Chapter 11: My Prince Consort Isn’t Quite Right
Xiao Heng was about to say something to Mo Shuihan when a eunuch called from outside, “His Majesty has arrived!”
Both quickly left their seats and knelt at the entrance to greet the Emperor. The Emperor entered, smiling, “You two ministers need not be so formal. I was strolling around late at night and saw the lights on here, so I came to take a look. I didn’t expect the Prince Consort to be on duty.”
Mo Shuihan didn’t believe the Emperor’s words, guessing that he knew about his issues with Princess Jiu. He replied honestly, “Your Majesty, it should have been Cheng Yang on duty, but he’s preparing for his wedding, so I’m taking his shift for a while.”
The Emperor smiled and nodded, walking to Mo Shuihan’s desk and picking up the book he had placed there, “The Art of War… The Prince Consort enjoys reading this?”
The Emperor was indeed surprised. Mo Shuihan’s image was too scholarly, refined, and elegant to be associated with military strategy.
Mo Shuihan smiled, “I was just flipping through it in my spare time.”
The Emperor sat down and chatted with them for a while before finding an excuse to dismiss Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng guessed the Emperor’s purpose and looked worriedly at Mo Shuihan, reluctant to leave. But Mo Shuihan didn’t look at him once, ignoring his concern.
Xiao Heng reluctantly left, turning back repeatedly. The Emperor smiled, “It seems you two have a good relationship?”
Mo Shuihan replied indifferently, “Minister Xiao is very enthusiastic and takes good care of us newcomers.”
The Emperor saw his reluctance to dwell on the matter and changed the subject, “I hear Jiu’er has been acting up lately?”
Mo Shuihan hesitated, unsure how to answer.
The Emperor laughed and waved his hand, “Even without you saying it, I know. Little Jiu is spoiled. You must have suffered a lot of grievances these days?”
Mo Shuihan shook his head, “It’s alright, the Princess…”
The Emperor said, “You don’t need to speak for Little Jiu. I know my daughter well.”
He patted the seat beside him, gesturing for Mo Shuihan to sit down, before speaking earnestly, “Little Jiu… she has a good heart. She’s just been spoiled since childhood and used to being the center of attention. She’s my youngest daughter. There were auspicious signs at her birth, so she was loved by the previous Emperor, and even I benefited from it. After I ascended the throne, I loved her even more. She’s spoiled by us and doesn’t know how to get along with others. But I can see that she’s sincere towards you. So, Prince Consort, can you try to be more patient with Little Jiu, give her time and opportunity to learn how to express her feelings correctly?”
“Your Majesty, I…” Mo Shuihan lowered his head in difficulty.
The Emperor patted Mo Shuihan’s shoulder, “I know it’s unfair to you, but you must understand a father’s heart. Little Jiu has never compromised with anyone until now. You are the first. Feelings need nurturing. You stay at the Hanlin Academy every day and don’t go home, and Little Jiu is too proud to ask you to come. Seeing this, my heart aches for my daughter! Prince Consort, regardless of your feelings before the marriage, she’s your wife now. Even out of responsibility, you shouldn’t neglect her like this.”
Mo Shuihan felt guilty, “I understand, thank you, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor stood up and sighed, “Parents always want their children to be happy. Even as the Emperor, I’m helpless when it comes to my children’s feelings. I only hope you will consider me a father and treat my daughter well.”
Mo Shuihan also stood up, “Yes!”
The Emperor turned to Mo Shuihan, “I’ve already warned Little Jiu, and she knows she’s wrong. She said she’ll pick you up tomorrow and you’ll have dinner in the palace. It will also reassure the Empress Dowager, who hasn’t been able to sleep properly because of your troubles.”
“Ah?” Mo Shuihan looked up in surprise, waving his hands repeatedly, “I’ll go by myself. I wouldn’t dare trouble the Princess.”
Seeing his reluctance, the Emperor frowned, “What a wimp! With me there, she can’t possibly eat you, can she?”
“But…” Mo Shuihan still hesitated.
The Emperor glared, “No buts! Don’t worry, if she dares to act up again, I’ll back you up.”
Mo Shuihan mumbled, “Can you really control her?”
“What was that?” The Emperor raised his chin, his tone slightly uncertain, “I’m her father. My words still carry some weight.”
Before noon the next day, the Princess’s sedan chair stopped at the Hanlin Academy. Mo Shuihan didn’t expect her to come so early. He hadn’t changed his clothes and asked Princess Jiu to wait outside. However, when he came out, she had impatiently entered, and his colleagues were kneeling to greet her.
Princess Jiu waved dismissively, signaling them to rise, then instructed her maids to bring in things, “Thank you all for your care of my Prince Consort. This is a lunch prepared by the imperial kitchen, a small token of appreciation from my Prince Consort.”
The officials thanked her, secretly envious: They say Princess Jiu is capricious and spoiled, but isn’t she quite considerate?
Seeing Mo Shuihan, Princess Jiu’s face lit up, and she bounced towards him, “Prince Consort!”
Mo Shuihan was about to bow when he saw her stumble. He instinctively embraced her, “Be careful.”
Xiao Heng had been watching them since Princess Jiu entered. He saw the triumphant smirk in Princess Jiu’s eyes as she threw herself into Mo Shuihan’s arms: She clearly did it on purpose.
Xiao Heng felt displeased and deliberately interrupted, “Princess Jiu, long time no see.”
