The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 106

Xiao Beitang’s mind was still in a fog, but the warmth of that embrace snapped her back to reality in an instant.

“You hid this from me so cruelly, how much hardship have you endured alone these past few years?” Xiao Beitang asked, her voice breaking as she began to weep again. For the past few days, she had become quite the crybaby, shedding tears at a moment’s notice.

“You are an Emperor now; why are you still so prone to tears?” Song Qingqian held her tight, her own voice trembling. “I wanted to tell you. To me, her arrival was an accident, but she was also the one who gave me the courage to keep living.”

“So, the reason you were so sullen today was because you thought she was the child of someone else?” Song Qingqian didn’t voice the name Lu Wuyou.

“I didn’t remember us.” Xiao Beitang sobbed.

Song Qingqian: “…”

“Auntie Wu called her ‘Xiao Yi’ all morning. Did you really not hear it?”

Xiao Beitang looked aggrieved. “When I saw that child run over and call you ‘Mother,’ my mind went blank. I thought she was saying ‘Xiao Xiao Yi’!”

Song Qingqian looked into her eyes and asked, “So, if she hadn’t been your child, would you have still accepted her?”

Xiao Beitang nodded, looking a little lost. “I admit I was mad with jealousy. I am not that magnanimous at heart; I spent the entire day trying to convince myself to be.”

Song Qingqian’s eyes grew red and her nose stung with the onset of tears. “Silly. How could I ever have a child with someone else? From beginning to end, my heart has only ever held you.”

Xiao Beitang hugged her tightly, burying her face in Qingqian’s shoulder. “From now on, let us never be apart again. No more suffering through separation. Except for death, let nothing ever divide us. Promise?”

Song Qingqian nodded in silent response.

That night, Xiao Beitang slept more soundly than she had in years. She dreamed of the days when she first met Song Qingqian. She dreamed of the time when she was still the Crown Princess. She dreamed that Xiao Lin was still alive, and they were back at the Imperial Academy, and everything was right with the world.

The next morning, when Xiao Beitang opened her eyes, the room was flooded with bright daylight.

“Awake?” Song Qingqian entered, carrying a basin of water.

Xiao Beitang smiled, her eyes brimming with affection.

In a tone one might use to coax a child, Song Qingqian said, “Come and wash up, alright? Once you’re ready, we’ll go have breakfast.”

The door shifted slightly, revealing a tiny head peeking through the crack. Seeing Xiao Beitang look over, the head quickly retracted.

Xiao Beitang shot a questioning glance at Song Qingqian, who only smiled back.

“Does she know?” Xiao Beitang whispered.

Song Qingqian nodded.

Xiao Beitang felt her heart melt. She finally understood why Xiao Yi had been stealing glances at her all along.

“And her, what is her attitude toward me?” Xiao Beitang felt a twinge of worry, had she been too stern the day before?

“She probably isn’t used to having you around yet. Give her a little time, and give yourself some time too.” Song Qingqian picked up the waiting robes and gestured for her to extend her arms.

Xiao Beitang slowly raised her arms, her gaze fixed on the door, as Song Qingqian helped her dress.

She then intimately took Song Qingqian’s hand as they walked out. Yesterday, fearing Xiao Yi might find it hard to accept, she had deliberately kept some distance. Now, there was no longer any need.

When Xiao Yi saw them walking toward her hand-in-hand, her round eyes sparkled with a bright, crystalline light.

Song Qingqian pulled Xiao Yi’s stool closer to herself as usual, but Xiao Beitang picked up her own stool and sat right beside them, sandwiching the child in the middle.

Xiao Yi looked at her, blinking in confusion.

Song Qingqian placed food in the child’s bowl, and Xiao Beitang followed suit. Though Xiao Yi was small, she could feel the change in the air today; the woman’s face was constantly graced with a smile. Xiao Yi was polite enough to finish every bite the “new” mother gave her.

It seems she doesn’t dislike me, Xiao Beitang thought happily.

“Xiao Yi!” A chorus of high-pitched, childish voices drifted in from the front yard.

Xiao Yi turned her head. It was Xiaoyu and Xiaofang.

“Mother!” She turned to Song Qingqian, her eyes wide with joyful anticipation.

Song Qingqian smiled. “Go on.”

Xiao Yi hopped off her stool. It let out a loud screech and nearly toppled over, but Xiao Beitang reached out to steady it. The child ran out, cheering, “Sister Xiaoyu! Sister Xiaofang!”

The children began to chase each other and play in the front yard. Xiao Beitang watched them, the corners of her mouth slowly settling into a peaceful line.

“They will be lifelong friends, won’t they?” Xiao Beitang sighed softly.

Watching them play, Song Qingqian felt a wave of sentimentality. “We’re leaving in two days. I wonder if Yi’er will ever see them again.”

