Chi Can’s eyes flickered, and he looked away.
After a moment, a warm hand fell on the back of his hand.
“Mother?” Chi Can felt quite uncomfortable and tried to withdraw his hand, but it was held down by that hand.
The Eldest Princess Changrong slowly revealed a gentle smile: “Can’er, before this, mother was wrong. Mother has wronged you…”
“Why is Mother saying this?” Chi Can struggled forcefully and pulled his hand back, only then feeling at ease.
The Eldest Princess Changrong reached out to touch Chi Can’s head and sighed: “After going through this brush with death, I suddenly understood that all those messy matters from before are worthless compared to life and death. Can’er, thank you for giving mother the chance to make amends…”
Chi Can lowered his eyes and smiled: “Since mother has realized that past matters are unimportant, then there’s no need to mention them again. Just look forward from now on.”
The Eldest Princess Changrong smiled: “Yes, from now on we’ll both look forward.”
“How does Mother feel? Does the wound still hurt?”
“It hurts a little when I move around, but didn’t the Marchioness Guanjun instruct that at this stage, appropriate activity is necessary?” Mentioning Qiao Zhao, the Eldest Princess Changrong’s expression was somewhat different from before. “She truly is an extraordinary woman. Before, I was narrow-minded.”
At that time, her soul had almost left her body, and she had watched coldly as that woman calmly performed surgery on her, opening her abdomen. Her son’s performance had also shocked her.
Only then did she understand what regret meant.
She had always loved her son, from giving birth to such a delicate and beautiful little person, to raising him like a precious dumpling, to watching him gradually shed his childishness and grow up. That love had never stopped.
She had just willfully ignored it, until facing death did she finally understood.
Now, every day she lived was an opportunity given by that girl.
“If back then—” The Eldest Princess Changrong thought of something, started to speak but then stopped.
Chi Can was perceptive and naturally understood what his mother wanted to say. Feeling as if pierced by needles, he showed a faint smile: “Mother, didn’t we say that past matters need not be mentioned again?”
Whether it was his mother’s past or his past, there was no need to bring them up again.
Some things, when missed, still offered chances for redemption, like the relationship between him and his mother.
But some things, once missed, were missed forever, like that stirring of the heart.
“Right, we won’t mention them.” The Eldest Princess Changrong also felt she had misspoken and instructed Dongyu, “Bring the young lady over.”
Soon, Dongyu came over carrying the baby.
The weather was slightly cool, and the baby girl was wrapped in a bright red brocade swaddling cloth lined with thin cotton. Dongyu smiled and said, “Your Highness, the young lady has grown and is quite pretty.”
Chi Can glanced over and frowned with distaste.
She was still just as ugly. Aunt Dongyu was being insincere with those words.
But as long as mother was happy, hearing it.
“Let me see.” The Eldest Princess Changrong couldn’t hold the child, so she leaned over to look. Upon seeing her, she shook her head: “She’s nowhere near as good-looking as Can’er was back then.”
Dongyu smiled helplessly.
This was truly a biological mother and brother.
“Can’er, look at your sister. Of her entire body, only her ears resemble you…”
“Really? Let me see.” Chi Can studied her for a long time, then nodded: “Yes, she also has two ears.”
Half a month later, the Eldest Princess Changrong developed a persistent fever and lower abdominal pain. Despite all medications, she died.
News of the Eldest Princess Changrong’s death from puerperal fever quickly spread throughout the households in the capital.
Childbirth was inherently a matter of children rushing toward life while mothers rushed toward death, especially at the Eldest Princess Changrong’s age. People sighed upon hearing the news and instructed their stewards to prepare condolence gifts.
Upon receiving the news, Empress Dowager Yang sat in a daze for a long time, murmuring: “Those who should die don’t die, and those who should live don’t live…”
Lai Xi stood beside her, not daring to make a sound.
