Pampered By All In Different Planes

Chapter 175: Chapter 175: The Lucky Farmer is at Ease, While the Husband with No Heirs is Busy Pursuing His Wife 35

“All these account books by Your Majesty’s side have been meticulously organized by Zhezhi,” the Empress thought of Zhezhi with great admiration for Su Zhiruan. As a woman herself, she had given birth to Fu Huaichu and Fu Huaizhong, as well as a second Prince who had died young. However, there was no question that when it came to educating children, Su Zhiruan far surpassed her. “Those two children are prodigies. If they are properly nurtured, they will undoubtedly achieve great things in the future.”

For her, the Empress who ranked above all but one, to speak such words was enough to demonstrate the high regard she held for Zheye and Zhezhi.

“I hope Huaichu fights for it and soon takes Ruanruan as his Crown Princess Consort, so our whole family can be reunited.” The Emperor, growing older, desired most to be surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Regrettably, his only children were Fu Huaichu and Fu Huaizhong, both of whom were extremely resistant to the idea of arranged marriages. There was a long period when the Emperor even doubted whether his heir, the Crown Prince, might prefer men.

It wasn’t until he found out that Fu Huaichu and Su Zhiruan had a son and a daughter, both of whom were being well-raised, that he was able to fully lay down the heavy stone in his heart.

“Once they are married, you and I can relax a bit too. Being confined to the palace for half a lifetime, seeing Huaichu set up a family and take on the responsibilities of the country will give me peace of mind,” the Emperor said, holding the Empress’s hand as they both looked forward to the future.

*

Meanwhile, Fu Huaichu, accompanied by Zhezhi, made his way to the Eastern Palace. Zhezhi had always been obedient and inquisitive, asking questions from time to time.

The two little maids following them, always timid, now seemed like they were seeing the Grand Garden for the first time, carefully observing their surroundings with the intention to commit everything to memory.

“Did Daddy grow up here?” little Zhezhi lifted her sparkling eyes, gazing up at Fu Huaichu. She squinted when the sun shone on her, but she didn’t lower her gaze, continuing to look up at Fu Huaichu with a bright smile. “This place is so big!”

“Daddy did grow up here. Do you like it, Zhezhi?” Fu Huaichu shifted to block the sunlight, allowing Zhezhi to open her eyes again.

Zhezhi nodded her head vigorously, and as she reached the threshold of the Eastern Palace’s gate, her short legs couldn’t get over it, prompting Fu Huaichu to lift her up and carry her back.

“Zhizhi likes the Jiaowei Zither!” As soon as Zhezhi entered the main hall of the Eastern Palace, the first thing she spotted was the Jiaowei Zither placed near the incense. She immediately dashed towards it.

Fu Huaichu followed behind, watching his little darling with tufts on her head bobbing as she lifted her dress and ran. She was as lively as a Flower Fairy.

A warm surge rose in his heart; this was his little daughter, carrying the same blood as him.

Just then, a shrill voice suddenly rang out—

“How audacious! Who are you! How dare you tamper with the Crown Prince’s Jiaowei Zither without permission, do you have a death wish?!”

The voice came from the main hall. Before Fu Huaichu entered, he saw his dearly beloved little daughter being scolded by a contemptible Palace Maid.

Zhezhi seemed to be petrified by fear, stepping back instinctively, too young to do anything else.

At that moment in the main hall, a Palace Maid dressed as a Chief Court Lady was pointing at Zhezhi and cursing incessantly, spewing foul language: “Hah, so young, were you sold into the palace by your family?! Such a little demon, daring to break into the Crown Prince’s bedroom. If you’re this cunning at such a young age, when you grow up, you probably dream of ascending to the heavens in one step!”

The moment Fu Huaichu heard her words, his expression instantly turned grim.

As sensible and precocious Zhezhi was, having been raised as the apple of her mother Su Zhiruan’s eye, she had never suffered the slightest hardship. But now, she was being cursed at by a lowly Palace Maid, and in his own Eastern Palace, no less, cursing his daughter!

“I shall see how you plan to ascend to the heavens in one step!” Fu Huaichu swept into the hall with a flick of his sleeve, ready to confront this woman who had pointed at Zhezhi.

This Chief Court Lady had a pointed and mean appearance, as gaunt as a skeleton, with a sallow complexion and eyes that held malice towards the whole world.

But when she saw the little maid she had just scolded being gently held and comforted in Fu Huaichu’s arms, she realized something was terribly wrong!

“Daddy—who is she?” Zhezhi said, and could no longer hold back, burying her face into Fu Huaichu’s chest, sobbing, “Daddy, is she one of your people?”

“Daddy? Daddy?”

The Chief Court Lady, having heard such words from this seemingly ordinary little girl crying to the esteemed Crown Prince, was shocked stiff, her eyes wide with disbelief.

The Crown Prince—had a child?!

And she had offended her?

Despair filled the Chief Court Lady’s heart.

“Your Highness! Miss—I was wrong, I was blind not to recognize an immortal, I deserve death!” The Chief Court Lady knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, a look of utter despair on her face.

Every year, a number of very young maids would be brought into the Imperial Palace to be trained, and when they were older they would be assigned to various palaces. Usually, these young maids who were not very old but very dependent on others had two possible outcomes: they might be chosen by the palace maids or eunuchs as pretend brothers or sisters, which was considered a way to relieve the loneliness of the deep palace, or they were bullied.

But at this moment, she could not have even dreamed, not to mention that the heir to the throne, who did not even have a wife, concubines, or side consorts in the Eastern Palace, would suddenly come back with a child who called him daddy.

Fu Huaichu’s murderous intent surfaced, his voice cold, “She is my daughter, a Commandery Princess of this dynasty, and the future Princess. Since you who remain in the palace cannot recognize people properly, you might as well go practice underwater. It seems that you have bullied your fair share of palace maids on regular days. An Ying, throw her into the water to feed the fish.”

An Ying took a step forward, “Yes, Your Highness.”

“No, Your Highness! Commandery Princess! Commandery Princess, I beg you, you have a generous heart, I will never bully others again, please let me go!!!”

But her pleas were useless.

Afterward, the Chief Court Lady’s pleas became more and more distant, eventually vanishing completely.

Tears still clung to the corners of Zhezhi’s eyes, clear and gleaming, “Daddy, put me down, I want to play the zither.”

Fu Huaichu did as she asked and put her on the ground, watching his daughter sit beside the Jiaowei Zither and gently stroke the strings twice.

The clear sound of the strings fell sharply. Zhezhi raised her head to look at Fu Huaichu, “Daddy, mother personally taught me this music piece, I’ll play it for you.”

After saying this, she quietly moved her fingers along the strings, the smooth melody softly enveloping them both, Fu Huaichu listened very attentively.

Zhezhi had been quick to learn from a young age, and Su Zhiruan, after several lifetimes, knew quite a bit. On a whim, she had personally taught her daughter quite a few talents.

As the music ended, the restlessness in Zhezhi’s heart was much alleviated.

Fu Huaichu was leaning on the sandalwood octagonal table with his elbow, watching his daughter come over. After she stopped in front of him, she asked a question.

“Daddy, do you like mother?” Zhezhi tugged on his robe, smiling sweetly, “Zhizhi has a good idea!”