FBC -Chapter 299 Returning to Juzhou

At dinner time, Duan Yu arrived.

Zhao Luoxuan performed a bow, and Duan Yu took her hand, gently asking, “Are the grapes tasty?”

“I dare not eat them without permission. I’ll wait for Your Highness to enjoy them first,” she replied.

Duan Yu squeezed her hand. Feeling her trying to pull away, he applied more pressure so she couldn’t move.

He led her to a chair, sat down, and scooped her into his lap.

Zhao Luoxuan stiffened completely.

The other maids were stunned as well; the king and princess had never been so openly intimate in front of others.

They quickly stepped back a few paces, eyes fixed on their shoes.

Duan Yu held Zhao Luoxuan with one arm, plucked a grape with the other, and brought it to her lips.

“I’ll eat it myself,” Zhao Luoxuan said awkwardly in a low voice.

“Open your mouth,” he said softly.

Helpless, she opened her mouth.

Duan Yu pushed the grape inside, and his fingertip lightly brushed against her lips.

Unable to endure it any longer, Zhao Luoxuan struggled free, stood up, took a few steps back, and watched him warily.

Duan Yu smiled, plucked another grape, and chewed it himself.

“Hm, sweet with a hint of sourness. The sweetness isn’t overpowering, quite fragrant.”

Zhao Luoxuan didn’t know what he meant, so she quietly chewed her grape, feeling nothing.

“Like you,” Duan Yu said simply.

The two words startled her, and then a surge of anger rose within her. She was a princess trained under the strictest noble etiquette; she would never behave in such a manner.

Putting on a serious expression, she cupped her hands and said, “Your Highness, I came today to inform you that Madam Qi and Lord Qi wish to return to Juzhou… it is Qi Jun’s anniversary.”

Duan Yu chewed his grape. “Isn’t there a memorial set up here?”

“They still wish to pay respects at the grave. Their hearts are earnest; we humbly request Your Highness’s permission.”

Duan Yu nodded. “Very well. Do you want to go with them?”

Zhao Luoxuan suddenly lifted her head. “Your Highness… may I?”

“Of course,” Duan Yu smiled faintly. “I even set up a spirit tablet for your late husband. Offering respects to the deceased is hardly something I would begrudge.”

Zhao Luoxuan was touched, her expression softening.

“I shall accompany the elders to Juzhou for the ceremony and then return.”

Duan Yu plucked another grape and tossed it into his mouth, tilting his head to look at her thoughtfully. “Will you come back?”

Zhao Luoxuan stiffened again, staring at him, and slowly replied, “I am your princess; naturally, I will return.”

Duan Yu appeared relaxed, though the grape in his hand was nearly squashed.

Upon hearing her words, he released her and stood. “Good. Then go and return promptly. Pick some gifts for Prince Yong and Princess Yong yourself, and convey my regards to them.”

Zhao Luoxuan was overjoyed and cupped her hands. “I will obey, Your Highness. I humbly see you off.”

Duan Yu looked at her radiant smile. “You look very beautiful when you smile.”

Zhao Luoxuan froze in her smile.

Duan Yu had already walked out.

Frowning, Zhao Luoxuan watched his retreating figure. Her personal maid approached and whispered, “Princess, actually, His Highness really is quite fond of you.”

Zhao Luoxuan glared at her. “Prepare to leave for Juzhou.”

The thought of seeing Guo Hua’s sister in Juzhou excited Zhao Luoxuan immensely.

She personally selected several interesting items from the storage and carefully chose a pair of gold-and-jade bracelets for the children, Mu Chen and Mu Xi.

As night fell, the thought of leaving for Juzhou at dawn kept Zhao Luoxuan from sleeping.

Suddenly, she heard crying.

“What’s wrong with Qi’er?” Zhao Luoxuan jumped up and rushed to Duan Qi’s room.

The nanny held the crying Duan Qi, trying to soothe him.

