The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 120 (The End)

In the evening, the wet nurses brought the children in. One was swaddled in a small red blanket, the other in green, both tightly wrapping the two infants.

“Your Majesty, this is the Second Highness, and this is the Third Highness,” the wet nurse introduced them with a warm smile.

“They, they don’t look alike?” Song Qingqian remarked, gently brushing her finger against their tiny lips.

“Twins are not always identical; it is quite common for them to have entirely different features,” the Empress Dowager said, smiling.

Emperor Jing added with a chuckle, “Indeed. But they are both very robust. When they were first brought out, they gripped my finger with surprising strength. Truly precious.”

“Mama, Yi’er is a big sister now.” Xiao Yi stood by the bedside, her joy impossible to conceal.

Song Qingqian stroked the girl’s cheek. “Mhm. Yi’er is a big sister. You must protect your younger sisters well from now on.”

“Yi’er definitely will,” the girl replied with such solemnity she looked like a little adult.

Throughout this, Xiao Beitang remained silent, her eyes fixed solely on Song Qingqian.

“Tang’er, you haven’t even held the babies yet.” The Empress Dowager gestured for the wet nurse to hand them over.

Xiao Beitang extended both arms, holding one in each. Her posture was stiff, as if she were cradling two priceless crystal vases that might shatter if she shifted an inch. Her eyes darted frantically back and forth between the two faces.

This wasn’t her first time being a mother, but Xiao Yi had been like a gift dropped from the heavens; she cherished her deeply, yet for a long time, it hadn’t felt entirely real.

But these two little souls, she had watched them grow day by day in Song Qingqian’s womb until, just hours ago, she heard their first cries with her own ears. The feeling was profound. Especially now, as they rested heavy in her arms, it was a unique experience. It wasn’t that she favored one over the other, Xiao Yi remained her most treasured child but these two perhaps served to mend the lingering regrets and guilt of the past.

The infants smacked their lips and stretched, their tiny pink fists clenched. They were plump, fair, and utterly adorable. Xiao Beitang suddenly understood what Emperor Jing had meant blood is a magical thing. Looking at these two, she felt the entire world could not compare to their beauty.

Finally, a radiant smile broke across her face, her eyes brimming with the unique tenderness of a mother looking at her children. She sat beside Song Qingqian, whispering with a grin, “Qianqian, look. They look just like you.”

Song Qingqian leaned back, taking one of the babies into her arms. She patted the child gently, studying her features with a soft smile. “Actually, I think they look more like you.”

“They look like both of you,” the Empress Dowager chimed in happily.

They held them for a while until the child in Song Qingqian’s arms began to cry, followed immediately by the one in Xiao Beitang’s. The wailing rose in a duet. Xiao Beitang looked momentarily helpless, rocking her arms gently to no avail, and shot a pleading look at the wet nurse.

“Your Majesty, the Little Highnesses are likely hungry. Let us take them down to be fed.”

Xiao Beitang nodded, carefully handing the infant back. The wet nurses took the children and withdrew.

When the twins reached their first month, a grand banquet was held in the palace. The neighbors from the village were invited as guests; for over a year, the palace had been overflowing with celebrations and joy.

After the birth of Song Xiao and Xiao Song, Xiao Beitang reduced her court appearances to once every ten days. The ministers were privately fuming but dared not speak out, even the Prime Minister offered no protest!

Why would Zhao Ziming protest? He held Song Qingqian in the highest regard, calling her “Teacher,” and knew her character well; the idea of her being a “seductress” leading the monarch astray was impossible.

One day, faced with a difficult decision, he requested an audience. “This minister pays his respects to Your Majesty and Teach—the Empress.” He still frequently slipped up and called her Teacher.

“Ziming is here? You may rise,” Song Qingqian said warmly.

Xiao Beitang was busy playing with the babies and listened to his report with half an ear. “The Prime Minister may decide this matter as he sees fit,” she said dismissively.

