My Beloved Concubine Only Wants to Eat Melons

Unsurprisingly, as Madam Mu finished speaking, everyone turned to look at Zong Xinghai, who had rushed here from afar.

Tsk tsk, the exciting moment had arrived!!!

Let's see how this man would react upon learning that he actually had a child!!!

Zong Xinghai was stunned.

— What?

He and she had a child together?

After a moment of shock, once he confirmed he hadn't misheard, Zong Xinghai furrowed his brows and asked in disbelief, "Madam... is what you're saying true?"

Madam Mu nodded, her expression complex as she replied, "If it weren't true, why would I have called you to travel so far?"

As her words fell, Zong Xinghai finally became excited. With tears glistening in his eyes, he looked around trembling and asked, "Then, where is the child? Boy or girl? Are they alright?"

"It's a daughter," Madam Mu said tearfully. "She's both well and unwell. She just had a brush with death - I almost lost her..."

Before she could finish, her nose stung again and tears flowed once more.

— Heaven knows how she had endured these past few days, watching her child's life hang in the balance, her heart stretched to the limit, filled with fear and grievances, yet with nowhere to vent...

Now seeing this man again, she could no longer control her emotions.

Seeing this, Zong Xinghai immediately asked anxiously, "What exactly happened? How is the child now?"

As they were in the palace with the Empress Dowager and Emperor present, Madam Mu could only try to compose herself and said, "She's just gotten a bit better. Your blood is what saved her."

Hearing this, Zong Xinghai finally understood —

No wonder the Empress Dowager had spoken that way earlier, no wonder the court had summoned him to the capital from so far away...

So his blood was meant to save his own daughter?

But what exactly had his daughter gone through? Why had she been at death's door?

Just as he was getting anxious, he heard Madam Mu continue, "I'm telling you all this today with no other intention. The child has just woken up, and we'll need to continue using your blood for her treatment. I just wanted to make things clear to you, to see if you're willing to save her."

"Willing! How could I not be willing?" Zong Xinghai immediately rolled up the sleeve of his other arm that hadn't been used for blood drawing yet, and said urgently, "However much is needed, just take it."

As long as it could save his daughter.

— He actually had a child.

After being alone for so many years, he actually had a daughter!

And he was only finding out now!!!

During all those past days, how much had the mother and daughter endured?

Thinking of this, he felt guilty and remorseful, wishing he could give his entire life to the two of them.

Seeing this, Madam Mu felt reassured and quickly said, "There's no need to be so hasty. It will probably take another two or three days, drawing blood twice a day should be enough. Let's follow the Imperial Physician's instructions."

Zong Xinghai immediately nodded in agreement.

After a pause, he tentatively asked, "May I... see the child..."

But as soon as he said this, someone emerged from the inner chamber and said to him, "It's best not to meet just yet. Your daughter has just woken up and is still weak. We must avoid any extreme emotional fluctuations. It's better for you two to meet after she's recovered."

Zong Xinghai was taken aback, but seeing the official robes the person was wearing, he quickly realized this must be the Imperial Physician treating his daughter. He immediately cupped his hands in salute and said, "Although I haven't been able to fulfill my duties as a father these years, I still thank the Imperial Physician for saving my daughter's life."

Imperial Physician Jiang nodded quickly and said, "It's nothing. Saving lives is a doctor's natural duty. There's no need for such formality, sir."

He paused, then continued, "The past few days have been hard on Madam Mu, drawing blood to save her daughter. She's grown weak and can't carry on anymore. It's good that you've arrived now, sir. However, you've had a long journey, so you should rest well and take care of your own health."

Zong Xinghai nodded repeatedly, "Yes. Thank you for the reminder, Imperial Physician."

Imperial Physician Jiang nodded as well, about to return to the inner chamber to check on the patient.

But before turning around, he glanced at Zong Xinghai once more.

In his heart, he thought, [The bone structure is exactly like his daughter's. They're definitely related by blood.]

Yuwen Lan, who silently overheard this, thought "..."

So he had come out specifically to look at the man?

At this moment, Madam Mu suddenly knelt down and performed a deep bow to him, saying, "This humble servant requests punishment from Your Majesty."

Yuwen Lan came back to his senses and asked, "What crime has Madam committed?"

Madam Mu replied, "After my late husband passed, this servant failed to remain chaste and made a mistake. After having the child, I further lied and claimed she was an adopted daughter. For all these years, I have deceived Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager. I truly deserve death. This servant has failed the Empress Dowager's trust and is unworthy of the title bestowed upon me. Now I dare to beg Your Majesty to allow this servant to care for my daughter for a few more days. Once she recovers, this servant will willingly accept punishment."

