaobao couldn’t laugh anymore, because once Jin Wang came out of the bathroom, he called Hong Fei over.

He picked up Xiaobao and handed him to Hong Fei.

Seeing his son’s surprised little eyes, he sneered, “How old are you? You still sleep with your mother? Go sleep by yourself.” He said to Hong Fei, “Madam is pregnant. Have him sleep on his own in the future, lest he kicks Madam by accident.”

Hong Fei nodded repeatedly. They were worried about this before, but Madam had refused. Since the child had never kicked Madam before, the matter was dropped.

“After all, he’s still young and doesn’t understand anything.” These words seemed to be for Yaoniang, but Jin Wang’s eyes were actually on Xiaobao.

Since you’re young and can’t understand anything, go sleep by yourself.

Yaoniang was speechless and didn’t say anything.

Xiaobao stared at Jin Wang, his eyes bright.

Suddenly, he started to bawl, waving his arms and legs back and forth in the air. “Mother, mother…” 

His crying was so sad that people who didn’t know the truth would’ve thought that something had happened. Yaoniang couldn’t sit still any longer and said to Jin Wang, “He doesn’t sleep with me every night, only sometimes. Just let him stay for today. The child entered the palace and met with so many people. Perhaps he’ll dream at night…” 

As she spoke, she stretched out her arms to hug Xiaobao.

Xiaobao hugged his mother and refused to let go. Once his little feet touched the bed, he took a few steps and hid behind Yaoniang. Wrapping his arms around her neck, he looked at Jin Wang from behind.

But he still mumbled, “Mother, mother.” His voice was tender and affectionate.

Yaoniang thought her son was still sad, so she turned around and wrapped her arms around him. “Don’t cry, mother will sleep with you.” She then turned to look at Jin Wang again, begging with her eyes, “Your Highness…”

The blue veins on Jin Wang’s forehead bulged. He snorted and waved Hong Fei and the others to leave.

Seeing this, Yaoniang happily turned around and put Xiaobao down. The mother and the son were as happy as mice. They looked at each other in a way that only they could understand, then laid down on the bed. After lying down, Yaoniang patted Xiaobao to stop him from making trouble and to go to sleep obediently.

Seeing that the mother and the son were so stupid as to pretend to be asleep, Jin Wang laughed angrily then laid down beside them.

The room was very quiet, and only a dim yellow light shone through the bed curtains.

After a while, he felt a person snuggle up next to him. She clearly had a big belly, so her movements were a bit clumsy, but she still persevered. Although his anger hasn’t left, he couldn’t help but reach out to hug her.

“Your Highness, don’t be angry. Xiaobao’s still young…” She snuggled in his embrace then said in a quiet voice, “I’ll teach him starting tomorrow. Xiaobao’s so smart, so he’ll definitely learn quickly…”

Jin Wang humphed and didn’t speak.

“…I wonder if this one in my belly will be a little boy or girl…”.

It’s better to be a baby girl. He doesn’t want another brat!

Suddenly, Jin Wang thought of something and whispered, “Tomorrow, make a trip to Duke Ningguo Manor.”

Yaoniang was already a bit sleepy. After hearing this she asked, “Duke Ningguo Manor?”

In the darkness, Jin Wang’s eyes were complicated. “They are this prince’s maternal grandfather’s family.” After a pause, he said again, “They are very important to this prince.”

Yaoniang understood his meaning and asked, “Your Highness isn’t going?”

“I’m not going.” How long has he not seen his grandfather, grandmother, and uncles? All because of that ridiculous taboo.

She nodded and didn’t ask why he wasn’t going.

In the corner of the bed, Xiaobao, who they thought was asleep, had his eyes open. A complicated light flashed in his eyes.