Chapter 176 (2/2)

The person called ‘Little Zhuozi’ was a youth who looked somewhat gentle and reserved . When he heard his master asking him a question, he bowed while on horseback, “This servant went to the farm a few days ago . The watermelons on the farm aren’t bigger than the size of a fist and are probably around a month away from becoming ripe!”

The matron became interested in the watermelon stand and gently yet firmly declared, “Xiaoer [1], go buy a watermelon and bring it over . Let’s try it and see how it tastes . ”

“Mother, watermelon is a cold type of food . Recently you haven’t been feeling well, so let’s not buy any watermelons now, okay?” The handsome youth frowned deeply and replied in a worried tone .

The beautiful lady’s long and large eyes faintly glanced at him . Her willow-shaped eyebrows knitted briefly as she worriedly said, “Ah . . . most of my body’s issues stem from too much stress and worry . It’s not like you don’t know this! You even said that you’re accompanying me out here to help me relax . It’s with great difficulty that I even have an appet.i.te to eat some fruit, yet you have all kinds of excuses to not buy any . . . aiyo, my chest hurts…”

Here we go again! A helpless expression appeared on the handsome youth’s face . Although his mother was almost forty, she still had the personality and temper of a young maiden . She always needed to have someone compliment and protect her . However, she wasn’t grateful at all and always complained that this or that hurt all the time . . . Ah! This was all caused by his father spoiling her!! Who in the capital didn’t know that his imperial highness, Prince Jing, was one hundred percent a wife-pampering maniac?

“Mother! Before you left, what did you promise Father? You had personally promised that you would always listen to my ideas regarding food and lodgings! We’ve only traveled out of the capital for a couple of days, so how could you forget about this?” The handsome youth, Zhu Junxi, was the second son of Prince Jing, and was currently unhappily trying to persuade his mother .

Princess Consort Jing’s large eyes flickered . She decided to continue her shameless behavior and covered her chest with her hands . Cries of pain and annoyance poured out of her as she continued to complain, “Didn’t you promise your father that you would go with what I said when it was right and reasonable to avoid making me angry ah? I currently don’t have much of an appet.i.te and want to eat some fruit . That’s not unreasonable!”

In front of Princess Consort Jing’s shameless acts, her two personal maidservants, Meixiang and Lanxiang, both lowered their heads and continued to do their regular tasks . They had seen this kind of scene occur many times before . The princess consort was constantly pampered by the prince and also had three sons to protect her . Every time she wanted her way, she would always shamelessly act sick . Both the old and young masters loved her dearly, so she always won in the end .

Zhu Junxi silently sighed and attempted to struggle one last time . He softly tried to persuade her, “Mother, do you still remember why you’ve traveled to Tanggu? If you eat watermelon, which is a cold food, and end up becoming sicker, then when Third Younger Brother comes home, he’ll blame himself!”

Why did Princess Consort Jing appear in a small town like Tanggu? She had ample reasons——her third son, Zhu Junyang, had already been out at sea for more than half a year . Since he left, there hadn’t been a message sent home . She constantly thought and worried about him until she became ill . Thus, she absolutely had to come over here to inquire about any news .

The seas were full of danger . Rough winds and water would often appear at a moment's notice . In fact, had her third son’s luck not been good enough, then he might have drowned in the ocean during the previous test voyage . How could she not be worried after he had been gone for over half a year? Tanggu was the town that had the closest harbor to the open ocean . Coming here was like becoming slightly closer to her youngest son . By doing that, her fretful heart could finally calm down a bit .

Prince Jing had also seen his beloved wife slowly wasting away day by day due to missing her son . That was the reason why he allowed his second son to bring her out and relieve her worries . Had he not been busy recently, he would have personally accompanied her too .

When the topic of her youngest son came out, Princess Consort Jing’s eyes immediately dimmed . Earlier, she had been mostly faking her distress, but now she was truly upset . All of her worry and anxiety over her youngest son poured into her heart and almost made it hard for her to breathe .

Her youngest son had long been interested in traveling by s.h.i.+p . Since he was young, he had always stuck around his older cousin——the current emperor——and looked avidly at the models of s.h.i.+ps slowly being created by his cousin’s hands . The little guy, who was only around three to four years of age at the time, had set down an ambitious goal that day——that when he became older, he would become an adventurer of the distant seas and bring back rare and strange objects from far away lands back home to relieve his mother’s boredom!

She had previously dismissed it as a child’s dreams and never expected that, ten years later, that her youngest son truly went on a long journey in the seas to find distant, unknown lands . However, he had been gone for more than half a year . How could she, as his mother, not be constantly worried about him?

“Princess Consort, are you feeling ill again? Lanxiang, where are Her Highness’s pills? Quickly take out one and help Her Highness take it!” Meixiang could sense that her mistress wasn’t feeling well and hurriedly poured a gla.s.s of lukewarm water . She then took out a lengxiang pill and helped her mistress take it .

Zhu Junxi could tell that he had said the wrong thing and caused his mother to become anxious again . He quickly dismounted, lifted the carriage’s curtain, and asked with concern, “Mother, please don’t worry . The crew on the s.h.i.+p are all experienced sailors who have previously sailed with the emperor . I believe Third Younger Brother will soon come home safe and sound . ”

After she took her medicine, Princess Consort Jing felt a little better . She smiled weakly at her son, “It’s the old illness again . I’m fine, don’t worry . ”

When Zhu Junxi saw that his mother’s complexion had improved a little, he relaxed slightly . He commented with a bit of blame in his voice, “With the parents here, one shouldn’t travel far away! Third Younger Brother is truly too impudent . He knew Mother has problems with her heart yet he still persisted on leaving…”

“Don’t talk anymore!” Not a hint of a smile could be seen on Princess Consort Jing’s beautiful face . Her weak and delicate eyes immediately became more spirited, “Xiaoer, stop thinking those thoughts! Prince Jing’s family absolutely cannot have the tragedy of brothers fighting and scheming in the dark!”

[1] Xiaoer (小二) - She’s literally calling him ‘little two’ since he is her second child .

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