Helpless

  Wan Yu was eagerly waiting for her father to take her to the Zhuangzi to play, but unexpectedly didn't make it the next day. The fourth prince Rui Cheng came over, and although he was young, he was still a prince and needed to be treated with seriousness. As his aunt, Li Shi had to take good care of him, and even specially went into the kitchen to personally cook a dish for him.

  The fourth prince was at an age where he loved to eat all kinds of snacks, and he especially liked the pastries from the Mu Rong family. He also enjoyed the soups cooked by Mrs. Li, in which Yuwen Yu would secretly add a drop of spiritual spring water, every time she cooked soup, she would find opportunities to do so, allowing her family members to be healthy and free from illness and disaster.

  The fourth prince drank the soup in his bowl and praised it highly, "Aunt's soup is really delicious, even better than the one from the imperial kitchen."

  Li was delighted, "Hehe, it's because you haven't had homemade flavors before. If you like it, drink a bit more. This soup nourishes the energy and blood, benefits the spleen and stomach, and is very good for children. Is the food at your dormitory not good?"

  Her gaze turned to Lige, how did the child look like he was starving? Could it be that the servants had been mistreating him?

  Lige wiped his mouth and said, "It's not that it's bad, but the palace has its own way of raising children. The day before yesterday, Rui Cheng was a bit uncomfortable, so the nanny let him fast. Normally, he's not allowed to eat too much, for fear of indigestion. Even when he has a headache or fever, he's made to fast. And if he has diarrhea, he's also made to fast. We've started training in martial arts, so we always feel like we're not full."

  Li realized that it was related to the rules of the palace, and the wet nurses who raised the children had many taboos. The princes and princesses were very noble, and if they got sick, a large group of people would be punished, so starving them was a good trick, you could say it was a clever move.

  "Since that's the case, you can come to Auntie's place more often and improve your diet. I'll let Li give you more dried meat and pastries to bring back to you all. You're growing up, how can you always be hungry?"

  Rui Cheng felt a bit embarrassed, "Actually, we didn't go hungry, it's just that after practicing martial arts, we ate more. The nanny was afraid to give us too much, fearing that we would get indigestion or diarrhea from eating too much greasy food. She also couldn't bear not giving us enough, so she kept nagging, which was really annoying. If we were a bit hungry, there were many snacks, but those things weren't as good as proper meals."

  Wen Yu understood, three meals a day can't be eaten too much, basically fixed amount, hungry to eat some snacks, but growing boys have large activity, always hungry, often eating snacks is not filling.

  Li's heart ached as he patted Rui Cheng's head, it wasn't easy, seemingly noble as a prince but actually suffering inside, unseen by others.

  "Auntie doesn't need to worry, we can still often go to the empress's place to pay our respects, with the empress there they wouldn't dare bully me." Rui Cheng said in a low voice.

  "Good child, you're a sensible one. Your mother only has you as her son and won't have any more in the future. Think of your mother's well-being often, and be careful with each other in the palace. Discuss things thoroughly and don't act impulsively, or it will harm your mother."

  Rui Cheng, who grew up in the palace, had a deep understanding of these things, so he nodded solemnly. "Auntie, don't worry, I understand. My mother has only me to rely on in the palace, and I won't let her worry. I will protect Li Ge." The young child had the stability and thoughtfulness of an adult.

  "Good boy, if you have anything, come to your aunt, if you lack something, tell your aunt, and if not, there's still your uncle and your cousins." Li wanted the child to know that he was not alone, he also had a backing, we are his supporters.

  In Rui's clear and cold eyes, a warm smile appeared. "I know, Uncle taught us archery that day, and Uncle was so majestic that Father Emperor praised him." At this age, children are most likely to idolize heroes, and when talking about Murong Jin's demeanor, their eyes were shining brightly.

  "Good boy, when you grow up, you will definitely be stronger than your uncle. Study hard and you will be stronger than both your uncle and aunt. Only the strong can protect your mother." Li said with a heavy heart.

  Rui Cheng thought seriously for half a day, and his bright eyes showed a firm spirit.

  After dinner, Rui Cheng returned to the palace early. Before leaving, he earnestly reminded, "Wan Yu sister, don't forget about me, I'll come visit you in a few days."

  Wanyu smiled with narrowed eyes, "If you bring me delicious food, I'll go with you."

  "Uh-huh, next time I'll bring you some pastries from the imperial kitchen for you to try." Rui Cheng continued to chatter on for a few more sentences before being pulled away by Li Ge.

  On the road, Rui Cheng asked Li Ge, "You say, what kind of snacks does Wan Yu sister like to eat, is she sweet-toothed or salty-toothed, and what are her favorite things?"

  In his heart, he thought that Yuanyu was cute and interesting, and could come to visit more often in the future. Unlike those other sisters of his who would cry at the drop of a hat, Yuanyu may be timid but wouldn't burst into tears for no reason.

  Lige cautiously stared at him and asked with a serious face: "Why ask so many questions, she is my sister."

  Rui Cheng furrowed his brow and said: "She's also my cousin, why can't I ask? Tell me."

  Lige shook his head, "No way, my mom said that a girl's reputation is the most important thing, I can't tell anyone about my sister's business, or my mom will beat me."