Before Yuwen Lan could say anything in response, Zong Xinghai became anxious.

He immediately knelt down before the Emperor as well, saying, "I beg Your Majesty to see clearly. It was I who erred first back then. I should not have coveted my master's wife, and I should not have left after committing the mistake... Madam was entirely implicated by me, your humble servant. Please punish me instead, Your Majesty. Please do not blame Madam, she is innocent."

As his words fell, everyone felt complex emotions.

Yuwen Lan heard Yanshu quietly sobbing, [It's so touching! There really are good men in this world after all!]

"???"

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What did she mean by "there really are good men in this world"?

In her eyes, was he not a good man?

He then heard the Empress Dowager thinking to herself, [This Zong fellow at least dares to take responsibility for his actions. Ayu didn't care for him in vain. I wonder what the Emperor is thinking? He won't side with those stubborn old men and actually blame Ayu, will he?]

[Hmph, if he really does that, I'll have raised him for nothing.]

Yuwen Lan, "..."

...When had he ever expressed that he would side with those stubborn old men?

Tsk, now faced with this double pressure, in order to demonstrate the magnanimity of a good man and prove that he hadn't been raised in vain, Yuwen Lan spoke to Madam Mu, "Madam, your words are too harsh. When your late husband passed away early, you single-handedly supported the household and raised the child. You have already lived up to your late husband's spirit in heaven. What happened between you two occurred after your husband's passing and did not violate ethics. After having the child, you did not heartlessly abandon her, but carefully raised her. If there is any wrongdoing, it would be concealing the truth about her parentage from your daughter, which has shortchanged her somewhat. As for the rest, what crime is there to speak of?"

As his words fell, he finally heard the Empress Dowager think, [Good boy, at least I didn't raise him wrong.]

However, Madam Mu covered her face and began to cry.

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness. Your Majesty speaks truly, the one this servant has wronged the most is Xiangwan..."

— Indeed, although she had always tried her best to love this child, she could never bring herself to tell her the truth. For over a decade, the little girl only thought she was an adopted child, and was especially careful and obedient, always feeling inferior in her heart.

She still remembered when the little girl was four years old and happened to overhear servants gossiping, learning that she was adopted. Such a small child silently cried hiding under the blankets, breaking her heart.

So today, by speaking out, she not only wanted to tell Zong Xinghai the truth, but also to be honest with her own flesh and blood, to let her know that she had both a mother and a father, and was not lacking compared to others.

After these past few days of nearly losing her daughter, she no longer wanted her child to carry a lifetime of regret for the sake of some intangible matters.

This scene moved everyone present.

Yanshu, hiding in the inner chamber, felt her eyes grow hot.

— This family has really been through so much, oh my!

Alas, how cruel this era is to women! After losing her husband and meeting someone suitable, without harming anyone, the poor woman had to suppress herself for over a decade, and now still has to carefully beg for forgiveness everywhere.

Fortunately, the family has finally been reunited now, and that poor child has a father. But they missed out on over a decade together, during the best years of their lives!

Thinking of this, she glanced at the Emperor through the door crack again.

She thought to herself that it was good the Emperor had met her in his prime years.

Tsk, looking at how divinely handsome and refined he was now, who knew if after a decade or so, he would end up weather-beaten and scruffy like this Vice Commander Zong?

...If that really happened, how could she bear to look at him?

Yuwen Lan, "..."

Why were her thoughts always so different from others???

If she was moved, that was fine, but why did she suddenly bring it back to him?

Years later, if he really had a scruffy beard, would she not be able to stand it???

Tsk, women are indeed fickle.

However... he still decided to make an effort to take care of himself, so that he wouldn't look scruffy and weathered a decade or so later.

After pondering this, he said, "Madam need not blame herself too much. What's done is done. The most important thing now is to treat your daughter's illness. Once she recovers, you can slowly explain the truth to her."

Madam Mu hurriedly agreed.

With her biological father's blood, Ni Xiangwan's recovery indeed progressed much faster.

To make it convenient for Imperial Physician Jiang to obtain the blood, the Empress Dowager specially granted permission for Zong Xinghai to temporarily stay in the guards' quarters. He was very eager to enter the palace twice daily to give blood. As a result, by the third day, Ni Xiangwan was already able to slowly get out of bed and walk around.

Seeing this, both Madam Mu and Zong Xinghai felt relieved.

The Empress Dowager also finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thus, she finally had the energy to deal with the culprit of this incident.

— For the past few days, she had been doing everything possible to save her friend's child. Now that the child was out of danger, she had to give her friend an explanation.

