As the Seventh Prince gradually grew older, Li Yuniang’s role as wet nurse became increasingly relaxed. She was equivalent to half a master in Yunhai Residence, with all the little palace maids under her management, and even Eunuch Kang, the most trusted eunuch by the Seventh Prince’s side, respected her.

Given the Seventh Prince’s age, Li Yuniang could have left the palace to return home and accompany her family, but Consort Zhuang wouldn’t permit it. Later, when Emperor Jiande became involved, Li Yuniang found it even more difficult to leave the palace.

Her husband’s death had deeply affected Li Yuniang, but returning home to handle funeral arrangements for half a year was enough for Li Yuniang to bury that grief and longing deep in her heart. Now in Yunhai Residence, she had to ensure the Seventh Prince’s daily needs remained normal while also caring for her lively and active little daughter A’Fu. With her energy divided, she had no time to immerse herself in the sorrow of losing her husband.

“Unless Mother takes you, you’re not allowed to go to the main courtyard.”

On their first day entering the palace, Li Yuniang established this rule for A’Fu.

Three-year-old A’Fu obediently nodded.

But the more Mother forbade her from going to the main courtyard, the more A’Fu wanted to go there to play, and she also wanted to see the Seventh Prince she had only glimpsed during morning greetings.

A’Fu attempted to sneak to the main courtyard every day, failing each time, but these attempts and discoveries became one of A’Fu’s sources of amusement—like a game of hide-and-seek. Each time she got a little closer to the main courtyard, each time she stayed longer before being caught by the palace maid Liu’er, A’Fu would be very happy.

This day it rained, with quite heavy, continuous rainfall. Since the Seventh Prince hadn’t gone out, Li Yuniang stayed in the main courtyard ready to serve His Highness at any time, arranging for Liu’er to watch A’Fu.

Liu’er was fifteen or sixteen years old—more than capable of watching a three-year-old girl.

A’Fu also behaved very obediently, until noon naptime, when A’Fu pretended to sleep for a while, then secretly poked her head out from under the covers. Seeing Liu’er dozing with her head on the table, A’Fu grinned and tiptoed out of bed, stuffing her pillow inside to make it look like someone was still sleeping.

Having made her disguise, A’Fu crawled barefoot to the ground and quietly put on her soft-soled embroidered shoes.

Just then, Liu’er suddenly moved.

A’Fu was so startled she crouched down, but discovered Liu’er had only changed her dozing position without waking up. A’Fu quickly tiptoed out.

A’Fu was very familiar with her mother’s small courtyard and knew where the door to the main courtyard was. She took the umbrella Liu’er had left under the eaves, looked around in all directions, and stepped into the rain.

The ground was wet and slippery, with splashing rainwater soaking A’Fu’s shoes—wet and cool, but A’Fu found it very fun. She deliberately walked into little puddles that had accumulated water, playing and laughing at the door.

A’Fu hid behind the wall and peered into the main courtyard. Because it was raining, no people were moving about in the yard.

A’Fu confidently stepped into the main courtyard.

The Seventh Prince was in his study—he had come here because he couldn’t sleep. However, upon reaching the study, he felt restless and irritable, unable to concentrate on reading.

It was rather ridiculous—Mother used his wet nurse while simultaneously being dissatisfied with Father’s regard for her, and even dissatisfied with his respect for his wet nurse. Whenever she had a chance, she would disparage his wet nurse before him, even hinting that his wet nurse had an improper relationship with Father.

But what Father did in Yunhai Residence—no one knew better than the Seventh Prince.

Sometimes when Father came, he would reward his wet nurse with some food. Sometimes Father would invite his wet nurse to play chess together. Initially, Father would indeed be handsy, but gradually, Father and his wet nurse developed a kind of friendship that wasn’t quite friendship. From an outsider’s perspective, the Seventh Prince felt Father preferred talking with his wet nurse, Eunuch Kang, and often heard Father’s hearty laughter.

The Seventh Prince didn’t know exactly what Father thought of his wet nurse. He only knew that his wet nurse had never thought of seducing Father.

