Southern Border, An Nan Royal Mansion.
Though it was the Lantern Festival, ever since Qin Qingluo inherited the title, the royal mansion had maintained a frugal facade, rarely engaging in extravagance. Following the usual practice, firecrackers were hung, lanterns were lit amidst the white walls and green tiles, the servants were given year-end bonuses and a half-day holiday, and thus, the liveliest season of the year passed quietly.
The sound of firecrackers from the city drifted into the mansion, the accompanying smoke veiling the distant sky with a faint haze, blending the heavens with the clouds. In the warm room, a little girl shivered in fear, babbling and crying incoherently.
Qin Qingluo pushed the door open, bending low as she entered, her expression impatient.
In a blink, the royal daughter was already over six months old, her forehead round and broad, cheeks plump, and eyes noticeably large, closely aligning with the descriptions of wealth and prosperity found in books.
Seeing how fair and lovely she looked, and how well she was being cared for, an inexplicable heaviness weighed on the heart of the female prince. This illegitimate child was never ant to live this well.
She should have been wrapped in swaddling clothes, bundled with a few broken silvers, abandoned into a destitute household or a crumbling monastery, sleeping on piles of hay every day, glaring silently at anyone who passed by, crying out only when hunger gnawed, and not lying here so delicately on a soft couch draped in white silk and red flowers, crying incessantly whether or not she was hungry—a fat, useless creature born to privilege.
"Don't be scared, don't be scared, Nannan, don't be scared. They're just chasing away the Nian monster."
Zhu E had just lit a bamboo-frad lantern with simple silk when she hurriedly turned back to pick up the child, rocking and coaxing her with great effort. Only after a while did Qin Yue gradually quiet down, her eyes darting curiously about.
Qin Qingluo adjusted her sleeves, feeling the little head leaning against her chest.
Once Qin Yue cald down in her arms, Zhu E turned her face slightly and spoke softly, "Did the prince read the letter the Sect Hierarch sent?"
"Naturally, I've read it."
After a brief mont of contemplation, the tall woman spoke, "Aunt Zhu, are you planning to accompany the Hierarch north to Hu-Guang?"
"Yes, and the Wisdom Saintess will accompany as well. This mission concerns the inheritance of the World-Holding ssenger. If it were to fall entirely into the hands of the White Lotus Sect, such a heretical group, it would bring no benefit to the Holy Sect and would only allow the demon lord to wield power unchecked." Zhu E skillfully rocked the baby in her arms, her eyes remaining downcast. "The prince also knows, on the surface, our Holy Sect appears to support the White Lotus Sect. This ti, we're also joining under the pretense of providing aid. Yet, the White Lotus Sect is nothing more than scattered remnants parasitizing various places. Claiming that the Mother of Non-Birth sent Shakyamuni and Maitreya down to earth, the audacity! Even the paintings of their mother figure depict her dressed like the Queen Mother of the West…"
With no one else present, Zhu E made no effort to conceal her disdain for the White Lotus Sect. Because of her influence, Qin Qingluo held little regard for the White Lotus Sect, or for the Daoist and Buddhist factions either.
However, this did not an she was ignorant of their disputes. On the contrary, to ease the intricate tensions between the native chieftains and the Han people in Nanwei since the Han and Tang dynasties, Qin Qingluo had thoroughly grasped the origins of various sects.
"I won't stop you from going, and I understand how critical the World-Holding ssenger is. But… I am not at ease with you going alone," Qin Qingluo said slowly.
According to the Holy Sect's scriptures, the World-Holding ssenger wields the Tenfold Heavens, separating the paths of light and darkness, suppressing all demons into the World of Ignorance, while enlightening the masses to ascend to the Luminous Realm. From the Holy Sect's perspective, the World-Holding ssenger bridges the celestial and mortal realms, ensuring the souls of the living transcend to the celestial realm while leaving demons and monsters confined to the mortal world.
Zhu E glanced back at Qin Qingluo, her voice soft as she replied, "This ti, the prince cannot accompany . First, no matter how chaotic the sect turmoil gets in Hu-Guang, it poses no true threat and won't breach the Capital City. If the prince were to appear in Hu-Guang now, it would only invite unnecessary criticism, causing intellectuals across the land to harbor reservations, inadvertently damaging your reputation. Second, this is an internal matter of the Holy Sect; it is unsuitable for the prince to ddle. Furthermore, the post-New Year affairs at the royal mansion also require your attention. Third… I can't bear to leave Yue'er alone…"
As she reached the end, Zhu E rocked Qin Yue in her arms. Though her tone carried a hint of playfulness, the aning was unmistakably clear.
Upon hearing this, Qin Qingluo let out a cold laugh. "I'm not specifically watching over her."
After responding, she lowered her gaze, pondering over Zhu E's earlier words, and nodded slightly. Regarding the first two reasons, Zhu E was indeed correct—she could not accompany her this ti.
The female prince had always been a rational person and did not insist any further. She rely said, "I'll arrange for the luggage to be prepared."
"I can handle it myself. The attendants wouldn't know what exactly needs packing," Zhu E replied. After speaking, she placed Qin Yue back upon the soft couch. By now, the firecracker sounds had subsided. However, the baby's round eyes remained wide open, her little hands waving aimlessly as she looked around, seemingly recalling the startling noises she'd heard.
To Qin Qingluo, the sight was utterly irkso; to Zhu E, it was utterly endearing. Without glancing much at the prince, Zhu E's gaze quickly returned to Qin Yue, and she remarked, "Still, there's one matter I can't help but worry about."
"What is it?"
"What else could it be? Feeding her," Zhu E said lazily, now casting a glance at the tall woman. "Such a tiny child, I'm afraid you won't pay her much mind."
Qin Qingluo glanced at her daughter sprawled across half the soft couch and said, "Tiny?"
"Only around twenty pounds."
In Zhu E's eyes, Qin Yue never seed to eat enough.
In reality, she had quite the appetite, eating eight to nine tis a day—far more than the average infant. It took three wet nurses to keep up with her needs. The royal mansion had increased their allowances significantly; these past months, they'd been feeding her only the best rice, and even for the New Year, they tailored new clothes for her. Qin Qingluo had tallied up these expenses several tis and was well aware of them.
"Go without worry; with the wet nurses here, the royal mansion won't neglect this—illegitimate child."
Hearing her refer to the child as an "illegitimate child" again and again, Zhu E couldn't help but think this was exactly why she was concerned. Nevertheless, she smiled faintly and replied slowly, "Even though wet nurses are convenient, it's been over six months since this little one was born, and she hasn't had a drop of her mother's milk. It's… really quite pitiful…"
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