His tone, compared to when he greets the Emperor, had a touch more familiarity.
Seeing him like this, Lin Wanyi hesitated for a mont, pondering whether to subtly hint.
In the end, she decided that speaking directly would be more sincere.
So she softened her tone and said.
"Second Prince, co a little closer. Lady Lin has sothing to say to you."
The Second Prince was full of confusion, wondering what needed to be said so closely.
But without doubting her, he still leaned in closer.
Then he heard Lin Wanyi say.
"I am a month pregnant. Although I haven’t had the Imperial Physician confirm it yet, it’s almost certain."
Upon hearing this news, the Second Prince was stunned.
Lin Wanyi and the Emperor’s bewildernt was unexpected.
The Second Prince’s bewildernt, however, was one of displeasure.
In an instant, the smile that once graced his face suddenly turned into disappointnt and anger.
But he quickly hid it away.
Instead, he put on a sowhat insincere smile.
"Your child congratulates Lady Lin, congratulates Father, for having their wish co true. This child will surely be a healthy and intelligent prince."
He spoke these words, which ought to have been cheerful.
But in Lin Wanyi’s ears, they sounded incredibly painful.
Only six years old, he had already gone through things that many had never experienced.
Mother’s death, foster care, competing for favor, poisoning, being bullied by demanding servants, unfriendly siblings...
To have grown up to this day was entirely because of Lin Wanyi’s presence.
But now, Lin Wanyi was going to have her own child.
Probably it wouldn’t be long before she left him.
Thinking of this, he felt imnsely sad.
Even more so than when the Fourth Prince was born, a hundredfold more.
After all, back then, he only thought he would lose Father’s affection, but now, what he might lose was Lin Wanyi’s love.
For a mont, his face was filled with a hypocritical smile.
The Emperor could see it, and Lin Wanyi could see it too.
What she feared most was such a situation, so she initially didn’t plan to beco pregnant.
But now that the child had co, it had co.
She could only do her best to comfort the Second Prince.
"I know no matter how much I say right now, you will still feel uncomfortable, but Second Prince, do you rember? When you called mother, I told myself that if you were willing, I would be your mother for life, and it wouldn’t change because of anyone, including this child."
Lin Wanyi’s tone was very calm, but the Second Prince was sowhat surprised to hear it.
Once, Princess Consort Lan had also said similar things to gain his trust a few tis.
But what happened in the end?
She still kicked him aside after getting pregnant.
Sotis, he even felt that he wasn’t as good as the Second Princess.
At least he wouldn’t beco a stumbling block for anyone, would he?
The Second Prince did not answer Lin Wanyi but hung his head low.
The Emperor still wanted to say a few words but saw Lin Wanyi shaking her head.
So he decided not to say anything more.
This luncheon was not particularly pleasant for all three of them.
In fact, it was sowhat burdenso.
The Second Prince worried about whether he would be abandoned.
Lin Wanyi worried about whether she would have a falling out with the Second Prince in the future.
And the Emperor had even more concerns.
For example, Lin Wanyi had eaten too little, which is extrely unfavorable for a pregnant woman.
So he kept on serving dishes for Lin Wanyi.
The rice bowl was piled high, yet the Emperor did not stop.
Finally, Lin Wanyi had to say.
"That’s enough, Your Majesty. The bowl cannot hold any more."
Only then did the Emperor refrain from continuing to serve food.
Watching from the side, the Second Prince’s eyes appeared increasingly forlorn.
After hastily finishing the al in his bowl, he said.
"Father and Lady Lin, eat slowly. Your child will return to practice writing. I take my leave."
Lin Wanyi glanced at the Second Prince’s low spirits, wanting to speak but stopping.
Instead, Nanny Du gave her a reassuring look before following the Second Prince out.
"Alas, we’ve ultimately made the child uncomfortable."
Lin Wanyi felt sowhat guilty.
The Emperor saw it in her eyes but didn’t respond imdiately.
Instead, he felt it was necessary to give the Second Prince so ti to digest it himself; otherwise, relying on others for everything would ultimately be harmful to him.
Back in his quarters, the Second Prince returned feeling unhappy.
He flopped onto the bedding, eyes filled with confusion and sorrow.
Next to him, Nanny Du did not open her mouth to comfort, instead, she asked.
"Second Prince, did you eat your fill at lunch? Do you need to bring you more?"
The Second Prince shook his head, initially wanting to be alone.
But upon seeing Nanny Du’s kind eyes, he felt even worse.
"Nanny, am I not likeable?"
"How could that be?"
"I used to think that Lady Lin really wouldn’t have children, so she would take and my second sister under her wing to raise and teach, but now... she has her own child. Will we not also be sent away soon?"
As he spoke, there was a sob in his voice.
If he hadn’t initially heard that Lin Wanyi was poisoned and had a difficult pregnancy, he wouldn’t have opened his heart so easily.
Now, he regarded Lin Wanyi as a real mother.
Little did he know, she would eventually have her own sons and daughters in the future.
At this thought, he felt an uncontrollable sadness.
Nanny Du sighed deeply, moved to the front of the bed, and began to ask.
"How does the Noble Consort treat you?"
"Naturally, she treats well."
"Then why do you think that after having her own child, she wouldn’t treat you well?"
The Second Prince was silent.
So things he was unwilling to speak aloud.
Always thinking that way, he could still deceive himself for a while.
Unfortunately, he faced Nanny Du, soone who wouldn’t tolerate any falsehoods.
Seeing the Second Prince keep silent, Nanny Du continued.
"Do you also think that in the Royal Family, the bond between parents and children is a matter of advantage? That you worry the Noble Consort will not treat you as valuable once she has a Prince? Is that why you resist so much?"
Nanny Du had stripped away this veil of falsehood, and the Second Prince suddenly felt very embarrassed.
Then he defiantly said with a stiff neck.
"Isn’t it so? Princess Consort Yi with the Third Prince, Lin Guifei with Ming Ruo, and Princess Consort Ying with the Fourth Prince, aren’t they all the sa?"
At this mont, he was like a wounded young beast, filled with defensiveness.
Even though the person had been soone he trusted, he now bared his fangs at Nanny Du.
Nanny Du observed this, her expression becoming obscure.
After a mont, she slowly said.
"Since I was transferred to serve the Second Prince, I have never seen the Noble Consort ask you to do anything. Soone your age, like the Third Prince, was already studying diligently day and night, and even the Fourth Prince nowadays is the sa, even though he is still a baby in swaddling clothes. I heard that Princess Consort Ying is already selecting study companions for him."
"But what about the Second Prince? When you were ill, the Noble Consort took dicine with you. When you liked woodworking, she found handbooks for you. When you wanted to study, she thought of ways to let you read storybooks."
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