Chapter 15 - Legend of Prince Li

When speaking about Prince Li, one must mention his concubine mother, Consort Qin, Consort Qin was born in the capital from a family of government officials, not considered to be outstanding, but also had a clean record. From when the Emperor had yet to be crowned as Crown Prince then following to becoming the Emperor,these two people can be considered as childhood sweethearts.

Consort Qin’s soft heart is benevolent, her reputation was extremely good, and also had the Emperor’s doting love, when the Emperor was bestowed the title of the Crown Prince, for a time he resisted the late Emperor, it was for his desire to establish Consort Qin as his Princess Consort. However at the end because her birth was too low, he established Pei Yu Rui as his Princess Consort.

Consort Qin not only did not have any grudges in her heart, in contrary to what one might expect, she put all her efforts in comforting the Emperor, it can be said, every time the Emperor encounter a predicament or he is discouraged, it is always Consort Qin who soothes him, this also determined Consort Qin’s extraordinary position in the Emperor’s heart.

Consort Qin only has a son named Gong Lingfeng, he is reported to have a distinguishing innate skill, he is smart and learns easily, even more is the Emperor’s first son, the Emperor extremely dotes on him, repeatedly tried to settle him as the Crown Prince, however was stopped by the court officials.

Soon after, the Empress gave birth to a son named Gong Lingyao, the same talent and brightness, it is reasonable to say that the Empress’s son is the Crown Prince as it should be by rights. However because of Gong Lingfeng’s existence, the Emperor has continuously not yet formally established him with the position of Crown Prince.

The most crucial point of his matter appeared, at the Emperor’s son’s Gong Lingfeng’s eighteenth year of age, that year Consort Qin broke out with a strange illness, she’s gone crazy!

The Emperor sought for the most famous doctor, yet also could not find the cause of the disease. According to legend, the Emperor’s son, Lingfeng at very late at night begged to see the Emperor, the father and son, these two people at the imperial study talked all night till morning, and finally, the Emperor bestowed the title Prince Li to his son, Gong Lingfeng, to grant Prince Li an official residence, moreover allowed Consort Qin to be received over to Prince Li’s Residence, for him to continue to look for a doctor, and at the same time, conferred the Empress’s son, Gong Lingyao under the the Three Sovereigns as the Crown Prince.

Hearing this matter, Gu Qianxue slowly opened her eyes, faced Zhao Shi and used a “Stop,” gesture.

Gu Qianxue narrowed her eyes and slowly looked at the ceiling, the small diamond-shaped mouth slightly opened, “Consort Qin? Madness*?”

*she’s gone crazy

“Yes, Madness.” Zhao Shi nodded.

Gu Qianxue’s beautiful pair of eyes squinted, as if like the new moon, smile as sweet as honey, “Promising!”*

*as in there is hope

“Promising?” Zhao Shi did not understand.

Gu Qianxue’s small face brightened, smiling brilliantly, “Yes-ah, Mother, you think, I committed an offense to Prince Li, however if I am able to cure Consort Qin’s illness, how is it not to atone for faults by good deeds*? Don’t need to say it is to make amends, it is precisely to take advantage and knock a strike, (I’m) afraid Prince Li will also agree, wouldn’t this matter then be resolved?”

*idiom

Zhao Shi could not resist from extending her white pudgy small hands, again placing it on Gu Qianxue’s forehead, “My poor child, drank so much ginger soup, but in the end still caught a fever.” If it’s not fever, how can (one) only speak of nonsense?

Qianxue pulled down Zhao Shi’s hand, but also found out her own cheap mother’s white pudgy hands when pinched, feels really nice,

“I do not have a fever, if you want me to live, let grandfather’s family have peace, you must remember, if outsiders ask about my circumstances, you can only say that there is a handed down medical book given from generation to generation, and after I read it, I burned it, do you remember what to do?” She used this method to explain the question of her medical abilities.

“You know the art of healing?” At this moment, precisely this idiot, Zhao Shi also understood what her daughter had in plan.

“Don’t ask when I learned it, I’m too lazy to make a story up, you just need to remember it.” Gu Qianxue emphasized, her darkened face threatened Zhao Shi.

Zhao Shi nodded as if she was a pounded garlic, “Yes, yes, I will not ask, you only have to be safe and sound, then mother will be happy.” With this said, her eyes again reddened.

Gu Qianxue paused, from the bottom of her heart she felt nice and warm, and could not help but to reach her hands to embrace Zhao Shi’s neck, throwing her thin body onto Zhao Shi’s body, it had a fragrance of warmth.

She didn’t know what it feels like to have her mother return her hug, but perhaps, it is just this sort of feeling.

Zhao Shi cried even more openly, on one hand embracing Gu Qianxue, on the other hand, bawled, “My pitiful daughter ah, what should you do ah… …”

Qianxue did not know whether to laugh or cry, from within the embrace, she took out a handkerchief and wiped Zhao Shi’s tears, “Mother, you must remember, you never need to be afraid, because you have me to protect you.”

After coaxing Zhao Shi, Gu Qianxue is also tired, then she follows her memory and walks towards the direction of her own room.

After walking halfway, Gu Qianxue suddenly found something was wrong—to conduct herself as the rich-spoiled daughter, how can she not have any personal maids? Even if she does not need to be served, having personal maids indeed is also very useful.

As a result, Gu Qianxue then changed her direction and returned, “Mother, where is Yu Lian and Yu Cui?”

Zhao Shi just finished wiping her tears, “Yu Lian and Yu Cui? Didn’t the Old Madam shut them in the wood shed?”

Qianxue rolled her eyes, “I am not speaking about those two imposters Yu Lian and Yu Cui, instead the previous Yu Lian and Yu Cui.”

Zhao Shi thought about it, “I also do not know, I suppose they are at the kitchen tending fire?”

“Help me find them.” Qianxue said.