The Emperor’s Bridal Gift to the Regent - Chapter 4

“Ngh!”

Meng Xueran’s head was plunged entirely into the water. Suffocation and agony fueled his desperate struggle. Cold water flooded his nasal passages, and in his dizzying state, the pain merged with memories of the past.

His head was pulled up, only to be shoved back down moments later. Frantic laughter rang in his ears, mixing with the phantom sound of crying. It was his mother’s crying.

Two years ago, a devastating snowstorm hit. Due to a wet nurse’s negligence, a window had been left unlatched at night, causing him to fall ill with a severe fever. His body had trembled, burning with a persistent ache, and his mouth was stained with the bitterness of medicine. Through the haze, he remembered hearing the nurse’s wails as she was demoted to the harsh labor of the laundry department for her failure.

The cold was bone-deep, and the work was grueling.

Struggling to stay upright, he had wobbled to the doorway and knelt, pleading, “Mother, do not take her away. No!”

“I have nothing else. Please.”

Yet, his mother’s response had been ice-cold: “Those who make mistakes must be punished. Why do you plead for her?”

“Mother will find you a better nurse.”

Meng Xueran had sprawled on the floor, sobbing. His mother ordered him carried back to bed and personally wiped his feverish brow. However, despite bowl after bowl of medicine, his condition only worsened.

Days later, the imperial physicians shook their heads in resignation, kneeling as they declared that the young prince would not survive another two days.

The Empress, a daughter of the prestigious Jiang clan, wept over her unconscious son. For the first time, she engaged in a fierce argument with the Emperor, screaming at him, asking why he insisted on abandoning one child.

Why could he not gamble on him just once?

At death’s door, Meng Xueran was carried out of the palace by the distraught Empress. While weeping, she dug into the thick snow with her bare hands, not stopping even when her fingers went numb.

She buried her own son in the snow, apologizing with a heart-wrenching voice: “Mother is sorry. In this life, we are not meant to be family. Go in peace.”

“All of this is the fault of your father and me. Do not blame Changqi. If you must hate, come find me.”

A maid cried out, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, the prince is not dead! He is still breathing!”

The Empress looked up at the swirling snow, her tears falling uncontrollably. “This is his fate!”

Meng Xueran did not know how he had survived. He only vaguely remembered a figure desperately digging him out of the snow, much like now, as he was about to drown, a figure pulled him back.

“First Prince!” Mei Jinshu’s sharp gaze swept over, causing the surrounding figures to shrink back in fear.

“Wake up. Do not lose consciousness.”

“Cough! Cough, cough!” Meng Xueran spat out several mouthfuls of water, his eyes unfocused as he looked at the man before him.

Mei Jinshu spoke coldly, “I wonder how my adopted son offended the First Prince so greatly that he nearly lost his life?”

Meng Shaolin stammered, his face full of guilt. “It was just a game. Who knew he was your ward? Does the Prime Minister intend to blame me?”

“I would not dare.” Due to his status, Mei Jinshu truly could not do much against him. The First Prince was the son of the Imperial Noble Consort, who relied on the General of Changding’s manor, a faction already at odds with the Prime Minister’s manor. Now was not the time to court trouble.

However, the First Prince’s arrogant expression was unbearable. Mei Jinshu rebuked him: “It seems the First Prince enjoyed himself so much he forgot what a joke is. I shall mention such life-threatening jokes to His Majesty when we next speak.”

Meng Shaolin’s expression shifted. He glared, hands on his hips. “You want to tattle to my father!”

Mei Jinshu replied, “Oh? You misunderstand. A casual chat is all. Why take it so seriously?”

Meng Shaolin’s face turned bright red. He pointed at Mei Jinshu, unable to lash out but too angry to let it go. “You, you!”

“Brother, how can you treat the Prime Minister this way?” Meng Changqi walked over from behind, glancing at the boy in Mei Jinshu’s arms. He shook his head. “You were in the wrong. You should apologize.”

“Apologize to that ugly freak? In your dreams!” Meng Shaolin kicked a stone and pointed at the candied hawthorns in Changqi’s hand. “I heard the Prime Minister was at the Eastern Palace and came to see the fun. It seems he only cares to flatter the Crown Prince.”

Meng Changqi said, “Brother, do not say that. Here, this is for you.”

He held out a simple wooden box. Meng Shaolin looked at it and swiped it to the ground. “I do not want things from outside the palace! They are filthy!” With that, he led his followers away without looking back.

Meng Changqi looked pained at the waste of food and knelt to pick them up. “What a shame. These candied hawthorns were so delicious.”

Mei Jinshu said, “Your Highness, do not bother with them. Do not take his words to heart. Consort Wu has spoiled him for many years.”

“The Prime Minister is right.” Meng Changqi gave up and looked at the boy in his arms. “Your adopted son?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What is his name? Could we be friends?”

Mei Jinshu replied, “Your Highness is of noble status. My ward is introverted and likely not very likable.”

