Chapter 142: Motherly Love
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Because of this, a constant sense of guilt overwhelmed Loya whenever she faced the queen. She felt remorse for deceiving not only the queen but also the entire empire. Using the queen’s motherly love for the princess to her advantage only intensified her feelings of guilt.
In an effort to repay the queen’s affection, Loya dedicated herself to studying ancient delicacies and honing her skills. Upon leaving the king’s chambers, she made her way straight to the palace kitchen. After preparing a delectable pudding, she carried it to the garden in search of the queen.
“Mother, look what I’ve made!” Loya beamed, placing the pudding into the waiting hands of a maidservant on the stone table in the garden.
The queen, engrossed in arranging flowers, caught sight of Loya and eagerly instructed someone to clear the flowers from the stone table. She then pulled Loya closer, her eyes fixed upon her.
Perhaps because she had once lost her, the queen cherished Loya all the more upon her return. Every time the king laid eyes on her as Zhu Fei, the queen would hold Loya’s hand and intently scrutinize her face. The overwhelming love shining in the queen’s eyes was suffocating to Zhu Fei, who disguised herself as Loya.
Allowing herself to be observed, Loya remained unafraid of the queen discovering her altered appearance, the result of discreet plastic surgery. To ensure that her changed face went unnoticed, the empire had sought the assistance of a unique race known as the Silver Moon Clan. Their innate abilities allowed them to modify Loya’s appearance to resemble that of the king and queen, achieving a striking 70% resemblance to the queen. Such was the likeness that even the king would often sigh, longing for his departed daughter.
Yes, in truth, the real Princess Loya had perished at birth. However, fearing the devastating impact of this truth on the queen, the king had mercilessly eliminated everyone who knew of the princess’s premature demise, save for Knight Cologne. To shield the empress from sorrow, he concocted a tale of abduction by rebel forces who had infiltrated the palace. And so, the empress embarked on her arduous journey to recover her fragile health, driven by the hope of finding her missing daughter.
Observing the queen’s imminent descent into her memories, Loya hurriedly interrupted, “Mother, I made this just for you. Please try it and see if it pleases your palate!”
“Alright, alright. I’ll give it a try! ” The queen regained her composure and began savoring the pudding.
‘Mother, is it delicious? Does it differ from the dishes prepared by the palace chefs?” Loya gazed at the queen, anticipation in her eyes. On the second day of her arrival at the palace, she had shared her collection of ancient recipes with the palace chefs, hoping to earn favor with the empire’s king.
However, what she didn’t expect was that her efforts not only won the king and queen’s favor but also gained the admiration of the empire’s ministers. Consequently, she was granted the opportunity to teach the citizens of the empire about ancient delicacies once a week.
Loya treasured this opportunity immensely. In an unfamiliar empire, she understood that only by showcasing her value to those in power and subsequently gaining the support of the common people could she establish herself firmly.
Upon finishing the exquisite delicacy crafted by her daughter, the queen was elated. “Delicious! Loya’s pudding surpasses anything the imperial chefs could ever create!”
Loya’s smile mirrored her mother’s joy as they engaged in warm conversation, sharing intriguing anecdotes. The bond between mother and daughter flourished.
A short distance away, three princes who had come to visit the queen halted in their tracks, silently observing the heartwarming scene. They refrained from disrupting the cherished moment.
“Brother, I’ve never seen Mother so radiant. Little Sister is truly remarkable!” Loya’s third brother, the Empire’s Third Prince, couldn’t help but beam at the sight.
The second prince nodded in agreement. “Third Brother speaks the truth. Mother has never appeared this happy before.”
“You’re right. Since they’re enjoying each other’s company, let’s not disturb them today. Let’s head back for now,” the Eldest Prince said, smiling, as he turned to depart from the garden.
The eldest prince strode briskly, leaving the third prince, who had just realized what was happening, jogging to catch up. “Second Brother, it’s alright if Eldest Brother didn’t wait for me, but why didn’t you wait? Why didn’t you remind me to follow you?!”
The second prince relished his younger brother’s naive charm, finding no reason to remind him. He chuckled and changed the subject. “I apologize, Third Brother.. I’ll be sure to remind you next time!”