Among the sounds of rain outside the window, there seemed to be an additional sound. The Seventh Prince came to the window and pushed it open, discovering an extra umbrella in the courtyard.

The umbrella’s position was too low, like a large mushroom sprouting from the ground. The mushroom was also moving. Suddenly, that “mushroom” lifted, revealing a face like carved pink jade.

The Seventh Prince smiled. His wet nurse had mentioned that A’Fu was playful and kept trying to come to the main courtyard. His wet nurse feared she couldn’t prevent it and had given him advance notice—if A’Fu ever truly snuck over, please forgive her.

The Seventh Prince didn’t mind at all.

He watched A’Fu in the rain.

A’Fu hadn’t noticed him yet, looking around as if uncertain which direction to go.

The Seventh Prince coughed softly.

A’Fu immediately looked in his direction and saw a window open with the Seventh Prince in white robes standing inside.

A’Fu liked the Seventh Prince—he was handsome and seemed very approachable.

But would the Seventh Prince be angry that she had run over?

A’Fu was a little afraid.

Seeing her standing motionless, apparently waiting to decide based on his reaction—like a deer encountering humans for the first time in the forest—the Seventh Prince smiled and beckoned to A’Fu.

A’Fu’s eyes lit up. Holding the oversized umbrella, she headed toward the study. Her face was blocked by the umbrella surface, turning her back into a moving mushroom.

The Seventh Prince went to the hall adjacent to the study.

Eunuch Kang was sitting on a stool outside. Seeing his master suddenly emerge, Eunuch Kang quickly stood up.

The Seventh Prince indicated it was nothing and walked straight toward the door.

Just then, that adorable little mushroom also climbed the steps and appeared at the doorway.

Eunuch Kang said in surprise: “A’Fu?”

A’Fu put down her umbrella and looked somewhat shyly at the master and servant inside the door.

Only then did the Seventh Prince notice that A’Fu’s shoes were almost completely soaked through.

The Seventh Prince immediately picked up A’Fu, removed her soaked embroidered shoes and socks, and casually lifted his robe hem to dry her feet. Small children were all delicate—the Seventh Prince worried that if he delayed too long, A’Fu would catch a cold.

A’Fu was long accustomed to adults caring for her, so she found nothing improper about the Seventh Prince’s actions.

Eunuch Kang was too shocked to speak.

There were other little princes A’Fu’s age in the palace—those little princes were even the Seventh Prince’s half-brothers by the same father. Yet the Seventh Prince was cold and distant toward them. When had he ever cared for them?

“Have the kitchen prepare a bowl of ginger soup and bring it over.” The Seventh Prince gave instructions as if nothing unusual had happened.

Eunuch Kang hurried off.

The Seventh Prince carried A’Fu into the study. There was a couch here, and the Seventh Prince placed A’Fu on it, checking her trouser legs—fortunately, they weren’t wet.

The Seventh Prince moved a chair over and sat facing A’Fu.

A’Fu supported herself on the couch with both hands, her big eyes rolling around as she curiously examined the room. It was so spacious, with row upon row of bookshelves.

The Seventh Prince watched with a smile. When A’Fu finally looked at him, the Seventh Prince asked gently: “Why isn’t A’Fu sleeping?”

A’Fu found the Seventh Prince very kind and answered crisply: “Couldn’t sleep.”

Seventh Prince: “Where’s Liu’er?”

A’Fu: “She fell asleep. I came out to play.”

Seventh Prince: “Do you want to find your mother?”

A’Fu shook her head: “Don’t want to find Mother. Mother will scold me.”

The Seventh Prince wanted to laugh. His wet nurse would scold people? His wet nurse had cared for him for so many years without ever losing her temper with him.

“How does she usually scold you?” the Seventh Prince asked.

A’Fu thought for a moment, then stood on the couch and began imitating how Mother scolded her, her little mouth saying the words adults used to discipline children, quite convincingly.

After her performance, A’Fu walked around the couch and finally came to the low table placed in the center. Two books lay on the table, and A’Fu knelt beside them, her little hands beginning to touch everything.

Seeing she liked books, the Seventh Prince came onto the couch and sat beside A’Fu: “Does A’Fu want to read books?”