As it was getting late, Mei Jinshu exchanged a few more pleasantries before preparing to leave. Meng Changqi escorted them to the gates of the Eastern Palace.

“There is no need to see us out, Your Highness.”

“Then safe travels, Prime Minister.”

“Wait.” Meng Xueran, having regained consciousness at some point, looked at Meng Changqi with a haunting gaze. “My name is Mei Jiu. I am the same age as the Crown Prince.”

On the way back, Mei Jinshu looked at the “drowned rat” in front of him, feeling inexplicably annoyed.

Where does this kid get all these schemes!

“What was that? Do you truly want to be friends with the Crown Prince?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“It is not!”

“But we are the closest of brothers.”

Mei Jinshu grabbed him by the neck, pulling him across the carriage. His eyes were cold. “Stop causing me trouble. If your identity is exposed, you are the only one who will suffer!”

“If you do not want to live a good life, you can go die right now!”

“Die? Why should I!” Meng Xueran bit down hard on the back of Mei Jinshu’s hand, struggling in the carriage in a fit of powerless rage. “Father, Mother, Meng Changqi, and you!”

“Every one of you dislikes me! You all wish I were dead, do you not?”

“Before I came to the manor, I was a prince who did not even have a name. I was hidden in the Shadow Pavilion every day, ignored by everyone. It was only when I came to your manor that Mother gave me a name, Meng Xueran. Was it because of guilt?”

“After all, she really buried me in the snow, wanting to entomb me.”

“Now even you think I am superfluous and want me to die. Then why did you bring me here in the first place!” Meng Xueran was hysterical, overwhelmed by grievance and pain. He cried out, “Why do you hate me so much?”

Mei Jinshu fell silent, the words stuck in his throat. He had indeed been wary of this wolf cub turning on him in the future, and he had been provoking him to earn system points.

But he had not expected the boy to have such a fierce temperament.

“You, calm down first.”

“Actually, I do not really”

Meng Xueran wiped his tears and suddenly threw open the carriage curtain, jumping out. His figure vanished into the night with finality.

Mei Jinshu was horrified. He leaned out of the carriage and shouted, “Ye Ting, stop the carriage!”

“Quickly, find him! Meng Xueran jumped out and ran!”

“Master, are you finally panicking?”

“You!” Frustrated, Mei Jinshu grabbed the whip and struck him lightly. “Go find him! Stop talking!”

Ye Ting said, “Master, you really were a bit harsh on him. He is just a brat, yet you never gave him a kind look. Do you really hate children that much?”

Mei Jinshu gave him two more lashes and set off with a dark face to find the boy himself.

At the end of a long street, in a pitch-black alley, a figure stumbled through a path cluttered with debris. He tripped frequently over junk, moving forward only by feel under the obscured moonlight.

A stray cat, startled by the noise, darted out and gave him a fright.

Meng Xueran shuddered and quickened his pace. It was late, and he had no idea where to go. A single impulse was enough to leave him homeless on the streets.

What was the difference between a prince like him and a beggar on the road?

Reaching the end, he finally left the lightless alley and entered another unfamiliar street. He was afraid. He sat down under the eaves of a house where a lantern hung, the warm red light bathing him.

Would this make me more visible? Would they find me faster this way?

In truth, he had regretted jumping out almost immediately. Even if Mei Jinshu disliked or even hated him, living a free and respected life in the manor had always been his dream.

Why had he become so ungrateful after only a month?

Was it because he wanted too much?

He did not know how much time had passed. The capital was so large; when would they find him? Meng Xueran rested his chin on his knees, his eyelids feeling heavy. He wanted to sleep but did not dare.

What if bad people came? He had to stay alert. Mei Jinshu was so capable, how could he not find him?

Another half hour passed.

Meng Xueran truly could not keep his eyes open. He gave his long hair a sharp tug to stay awake. Suddenly, a light-colored hem appeared in his vision, embroidered with the Prime Minister’s unique plum blossom and cloud pattern.

He grabbed the fabric as if it were a lifeline. “I am sorry, Father. I was impulsive.”

“I will not run away again.”

“Can we go back?”

“Sure.” The person before him smiled gently, her eyes full of spirit. She was tall, though not as tall as Mei Jinshu, and wore simple, elegant women’s clothing.

Meng Xueran froze and scrambled back a few steps. “Who are you?”

The woman spoke, “My surname is Mei, and my name is Xianxue. You wanted to return to the Prime Minister’s manor? That is my home as well.”

“The General?” Meng Xueran had not expected to meet Mei Jinshu’s sister here. He had heard stories of General Mei’s victories from his nurses, but seeing her in person proved that her reputation was well-deserved.

Mei Xianxue took his hand and led him toward the manor. She asked, “Why were you fighting with A-Shu? The entire manor is looking for you. Fortunately, it was just a scare.”

“Is Father still angry?” Meng Xueran could not hide his anxiety; his palms were sweating.

Mei Xianxue said, “Just remember that apologetic tone you used just now. I will put in a good word for you.”

Meng Xueran whispered, “Thank you, General Mei.”

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