After the atmosphere remained tense for a while, tears flowed down the corners of Empress Dowager Yang’s eyes, her voice carrying endless exhaustion: “Go supervise the Imperial Clan Court and Ministry of Rites for me. There must be no oversights in the funeral arrangements for the Eldest Princess…”
“Yes.” Lai Xi received the order and left.
The Eldest Princess Changrong’s residence quickly set up a mourning hall, with an endless stream of people coming to pay their respects.
Chi Can changed into mourning clothes and knelt before the hall, his expression dazed as if still in a dream.
“Marquis Guanjun and his wife have come to pay their respects—”
Shao Mingyuan brought Qiao Zhao inside to offer incense and kowtow. Chi Can silently return their courtesy.
“Shixi, please accept my condolences and take care of yourself.” Shao Mingyuan gently patted Chi Can’s shoulder.
Chi Can looked up, reluctantly nodded, and his gaze involuntarily fell on Qiao Zhao’s face.
Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together: “Big Brother Chi, I’m sorry—”
Chi Can shook his head and said softly, “I was already prepared in my heart. There’s no need for you to apologize. I should thank you for letting me spend these extra days with mother…”
Chi Can couldn’t continue the rest of his words and silently bowed his head to the two of them.
“My lord and lady, please come this way.” The steward led the two to the guest area.
During this time, Dongyu knelt at one side of the Eldest Princess Changrong’s spirit, remaining silent like an invisible person throughout, but her tear-swollen eyes hadn’t moved away from Qiao Zhao since she entered.
Seeing Qiao Zhao leave, Dongyu bit her lip and quietly left the mourning hall as well.
“Does the lady have business with this servant?” Ever since the Eldest Princess Changrong’s death, Lai Xi had been busy inside and out following Empress Dowager Yang’s instructions, not even having time for a sip of water, his lips so dry they had developed a layer of skin.
“Eunuch, I wish to see the Empress Dowager. I have urgent matters to report to her.”
“The lady wishes to see the Empress Dowager?” Lai Xi was somewhat surprised. Meeting Dongyu’s dark eyes, his heart couldn’t help but stir: “Could it be—”
Lai Xi didn’t finish his words, and Dongyu didn’t pick up the conversation, only nodding heavily: “I trouble you, Eunuch.”
“Very well, please come with this servant.”
The two turned and walked out. After only a few steps, they suddenly stopped.
“Young Master—” Seeing Chi Can appear by the osmanthus tree, Dongyu was startled.
Chi Can wore coarse hemp mourning clothes that made him shine like a precious pearl or beautiful jade, impossible to look away from. Hearing Dongyu’s words, he smiled coldly and asked: “Where is Aunt Dongyu going?”
Dongyu’s expression changed slightly, and she instinctively stepped back.
Chi Can’s gaze moved to Lai Xi, his expression growing colder: “Where does Eunuch Lai Xi want to take Aunt Dongyu?”
Lai Xi found this young master quite troublesome and smiled dryly: “There are some matters to discuss with Lady Dongyu.”
“Eunuch Lai Xi came here to assist with arrangements for my mother’s funeral. I imagine what you want to discuss with Aunt Dongyu is also related to this. If so, why not discuss it directly with me?”
“Hehe.” Lai Xi could only manage a dry laugh.
Chi Can glanced at Dongyu: “I happen to have matters to discuss with you as well. Aunt Dongyu, please come with me.”
He turned and walked away after speaking. Dongyu thought for a moment, then followed.
The two quickly entered a room, one after the other.
Chi Can crossed his arms over his chest and looked coldly at Dongyu: “Now, Aunt Dongyu, can you tell me exactly what you were going to say to the Empress Dowager?”
“Young Master already knows?” Dongyu was stunned.
Chi Can sneered: “I’m not blind.”
Dongyu hesitated, then finally couldn’t bear the resentment in her heart under his stare, biting her lip: “The Empress Dowager is Her Highness’s mother. She should know the truth.”