"Here it comes, Brother Yi, try some, hurry up and eat."

The Emperor Chengde sat back up when she returned, not wanting the little woman to feel guilty. In his eyes, Lu Zi'ning was both lover and child. And because he had lost her once, he cherished her even more now.

"Good!"

Lu Zi'ning smiled, then looked at Tang Xian and Fu Jiujiu, "I made a lot, you two should eat some too."

The Emperor of Chengde nodded, "Yes, let the children try your cooking skills as a mother too."

Whether it's Fu Jiujiu or Tang Xian, both have a very bad feeling.

Indeed, it's really bad.

Pork liver and red date porridge, while it's true that it can replenish blood, but the red dates are not pitted, and the pork liver is very gamey. Plus, the rice is also undercooked.

Fu Jiujiao is the one who cooks. In such a short time, it's impossible for her to cook rice until it's mushy, let alone perfectly cooked. Unless it's leftover rice.

But it's clearly the former, the rice isn't cooked.

“How does it taste? This is my son’s first time eating the porridge I cooked!” Lu Ziying excitedly stared at Tang Xian.

Tang Xian had grievances she couldn't voice. Her heart hadn't fully accepted the fact that her mother was younger than herself, yet the woman's gaze was too ardent.

And he was even more worried about his father, who was already frail. He had been forcing himself to stay awake, and should have been resting in bed instead. Eating these uncooked things would definitely make him feel uncomfortable.

"This is delicious, could I also have Father's portion?"

Lu Ziqing nodded. "Brother Yi is important, and our son is even more important. " Brother Yi, our son loves to eat. You shouldn't eat anymore. I'll cook for you later, okay?"

The Chengde Emperor looked gratefully at his son. He really didn't have much of an appetite right now, after all, his son was young and wouldn't mind a little grievance.

"Okay, but let me tell you, Jiujiu's cooking is really good, even better than the imperial chef's. Shouldn't you try what your daughter-in-law made?"

"Really?" Lu Zi'ning smiled at Fu Jiujiu. "Then you're better than me. I don't know how to cook at all, but your father loves what I make."

Fu Jiu Jiu nodded vigorously. "I'll still be the one cooking tomorrow, let you taste my culinary skills."

She was afraid the women would be restless again, so she said, "Brother Tang Qi also loves to eat my things."

"Tang Qi? Yes, my child is seven years old. He likes to eat this, and I want to try it too. Look how well you've raised him, so white and tall, he's really good."

Lu Ziying really wanted to touch her son, but she could feel Tang Xian's resistance, so she reached out halfway and then withdrew her hand.

Fujujio sees everything.

A mother's love for her child is evident in the details, and it's hard to fake.

"Aren't you eating it? Give it to me!" Tang Xian saw that Fu Jiujiu still had a lot of food in her bowl, fearing she would force herself to eat it and get a stomachache, so he snatched it away and finished it in three or two bites.

Lu Zi Ning seemed very happy. "My Xi'er loves things cooked by Mother just like your father! I will make more for you both to eat in the future."

"Zi Ning, it's getting late. You should go and rest. There are children here!" The Chengde Emperor was truly exhausted and wanted to dismiss her first.

But Lu Ziqing refused, "I want to take care of you, Yi Gege."

She looked at Tang Xian again, "You stay here too, let Jiujiu rest. Just in case I go crazy again, you grab me, okay?"

Tang Xian looked at Fu Jiujiu, and Fu Jiujiu also decided to give this family of three time to reunite, “I’m really tired, I’ll leave the father emperor to you tonight, call me if anything is uncomfortable.”

"Chirp chirp!"

Fu Jiujiu turned her gaze back, meeting Lu Zi'ning's smiling eyes. "You are such a good child, thank you."

Fu Jiujiao also glanced at Tang Xian and said, "Slowly accept it."

Although this matter is so strange that it's hard to accept.

But the father emperor will not admit his mistakes.

"Yi Gege, are you in pain? Let me help you lie down for a while?"

The Emperor Chengde nodded slightly, his weakness evident to the naked eye. "Chiu-Chiu's medicine worked very well. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I have no strength."

"It's all my fault."

Emperor Chengde gently pulled her hand, "Don't blame yourself, it was Tang Chen Ce who caused this. Zi Ning, I'll sleep for a while first, you should rest too."

Lu Zi Ning shook her head, "I don't want to. My son doesn't recognize me yet. I want to see him more."

Though she spoke in a hushed tone, Tang Xian was standing nearby and could hear her clearly.

"He'll accept it." Chengde Emperor smiled and fell asleep soon, he was truly too weak.

Lu Zining's heart was filled with self-blame. She tucked the blanket over him and sat watching him for a while, touching his face. "How did you get so much white hair? So much!"

She pouted and complained like a little girl.

"En'er, why don't you tie my hands and feet up? I'll just watch your father here. You go to sleep. How can you not get some rest?"

"No, I slept very well then and I'm feeling very energetic now."

Whether it was Tang Xian not trusting her, or unwilling to let her suffer, neither of them had any intention of sleeping.

"I died from poisoning. Are you alright? The imperial physician said it was very possible you could have been implicated as well. Empress Dowager, you really are useless…"

"I'm already better, Chirp healed me." Tang Xian said.

"Is that so? She doesn't look very imposing, she's quite a capable young lady and endearing as well." Lu Ziqing didn't hide her fondness for Fu Jiujiu.

Tang Xian's lips curled up involuntarily.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't stay by your side. I don't know how this happened, why the dead can come back to life like this... but I really am your mother. I don't know how to make it up to you..."

She nervously twisted her fingers, stealing glances at Tang Xian's expression.

"You don't need to make amends, if you truly are, then the fault is not yours."

"But I wasn't able to watch you grow up, to protect you. I wasn't there when you were sick or cold, and I'm so sorry for that. Leaving you all alone in the deep palace, I know your father emperor will take good care of you, but I know that you must also feel lonely inside. Growing up alone, you must have suffered grievances."

Tang Xian's Adam's apple rolled, and he turned his face away. "I will find out what really happened."

Lu Ziqing nodded, knowing that she had been hit right on the mark. What a poor child. The person who poisoned her was truly despicable.

"I know the pain of that poison, you've suffered for many years, haven't you?"

"It wasn't long before I met Jiujiao when I was little. She healed me." Tang Xian said lightly, his eyes were calm, but that pain, even though it had been many years, he would never forget.

"Really? Then how old is Chirp, she's so small and already able to heal people? She's really amazing." Lu Ziqing smiled. "I...can I hug you?"

"It's okay, if you can't, we can take it slow." Lu Zi'ning said cautiously.

Tang Xian took a deep breath and walked towards him step by step.

First release on Popular Novels Network

(Editor in charge:the couple next door a novel)