Too high to reach

Chapter 44 Legitimate Daughter and Illegitimate Son
Consort Feng donned a cloak and, accompanied by Mama Song and Chunman, went to the front courtyard.

The front courtyard was where the prince worked and received guests; women from the inner quarters were not allowed to go there.

But Granny Zhao can come.

When she was attending classes with Granny Zhao, she would accompany her here. Occasionally, she would come by herself; being a doorman, she wouldn't stop her.

After becoming the prince's concubine, she shouldn't have come back.

But she was determined and maintained good relations with the gatekeeper, thus becoming an exception.

At this moment, everyone was still waiting for the prince at the gate, with only a few people in the living room and study. Upon seeing her arrive, a scholar-looking man stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Highness, Concubine!"

"Mr. Yang!"

Mr. Yang was the prince's advisor and had returned with him. He said with a beaming smile, "Your Highness, the prince went straight to the palace and hasn't returned yet."

"I know. Mr. Yang has worked hard by the Prince's side!" She handled her delicate manners quite well!
"I dare not say I have suffered hardship."

"Your Highness, how are you feeling this time? Are you alright?"

"I am a little tired, but I am not injured! Please rest assured, Your Highness!"

"Ah."

"Your Highness, all items have been inventoried, stored, and registered. This is the ledger you kept." The speaker was a middle-aged man named Wan Daoping.

He was Zhao Mama's son-in-law and the second steward of the household. He was very learned, but his grandfather was convicted of a crime, which implicated him and ruined his career. Zhao Mama saw that he was handsome and talented, so she arranged for him to marry her youngest daughter and work in the Prince's mansion.

The head steward is getting old and only comes out occasionally for important matters. Wan Daoping manages the daily trivial matters and wields considerable power.

Consort Feng smiled and nodded at him, and Chunman took the account book.

In the study, there were several large boxes, presumably containing items that didn't need to be stored away. Consort Feng wandered around and discovered some small weapons in two large baskets: bows and arrows, crossbows, red-tasseled spears, and the like.

Two sizes smaller than ordinary weapons, she couldn't help but smile: This must be what the prince prepared for Shao-ge'er, right?
Shao'er is still young; it will be at least a few more years before she can handle it properly. Besides, it looks like a toy, but those cold, sharp arrows can really hurt people!

Suddenly, loud voices came from ahead; it must be the prince returning to his residence!
Xia Hua led Li Shaofeng over, and Consort Feng quickly took his hand and stood in the study, waiting for the prince to enter.

It was very lively outside, and it took quite a while for it to gradually quiet down.

Consort Feng was a little nervous and gave her son a few more instructions, mainly about how to greet and speak when he saw his father, the King.

Footsteps sounded, and the prince finally arrived at the study.

"Your Highness!" she exclaimed excitedly as she saw the man stride in.

No wonder she insisted on staying in the Prince's mansion back then; besides the wealth and honor, there was also this man...

Li Jing's appearance is not good-looking in the usual sense.

Thick eyebrows, phoenix eyes, a sharply defined nose and angular jaw, and a beautiful Adam's apple. A strong and robust physique, an air of superiority, and impeccable attire.

Madam Feng felt her cheeks flush and her eyes light up. She bowed deeply and said, "Your Highness, you've worked hard!"

Li Jing gave a soft "hmm," glanced at her, then looked down at her eldest son, a rare tenderness appearing on her face.

"Shao'er." His voice was low.

Consort Feng hurriedly said to her son, "Quickly kowtow to your father!"

She had been teaching him diligently for days, and Li Shaofeng had become quite proficient. But when he saw the prince, he was still stunned, staring blankly at this "father," neither speaking nor moving.

"Shao'er?" She was anxious. What was wrong with him? He had already taught him everything!

Li Jing didn't seem to mind, and smiled, "It's just a child, he's shy around strangers."

This is understandable, given his young age, but Consort Feng didn't see it that way. How could she judge her son by the standards of an ordinary child?

She heard that when the prince was three or four years old, he was already able to distinguish between good and bad and had started fighting.

She nudged her son again.

Li Shaofeng then knelt down and said in a childish voice, "Son kowtows to Father!"

With a rosy, chubby face, dark eyes, and dressed in thick brocade clothes and leather boots, he was all round and plump. He couldn't even kneel properly; he was adorably clumsy.

"Good boy! Get up!" Li Jing said softly.

Consort Feng was finally satisfied. Looking at the Prince, she said, "Shao-ge'er knew you were back and insisted on coming to the front; I couldn't stop him! But you were so frightened you couldn't speak!" Her tone was familiar and cheerful, with a touch of girlishness, like that of an intimate couple. Li Jing, at this moment, lacked the cold arrogance of the palace, and said gently, "It's nothing. These past two years have been hard on you!"