Zhao Luoxuan entered and asked anxiously, “What happened? He usually sleeps at this hour.”

The nanny also looked worried. “Your Highness, we don’t know what’s wrong. There was nothing unusual today.”

Zhao Luoxuan reached out. “Let me hold him.”

Duan Qi stretched out his little hands toward her. Zhao Luoxuan picked up the baby.

“Qi’er, what’s wrong?”

The little one glared with tear-filled eyes and hiccupped through his sobs.

Duan Qi had likely been frail since birth. At one year old, he was still as small as a six-month-old.

Moreover, his speech wasn’t very clear.

He could never properly call his mother or the king.

Zhao Luoxuan had cared for him for so long and had grown deeply attached.

Feeling heartbroken, she gently patted his back. “Don’t cry anymore. Crying feels bad, doesn’t it? Qi’er, what’s wrong, my little treasure?”

“Did you call the imperial physician?”

“Yes, Your Highness, he’s already been sent for.”

Zhao Luoxuan sat down with Duan Qi in her arms, gently wiping his tears, and kissed his red, tear-streaked face.

Duan Qi gradually stopped crying, nestling into her arms, his little hands trying to wrap around her waist.

Though weak, he still struggled with all his might.

Zhao Luoxuan’s heart softened. She looked at the nanny and asked sternly, “Did you tell Qi’er anything about my plans to go to Juzhou?”

The nanny and maid knelt down in fear.

“Your Highness, we didn’t dare to say anything. Today while sunning ourselves in the courtyard, we saw someone moving things from the storage… I—”

The maid glanced at the nanny and didn’t dare continue.

The nanny panicked. She thought Duan Qi, being slow, wouldn’t understand, but with the princess looking stern and the maid as witness, she had no choice but to tell the truth.

Tearfully, she kowtowed. “I deserve punishment. I thought the little prince wouldn’t understand, so I just said the princess was going home. Nothing more.”

Zhao Luoxuan knew exactly what had been said.

The nanny had likely implied that the princess was abandoning him.

Though Duan Qi couldn’t speak fully, Zhao Luoxuan felt he was actually smart.

But he was an extremely sensitive child, insecure even at one year old. As long as she was present, he clung to her tightly.

Zhao Luoxuan scolded, “Take them to the stable and give them thirty lashes. They won’t serve the little prince anymore.”

The nanny cried and begged for mercy.

Zhao Luoxuan waved her hand, and two strong maids dragged the culprits away.

All the other servants held their breath in fear.

Although normally appearing gentle, the princess was very strict in managing her household.

Even if rumors suggested she had not consummated her marriage with the king, and that the jade concubine was favored and had children, no one in the palace dared disobey her.

Zhao Luoxuan glared around. “If anyone gossips in front of the little prince again, they’ll never appear in the palace again.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the servants kowtowed rapidly.

“Mother… mother,” the little voice called weakly.

Overjoyed, Zhao Luoxuan leaned down. “Wow, Qi’er can call me ‘mother’?”

Duan Qi smiled like a little kitten.

Zhao Luoxuan tenderly stroked his face. “Mother will always be by your side. You don’t need to worry, little Qi’er.”

He seemed to understand, rubbing his tiny head against her chest.

Zhao Luoxuan’s heart melted.

She thought back to her own childhood, always wanting to nestle in her mother’s arms, but her mother always scolded her for slouching, saying she lacked the dignity of a royal princess.

Zhao Luoxuan touched the little boy’s face.

This was the only bloodline of Brother Ji, whom Sister Hua cherished most. For her sister, she would raise him well.

“Pack up the little prince’s things. We’ll leave at dawn tomorrow.”

The maids were momentarily stunned.

Zhao Luoxuan anticipated their concern. “I will explain to His Highness. He won’t refuse to let little Qi’er go.”

The maids finally agreed.

Zhao Luoxuan didn’t expect Duan Yu to readily consent and even arranged for her to take the king’s personal carriage back.