FRGNM -Chapter 35 The Troubling Kid

“Mm.” Ye Ningfeng nodded and looked back at Ling Ruoxi, who was leaning against the bed. Her sickly appearance made him anxious. “It’s late—you should sleep early. I’ve put some food here for you; eat a little.”

“I know.” Ling Ruoxi said softly, reaching out to touch Yimeng’s little head. She still couldn’t calm her worries—where could Yizhui possibly have gone?

Yizhui… nothing must happen to him!

“Oh, heavens!” At this moment, Luo Mingyu was nearly going crazy. Seeing the child crying in the room like a tiny fountain of tears, he regretted taking this troublesome little boy in.

“Alright, stop crying. A real man doesn’t cry.” One hand covered his own ear as he looked at the boy clutching a pillow. The child’s voice was incredibly loud—if Luo Mingyu weren’t in a separate room, the neighbors might have come complaining.

Tears streamed like pearls breaking off a string. Yizhui sobbed uncontrollably, “I… I miss Mommy…”

What a troublesome little guy.

“Go to sleep. When you sleep, you’ll see Mommy in your dreams!” Luo Mingyu smiled faintly, lying down on the bed with Yizhui, gently patting his back and tucking the blanket around him.

After all, he was in Beining Kingdom these days; he might as well help the child find his real mother. Such a troublesome little thing—he truly wondered how his mother disciplined him.

“What? Ruoxi has returned!” Nangong Mo almost jumped in shock, staring at Ye Ningfeng. The calm composure he usually maintained was gone, replaced by panic and embarrassment.

Clenching his hands tightly, Nangong Mo asked in a low voice, “Where is she? Why didn’t she come to the palace so she could be taken care of?”

“Your Highness, Ruoxi’s child went missing. I’m helping her search.” Ye Ningfeng said calmly, shaking his head helplessly at the person before him.

A child? Nangong Mo felt as if a hammer had struck his chest. In the end, that woman had left a child behind—but how did the child get lost?

“It’s like this: Ruoxi returned to the Ling residence and ran into Miss Huiru. They had tensions before. Her son, Yizhui, kicked Miss Huiru and ran off.” Ye Ningfeng sighed. That child… why did he run off?

“Kicked?” Nangong Mo’s expression darkened. “Her son kicked Huiru? Who gave him that courage? Is that how he’s being raised?”

“Your Highness, we can’t blame Ruoxi entirely. According to witnesses, Miss Huiru tried to hit Yizhui first, and Ruoxi stopped her.” Ye Ningfeng knew Ling Huiru was to become the crown princess, but facts are facts. There was nothing to argue.

At that moment, a eunuch outside waved his whisk and shouted, “Miss Huiru is here!”

Though Ling Huiru hadn’t married Nangong Mo yet, it was widely accepted. She didn’t need a palace permit to enter, and everyone in the palace referred to her as Miss Huiru.

“Your Highness!” The soft voice made even Ye Ningfeng instinctively step back three feet, bowing slightly. “Crown Prince, I’ll take my leave first.”

“Grand Tutor, why leave so quickly? Stay a while.” Ling Huiru smiled lightly, pulling Nangong Mo’s hand, angrily rolling up her pants. “Look at what Ruoxi’s son has done!”

A purplish bruise appeared on her fair leg, the surrounding swelling refusing to subside. It made people pity her.

Nangong Mo frowned, pinching Ling Huiru’s small foot. “What happened? The Grand Tutor said you were troubled by Ruoxi?”

“I got hurt! How could I trouble her? It’s her mother and son being too arrogant. They hurt me as soon as I arrived. They didn’t apologize and even struck me! Your Highness, you must stand up for me!” Ling Huiru nearly collapsed into Nangong Mo’s arms, glaring at Ye Ningfeng with contempt.

Did she really think he didn’t know? That shameless woman had reached Ye Ningfeng’s side—she knew something was up. She came to the palace, and Ye Ningfeng actually reported her to the Crown Prince!

Hmph. If cruelty is a contest, let’s see who’s stronger!

Nangong Mo didn’t speak. He twisted Ling Huiru’s ankle, instructing a palace maid to apply blood-moving and bruise-dispersing ointment to her leg.

“Your Highness, you must stand up for me! I am the Crown Princess! Ruoxi is just an unworthy woman—are you going to let her bully me?” Ling Huiru clung to Nangong Mo’s arm, trying to look pitiful—but it was almost disgusting.

Ye Ningfeng didn’t respond, bowing instead. “Your Highness, I’ll leave first.”

“Wait! Grand Tutor, you’re sneaking away to inform Ruoxi, aren’t you? I forbid it!” Ling Huiru snorted, standing quickly, looking down on Ye Ningfeng.

Ye Ningfeng frowned, stepping back to keep distance. “Miss Huiru, you have no authority to order me.”

“You! Ye Ningfeng! Are you rebelling? I’m the future Crown Princess, and you dare speak to me this way!” Ling Huiru’s face turned red. Her fists clenched, clearly enraged by his defiance.

Why did no one in the palace respect her? She was to be the Crown Princess! These lackeys were nothing—if they angered her, they deserved execution!

Nangong Mo sighed helplessly, grabbed Ling Huiru’s arm, pushing her back. He stood in front of Ye Ningfeng. “Ningfeng, Huiru doesn’t understand. Don’t bother with her. Take care of Ruoxi’s side—find her child quickly. Once I finish palace matters, I’ll come immediately. Keep Ruoxi here; don’t let her leave.”

“Yes.” Ye Ningfeng murmured, turning to leave.

Ling Huiru, pushed aside, slammed her leg in frustration, frowning coldly at the departing figure.

Nangong Mo crouched slightly, gripping her jaw with his cold right hand. Smiling icily, he said, “Do you think you’re anything special? You are just Ruoxi’s substitute. What right do you have to shout at Ningfeng? Ling Huiru, understand your position and your engagement. I can annul it at any time. Don’t cross my bottom line!”

“Your Highness!” Ling Huiru’s face was full of resentment. It’s all that shameless Ruoxi! That woman gave birth and yet didn’t follow the ways of a proper wife. She went to Grand Tutor Ye Ningfeng’s home, played the victim, claimed her child was missing, and dragged it to the Crown Prince! She hated her—this thorn in her side had to be eliminated.

Meanwhile, Ye Ningfeng entered the room. The small figure of Yizhui tugged at his sleeve, shaking his head. “Uncle… Mommy just lay down. Be gentle.”

“She didn’t sleep all night?” Seeing the figure on the bed, tossing even in her dreams, brows tightly furrowed, cold sweat dripping—it was truly worrisome.

Shaking his head, Yimeng touched her own head. “I don’t know. Mommy cried when she woke this morning, said she felt dizzy, then lay down.”

“What?” Crying? In Ye Ningfeng’s memory, even if that woman had been insulted or humiliated, she would never shed tears. But now… she was no longer that little girl. She had become a mother, hiding her weakness even deeper.

Approaching the bed, Ye Ningfeng reached out to touch Ling Ruoxi’s forehead. Her teary eyelashes trembled. Indeed, as Yimeng had said, she was simply exhausted.

But…

Seeing the white veil, Ye Ningfeng was about to lift it. He had seen that familiar face before. Even if he uncovered it, it shouldn’t be a problem.

“Uncle! What are you doing?!” Yimeng shouted, her small body rushing over, quickly pressing Ye Ningfeng’s hands, eyes wide with panic.