“A living separation is not a final goodbye. We will bring her back often,” Xiao Beitang said, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy.

Song Qingqian glanced at her. She knew Xiao Beitang was likely thinking of Xiao Lin and Xiao Wanqi again.

In the yard, Xiao Yi and her friends squatted on the ground, playing with wooden dolls and “house.”

“Xiao Yi, who is that pretty lady in the house?” Xiaoyu whispered.

“Um, my mother said she is my, my other mother,” Xiao Yi whispered back, shielding her mouth with her hand.

“Your other mother? We’ve never seen her before,” Xiaofang said, surprised.

“But your mother and your other mother, they are both so pretty. Like the immortals in the picture books.”

Xiao Yi grinned proudly, stealing a shy, happy glance toward the door.

Leaving Xiao Yi in Xiao Tao’s care, Song Qingqian led Xiao Beitang out toward the fields. The lush greenery of the embankments was refreshing, and a gentle breeze made the air feel cool and pleasant.

“Do you actually farm too?” Xiao Beitang asked. She had discovered so many new sides to Song Qingqian these past few days.

“No, I don’t.”

“Then.”

Song Qingqian smiled. “I simply wanted to bring you here to see the fields. As an Emperor residing high in the imperial halls, it must be rare for you to witness such things.”

She crouched down and gathered a handful of earth. The dark soil trickled through her fingers as she clapped her hands clean. “You have done well these past few years,” she said. “The people live in peace, and the harvests have doubled.”

“This is no feat worthy of praise. It is simply my duty,” Xiao Beitang replied, her gaze sweeping across the vast expanse of the countryside.

Song Qingqian looked up at her. She was already a magnificent sovereign, and yet she was only in her twenties, still so young.

The two strolled through the fields until noon approached, and it was time to return.

“Mother, where did you go?” Xiao Yi asked, her voice tinged with a child’s slight grievance.

Song Qingqian opened her arms with a laugh. “Did you miss me already?”

“Mm-hm.” Xiao Yi burrowed into her embrace and nuzzled against her, looking like a soft little bundle of joy.

Song Qingqian turned to Xiao Beitang. “Why don’t you take her to play for a while while I prepare lunch?”

Xiao Beitang nodded with a smile.

“Mother is going to cook. Let your other mother play with you for a bit, alright?” Song Qingqian stroked the child’s hair, speaking the words naturally.

Xiao Beitang froze. Mother! She and Song Qingqian had a daughter. Even now, the reality of it felt surreal.

Xiao Yi peeked out from Song Qingqian’s arms to look at her.

“Go on,” Song Qingqian urged gently, giving the girl a soft pat.

Xiao Yi shyly approached her. Xiao Beitang snapped out of her daze, extended her hand with a tender smile, and said, “Come. I’ll teach you more about the Luban lock.”

Xiao Yi smiled, placed her small hand in Xiao Beitang’s palm, and followed her into the house.

Xiao Beitang sat with her on the rug. Looking at the child’s precious face, she asked, “Do you know who I am?”

Xiao Yi stole a bashful glance at her but didn’t answer. She began fiddling with the wooden lock, her movements quickening into a clumsy, frantic mess.

Seeing her lingering shyness, Xiao Beitang moved closer and took the lock from her hands. “Try it this way,” she said with a laugh. “Yi’er, may I call you that?” she tested, watching the girl’s reaction.

Xiao Yi nodded.

“Yi’er, did you know? We have a very big home.”

“A very big home?” Xiao Yi looked up, her interest piqued.

“Yes, very big.”

“Is it bigger than the tavern in the city?”

Song Qingqian had taken her into the city before. At her age, everything felt vast and novel.

Xiao Beitang laughed heartily. “Much bigger than that.”

“Will there be good food and fun toys?” Xiao Yi’er’s eyes lit up.

“Of course. Whatever you want, you shall have.”

Suddenly, the wooden lock in Xiao Yi’er’s hand lost its charm. She scrambled up and asked excitedly, “Then, when can we go?”

Xiao Beitang thought for a moment. “If we go, you won’t be able to see Xiaoyu and the others as often. Will you miss them?”

Xiao Yi looked conflicted. “I will miss them. If I go, will there be no one to play with me?”

Xiao Beitang smiled. “Do you want Xiaoyu and the others to stay with you always?”

The little girl gave a firm, determined nod. “Of course I do.”

Xiao Beitang reached out and said softly, “Then I promise you as long as you wish for it, they will always be by your side.”

Xiao Yi hesitated for a heartbeat before stepping forward to take her hand. Xiao Beitang took the opportunity to pull her close, gathering the child into her lap.

Xiao Yi did not resist. She stayed there—soft, quiet, and obedient though she still felt just a little bit shy in her mother’s embrace.