Consort Zhou had been confined in Zhongcui Palace for four days and four nights.

During this time, she received no news. Only the palace maids who brought food came punctually every day, but they only delivered the meals, their faces cold and expressionless, not speaking a word to her.

The brothers Zhao Laifu and Zhao Laishun, as well as that Xiao Linzi from the bird department, had already been executed soon after the incident was exposed.

She thus fantasized that since everyone else was dead, and the Emperor hadn't dealt with her for such a long time, he might have spared her for the sake of the Empress Dowager.

After all, she was now the only hope for the Zhou family.

Moreover, the Empress Dowager didn't have her own flesh and blood, so she shouldn't sever ties with her natal family, right?

...

She kept thinking this way until early on the fifth day when someone finally opened her door and brought her to the Palace of Benevolent Peace.

Entering the hall, Consort Zhou took a look around. She saw the Empress Dowager's face as cold as ice, and the Emperor sitting beside her with a stern expression, not even glancing at her.

Such expressions made her feel uneasy. Consort Zhou thought for a moment, then quickly knelt before the Empress Dowager and said, "This concubine was wrong. This concubine has reflected well these past few days and truly knows her mistake. I beg the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty to forgive this concubine this once. This concubine will definitely reform and never offend again."

However, the Empress Dowager said, "It was my mistake to let you enter the palace in the first place. I knew you weren't clever and your temperament was impetuous. I only hoped you could behave yourself in the palace and bring some honor to the Zhou family. I didn't expect I was being too optimistic. Not only are you foolish, but you're also so vicious, disregarding children's lives. For the sake of your petty jealousy, you actually put innocent Lanqin and Xiangwan in danger."

Hearing this, Consort Zhou finally realized the gravity of the situation. She immediately burst into tears and cried, "This concubine was wrong. Please give this concubine another chance. This concubine truly dares not do it again..."

But the Empress Dowager shook her head and said, "I dare not give you another chance. Keeping you here, who knows how many more innocent people you would harm."

Even now, the Empress Dowager was still full of anger — To compete for favor, she actually poisoned that fruit tree, targeting the five-year-old Lanqin!!! And what crime had Xiangwan committed!!!

The Empress Dowager shook her head and sighed, "Such a vicious heart cannot be allowed to remain in the palace."

She then turned to the Emperor and said, "I request Your Majesty to issue a decree, sending her to Yuzhen Palace to atone for her crimes. If the gods forgive her, may she be lucky enough to be reborn as a human in her next life. If even the gods don't forgive her, may she be thrown into the realm of animals to be a cow or horse, repaying her sins!"

As soon as these words fell, Consort Zhou collapsed to the ground.

— Yuzhen Palace, that place specially used to confine mad women, once sent there, one could never come out!

She immediately cried, "Aunt, how can you be so cruel..."

However, she heard the Emperor speak, "Issue the decree: Consort Zhou, with her vicious thoughts and evil intentions, regards human life as grass, tarnishes the imperial family's dignity, and disgraces the reputation of the Duke of Cheng'en's Mansion. Her consort position is to be immediately stripped, and she is to be sent to Yuzhen Palace to atone for her crimes."

As soon as these words fell, someone immediately entered the hall and dragged her out.

...

The hall fell silent. Yuwen Lan looked at the Empress Dowager, wanting to say something.

— He actually hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to directly propose sending Consort Zhou to Yuzhen Palace. He had thought the Empress Dowager would at most demote Consort Zhou's rank, and he had prepared to persuade the Empress Dowager to punish her severely.

He hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to take such a stance. It seemed she was truly desperate with Consort Zhou.

However, such a judgment would undoubtedly greatly shake the Zhou family. The Empress Dowager must be under great pressure to uphold this.

So he intended to say something, just to comfort the Empress Dowager a bit.

But before he could think of appropriate words, he heard the Empress Dowager sigh inwardly, [What have I lived for all these years?]

...

At this moment in Ganlu Palace, Yanshu, having learned the whole process through the system, couldn't help but click her tongue a few times.

— What does it mean to reap what you sow? Consort Zhou was the best example.

However, for the Empress Dowager to actively propose sending her niece to Yuzhen Palace, it seems she truly had no hope for her natal family anymore.

It also showed the depth of her friendship with Madam Mu.

To give her best friend an explanation, she could go to such lengths, which was indeed rare.

Then she heard the system say, [After all, when the Empress Dowager lost her own flesh and blood and was most grief-stricken, only Madam Mu stayed by her side and truly cared for her. Her natal family, those brothers and sisters, flesh and blood relatives, only cared about their own glory and wealth.]

Yanshu sighed inwardly.

