bookcurios Chapter 1133: It was your mother who taught you to say this (177 million votes plus additional conte
Chapter 1133: It was your mother who taught you to say this (177 million votes plus additional conte
Her voice was clear, but with a hint of awkwardness that was barely noticeable: "Yun'er pays respects to the Emperor! Pays respects to Empress Chen!"
"Get up."
Nangong Xuanyu's eyes fell on his daughter. The leisure he had deliberately maintained faded a little. A hint of complexity flashed through the depths of his eyes, but his tone was still gentle: "Yun'er, can you have breakfast?"
The eldest princess stood up, her little hands twisting the laces of her cloak unconsciously, and she looked up at Nangong Xuanyu with her black and white eyes, with a childish grievance and straightforward attachment: "No."
"Yun'er... Yun'er misses father..."
Her voice was soft, with a hint of coquettishness, as if she was accusing her father of not being with her for a long time.
Nangong Xuanyu looked at the eldest princess's clear eyes, the undisguised desire in them, and was silent for a moment.
Then he looked at Li Changde who was standing beside him and ordered, "Add a set of bowls and chopsticks for the princess."
"Yes."
Li Changde immediately bowed in response, and swiftly took out a pair of small jade bowls and chopsticks and placed them on the other side of Nangong Xuanyu.
The eldest princess's face immediately blossomed with a smile of surprise, like a small flower that suddenly bloomed, and she said happily, "Thank you, father!"
Then he ran over with his short legs and climbed onto the wide seat with the help of Li Changde.
After sitting down, the eldest princess first glanced secretly at Shen Zhinian.
Seeing that she just lowered her eyes and ate quietly, and had no intention of stealing her father's attention, the eldest princess felt relieved and looked at the exquisite snacks and warm porridge in front of her.
Nangong Xuanyu didn't say anything else. He just picked up the serving chopsticks, picked up a small, exquisite, crystal clear crystal cake, and put it into the small jade plate in front of the eldest princess.
The eldest princess immediately scooped it up happily with a small silver spoon and started eating it in small mouthfuls. Her cheeks were puffed up and her eyes narrowed into crescents in satisfaction, as if she had eaten the most delicious thing in the world.
While she was eating, she couldn't help but secretly look up and quickly glance at her father beside her. When she confirmed that he was still looking at her, her little heart was filled with pure happiness.
The tent fell silent for a moment, leaving only the slight clinking of dishes and chopsticks.
Nangong Xuanyu's gaze fell on his daughter's satisfied eating expression. In his deep eyes, the complex emotions seemed to settle down, leaving only a calm and gentle look.
Shen Zhinian sat quietly aside, like a beauty in a painting, taking in the subtle warmth between the royal father and daughter, her expression calm and composed.
The eldest princess swallowed the last bite of the crystal cake, and there was still a little crystal powdered sugar on her little face.
She put down the small silver spoon, her big black eyes looked at Nangong Xuanyu beside her expectantly, her voice soft but clear: "Father..."
The eldest princess's little hand unconsciously grabbed the edge of the tablecloth: "Father, can you...can you have lunch with Yun'er and mother today?"
"Mother... Mother misses Father too..."
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Nangong Xuanyu slowly raised his eyes and his gaze fell on the eldest princess's tender but expectant face. His eyes were as deep as the abyss, with a scrutiny that could penetrate people's hearts.
His voice was still gentle, but with a hint of barely perceptible coldness: "Did your mother teach you to say this?"
The eldest princess was stunned by Nangong Xuanyu's sudden question.
She subconsciously shook her head vigorously, her pigtails swaying along with it, and hurriedly explained, "No! It was Yun'er who thought of it herself."
"Yun'er... Yun'er sees that Empress Chen accompanies father every day..."
The eldest princess said this with a hint of grievance, glancing at Shen Zhinian who was sitting quietly on the other side, and lowered her voice with a child's puzzlement: "Mother can't even see father... Mother is always alone in the tent..."
"Yun'er feels sad watching this..."
There were no twists and turns in her little head. She simply saw her mother's loss and the dominance of the Empress Chen over her father. She mustered up the courage to run to her father, hoping to ask for a little company for her mother.
This thought is pure without a trace of impurities.
Nangong Xuanyu silently looked at the eldest princess's eyes, which showed her genuine anxiety and grievance. An indescribable emotion flashed across her deep eyes.
Then he raised his hand and gently brushed away the powdered sugar from the corners of the eldest princess' mouth with his fingertips, his movements still gentle.
"I understand."
The emperor's voice returned to normal, no emotion could be heard: "When I have time, I will go to see your mother."
There was no promise, no specific time, just a casual "I'm free".
The light in the eldest princess' eyes dimmed instantly, and her little mouth pursed in grievance.
She didn't understand why her father, who looked so gentle, was unwilling to agree to her small request?
Why can Empress Chen stay here all the time, but my mother can’t?
The eldest princess's little heart was filled with loss and great confusion, as if a piece of cold stone was stuffed into it.
She silently slid down from the small stool, bowed politely in the direction of Nangong Xuanyu and Shen Zhinian, and said in a muffled voice: "Yun'er...excuse me."
After saying this, the eldest princess turned around with an indescribable sense of depression and moved out of the royal tent step by step.
The heavy brocade curtain fell, blocking out her aggrieved figure.
Quietness returned to the tent.
The aroma of the porridge seemed to have faded a little.
Nangong Xuanyu's gaze fell on the direction where the eldest princess left, and did not move for a long time. There was a calmness in his deep eyes, without any ripples.
The leisurely atmosphere just now was long gone, and an indescribable stagnation filled the air.
Shen Zhinian put down the green jade teacup in his hand, and the bottom of the cup touched the table, making a very light crisp sound.
She raised her eyes and her gaze fell on Nangong Xuanyu's calm profile.
The emperor's gaze still stayed in the direction where his daughter left. His deep eyes were like two bottomless cold pools, reflecting the candlelight in the tent, but without any warmth.
"His Majesty."
Shen Zhinian's voice was gentle, with just the right amount of concern, breaking the silence: "Yun'er is still young and has a simple mind... just now, she was really wronged."
She paused, observing the emperor's expression, and then continued gently, "It was not easy for Concubine Zhuang to raise the eldest princess, and she has always been gentle and prudent. Your Majesty...if you have time, why not go and take a look?"
"Don't let the princess be too disappointed..."
These words were sincere and heartfelt, as if one concubine was simply expressing her pity for her child and her sympathy for another concubine's situation.
Nangong Xuanyu slowly turned his head and his eyes fell on Shen Zhinian's face.
The slight gentleness he had shown when facing his daughter just now completely disappeared, leaving only the emperor's deep and unquestionable pressure.
His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, with an almost cold calmness: "I let Concubine Zhuang raise Yun'er because she was born in a noble family and has a stable temperament."