Chapter Forty-Four: The Whole House Overflowing with Love for You

“But don’t worry, Mother. I will definitely avenge you.” Yunbai believed this matter was far from over—how could he let his mother suffer injustice for nothing? And what if it happened again?

“No, no, no, that’s not necessary, I’ll handle it myself, alright?” Su Jingluo was startled by Yunbai’s words. Dear child, I beg you, please don’t get involved. Last time your idea of revenge nearly razed Prince Jing’s entire household. Are you planning to go after the Empress’s palace this time?

Yunbai fixed Su Jingluo with a look that said, “You’re hopeless, you’ll never get anything done,” filled with deep concern.

“Alright, enough of that. Children shouldn’t always talk about revenge and fighting. Come here, see what I’ve brought you.” Su Jingluo hurried to the wall and gathered up everything that had fallen.

There were lovely little clothes, tiny tiger shoes, hairbands, and exquisite pastries, though admittedly the pastries had taken quite a beating.

“Do you like them?” Su Jingluo had chosen the finest and most expensive items from the best shops. And truly, each piece was exquisitely crafted.

“I like them, Mother. But what did you buy for Bad Daddy?” Yunbai was genuinely delighted. He usually wore clothes that Ruihuan and his mother made for him out of old garments, very plain and simple. The best set he owned was for entering the palace, and once he took it off, he couldn’t bear to wear it again. As for the clothes Lin Feifei had prepared when she took him away, he hadn’t accepted a single piece. But these, bought by his mother—he found them endlessly delightful, his big eyes sparkling with joy. Then he suddenly looked up and asked this question.

“Oh, I didn’t buy him anything.” Why should she? Xiao Jingxuan had never bought her anything either. Besides, as the dignified Prince Jing, what could he lack that Su Jingluo had to provide?

“What should we do, then? We can’t owe him a favor. Maybe I should pick one or two things of mine to give him.” Yunbai frowned in distress. The clothes and shoes at hand were certainly not to be given away. All that remained were the various toys his mother had bought him: a spinning top, clay whistles, a ceramic rattle ball, nine-link rings, and a drum rattle—none of which Yunbai could easily part with. In the end, his gaze settled on the drum rattle, and he resolved to give that.

“What favor do we owe?” Su Jingluo still had no idea what Yunbai was talking about.

“Mother, you really don’t know?” Yunbai looked at Su Jingluo, utterly surprised.

Su Jingluo responded in confusion—how could she know? She’d been out all day, how could she know anything?

Yunbai took her hand and pushed open the door to their room.

Inside were all the things Su Jingluo had glanced at earlier in the day: rouge she’d picked up to inspect, fabrics she’d touched, clothes she’d tried on, every piece of jewelry and ornament she’d even looked at—all gathered here. It was as if the entire cosmetics shop, the dressmaker’s, and the jeweler’s had been moved into their room.

…Su Jingluo felt a tightness in her chest, a sense of guilt toward Xiao Jingxuan.

Yunbai thought that none of these things would suit Xiao Jingxuan, and besides, since the “bad daddy” had sent them over, it wouldn’t be right to return them. So he grabbed the drum rattle and ran out the door.

Xiao Jingxuan was in Lin Feifei’s Scarlet Moon Pavilion, brooding over his drink. So what if she was just a woman? Lin Feifei was quite attractive, after all. And she was gentle, never raised her hand against him, though her mind wasn’t exactly sharp. He was already irritated, yet she kept clinging to him, even after he’d pushed her away countless times.

Lin Feifei had no idea what Xiao Jingxuan was thinking. She was convinced Su Jingluo had lost her mind and that Xiao Jingxuan had had enough as well. So she thought of her own merits. Not long ago, she’d even secretly sent Cuihong to inform the Empress that everything in Prince Jing’s household was under her control.