Zhao Ziming looked to Song Qingqian for help. It was a significant matter: the finalized reform of the Imperial Examinations. The plan established three separate testing tracks for Qianyuan, Kunze, and Zhongyong. During the last court session, Xiao Beitang had already decreed that Kunze and Zhongyong could serve as officials, and the Imperial Academy and various provincial schools had already set up separate divisions.

Normally, such a radical move would have met fierce resistance. But Xiao Beitang was right—her merit in unifying the Central Plains gave her enough political capital to be “willful” for a lifetime. No one in court dared stop her, and the common people were delighted, as it opened many more paths for scholars from humble backgrounds.

Song Qingqian cleared her throat—just a soft, meaningful sound. Xiao Beitang froze, immediately handed the baby to Song Qingqian, sat up straight, and said, “Minister, pray, say that one more time!”

Xiao Beitang could be remarkably childish. Sometimes, when the two little ones blew spit bubbles all over her face, she would blow them right back, only stopping when she caught Song Qingqian’s warning glare.

Xiao Beitang loved sitting on the couch after washing up to play with the children. Song Qingqian would occasionally make snacks; Xiao Beitang would intentionally hide a couple of pieces, bring them out to dangle near the babies’ mouths, and then pop them into her own mouth just as they tried to bite. She would watch with glee as the twins’ eyes went wide before they burst into tears.

Then, she would laugh heartily. Every time Song Qingqian entered to investigate the commotion, Xiao Beitang would act as if nothing had happened, cooing at them like a perfect, doting mother. Since the infants couldn’t talk yet, they were bullied by her while she played the “good parent” in front of their Mama.

Only when they grew older and started learning to speak did Xiao Beitang stop these antics, fearing Song Qingqian’s reprimand.

Five years later, Xiao Beitang and Song Qingqian were playing in the courtyard of Kunning Palace with the two children. They truly didn’t look alike; Song Xiao resembled Song Qingqian, while Xiao Song favored Xiao Beitang. They chased each other around Xiao Beitang, who held their toys high above her head as they jumped in frustration. It was only when Song Qingqian gave her a cold look that she finally lowered them.

Xiao Yi had grown much taller. Her posture was upright and elegant, her features carrying a sharper, more piercing edge than Song Qingqian’s. While her face looked like her Mama’s, her height and build were very much like Xiao Beitang’s.

She sat to the side, watching them play in silence. This was unusual; she normally joined in. Xiao Beitang noticed her abnormal behavior and sat beside her. “Yi’er, what’s wrong? Something on your mind?”

Xiao Yi forced a small smile. “It is nothing.”

Clearly, it was something. Xiao Beitang could see right through her, but she didn’t press.

Later that day, Xiao Beitang personally went to ask Xiaoyu. Since they spent every day together, Xiaoyu was bound to know.

“Today, when the Princess finished her lessons, she ran into Prince Zhong,” Xiaoyu whispered. “Prince Zhong and a few others were gossiping about the Princess’s parentage behind her back.”

Xiao Beitang’s brow furrowed. Since the twins were born, Xiao Wan came to the palace less often; though Xiao Beitang summoned her frequently, Xiao Wan had grown noticeably distant. “What were they saying?”

“They were whispering that the Princess is not Your Majesty’s biological daughter, saying the Princess doesn’t look like Your Majesty at all.”

“Prince Zhong said this?” Xiao Beitang’s face darkened.

“Yes, and the others agreed. Xiaoyu would not dare deceive the Emperor.”

“If anyone asks about this, you are not to speak of it again. Understood?” Xiao Beitang still held affection for Xiao Wan, who had been a simple child once. If these words spread, it would be a matter of high treason.

“Xiaoyu understands.”

Upon her return, Xiaoyu immediately dealt with those around Xiao Wan who harbored ill intentions.

Inside Kunning Palace, Xiao Yi was absentmindedly playing with her two younger sisters. Song Qingqian watched from the side, just about to question her, when Xiao Beitang returned.

“Mother!”

