Translator: 549690339
Li Tingqian fell to the ground, puckered his mouth, and wanted to cry.
âDonât cry!â Ms. Ma shouted harshly, pointing at him, âIf you dare to cry, you wonât eat tomorrow either! Get up!â
Li Tingqian crawled up, trying hard to hold back his tears.
Ms. Ma coldly said: âDeshan, watch him. Donât let him back in the room until an hour has passed.â
She snatched the food box from Li Tingqianâs hand and threw it far away.
Li Tingqianâs little body trembled.
Deshan cautiously said: âThe emperorâs eldest grandson is still young, after all. If he gets hurt and the emperor investigatesâ¦â
Ms. Ma shot a cold glance at him: âDeshan, if a servant canât control his tongue, thereâs not much use keeping it. It might as well be cut off and fed to my cat.â
Deshan shivered and lowered his head: âThis servant understands.â
Compared to letting the emperorâs eldest grandson starve, his own tongue was obviously more important.
Although the emperorâs eldest grandson had an honorable status, he was just a child, with no father or mother. When Prince Yu was alive, he could protect and care for him.
Now that Prince Yu was gone, and the Crown Prince had entered the palace, he had become a small, shivering kitten.
After Ms. Ma left, Deshan pulled Li Tingqian into the courtyard with a cold face and said, âYour Highness, please stand still for an hour before going back in. I have told you before, you are now on the Crown Princeâs side; you shouldnât get too close to Prince Yuâs side. Why wonât you listen?â
Li Tingqian stood in the middle of the courtyard with tears streaming down his face, gasping for breath. His pale face was streaked with tear marks. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Deshan watched him firmly until he had stood for an hour before turning away with his hands behind his back.
There was no food for him, of course.
Who dared to bring it in?
Palace maid Moâer came running over, helped Xiaoqian back to his room, and placed him on the bed.
âThe Princess Consort is so cruel-hearted, daring to treat Your Highness like this.â Moâerâs eyes were red, âXiaoqian, are you feeling unwell anywhere?â
Li Tingqian sobbed: âMy leg hurtsâ¦â
âThis servant will fetch some hot water for you to soak your feet.â
Moâer brought hot water and helped him wash his face and soak his feet.
Li Tingqian sat there blankly.
Moâer cautiously asked, âYour Highness, are you hungry?â
âYes,â Li Tingqian nodded, tears pouring down his face, âThird Aunt threw away the food my Aunt gave me. I miss Fifth Imperial Uncle. Why doesnât he come back? He would drive away Third Imperial Uncle and Third Aunt.â
Moâer hurriedly hushed him, âAncestors, you mustnât say such things! It would be terrible if someone heard you. Rest for a while, and I will find something for you to eat.â
Moâer tucked him in and left the room.
After crying for a while, Li Tingqian was both tired and aggrieved, and soon fell asleep.
It was hunger that woke him up.
He opened his eyes, and it was pitch black outside.
âMoâer?â he called.
There was no response.
He got out of bed, opened the door, and looked outside. âSomeone come.â
It took a few calls for a eunuch to answer impatiently, âWhatâs the matter, Your Highness? Itâs the middle of the night, and youâre not sleeping. Are you deliberately making life difficult for us servants? Weâre human too.â
Li Tingqian asked, âWhere is Moâer?â
âThis servant doesnât know where Miss Moâer is. Do you have any other matters, Your Highness? If not, this servant will go back to sleep.â
There was no more movement after that.
Most servants trampled on the weak and fawned on the strong, especially in the palace. Li Tingqian was such a helpless orphan. The servants were all off to curry favor with the Crown Princeâs sons and daughters.
No one paid attention to him.
Only Moâer, who had always served him loyally.
Li Tingqian was a little worried.
Sister Moâer said sheâd go find food, so why hasnât she come back?