After a master of metaphysics severed ties with his family, the whole family was filled with regret!

Chapter 58 Consort Jiang almost miscarried

Upon hearing Luo Chujiu say that she was holding a tiger cub, Feiyun immediately moved away a few feet.

"Miss, why are you holding a tiger cub? Do you intend to keep it as a pet?"

Feiyun looked at her arms with some fear. Although the little tiger cub looked harmless now, it would be terrifying when it grew up!

"Yeah, I happen to need a pet, so I'll keep one for fun."

Luo Chujiu gently stroked the tiger cub's skin, finding it very soft and comfortable.

Feiyun, on the other hand, looked on with awe.

Seeing that she was a little scared, Luo Chujiu stopped teasing her:
"Don't worry, I'll keep a close eye on it and absolutely won't let it hurt anyone. Here, hold it; it's just like a little kitten right now. What's there to be afraid of?"

Luo Chujiu gestured for Feiyun to come forward and hug it. Feiyun, though scared, tentatively reached out to hug it.

The little tiger cub didn't recognize anyone at this point, and it was very well-behaved when being held and carried around, without crying or making a fuss.

Feiyun held it in her arms, and seeing it nestled against her so dependently, she suddenly felt a pang of pity.

"Miss, is it hungry? It seems so weak."

"Probably. I estimate it hasn't had milk for a day or two. You should take it and feed it some thick rice porridge. When we get back tomorrow, we'll give it goat milk."

Upon hearing this, Fei Yun didn't dare to delay and immediately took the little tiger cub to find food.

"Nan Ke, you should go and take a look too."

Xiao Beiming thought Fei Yun looked a bit dazed. What if she couldn't take good care of the little tiger cub? It would be better to have Nan Ke come along.

"Yes."

Nan Ke was also very curious about the little tiger cub that the future princess had brought back. Even if the prince hadn't given the order, he would have wanted to go and take a look.

Seeing Nan Ke and Fei Yun leave together, Luo Chujiu suddenly felt a stirring in her heart, and then looked at Xiao Beiming:
"Your Highness, has Nan Ke been engaged? Did he have a girlfriend before?"

Upon hearing her question, Xiao Beiming immediately became wary:
"What, you've taken a fancy to Nan Ke?"

Luo Chujiu frowned, looking at Xiao Beiming with a puzzled expression:
"Are you alright? How did I end up taking a liking to Nan Ke? I was just curious, fine, if you don't want to tell me, then don't." Luo Chujiu snorted, too lazy to say anything more to Xiao Beiming, and turned to leave.

Xiao Beiming realized he had misunderstood and quickly pulled the person away:
"I misunderstood, please don't be angry."

"Hmph, we've already been betrothed, how could I possibly fancy another man? You're questioning my character!"

Originally, Luo Chujiu didn't think much of it, but since Xiao Beiming wanted to apologize, Luo Chujiu felt she had to take it seriously.

"That's not what I meant. It's just that your sudden question about Nan Ke made me think..."

"What did you think?" Luo Chujiu stared at him with wide eyes, puffing out her cheeks in anger.

"It's nothing. I misunderstood you. I shouldn't have acted that way. I apologize. Xiao Jiu, please forgive me."

Xiao Beiming didn't know how to coax him, so he just kept repeating the same two sentences over and over.

Seeing that he was starting to get anxious, Luo Chujiu felt secretly pleased, and then said:

"Then I will forgive Your Highness's mistake, but you must never doubt that I have feelings for other men again. From childhood to adulthood, apart from my senior brothers and grandmaster, you are my favorite!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Beiming couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips:
Although he was not as good as Xiao Jiu's senior brothers and grandmaster, Xiao Beiming was already content. "Nan Ke has always been by my side. I have never seen him have excessive contact with women. He has always kept himself pure."

Xiao Bei thought of the question Luo Chujiu had just asked and answered her honestly.

Upon hearing this, Luo Chujiu nodded in satisfaction:

"So, what kind of daughter-in-law does Aunt Ning want in the future?"

"I didn't interfere in this matter, but as long as Nan Ke likes someone and their character is good, Aunt Ning can accept it."

"Really? Aunt Ning wouldn't have any requirements regarding her daughter-in-law's family background, would she?"

"Of course not. You've met Aunt Ning before. Do you think she's the kind of person who values ​​family background?"

Luo Chujiu had only had a preliminary understanding with Aunt Ning last time, and they weren't familiar with each other yet, so naturally she didn't know what Aunt Ning was thinking.

However, Xiao Beiming and Aunt Ning had spent a lot of time together, so since he had said so, there was naturally no problem.

"I was just asking casually, Your Highness. Shall we go back tonight or tomorrow?"

"Is Zhuangzi not fun anymore? Want to go back?"

"It's not that it's not fun, it's just that I forgot to tell my fourth senior brother. If the people in the manor can't see me, they'll be worried."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Beiming smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have already sent a message to the Imperial Advisor. He knows that you and I are traveling together."

Hearing Xiao Beiming's words, Luo Chujiu was completely relieved.

"Then let's wait until tomorrow to leave. I think Zhuangzi is interesting."

If she hadn't been out having fun, how would she have gotten to see a tiger cub? She really hit the jackpot!

Luo Chujiu and Xiao Beiming were having a great time at the manor, but the atmosphere in the palace was extremely tense.

Somehow, the Empress Dowager found out about Consort Jiang's pregnancy. The Empress Dowager pretended not to know about Consort Jiang's pregnancy and deliberately summoned her to Cixi Palace to establish rules.

After Consort Jiang became pregnant, her health deteriorated considerably. Unexpectedly, she fainted after being punished by the Empress Dowager to stand for so long, and almost lost her unborn child.

When Xiao Jinglin found out, he was furious. He rushed to Cixi Palace and took the person back to Luoheng Palace. He also ordered that Consort Jiang no longer needed to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, and that anyone entering Luoheng Palace would need his permission!
"Your Majesty, what do you mean? I didn't know Consort Jiang was pregnant. This was just an accident."

After learning of Xiao Jinglin's order, the Empress Dowager went to see him.

"Whether it was intentional or not, Your Majesty knows better than I do. In any case, I will not pursue this matter. I also ask Your Majesty not to make things difficult for my Consort Jiang anymore. Let her take good care of herself during her pregnancy. Your Majesty should not see Consort Jiang again until the child is born," Xiao Jinglin said with a very firm attitude.

He originally planned to exempt Consort Jiang from paying her respects after the first three months had passed and the pregnancy was announced. However, he almost got killed by the Empress Dowager before that!
When the Empress Dowager heard Xiao Jinglin's words, she knew he was referring to her, and she was extremely embarrassed and annoyed.

"Is Your Majesty complaining about me? Consort Jiang is disrespectful to me, and I can't teach her manners? She's only a Consort, yet she dares to be so disrespectful to me. If she becomes Empress, will she still respect me?"

"Mother, Consort Jiang has been honest and dutiful since entering the palace, never missing a morning and evening greeting. But Mother has always disliked Consort Jiang. Does Mother intend to ensure that every woman I like suffers a tragic end?"

Xiao Jinglin's eyes immediately welled up with tears, which reminded him of a past event.

When he was still the crown prince, the empress dowager arranged a maidservant for him. After he became accustomed to such things, he developed a taste for her and favored her for several more days.

Unexpectedly, one day when he returned to the Crown Prince's residence after court, he heard that the Empress Dowager had directly ordered the girl's death, on the charge of bewitching the Crown Prince.

(End of this chapter)