Princess Jiu stood up angrily, “Who is it? It’s you. No wonder you’re so clueless.”
Xiao Heng, familiar with Princess Jiu, retorted, “I saw Princess Jiu was fine a few days ago. Why are you so unsteady on your feet now?”
“It’s none of your business!” Princess Jiu put her hands on her hips, proudly raising her chin, “I heard that you’ve been bullying my Prince Consort these days. If you think he has no one to support him, think again. Stay away from my Prince Consort. If you dare bully him again, I’ll have your head!”
Xiao Heng forced a smile, “Princess, where did you hear that? I hit it off with the Prince Consort and would never bully him.”
“I don’t need you to,” Princess Jiu snorted, “Just stay away from my Prince Consort. Don’t cling to him. My Prince Consort is a top scholar. With your meager knowledge, you can’t teach him anything. Don’t dream about it.”
“Princess,” Mo Shuihan gently tugged at her.
Princess Jiu angrily turned her head and stamped her foot, “Don’t call me ‘Princess’! You always control me! He clearly upset you! What’s wrong with me teaching him a lesson?”
Mo Shuihan felt a warmth in his heart and spoke more gently, “Father wants us to have dinner. We’re going to be late.”
Princess Jiu exclaimed, “I forgot!” She urgently pulled Mo Shuihan’s sleeve, “Let’s go. The Empress Dowager must be waiting anxiously.”
Mo Shuihan smiled, about to speak when Xiao Heng spoke sarcastically, “I’ve heard that the Princess and Prince Consort have a strained relationship. It seems it’s all rumors.”
Princess Jiu turned and glared at him, waving her hands, “What’s it to you? My Prince Consort and I are fine! If you dare stare at my Prince Consort again, I’ll gouge out your eyes!”
She pulled Mo Shuihan away without looking back, and they could be heard from afar, with Mo Shuihan reminding her, “Slow down, be careful you don’t fall…”
Xiao Heng glared at their intertwined hands, and someone nearby exclaimed, “What a young couple, enviable!”
Xiao Heng glared at them, “So envious? Should I help you get a few concubines as well?”
The others stammered, “We wouldn’t dare…” before scattering like birds.
The Empress Dowager was worried about the Fifth Princess. The discord between Princess Jiu and the Prince Consort worried her, preventing her from eating and sleeping properly. She was afraid Princess Jiu would end up like the Fifth Princess. Seeing them reconcile, she was finally relieved.
Princess Jiu acted spoiled, asking Mo Shuihan to pick crab meat for her. Mo Shuihan helplessly picked up the small tongs and was about to crack the shell when the Empress Dowager asked, “You’ve been married for a while. Is there any… movement from Little Jiu?”
Mo Shuihan froze. Princess Jiu, without realizing what she meant, asked innocently, “What movement?”
The Empress Dowager couldn’t be too blunt and looked at the Emperor and Empress. The Empress gently took Princess Jiu’s hand and smiled, “Silly child, what kind of movement? You’ve been married for so long. Continuing the family line is the most important thing, isn’t it?”
Princess Jiu blushed, “What are you talking about? There’s no movement.”
The Empress Dowager sighed, putting down her chopsticks, “What’s there to be shy about? There are no outsiders. I’m just thinking about your Fifth Sister… If there were a child, things wouldn’t have gotten to this point. You two keep quarreling. How can I rest easy?”
Princess Jiu fell silent. The Empress Dowager then looked at Mo Shuihan, “This matter needs to be taken seriously. Jiu’er is a woman and feels embarrassed. Prince Consort, you need to think about it. After all, it concerns the future of your Mo family.”
Mo Shuihan nodded nervously, unsure how to respond.
Princess Jiu spoke up, “Why are you making things difficult for him? Having a child isn’t something he can control.”
The Emperor frowned, rebuking her, “Little Jiu, don’t be unreasonable.”
“Who’s being unreasonable? This is a private matter! Besides…” Princess Jiu glanced at Mo Shuihan, who was acting evasively, and mischievously smiled before changing her expression, “Father, my Prince Consort… he’s… not quite right.”
The Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress looked at Princess Jiu in disbelief. Mo Shuihan nervously looked up, and a mischievous glint flashed in Princess Jiu’s eyes, while she pretended to be embarrassed, “My Prince Consort… he… was splashed with cold water and accidentally got… injured, so… so he’s not quite… capable.”
“What?” The Emperor and the others looked at Mo Shuihan incredulously. Mo Shuihan also looked surprised, staring at Princess Jiu, never expecting such an excuse.
Princess Jiu proudly raised her chin: Serves you right, who told you to avoid me?
Mo Shuihan gritted his teeth: You’re ruthless!
The Emperor and the others were too preoccupied to notice their exchange. Confused and disbelieving, they cautiously asked, “Really… sick?”
Princess Jiu immediately switched to a serious expression, “Ask the Prince Consort.”
The Emperor and the others turned to Mo Shuihan, their eyes hopeful, “Prince Consort?”
Mo Shuihan was in a dilemma. If he denied it, he couldn’t give the Princess a child. He could only glare at the Princess and gritted his teeth, “I’m… somewhat… incapacitated.”
“Pfft…” Princess Jiu quickly covered her mouth, stifling her laughter. Seeing Mo Shuihan’s distressed expression was incredibly amusing!
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