A’Fu couldn’t understand them, so she pushed the books toward the Seventh Prince: “I’m still small. You tell me the stories.”

The content in the books was too profound for A’Fu, so the Seventh Prince deliberately told the stories simply, only narrating events without explaining deep principles, keeping them at a level A’Fu could understand and find interesting.

He spoke earnestly, and A’Fu listened very attentively.

Eunuch Kang brought the ginger soup, freshly cooked and then cooled with ice, just right for drinking now.

The Seventh Prince took the soup bowl and personally fed A’Fu with a spoon.

A’Fu took a sip and wrinkled her little nose: “Doesn’t taste good.”

The Seventh Prince smiled: “A’Fu’s feet got cold. Drinking this will prevent illness. Otherwise, if you get sick, you won’t be able to play around anymore.”

A’Fu still didn’t want to drink it.

The Seventh Prince thought for a moment: “If A’Fu drinks this bowl of soup, after finishing it, I’ll treat you to sweet red date cake.”

Hearing this, A’Fu’s mouth began to water.

She obediently drank the soup.

Eunuch Kang also brought over a plate of red date cake.

A’Fu happily began eating.

The Seventh Prince said to Eunuch Kang, “Go inform the wet nurse so she won’t worry.”

Eunuch Kang lowered his head and acknowledged the command.

Li Yuniang was instructing two newly arrived little palace maids when she heard her daughter had run to the Seventh Prince’s side. She hurried over to fetch the child.

A’Fu didn’t want to leave yet—she had finally managed to come out.

“I want to listen to His Highness tell stories.” A’Fu ran barefoot behind the Seventh Prince, crouched down, and hid her face too.

Li Yuniang said urgently, “Come down. Mother will tell you stories.”

A’Fu: “Mother’s stories aren’t good.”

The Seventh Prince smiled: “Wet nurse, go tend to your business. I have nothing to do right now. When A’Fu has played enough, I’ll send someone to take her back.”

Li Yuniang knew he had a good temper, but still said, “Your Highness shouldn’t spoil her. If you don’t discipline them when they’re small, they’ll be even harder to manage when they’re older.”

The Seventh Prince looked at A’Fu behind him: “I think A’Fu is very well-behaved. Wet nurse, don’t worry.”

He was the master after all, so Li Yuniang could only take her leave.

Eunuch Kang followed her out and said quietly: “Don’t worry. His Highness isn’t in a very good mood today. Telling A’Fu stories is just the thing to change his spirits.”

Li Yuniang understood and left with peace of mind.

The Seventh Prince told A’Fu stories for a very long time. At first, A’Fu sat beside him, then she sat in his lap, and later still, A’Fu fell asleep.

The Seventh Prince clumsily placed A’Fu on the pillow, initially afraid of waking her. Seeing the little girl sleeping soundly, the Seventh Prince breathed a sigh of relief and gently covered her with a blanket.

The rain pattered loudly, but A’Fu slept very peacefully.

The Seventh Prince got down from the couch and went to his desk. Though he had been restless and unable to read before, at this moment, all the confusion in his heart suddenly disappeared. Looking at A’Fu sleeping so deeply, the Seventh Prince opened his book and began studying with a calm heart.

That evening, the Seventh Prince told Li Yuniang she no longer needed to restrict A’Fu—throughout all of Yunhai Residence, A’Fu could go anywhere she pleased to play.

A’Fu quickly explored all of Yunhai Residence and found two favorite places: one was Yunhai Residence’s small garden, where the Seventh Prince had specially ordered a swing built for her, and the other was the Seventh Prince’s study. The study alone wasn’t particularly fun, but A’Fu loved listening to the Seventh Prince tell her stories. The Seventh Prince indulged her—unless he was too busy, he would tell A’Fu stories every evening, some from books and others he made up himself.

Time passed unknowingly. When A’Fu was six and the Seventh Prince sixteen, Emperor Jiande finally established the Seventh Prince as Crown Prince.

From then on, the Seventh Prince moved to the Eastern Palace together with Li Yuniang and A’Fu.