Indeed. If the Duke of Cheng'en's Mansion truly regarded the Empress Dowager as family, they should have properly trained their daughter and sent her to the palace as a capable assistant to the Empress Dowager.

But not only did they raise Consort Zhou into such a character, they themselves indulged in debauchery outside the palace, keeping mistresses enough to form a football team.

Reveling in pleasure while stepping on the suffering of a woman in the palace, they were nothing but a bunch of bloodsuckers!

Tsk, thinking of it this way, the Empress Dowager was quite pitiful. At least Madam Mu had saved her daughter, and now her husband had returned. It seems that once her daughter fully recovers, the family can be reunited and have a happy ending.

Well, to help them along, she should do something productive.

So she quickly blew on the newly revised manuscript and instructed Rendong, "Take this to His Majesty and tell him I request his help in passing it to Chancellor Zou, so he can publish the story quickly."

Rendong promptly agreed and took the manuscript to Qianming Palace.

Two hours later, the poor Chancellor Zou finally received the long-awaited life-saving manuscript. After reading it, he tearfully handed it to the publisher and finally returned to his long-absent home.

As expected, once Carefree Gentleman's new work hit the market, it once again caused a huge sensation.

After all, it was a new work after such a long wait. Readers who had been eagerly anticipating it all unleashed their enthusiasm and longing through their wallets. In just half a day, they bought out all the publishers' stock. Several bookstores printed more copies overnight, yet still couldn't meet the demand.

After eagerly reading the story, everyone marveled at its bizarre plot and deeply sympathized with the protagonists.

Many people were moved to tears by the family reunion scene at the end.

And while the streets and alleys were buzzing with enthusiastic discussions about this story, its protagonists were still completely unaware.

After another two or three days of recuperation, Ni Xiangwan had fully recovered.

After consulting with Imperial Physician Jiang, Madam Mu finally carefully revealed her true identity and background.

At first, the mother was very worried, fearing that her own flesh and blood might hate and resent her because of this.

But unexpectedly, the young girl had no complaints at all. Instead, she smiled in her mother's arms and said, "Daughter can finally openly call you mother. This has been daughter's dream since childhood. I'm too happy to hate you!"

Madam Mu smiled through her tears, and finally dared to let father and daughter meet.

At that time, Zong Xinghai, who was used to the winds and waves at sea, felt at a loss. Instead, it was the thirteen-year-old girl who took the initiative to step forward and examine him carefully, then called out, "Father."

"My father is so tall and valiant, he looks like a true hero at first glance."

Zong Xinghai's eyes burned with emotion, and he could only say, "Father missed out on thirteen years of your life. How can I be called a hero?"

The young girl smiled and said, "Then let's punish father by having him make it up to daughter from now on."

Saying this, she wiped away her father's tears and took the initiative to give him a hug.

...

For the next few days, the little girl kept pestering her father with questions, and the father-daughter pair got along extremely well.

Madam Mu felt a great weight lift from her heart. She took the opportunity to express her thoughts to the Empress Dowager.

"This humble servant knows everything the Empress Dowager has done for me, and I am deeply moved, with no way to repay you. Now that Xiangwan has recovered, I have no more worries. Please allow this servant to leave secular life and pursue spiritual cultivation."

She felt this was the only way to preserve her friend's dignity and allow her son to save face.

To her surprise, the Empress Dowager scolded her for being foolish. "That man has returned, the child is well, why on earth would you become a nun now? I can see you still have feelings for him, and he for you. You might as well get on with it properly and give Xiangwan a complete family. Besides, it's not uncommon for widows to remarry."

Madam Mu sighed, "Public opinion is a fearsome thing. I'm afraid everyone will criticize me for being shameless."

The Empress Dowager handed her a book with a smile. "How could anyone criticize you? This is a new story that's just come out. Take a look."

A storybook?

Madam Mu was puzzled but accepted it and began to read.

As she read on, her face grew redder and redder. Finally, she covered her face and said, "This... this... isn't this about me? It's too embarrassing to read."

The Empress Dowager laughed, "What's there to be embarrassed about? To tell you the truth, the Emperor commissioned this story. You can see from the perfect ending that this reflects the Emperor's attitude. People outside are all praising the conclusion of this story, and many have shed tears for you. Even if they don't know it's about you, they would understand your difficulties better if they did."

Madam Mu was stunned. Is this really how people saw it?

The Empress Dowager continued, "So there's no need to worry. Your child is very considerate too. Yesterday, she came to the palace specially to tell me that she wants to support you and Zong Xinghai, to give Xiangwan a proper status."

