When the Crown Prince was born, my mother wasn't married yet. As the Empress Dowager's personal head maid, my mother had watched the Crown Prince grow up and thus held deep affection for him. The Crown Prince, in turn, respected her greatly and always treated her as an elder.
That was why he could get into my mother's carriage so skillfully.
It was a pity for me. Even if I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep, ignoring everyone, I could still feel his gaze subtly on me. I should have brought an extra carriage out today.
This is killing me. Who is my mother?
She had read all sorts of novels. What kind of love stories hadn't she seen? If he kept staring at me so shamelessly, I was afraid I'd be interrogated by the entire family once we got home.
As expected, upon arriving home, as soon as Situ Yao took his leave, my mother grabbed my ear. "You wicked girl, tell me clearly, what's going on between you and the Crown Prince?"
This morning she had called me "Nannan" with every sentence, and now, with Situ Yao's appearance, I was a "wicked girl."
I desperately protected my ear. "Mother, please let go first, it hurts."
"You know pain? How did I teach you from a young age? How dare you have thoughts about the Crown Prince?"
"If you put it that way, I don't like it. What do you mean I have thoughts about him? It's clearly him who's pestering me."
"How audacious! You claim the Crown Prince is pestering you? Do you even know what you look like?" My mother couldn't hold back and burst out laughing, her grip loosening.
I quickly covered my ears and retreated a few steps.
My mother sat down on a chair and poured herself a cup of cold tea. "Nannan, what's going on today? The Crown Prince clearly came for you."
"Who knows? I'm not inside his stomach."
"Then tell me, why would the Crown Prince suddenly take a liking to you?"
I couldn't delve too deep into this. I thought about the incident in Meicheng and casually made up a story. "A life-saving grace, and I'm repaying it with myself. Perhaps my heroic figure when I saved him from dire straits has deeply captivated him."
My mother: ...
She looked speechless, then after a long pause, she warned me sternly. "Nannan, I've told you this many times. The Empress Dowager is deeply benevolent. She returned the contracts of me and your father, ensuring a good future for you and your elder brother. But we must not forget our roots. Whatever we do for the Empress Dowager's family is only right. Never repay kindness with self-interest, do you understand?"
"I understand. Otherwise, why would I cooperate with you for these arranged meetings?"
"Then shall we continue tomorrow?"
"That might not be good. We went to Huangjue Temple today, and tomorrow we go again. People will think something is wrong with our family."
"Then let's arrange to meet at the Pear Garden tomorrow."
"You decide, Mother. Daughter will listen to you."
I had understood long ago that a chasm lay between Situ Yao and me, one that couldn't be crossed with personal effort. So, from the very beginning, I had decided to guard my heart. But only now did I realize I might not have succeeded.
Otherwise, why would I feel so sad?
A mother knows her daughter best. My mother beckoned me over and gestured for me to sit on the low stool beside her.
I obediently sat down and buried my head in her embrace. "Mother, don't worry, your daughter knows what to do."
"Actually, if you truly liked the Crown Prince, it would be acceptable to be his concubine, as long as you are willing to be a secondary wife."
"Mother, you know that's impossible."
My mother was very proud. "Nannan, you truly have your mother's spirit. Don't worry, aside from the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, whoever you fancy, I will ensure you get your wish."
I followed her words. "Then can I have a few more?"
My mother: ...
"No, you'll corrupt Princess Suisui this way."
Fine, as a daughter of a mere merchant, I didn't have the right to keep male companions. But Princess Chengping had that right! That girl followed me around every day and was learning from me...
Thinking of Suisui surrounded by men in the future, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.