15: Emperor's favor and indifference

Emptiness, pain, an itch that can not be stretched no matter how far he digs for it. He hates it he doesn't like it one bit, this isn't something he wants to feel he hates it he doesn't want to feel it.

“Tell me father, does it hurt?” The sinister smile, the unapologetic eyes that reveals no remorse or regret for what he has done, chuckling as if it's something good.

“Why? Why? Why? Did you—”

“No, why did you, hehe. Doesn't it hurt dad?”

The emperor's eyes shot open, there was this strange feeling in his chest. He doesn't know what it was but it's unsettling for sure, soon he hears a cooing sound and he looks down beside him to see the young prince sleeping peacefully. He smiles remembering his adorable Consort Jia during his pregnancy.

“My tummy is so big, I feel it might pop your imperial majesty. It doesn't feel like there will be one, aww” he pouts.

“Are you in pain, come lay in Zhen's lap,” the emperor said, cutting the apple for his Consort.

“No, I'm in no pain! In fact I could run around but because of the unborn baobao I can't do so, after all if I should trip. I could lose our baby, so I must be patient.” He complains.

“Did Ling and Xia scold you?” The emperor chuckles.

The Honourable Consort Jia pauses his knitting, “you know their names?”

The emperor smiles then offers the cute rabbit shaped apple to mouth feed him, Jia Hui Liang opens his mouth receiving it. “How can I not know the names of valuable people in my beloved's heart,”

Jia Hui Liang softens, “my husband really values me enough to remember… hic. Hic. The names of my friends.”

Jia Hui Liang puts down the knit and begins to cry, the emperor gently takes him into his lap. “You are so easy to cry,”

“It's the pregnancy, stupid hormones, stupid! Stupid!” Jia Hui Liang complains.

“Alright my fussy Consort,” the emperor sooyhing him.

The emperor observing the child picks him up, usually he doesn't feel anything towards these things, not even his own. But this one is different, it belongs to his Huihui but it doesn't look like his Huihui though. Maybe in a few years?

The emperor gets up from his bed then walks with the child in one arm, he walks outside where the servants greet him by kowtowing.

Deciding to join the morning greetings, he walks to the Eternal spring blossom palace in nothing but his sleeping attire, servants where already rushing there with the baby things as if already been told.

Upon reaching there the other spouses bows greeting him and indifferently he said, “raise.” As he sat down.  Noble Consort Chi sits beside him, she looks at the baby in the emperor's arms bitterly. Never, never did the emperor hold her son within his arms. He paid little attention if not completely indifferent and she couldn't help but wonder and be jealous.

“Your imperial majesty, Zhuang Cheung has just recited a perfect poem and copied master Oolong’s scripture of the universe.” She said hopefully.

“Hmm, okay.” he said indifferently.

Noble Consort Chi's teeth almost gashes as she watches the man look at the baby, then stretch his hand to receive the baby bottle.

All the spouse's felt nothing but hatred and jealousy. It was only the Honourable Consort Jia could receive such treatment; the rest was only good for warming beds and bearing children. But Jia Hui Liang deserves to be spoon fed, to be spoiled, only the Honourable Consort Jia was allowed to complain. But if they should voice an opinion abandonment, forgotten and demoted. Everyone knew that Jia Hui Liang was the most beloved and if you were to go against him you must be firm. If not you will lose your place and everything.

But neither could they join him after all the emperor doesn't want that either, it's as though he was saying leave the Honourable Consort Jia to him alone.

So what else there was to do than be against the existence of the Honourable Consort Jia?

Noble Consort Chi was not okay with the reply but she didn't give up, her son is first born prince after all. even if the emperor didn't pay much attention and no favors to him, he still needed to be worthy of the throne and hold up his status as first prince. It was a good thing they got a quick update that the emperor would come so they had time call for their children, since the Honourable Consort Jia is not here they chances of reaching the emperor's eyes is for greater.

Since the Noble Lady Chen incident it seems that the Honourable Consort Jia is quite upset with the emperor and ran to his brother, this is indeed a good time to build more tension between the two.

“Cheung, come here, come here, come recite poems for his imperial majesty.” She ushers.

The emperor finally takes his eyes off his beloved child, looking at the smaller children around six (6) walking up from the table.

“Greetings imperial father,”

The emperor looks at him empty eyes, “Okay, your mother said you recite poems?”

“Yes, imperial father your first son is adverse in the verses of Gong Li and Dan Ye Han, I will soon be moving forward to Song Yi.” He answers maturely.

The spouses were impressed with his mature attire and confidence, which shows his firm power stance. Noble Consort Chi smiles proudly showing off she looks at the emperor, who eyes where close as he gently rubs the baby's back soothing.

“Hmm, good I guess.”

The Noble Consort Chi was speechless, she feels humiliated he didn't bother to test him. He didn't care if it were truth or lie he was just indifferent.

Soon a small burp escapes the mouth of a the little creature , “ah”.

Everyone flinches just for the emperor to ease the child forward as a soft smile carves up the emperor's lips. “How adorable,” he said as the baby soon yawns.

The child eyes went empty looking at the baby, the unspoken emotion hidden behind it.