Indeed, in these past few days, when his sister suddenly fell gravely ill, the newly appointed Marquis of Zhenhai, Ni Xiangyi, couldn't have been unaware. Especially when he couldn't help, he was even more anxious.

As his sister recovered and the truth came to light, he initially felt conflicted. But after reading the story by the carefree writer yesterday, this young man suddenly had an epiphany and personally came to the palace to ask the Empress Dowager to support his mother.

Hearing this now, Madam Mu was both surprised and moved, unable to hold back her tears.

She sighed to the Empress Dowager, "How fortunate I am to have raised such wonderful children."

The Empress Dowager smiled, "Isn't that because you raised them well? So there's no need to worry so much. I'll personally issue an imperial decree for your marriage. Who would dare say anything then?"

At these words, Madam Mu's face turned as red as a beetroot. She said bashfully, "At my age, why would I need an imperial marriage decree? There's no need to trouble Your Highness. Let's wait until I return to Mingzhou to discuss it."

She thought it would be better to simply inform family and friends.

She continued, "I've already imposed on Your Highness for too long. It's time for me to return to Mingzhou."

After all, there was still a whole family to take care of, and her son needed to return to his duties as the Marquis of Zhenhai.

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager nodded, "Very well, it's up to you. However, in a few days, His Majesty will be holding water games at the Golden Bright Pool. Since you're here, why not let Xiangwan watch before you leave?"

Every year, the court would hold water games around the Dragon Boat Festival.

Like the ice games in the twelfth lunar month, these were nominally games but actually drills for the navy.

Of course, this year the Emperor had specially increased the number of participants and asked the Ministry of War to add several new events, partly to please the Empress Dowager.

After all, the Empress Dowager's recent birthday celebrations hadn't been entirely peaceful.

Moreover, she hadn't been able to attend the ice games in person last time.

So, this was meant to make up for it.

Naturally, the water games were a popular event, especially among younger children.

The Ni family's little girl had experienced quite a tumultuous journey to the capital this time. If she could feast her eyes on this spectacle before returning to Mingzhou, the Empress Dowager would feel more at ease.

Hearing this, Madam Mu's eyes lit up, and she quickly agreed.

With the storybook selling well and the protagonists reaching a happy ending, Yanshu was in high spirits.

Especially with the water games to look forward to in a couple of days, she was full of anticipation.

In contrast, Emperor Yuwen Lan seemed to have something on his mind.

That night, before retiring to bed, seeing him frowning in deep thought, Yanshu couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong, Your Majesty? Is something troubling you?"

Well, knowing him as a man who rarely showed his emotions, for something to be visible on his face, it must be quite significant.

Yuwen Lan did indeed have something on his mind.

Since Yanshu wasn't an outsider, hearing her question, he said, "After the incident with Consort Zhou, the Duke of Cheng'en's family has many grievances against the Empress Dowager. Though she doesn't say anything on the surface, she must be feeling dejected. I was just thinking about how to cheer her up."

After all, they had been mother and son for over twenty years. Although they were wary of each other and had their own agendas, he still had affection for the Empress Dowager.

Especially since the Empress Dowager had raised him and helped him ascend to the throne. Although she wanted to protect her own interests, many of her actions weren't too unreasonable.

If he could maintain this mother-son relationship well, he was willing to do so.

As he finished speaking, he heard Yanshu thinking to herself, [Cheer up the Empress Dowager? That's easy. Just find that Grand Scholar of the Central Harmony Hall from back then and give the Empress Dowager a second spring.]

Yuwen Lan: "???"

Of course, Yanshu only dared to think this to herself. Out loud, she could only say, "What would please the Empress Dowager most is surely to see Your Majesty being filial, the country prosperous and peaceful, and her having less to worry about. Perhaps Your Majesty could arrange more activities in the future, letting her meet with family and friends often, chat with people. That might help."

After hearing this, Yuwen Lan pondered for a moment, then nodded, "You have a point."

Then he suddenly lowered his voice and said, "The Empress Dowager probably wants a few imperial grandchildren too. I'll have to entrust this task to you."

With that, he rolled over and pinned her down.

...

A night of passion ensued, needless to say.

The next morning when she woke up, Yuwen Lan had already gone to court.

Yanshu lazily rolled over, just about to get up for breakfast, when she heard the system say, [There's new gossip. The Emperor just issued a decree inviting famous scholars from all over the country to come to the capital for the reopening of the Songhe Academy next month.]

At first, Yanshu didn't quite understand. [The reopening of the Songhe Academy? What's the gossip about that?]

The system replied, [That Grand Scholar of the Central Harmony Hall from back then is on the list of invitees.]

Yanshu: "!!!"