I Don't Want to Be a Charmboy【Quick Wear】

Chapter 378 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (6)

Looking at his son in his arms, whose little face was red from coughing, the violent murderous intent that had been ignited by lingering fear melted away when he met Lin Shen's wet, pleading gaze, turning into helpless tenderness.

How could he not know that his son was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see people die for him?

But the thought that these servants had been so negligent, leaving his son Abao to suffer the pain of fear alone, caused that anger to surge in his chest again. He felt that if they were not punished, it would be difficult to quell his hatred. He was also afraid that if the servants were to become lax in the future, his precious son would suffer again.

Silence spread through the bedchamber, broken only by the occasional faint cough from Lin Shen and the suppressed breathing of the palace servants, driven by fear.

The palace servants kneeling on the ground trembled like leaves, knowing that life and death were in the hands of the emperor, and that only His Highness the Crown Prince could influence the emperor's mind.

After a moment, Emperor Qi sighed almost inaudibly, ultimately unable to resist the little one in his arms.

He raised his eyes, and when his gaze swept over the kneeling crowd again, he had regained his imperial coldness, but the killing intent had been greatly reduced, replaced by an unquestionable punishment.

"Hmph," he snorted coldly, his voice not loud, but it carried immense force, striking everyone's hearts. "Since the Crown Prince has pleaded for you, your death sentence can be waived."

Upon hearing this, the palace servants breathed a sigh of relief, but their hearts immediately jumped again.

"But you will not escape punishment!" Emperor Qi's tone suddenly turned stern. "You have all failed to serve properly and frightened the Crown Prince. Drag you out and give each of you twenty strokes of the cane! Give them a good beating so that you will remember today's lesson. And remember that it was only because the Crown Prince was kind that he spared your lives! Otherwise, you would not deserve to die!"

These words were both a punishment and a warning, as well as a gesture of grace.

He deliberately pointed out that it was because "the Crown Prince was benevolent" that he easily and firmly attached the fear and gratitude of these palace servants to Lin Shen.

The kneeling palace servants quickly kowtowed, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty, and thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

After this ordeal, these servants will only become more fearful and loyal to the Crown Prince, and will not dare to slack off in the slightest.

Li Quan, who was standing nearby, understood what was happening and immediately replied in a high-pitched voice, "This servant obeys the decree!"

He then waved his hand, and guards entered and silently dragged the ashen-faced palace servants out.

The hall suddenly became much emptier and quieter.

Lin Shen leaned against Emperor Qi's chest, hearing his father's instructions clearly, and his heart stirred slightly. He raised his still slightly flushed face and looked at Emperor Qi's cold, hard jawline.

This emperor's methods were indeed brilliant.

She vented her anger, set rules, preserved her reputation for "benevolence," and won over people's hearts... She really was thinking of him in every way.

Thinking of this, he felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Recalling how Emperor Qi had rushed over in the rain, soaked to the bone, he spoke softly, with just the right amount of concern.

"Father, please have a bowl of ginger soup to ward off the cold, lest you catch a cold."

The Emperor Qi was so touched by his son's considerate words and the way his son looked at him with such dependence and concern that he was completely softened, and all traces of his previous coldness vanished.

He felt an overwhelming surge of affection that almost overflowed, and couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch Lin Shen's still slightly sickly but chubby and wonderfully soft cheeks with his fingertips. His voice was softer than ever before, filled with undisguised doting.

"Alright, Father will listen to Abao. Our Abao is so good, she knows how to care for Father."

Soon, palace servants brought the Crown Prince's calming medicine and the Emperor's ginger soup to dispel the cold.

The father and son, one holding a bowl of medicine and the other a bowl of ginger soup, each drank quietly.

As Emperor Qi drank, his gaze remained fixed on Lin Shen. Watching him frown but still obediently drink his medicine, he felt he couldn't get enough of looking at him.

After drinking the medicinal soup, the palace servants tidied up and quietly withdrew. Several candles in the bedchamber were also dimmed, leaving only two dim, soft lights by the bedside.

Emperor Qi dismissed his attendants, and with remarkable ease removed his outer robe. Just as he had done countless nights before, he lifted the brocade quilt, lay down, and then stretched out his long arm to embrace the small, cuddly Lin Shen into his warm and broad embrace.

The familiar scent of ambergris mixed with the slightly spicy aroma of the ginger soup he had just drunk enveloped him, and Lin Shen's body stiffened for a moment, but he quickly relaxed.

He could feel the Emperor's strong and powerful arms encircling him carefully, his chin resting gently on the top of his head, bringing a sense of security from being completely protected.

"Sleep well, Abao, your father is here with you." The Emperor Qi's deep voice sounded above you, carrying a comforting power.

Lin Shen softly hummed in agreement and closed his eyes. The steady, powerful heartbeat of Emperor Qi was in his ears, and the reassuring scent filled his nostrils. The terror and tension from the daytime nightmare finally relaxed completely at this moment.

As the little one in his arms began to breathe more evenly and deeply, Emperor Qi felt a sense of peace and contentment, and slowly closed his eyes.

?

For days, Lin Shen had been confined to the Eastern Palace by Emperor Qi to recuperate. Apart from taking medicine and reading books, he could only walk around the courtyard of the palace. Lin Shen felt bored to the core.

That afternoon, he forced himself to finish reading the policy essay he already knew by heart, then put his brush down on the inkstone, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh.

"Li Mao," he called out.

The eunuch immediately stepped forward, his face beaming with a fawning smile: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

Lin Shen rested his chin on his chubby little hand, tapped the table absently with his other hand, and sighed in a pretentious manner.

"I've been feeling quite down these past few days. It's been a while since I last visited my fourth brother. I wonder how he's doing. The weather's alright today, shall I go and see him?"

Li Quan could easily understand that the Crown Prince was restless and wanted to find something new to do, so he naturally went along with him, flattering him with a beaming smile.

"Your Highness is kind and always thinks of his brothers. This is a deep brotherly affection, which is naturally excellent! If the Fourth Prince knew that his elder brother, the Crown Prince, cared for him so much, he would surely be delighted."

Lin Shen was quite pleased with the flattery. He nodded his little head in satisfaction, slid off the chair, straightened his exquisite little robe, and then walked out with his hands behind his back and a swaggering gait.

Li Mao quickly followed closely behind with several eunuchs.

Yilan Palace is not too far from the East Palace, and we arrived at the palace gate in no time.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince arrive, the young palace maid guarding the gate hurriedly knelt down and bowed, saying, "This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Lin Shen nodded slightly with an air of importance, and without stopping, walked straight inside, calling out as he went, "No need for formalities. Is Fourth Brother inside?"

The young palace maid quickly got up and followed, and was about to reply when she saw Consort Jin walk out of the main hall after hearing the noise.

Today, she was dressed in an elegant light purple palace gown, her hair was neatly styled, and she wore a perfectly appropriate, slightly aloof smile as she stood in front of Lin Shen.

"So it's His Highness the Crown Prince. I'm so sorry for not greeting you sooner."

Jin Meiren curtsied slightly, her tone gentle, but her eyes subtly swept over Lin Shen and the group of people behind him.

"Why did Your Highness suddenly come? It's really unfortunate. Your fourth brother just got tired of playing and is sleeping inside right now. I'm afraid he won't be able to play with Your Highness."

As soon as she finished speaking, an old woman standing next to her showed a hint of doubt on her face and subconsciously muttered something under her breath.

"Didn't the Fourth Prince just wake up and play with his cloth tiger inside? Why is he sleeping..." Before she could finish speaking, she was silenced by a cold glare from Consort Jin and hurriedly lowered her head.