The two little ones were incredibly attached to her, running and skipping to her side to cling to her legs like a pair of ornaments.

“Mother,” Xiao Yi greeted with a formal bow.

Xiao Beitang glanced at her, then knelt to pinch the cheeks of the two younger ones. She said with a smile, “Be good, Xiao and Song. Go out and play with Auntie Xing’er for a while, alright?”

The two children were obedient; they nodded and followed Xing’er out. Song Qingqian signaled for the rest of the attendants to withdraw as well.

Xiao Beitang looked at Xiao Yi again, walked over, and sat beside her with an arm around her shoulder.

“Yi’er, I have something to ask you.”

“Yes, Mother. Please ask.”

“Have you been unhappy lately because you heard people gossiping about your birth?”

Xiao Yi remained silent, her stillness an admission. She eventually asked tentatively, “Mother, is what they say true?”

“Do you believe them?” Xiao Beitang countered.

“I don’t want to. But I truly do not look like Mother at all,” Xiao Yi murmured, her eyes dropping in dejection.

Xiao Beitang sighed softly. “Yi’er, regardless of what others say, you are my biological daughter. That is an unchangeable fact.”

“Yi’er understands.” The girl looked as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Xiao Beitang then produced an Imperial Decree from her wide sleeve and placed it on the desk.

“Furthermore, Yi’er, I have always felt that being Emperor is not a path everyone desires. I wanted to wait until you were older and had your own convictions to let you choose for yourself.” Her gaze fell upon the scroll. “Perhaps you doubted my love and your parentage because I had not yet named you heir?”

“The decree is already drafted. If you so wish, this edict will be proclaimed throughout the Great Yu tomorrow, and you shall be the Crown Princess.”

“I did not mean it that way, I.” Xiao Yi knelt abruptly, flustered and at a loss for words.

“Yi’er, people often say that in the Imperial House, there are no true mothers and daughters. I never wanted us to become like that, distant and estranged. If you fear me, or if you have begun to second-guess my heart, then I have truly failed as a mother,” Xiao Beitang sighed.

Song Qingqian glanced at Xiao Beitang, then stepped forward to help Xiao Yi up. She straightened the girl’s clothes and said, “Yi’er, your Mother cherishes you far more than your sisters. She only wished for you to have the power of choice rather than having a burden forced upon you. Can you truly not feel that?”

“I know.” Xiao Yi felt a wave of guilt. She realized she never should have doubted her own family because of the idle words of outsiders.

Xiao Beitang picked up the decree and handed it to her. “Yi’er, if you choose to be the heir, you cannot complain of the hardship, nor can you ever go back on your word. Are you willing?”

Xiao Yi hesitated. “But I have not yet differentiated. What if I become a Kunze?”

Xiao Beitang said firmly, “Whether you become a Qianyuan, a Zhongyong, or a Kunze, as long as you wish it, the throne is yours. I have already allowed Kunze to serve as officials; naturally, a Kunze may also rule as Sovereign.”

Xiao Yi looked at the decree. After a moment of hesitation, her gaze turned resolute. she knelt formally and accepted it with both hands.

“Mother, Mama I know that being a leisurely Princess might be a more carefree life. But I want to do more. I have been taught by Mama since I was small, not for the sake of power or pleasure, but to hold the people in my heart, just as my Grandmothers and Mother have done. I will not fail your expectations. I will guard the Great Yu and protect its people.”

“Good girl, Yi’er. Rise.” Xiao Beitang helped her up.

Looking at her daughter, Xiao Beitang added, “Whatever you desire, I will give to you. In the future, never let the gossip of others make you unhappy again. As the heir to the throne, you must learn to discern truth from falsehood.”

“I shall remember.”

At the age of nineteen, Xiao Yi ascended the throne and married the girl she had grown up with.

Xiao Beitang, following in the footsteps of the retired Emperor, took Song Qingqian and left the capital. Like wild cranes among the clouds, they spent their days traveling the rivers and mountains, finally embracing the peaceful life they had long desired.

The End.