"With you away, I'm idle all day long, how could I be tired? It's just... I'm worried about you!" Her voice was gentle, and her eyebrows and eyes unconsciously carried a hint of spring affection.

As she spoke, she reached out to help her son.

As a result, the little one rolled on the ground like a ball and couldn't be pulled up for a while.

Li Jing's smile finally widened: "How many clothes did you put on him?"

He took off his mink cloak, revealing only a thin, black robe with flowing shoulders and fitted sleeves underneath. He took two steps forward and reached out to pull Li Shaofeng along.

"How can my son compare to you? He's never even practiced martial arts before! Now that you're back, why don't you personally become his martial arts instructor and give him his first lessons?"

Before Li Jing could answer.

"Your Highness, the First Princess has arrived," came the announcement from the doorway.

The gates to the front and back courtyards were open, and Princess Wenxiu came over.

No one knew how long she had been standing in the study doorway until someone saw her and announced her arrival, at which point the young girl stepped inside.

Zhou Jiu followed behind.

Taking a few steps closer, the little girl silently watched her father... who was holding her half-brother's hand. "Daughter greets Father. Father, you've worked hard."

Li Jing looked at his eldest daughter, somewhat surprised and curious. Actually, he wasn't very familiar with her. Not only was he rarely home, but even when he was, his daughter often stayed at the Zhou family's house. He could count on one hand the number of times he and his daughter had met in their entire lives!
"Xiangxiang, get up!" He felt a sense of relief; at least she still remembered his daughter's name!
Behind the daughter was a very beautiful girl, but no one knew who she was.

"Father, this is my ninth aunt!"

Miss Zhou Jiu bowed from behind: "Zhou Jiu greets Your Highness!"

"Ninth Sister, no need for formalities." Li Jing nodded gently, then turned his gaze to the little girl.

Her birth mother was extremely beautiful, but she didn't... have a seriousness on her face that a young girl shouldn't have. She probably... resembled her more. Her feelings were somewhat complicated.

Princess Wenxiu and Zhou Jiu bowed to Consort Feng again. Their movements were precise and very proper. This made Consort Feng feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Li Jing coughed lightly: "Xiangxiang, your father brought back some trinkets for you. I'll have someone deliver them to your room later!"

"Thank you, Father!"

"Shao'er, quickly greet your sister and Aunt Zhou!" Consort Feng urged her son again when he didn't move.

Li Shaofeng looked at Princess Wenxiu with some reluctance and displeasure, his lips pursed, and he remained motionless.

Consort Feng was genuinely nervous. She always felt that her son was still young, but today it seemed that she hadn't taught him enough.

Fortunately, Li Shaofeng finally managed to call out, "Big sister!"

Princess Wenxiu nodded magnanimously: "Brother Shao."

Consort Feng explained, “Your Highness, our Princess has been living at her maternal home. I have taken her in several times, but her maternal grandmother, Zhou, is reluctant to let her return. I can only send her provisions regularly. She only returned to the manor after you came back. Madam Zhou said that when the Princess was at the Zhou family, she was always taken care of by Ninth Miss Zhou. I have arranged for Ninth Miss Zhou to stay at Wangyue Pavilion.”

Li Jing nodded indifferently. He didn't care about these matters, but he wasn't ignorant of them. With such a beautiful woman of marriageable age living in the Prince's mansion, the Zhou family's intentions were self-evident.

Having plans is fine, but he doesn't like others taking advantage of his daughter.

Zhou Jiu smiled and said, "My grandparents at home miss the Prince very much."

Li Jing nodded, but only looked at his eldest daughter and said, "Make time, your father will take you back to visit your maternal grandparents!"

"Your Highness, there are many people welcoming you. I have already prepared a meal. Would you like to go ahead first, or return to the back courtyard?"

Li Jing thought for a moment. There were many things to do at the front, but the few of them had come to the front while the others had not... "Let's take a look at the back first, and then I will return to the front courtyard." After saying that, he turned and walked to the back.

Consort Feng quickly pulled her son along, but Princess Wenxiu followed the prince without hesitation.

After a pause, Consort Feng smiled at Miss Zhou again and followed behind Princess Wenxiu.

Unexpectedly, her son was very considerate and let go of her hand. He ran ahead like a little ball and grabbed the prince's collar.

Li Jing was also surprised. After hesitating for a moment, she took her son's little hand.

Madam Feng smiled contentedly: "Shao'er, don't be naughty with your father!"

(End of this chapter)