Chapter 843: Motherly Love
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Su Qiong looked at Consort De and saw tears in her eyes. Su Qiong sighed and said, “Consort De, if you have anything to say, just say it. If 1 can help, 1 will definitely help you.”]
Through that layer of tears, she saw that Consort De was lost in her memories.
Consort De said slowly, “Twenty-one years ago, I was pregnant with my first child. At that time, I was immersed in joy, but in less than three months, this child was aborted… In the next year, 1 was pregnant with two more children, but they were all gone. As a young woman, I learned how to scheme in the harem. In order to gain a foothold, I had to have a child. Therefore, later, I was pregnant with Hongguang.
After giving birth to him, 1 lost the ability to give birth. 1 always knew how difficult it would be to raise him. Even if 1 didn’t fight for power, as long as he was a man, he would be treated as a threat. When Hongguang was five years old, I accidentally discovered a secret. At that time, the empress’s nanny actually fed him something very harmful.
The Empress wanted to pave the way for the crown prince, but I was not like Consort Xian Fei who would openly go against the Empress. If I wanted to protect Hongguang, I had to send him out of the palace. At first, I was unwilling because it was not safe to live outside the palace. However, something happened later that forced me to do that.
One day, after Hongguang returned from school, he started to fall sick and had a high fever. 1 found a poison mixed with several herbs in his pocket. I took care of him day and night. As soon as he recovered, 1 immediately arranged for him to leave the palace. 1 wanted to let him grow up safely before returning to the palace. 1 didn’t expect him to go missing during the process. Ever since then, 1 haven’t heard any news of him. However, I never gave up on him, so to outsiders, the Fourth Prince, Xia Hongguang, has always been studying and training outside.
When I saw Lu Zhen on the competition day, 1 recognized him at first glance. There was a small scar on his sideburns. It was left by me accidentally dropping him when he was not even a year old. I remembered it deeply. He also looked very much like my younger brother.
I’ve been looking for him for so many years. I can’t stand him being so cold to me. I’m his mother. I’m willing to use my life to protect him. I’ve looked forward to reuniting with him countless times. I always had the dream that after we reunited, he would lean against my leg and listen to me talk about many interesting things that happened when he was young…”
Tears streamed down Consort De’s face. After they reunited, she and Lu Zhen were like strangers. Being close to each other was an extravagant hope. Lu Zhen was unwilling to even meet her.
Her heart was bleeding. She could summon him to the palace every day, but she didn’t want to force him.
Su Qiong also shed tears. She wiped the corners of her eyes and said, “Your Highness, I understand how you feel.”
Consort De looked at Su Qiong and pursed her lips. She reached out and held Su Qiong’s hands tightly, begging, “Madam Su, 1 want Lu Zhen to know that I, his useless mother, have also done many things for him. 1 want him to know that 1 was once worried about him and spent many restless nights thinking about him. 1 went to look for Miss Liu. Miss Liu said that if Lu Zhen agrees, she can help. Can you help me send this message to him as 1 can’t bring myself to say it in front of him?”
Consort De was a little nervous. She was already lucky to be reunited with her son, but she still wanted more. She was conflicted, but she couldn’t stop herself from wanting more.
She wanted to do all she could just so that she wouldn’t regret it one day.
Su Qiong nodded. “Alright, I’ll help you ask.”
Consort De was overjoyed and thanked her sincerely. “Madam Su, thank you. You’re a good person who gave Lu Zhen a good family.”
Su Qiong looked at Consort De’s fluctuating emotions and couldn’t help but sigh. Whether it was a woman with a noble status or a woman in the streets, they were all the same when it came to their children.
Su Qiong wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and so did Consort De.
Su Qiong said, “Your Highness, do you want to know how Lu Zhen came to my house?”
Consort De nodded and perked up to listen. She already knew how, but she still wanted to hear it from Su Qiong.
Su Qiong smiled and said, “When Qingqing was young, she had a strange temper. Lu Ranran, who was at the competition last time, was actually once my daughter. The concubine at my house was ambitious and swapped Lu Ranran with my son, Lu Run. Lu Ranran was born weak, so I had to take care of her with a lot of care. I couldn’t spare any energy on Qingqing.
Qingqing often goes out. She met Lu Zhen first. At that time, she bought food for Lu Zhen and told him her troubles. Qingqing told me this. Later, one time, Qingqing was almost kidnapped. It was Lu Zhen who saved her. It was then that Lu Zhen was accepted into the family.
He didn’t like to talk, but he liked to play with Qingqing. Lu Ranran took away all my energy. I couldn’t divert my attention to take care of Qingqing, so I decided to nurture a secret guard for her. Lu Zhen was a man of few words. I asked him for his opinion, and he said he was willing. Later, 1 hired a martial artist master to train him. No matter how hard the training was or how tired he was, he didn’t say a word.
I found many masters for him. The longest one was a swordsman who taught him for two years before he left. Lu Zhen is the most serious when it comes to learning martial arts. With him protecting Qingqing, I was really at ease. Later, Qingqing fell in love with a man and was almost out of her mind. At that time, someone introduced me to Miss Liu who later exposed Lu Ranran’s identity, and 1 was finally able to reunite with my biological son. Qingqing was an impatient and quick-tempered girl. I asked Lu Zhen if he was willing to marry her. Although he’s a man of few words, he has Qingqing in his heart. After they got married, the two of them were very loving. Qingqing has been doted on like a treasure.”
Recalling the past, Su Qiong was also glad that she met Liu Sanniang. Otherwise, she and her son would also be just two strangers..