"Ha, Zhou Zhicheng is rather handsome but it has only been a few days since his wife had passed away. This is really indecorous of Princess Huizhen."
"Princess Huizhen has always been rude and bratty. Why would she care about what the world thinks of her?"
"Shh, stop it. Walls have ears. We're just commoners, so we can't gossip too much about the imperial court."
...
Hua Qiyue held Tianci's hand and her eyes flashed coldly.
How dare that cheating couple head out in public together so soon? She guessed that it wouldn't be long before they visited the Hua's Mansion to call her and the old madame.
The child beside her fretted anxiously. He was probably afraid when he heard others mention Princess Huizhen's name.
Hua Qiyue looked down at him and just as she thought, Tianci's face was deathly pale and his tiny fists were clenched tightly as though he was trying to endure something.
Cold sweat broke out over his forehead and his heads trembled slightly as he pursed his dry lips together. Hua Qiyue used her handkerchief to gently wipe the sweat off his forehead. "Tianci, are you feeling too warm? Let me wipe your sweat for you."
Lv Xin hurriedly smiled, pursed her lips together, and then waved the fan with more force.
"Come have a bowl of Long Red Ginseng Soup." Youshui had specially brought out some Long Red Ginseng Soup to quench their thirst along the way. Tianci looked fearfully at Hua Qiyue.
Hua Qiyue nodded and said, "Tianci, those who I trust are good people, do you understand?"
Tianci blinked his large, black eyes in confusion.
In the past, his mother had treated those maids well too, but why did they all turn against him after she passed away?
Tianci's eyes turned sorrowful at the thought of his deceased mother. He held Hua Qiyue's hand tightly and hot liquid splashed onto her hand.
Hua Qiyue knew what he was thinking. She hurriedly carried him and tried to cheer him up. "Tianci, don't be sad. One day I'll teach all those who bullied you a lesson!"
Tianci's eyes lit up like the stars in the sky at those words.
Hua Qiyue's heart sank when she clocked his expression.
It was clear that Tianci was heavily traumatized after what he had been through. She wondered how she would be able to turn him back into the innocent and lively child that he had been.
One's childhood mustn't be lost. Hua Qiyue was afraid that he would display abnormal behavior when he grew up after all the pain he had suffered.
They had already arrived outside Prince Nan's residence. After they announced their identities to the servants, Hua Qiyue and Tianci were led into his residence.
Hua Qiyue was very famous around these parts after she adopted the son of the owner of East Sea Restaurant, Zhou Tianci. This was the first time an unwed lady had adopted a young boy.
However, this was ordained by Master Xuanji, so no one else thought that it was inappropriate.
Hua Qiyue led Tianci toward the main hall. There were winding corridors everywhere and a pavilion after every three steps and a building every ten steps. Prince Nan's residence was very large and sprawling.
The roads were paved with jade and there were jade terraces and waterside pavilions. Many flowers bloomed beautifully and the elegant sound of a qin could be heard in the distance. The moment one stepped inside, it was as though one had been transported to an opulent palace.
They reached the anteroom and Hua Qiyue calmly led Tianci inside. Tianci looked around fearfully at his surroundings.
Two men lounged in the couch of the main hall. One of them was clad in robes whiter than snow and he looked as warm as jade but his eyes were extremely cold. His thin lips were pursed tightly and his brows were as long as mountains while his eyes were like stars. A gentle breeze swept into the hall and caressed his long, black hair.
Behind him stood the faint outline of the green rolling hills and mountains, and at one glance, this man in white seemed like a handsome man who had walked out from a painting. His flowing white robes and fluttering black hair made him seem otherworldly and ethereal.
The other man was clad in a black long robe. His face was handsome and he had long and narrow eyes. His chin was sharp but he had a straight nose which made him look very striking. His expression was haughty and he almost jumped straight out of the couch at the sight of Hua Qiyue.
"Hua Qiyue, how dare you come here? Have you come all the way to Prince Nan's residence to air your grievances after I broke off our engagement?"
This man was the son of Prince Gong, Huangfu Xuan, who had also been the fiance of Hua Qiyue. The previous princess consort and Madam Hua had been sworn sisters and so their children had been engaged since birth. However, after Madam Hua passed away from her illness, Hua Qiyue became extremely cowardly and Huangfu Xuan asked to break off the engagement when he was 20.