Sibao got new clothes and couldn't wait to tell everyone. But the only person she knew here was Zhuxing. She was even feeling gloomy during dinner that all the familiar people were not around.
Shen Qing comforted her. "The clothes aren't something you can only wear once. Next time you see them, put them on again. Then mother will make new ones for you."
Sibao's eyes lit up again.
Mother would still make clothes for her?
Ji Junye disagreed. "You've been staying up for several days to make this one. Making one occasionally is fine. If you have to make them all by yourself, what are the embroiderers for?"
Hearing this, Sibao quickly shook her head. "Sibao doesn't want mother to be tired. I'm already very happy with this one."
How could Shen Qing not be touched by such a sensible daughter?
"Then mother will make one for you on your birthday every year."
"Yay!" Sibao cheered. Then she could wear the clothes made by her mother every year.
Ji Junye said sourly, "Qingqing, you spoil her too much."
Shen Qing hugged Sibao to her side. "I'm willing to! You're such a grown - up and still vying with Sibao."
While burrowing into Shen Qing's arms, Sibao covered her mouth and snickered. "Daddy is shy."
Ji Junye fell silent. What could he do when the mother - daughter duo ganged up on him?
He could only spoil them.
At this moment, Liyue came in. "Your Highness, shall I serve the dinner now?"
Shen Qing nodded. "Serve it."
The dinner consisted of simply four dishes and one soup, most of which were Sibao's favorites.
Liyue's attitude towards Ji Junye did a 180 - degree turn. She served them tremblingly, fearing that she might anger him.
Fortunately, Zhuxing had explained to her earlier that Emperor Jingye didn't blame her. Otherwise, she would really be so worried that she couldn't eat or sleep.
Sibao couldn't quite reach the chair. Ji Junye picked her up under her armpits and placed her on the chair. She wriggled a bit to sit properly, which made Shen Qing laugh.
She didn't expect Ji Junye to take care of a child like this, and Sibao actually cooperated surprisingly well.
Sibao had just learned to use chopsticks and was not very skilled yet. She tried to pick up the vegetables in her bowl several times but couldn't get them to her mouth.
Liyue wanted to feed Sibao, but Ji Junye said, "Sibao is learning to use chopsticks. Let her pick them up by herself first."
Liyue gave a start and immediately stood up straight. "Yes, Your Highness Consort."
The three people at the dinner table were all stunned.
Liyue realized it later and wished she could go back and slap herself in the face. Why couldn't she control her mouth? How could she just blurt it out?
"I'm damned, Your Highness."
There was an instant of silence so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Seeing that Liyue was about to cry, Shen Qing said, "You can go down first. We don't need your service here. Go back and have a good rest."
Liyue didn't have a strong psychological endurance, unlike Yingxiu.
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness."
After Liyue left, Sibao's confused voice came. "Mother, what kind of horse is a consort? Can we ride it?"
Shen Qing smiled. "A consort is a title referring to a princess's husband. It's not a real horse, so of course you can't ride it."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt something rubbing against her calf. It was itchy.
She subconsciously looked over and saw Ji Junye looking at her meaningfully, as if saying: Can't we?
Shen Qing kicked him angrily.
At night when going to sleep, Sibao finally got to sleep between her father and mother as she wished.
After coaxing Sibao to sleep, Shen Qing was about to go to bed when she heard Sibao's mumbling.
"Mother... Won't leave Sibao again, right?"
Shen Qing's eyes filled with tears.
"No, mother will never leave Sibao again..."
Ji Junye reached out and gently embraced her, giving her silent support.
The next morning when Shen Qing woke up, she subconsciously looked for Sibao. Turning her head, she found Sibao lying on Ji Junye's chest, sleeping soundly.
Ji Junye was still asleep.
Shen Qing got up early for a change. Not wanting to disturb them, she simply tidied up and went out.
Zhuxing was organizing Sibao's things in the next room. Seeing Shen Qing, she immediately put down what she was doing and ran out. "Miss!"
"Zhuxing."
The two hugged each other. For Shen Qing, she and Zhuxing were not just master and servant but companions and friends who had overcome difficulties together.
Zhuxing choked with sobs. "It's really great that you're back, Miss. We thought..."
Shen Qing patted her on the back. "You've had a tough time in the past two years."
"Miss, you don't know. When the explosion happened, His Majesty was a bit late. He led people to look for you for a whole day and night but couldn't find you. He was so angry and heart - stricken that he vomited blood and fainted on the spot. The toxicity in his body flared up, and he almost didn't wake up. The Holy Maiden said at that time that His Majesty didn't want to wake up by himself..."
Shen Qing didn't know such things had happened in the middle. "And then?"
"Finally, it was Sibao who woke His Majesty up. But after His Majesty woke up, he had a lot of white hair overnight. He became even more silent. Except for Sibao, he didn't care about anything else..."
"Moreover, because of that flare - up of the toxicity, His Majesty's health has become even worse. The Holy Maiden said that His Majesty's body might not even last until the next flare - up of the toxicity..."
Zhuxing sniffled. Seeing Shen Qing's complexion getting worse, she quickly said, "But the Holy Maiden also said that His Majesty hasn't had a toxicity flare - up in the past two years. There should still be some time before the next one. There's still time to find a new medicine."
After that, Shen Qing couldn't really listen to what Zhuxing said.
He hadn't told her about these things in detail.
After a long time, Shen Qing came to her senses. "Don't tell him that I know for now."
Zhuxing nodded. Anyway, Miss was back, and they would surely find an antidote for the Bone - Eroding Poison!
After chatting with Zhuxing, Shen Qing's mind was full of finding medicine for Ji Junye. Shen Liangzhi also informed her to meet at the camp the next day and then set off together.
That night, Sibao still wanted to sleep with her father and mother, but Ji Junye mercilessly refused and directly handed her over to Zhuxing.
Shen Qing originally had some objections, but thinking that they were going to be separated again, she didn't say anything.
But she refused his intimacy.
"Your health is getting worse year by year. You'd better be more moderate in this regard."
A man couldn't be questioned in such a situation. Ji Junye gritted his teeth. "You should know best how my body is."
"The Bone - Eroding Poison still doesn't have an antidote..."
"Are you really willing to see me suffer?"
Shen Qing still couldn't resist his cajoling and let him have his way once.
The next day, before Shen Qing woke up, Ji Junye went to talk to Sibao in whispers for a long time.
Ji Junye sent them outside the military camp.
"Sibao, remember what daddy taught you?"
Sibao nodded heavily. "I remember everything. I have to behave well so that grandfather and grandmother will like me, and then help daddy speak nice words..."
Before Sibao could finish, Ji Junye covered her mouth.
Stop talking. If she continued, he would lose all his face.
Shen Qing and Zhuxing covered their mouths and snickered beside them.
After giving his instructions, Ji Junye asked Zhuxing to take Sibao in first.
Turning around, Shen Qing was looking at him with raised eyebrows. "You're using Sibao as a weapon. It's not a fair way to win."
Ji Junye didn't think so at all. "All's fair in war."
He sighed and said in a half - joking and half - serious tone, "Whether I can gain status through my daughter depends entirely on Sibao."
"You're not ashamed."
Shen Qing spat playfully and took out a sachet from her sleeve. "It's done. Are you satisfied now?"
Ji Junye was visibly satisfied and immediately put it on.
The two talked for a while. Although Ji Junye was very reluctant, he knew that his previous actions had offended his father - in - law and mother - in - law. If he went there now, it might backfire. It was better to let Sibao go first to ease the situation.