Chapter 12

Chapter 12

The servant list sent from the Imperial Household Department in the morning was accepted by Lower Concubine Liu, who selected three wet nurses who seemed most reliable.

But Xiao Chuchu was whimpering restlessly in the bassinet.

[Ooh, that one! The previous wet nurse had an incident, and among the second batch selected by my mother, one wet nurse was planted by Imperial Noble Fu Cha as a spy from the Top Three Banners with a clean family background!]

She spotted the wet nurse on the far left among the three.

That woman entered with her head lowered and eyes shifting furtively.

Her unsettled demeanor was caught by Xiao Chuchu in the bassinet.

[She has a problem! She will pass information about my mother and brother to the Imperial Noble!]

[Later, the Imperial Noble framed my mother for plotting to harm the prince by secretly planting a cursed wooden doll of the Crown Prince under my mother's bed!]

Xiao Chuchu's inner voice startled Lower Concubine Liu and Fifth Prince, making them turn sharply to scrutinize the three wet nurses before them with piercing gazes.

What a vicious scheme by the Imperial Noble!

They had just dismissed a treacherous wet nurse, and the Imperial Noble took advantage of the change to send in another one!

[Mother, brother, we cannot hire her!]

Xiao Chuchu thrashed in her swaddling, trying to turn her head away from the wet nurse on the left, expressing her dislike in this way.

But she was too young, barely a month old, her neck too weak to turn, let alone roll over.

She was like a clumsy little turtle, struggling in the swaddling, only able to let out two cries of distress.

Lower Concubine Liu and Fifth Prince found it both amusing and heartbreaking.

Fifth Prince kindly spoke up for his sister, "Mother, I think that one..."

Lower Concubine Liu gestured for her son to wait, then looked at the three wet nurses, who all appeared meek and compliant, as if seeing them equally.

[Mother!] Xiao Chuchu was anxious.

Lower Concubine Liu took the infant from the bassinet and patted her little arm soothingly.

She gave a piercing glance at the wet nurse on the left.

"The Princess is still young and her body has not fully developed. I wish to find someone attentive."

The wet nurse on the left immediately stepped forward with a smile and spoke out, "In response to your words, my lady, I have raised three children of my own, all growing up safely."

Lower Concubine Liu smiled slightly. "Excellent."

The wet nurse happily looked up, but quickly froze.

Lower Concubine Liu gently asked, "If you are attentive, then you must be sensitive to the Princess's cries."

"Why don't you describe what you noticed when the Princess cried after you entered the hall, and how you would handle it."

The wet nurse on the left turned pale.

[Wow, this new wet nurse has a lovely fragrant soapwort scent, she seems very clean!]

Xiao Chuchu squirmed, trying to get a better look at her new wet nurse.

After all, she could not walk or talk yet, so she would rely heavily on her wet nurse and mother's care.

Likely spending much time with the wet nurse.

Xiao Chuchu noticed that while the wet nurse had ordinary features, together they gave off an aura of dignity that put one at ease.

"What is your name? Where are you from?" Lower Concubine Liu gestured for the wet nurse to be seated.

"In response, my lady, this servant is Zhang Jia from Hangzhou. I came to the capital with my husband three years ago," Zhang Jia replied calmly.

Lower Concubine Liu nodded in satisfaction, and Fifth Prince also regarded her approvingly.

Zhang Jia had demonstrated her attentiveness earlier.

But Xiao Chuchu blinked upon hearing her words. [Zhang Jia? From Hangzhou? Could her husband be one of my good-for-nothing father's Imperial Guards?]

Lower Concubine Liu and Fifth Prince were taken aback.

Imperial Guards?

[She will become the wife of a high-ranking official later! Not long from now, there will be a palace coup, and her husband will rescue my late father the Emperor from the Qianqing Palace. He will be promoted and quickly become a Grand General guarding the borders!]

Xiao Chuchu's eyes sparkled. This meant her wet nurse would become a heroic military wife in the future!

A heroic military wife as her wet nurse!

Fifth Prince could not help glancing at Lower Concubine Liu.

Such a wet nurse should not be underestimated.

If his mother could not hear his sister's inner voice, how could he enlighten her?

[Oh, but sadly he will die young during the coup when rescuing my useless father from the Qianqing Palace's east gate. A falling beam struck his neck, leaving him with an insidious injury.]

[He did not treat it properly and returned to duty.]

[Later, after a great victory against the Jurchen forces, the old injury resurfaced, and he died on the journey back to report his success at the border. What a shame for such a brave and skilled warrior to perish. If only he had lived longer...]

[My brother was later sent to the battlefield by the new Emperor, perhaps he would not have died if he had this Grand General's support...]

Xiao Chuchu sighed softly, her eyelids growing heavy as she struggled before succumbing to sleep.

[If only the Grand General had properly treated his injury, perhaps he could have avoided his demise...]

[Hmm, when was the fire again...]

Xiao Chuchu's eyes brimmed with tired tears as she fought to remain awake for a moment.

[Wait! I think it was the second night after the new wet nurse arrived!]

Fifth Prince and Lower Concubine Liu jolted, looking up in alarm.

That would be tomorrow night!