  Mr. Li's three orders and five repetitions to hand over the gift, a girl's reputation is very important, even if it's just a piece of paper in her sister's room, it can't be thrown outside, it must be burned, Lige remembered this very clearly.

  Rui Cheng's face was dark and his breath was slightly cold, but he still patiently asked: "I won't tell others, we are cousins after all, we're family."

  "Alright, I'll tell you but you can't tell anyone else, and you mustn't ruin my sister's reputation." He looked at him seriously, with a mature expression.

  Rui Cheng hastily nodded, "Don't worry, am I someone who doesn't understand things? If something happens to my cousin, it would be a loss of face for me too."

  Lige thought about it and relaxed his vigilance, "My sister likes jade stones, small toys, exquisite and elegant things, she likes clear and elegant ones, loves to eat pumpkin cake and date paste cake, sweet and salty are both okay, but can't be too greasy, she doesn't like to eat."

  Actually, my sister is quite picky about food. She doesn't eat anything that's too oily or too salty. She prefers light and plain food.

  Rui Cheng sincerely remembered it in his heart, thinking that next time he would bring swallow's nest and cow's milk to his sister, as the Empress Dowager said that this was the most nourishing. Having gotten the answer he wanted, his expression slightly relaxed, "I know, I'll bring delicious food for my sister next time."

  Lige furrowed his brow and didn't say anything, but the expression wasn't like he was very willing to do so. He also didn't say any words of refusal, it seemed like he had a bit of an unwillingness to give up something that belonged to him.

  Rui Cheng's mood was good, having a lovely and beautiful cousin was still worth being happy about. His sister was very playful, with a soft and sweet voice. The empress said to treat her aunt's family well, as they would be his future support, and only by exchanging true feelings could he gain true feelings in return.

  On his way back at night, Li Ge was summoned by Murong Jin to the study room for guidance. "What did the Fourth Prince say? Did he ask about your sister?"

  Although Lige was still young, the days in the palace had quickly made a child's mind mature and grow. He heard this and suddenly looked up at his father in surprise. Under the dim candlelight, his father's face was like a knife cut, with an air of majesty.

  "What did Father mean by that?" Li Ge didn't directly answer Murong Jin's question, but instead had a few hints of being on guard, subconsciously wanting to protect Wan Yu.

  Murong Jin saw his son's vigilant eyes and smiled with pleasure, "What's that expression? Isn't Yuanyu my daughter? Your aunt, the Empress Dowager, has some thoughts on this matter, but it's not suitable to discuss now since the child is still young. In any case, we can't let the Fourth Prince and the Empress Dowager dislike your sister; no matter which path she takes, it will be beneficial for her. Offending a noble person won't bring any good results."

  Lige's face struggled after hearing this, with a look of unwillingness yet not daring to argue with his father. After a long while, he spoke in a gloomy tone: "My sister is mine, I will protect her." His voice carried a few more notes of discontent.

  Murong Jin was not only not angry, but also added a few points of satisfaction and approval. This child is still very kind, knowing how to protect his younger brother and sister. If he had agreed immediately, showing an excited and enthusiastic attitude, then he would have felt callous, willing to sacrifice anyone for the sake of benefit. Such a future head of the household is an extremely frightening thing, which will lead the entire family into the abyss.

  "Hmm, your mother wasn't too willing either, but you should know that whether I'm willing or not, there's no choice to be had. With my official position, she was bound to be chosen for the imperial harem, and our family might not have been exempt from selection. The emperor might not have allowed it either." Murong Jin told his son truthfully.

  Some things in the palace can also be carefully told to the son, it's better to know earlier than later, and let him think about it himself, in a place like the palace, being too naive is not a long life.

  Lige thought for a moment before saying, "I understand Father's meaning. We and Jingfei and the Fourth Prince are relatives. No matter how we are, others will think that we are all on the same rope, and no one can escape. Father still tends to lean towards the palace, so sister can help us brothers in some way, and promote the Murong family. Thinking about it, with sister's looks, she shouldn't be worse than He Niangniang."

  Murong Jin's face showed a momentary stunned expression when he heard the name He Niang, and then he sighed and said: "That's right, I've been thinking about this. The princes are growing up day by day, and there will be no shortage of bloody storms in the future. I have to make arrangements early on so that you all have a place to retreat."

  Lige didn't say anything else. He understood that he was the future heir of the Murong Mansion and would have to take on a lot of responsibilities in the future, so some things had to be considered from a broader perspective.

  Remembering my little sister's pure and clear eyes, following behind me and shouting "Big brother, big brother."

  Lige turned his head away, suddenly feeling a kind of shame that he couldn't face his sister, especially those clear and bright phoenix eyes.

  For the first time, Li Ge seemed to understand the responsibilities and difficult choices that the young master had to bear. His eyes slowly reddened as he looked at Murong Jin, his voice tinged with pleading, "Does it have to be this way? That's not a good place."

  Murong Jin let out a long sigh, patted his son's head, and smiled wryly. "Son, I'm not counting on it!" The sigh was filled with deep powerlessness and the fatigue of vicissitudes.

  New book seeking support, collect and click on recommendations, your support is the motivation for Hua Hua, each chapter is basically three thousand words, enough, Hua Hua did not slack off.