Chapter 888: Chapter 888: Two Shortcomings of the Son-in-Law
Lian Hua, eager to speak, didn’t think it over and said directly, “Oh, Daddy, this first thing isn’t good. His Majesty doesn’t let me go out and play freely. Back then, when we just found out I was pregnant, he wouldn’t let me leave Canglan Court, sigh, for fear I might bump into someone outside. He had Steward Zhang and Xiao Jizi watch over me. Hmph, he thinks I don’t know, but I do. Later, when the baby in my belly grew bigger, he told me to be careful and still wouldn’t let me out. So, sigh, Daddy, I haven’t had a good time in a long while.”
Before delivering the baby, there was just no way to have fun, sigh…
Thinking about it, Lian Hua’s face wrinkled with worry, sighing deeply and sounding quite melancholic.
Lian Changhe, upon hearing this, thought the Emperor did well. He thoroughly agreed and firmly stood on the Emperor’s side.
Lian Hua loved to play when she was little, and Lian Changhe knew this better than anyone. At three, she would run around wildly with Lian Wanzhen. After starting school, every day after classes, she’d go off to various places with her little friends.
Sometimes he wouldn’t see his little daughter for half a day, and it would make him anxious to the point of worry when he found she wasn’t at home. Yet, he couldn’t bear to confine her, sighing.
Now that his little daughter was carrying a little grandson or granddaughter, she couldn’t be like before. The Emperor was right to restrain her!
Thinking of this, he found his impression of the Emperor slightly improved.
Afraid Lian Hua might get ideas, he quickly reassured her, “His Majesty is right, Nannan, you should listen to him. This first pregnancy is the most important. When your mother was pregnant with your eldest brother, she never thought of playing. She just arranged flowers in the house, looked over the account books, did embroidery, or walked around the garden enjoying flowers.”
At that time, he was more cautious than Su Ran, fearful of this and that, like a startled bird.
Of course, Su Ran would go out, but only for important matters, and he would always accompany and protect her, which he omitted for his little daughter, lest she overthink.
“But wasn’t Mother always like that?” Lian Hua wondered, as she couldn’t recall her mother ever wanting to play.
“Exactly!” Lian Changhe asserted with confidence, repeatedly using this example: “Look at your mother. She gave birth to you and your three brothers all safely because she was always like this. You should learn from her.”
Thinking it might be too difficult for Lian Hua, Lian Changhe added, “At the very least, before the baby is born, try to be like your mother.”
“Well…” Lian Hua hesitantly dragged out her response, feeling it would be hard. Arranging flowers might be okay, but as for bookkeeping, she wanted to, but where were the books to look at?
And for sewing or embroidery, um…
And reading books, hmm…
Under Lian Changhe’s expectant and encouraging gaze, she finally made up her mind: “I’ll try, Daddy.”
Lian Changhe beamed with pride, his little daughter had been well-behaved from a young age.
Thinking of the matters at hand, he quickly returned to the topic: “And the second thing that’s not good?”
He nearly forgot about it!
As she mentioned the second issue, Lian Hua’s worries seemed to erupt like bitter juice in her mouth.
She sighed deeply and finally spoke, “Daddy, do you remember Blackbeard Uncle? Every time he visits to see my third brother or us, we have to drink the bitter soup, and you know I don’t like seeing Blackbeard Uncle. But in the palace, the imperial physician visits every few days, and they’re even scarier than Blackbeard Uncle…”
Mentioning this, she couldn’t help but vent about it. It’s not that His Majesty was wrong, but her body was clearly fine, with nothing concerning. Yet, both His Majesty and Nanny Qi insisted she have the Pulse of Peace examined, avoiding it was impossible. Ever since seeing her eldest brother, she had been checked twice in a few days, sigh.
This brings up how scared Huang Zude made her. She poured out her recent grievances about check-ups and inadvertently mentioned past medicine experiences.
Lian Changhe, upon hearing this, felt deeply distressed. Lian Hua took the opportunity to complain bitterly about Hei Tan, saying the medicine prescribed before was incredibly bitter, so bitter that even bile seemed to come out, but she had already mentioned this to her eldest brother, so she kept it short.
Lian Changhe, on the point of brevity, didn’t agree at all. He asked about every detail of Lian Hua’s experience and the outcome, and after hearing it all, he irrationally sided with Lian Hua, joining her in the critique.
The father and daughter, united in their discontent, spoke freely and delightedly, and while enjoying the conversation, they nibbled on snacks from the table until more than half were gone.
Lian Changhe found the snacks indescribably delicious, and once he vented enough to feel satisfied, he relaxed, feeling quite content as if returning to old times, lying on a rocking chair while his little daughter played nearby, living carefree days.
Just then, he saw Lian Hua wearing a smug, like-minded expression, her eyes sparkling as she excitedly asked, “Right, right, Daddy also disagrees with His Majesty’s constant checks by the imperial physician?”
Lian Changhe’s heart skipped a beat. He realized he was too careless, focusing on standing up for his little daughter, forgetting that what the Emperor and the physician did was right.
He quickly adjusted his words, bringing her wayward thoughts back, speaking oppositely to make her reluctantly accept his point.
In conversation, the father and daughter completely forgot about the people in the front hall. Once Lian Hua started talking, there was no stopping. Having finally met her dad, she naturally shared her innermost thoughts with Lian Changhe.
From childhood, Lian Hua had endless things to tell her dad, confiding in him more than anyone else. There were things she dared not tell Su Ran, but dared to tell Lian Changhe because her dad never punished or scolded her, and often understood her.
Meanwhile, after the Emperor finished talking to Su Ran, he noticed Lian Hua and Lian Changhe were missing.
Lian Bingcheng and others quickly pointed out the direction, having watched them disappear behind the curtains, not knowing where they went.
They wanted to check, but feared breaking palace taboos, as it was the Son of Heaven’s territory, not a place for ordinary folks to wander without permission. Before entering the palace, Su Ran repeatedly reminded everyone, without royal decree, they shouldn’t wander, fearing mishaps that might involve Lian Hua.
It was precisely this concern for involving Lian Hua that made Lian Wanzhen hold his temper, while Lian Bao, Lian Bingcheng, and others reassured him repeatedly that Lian Hua would be fine, eventually calming him.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor led everyone to find Lian Hua and her father, and when they reached the Eastern Pavilion, they saw Lian Hua with her chin in one hand, stuffing snacks into her mouth with the other, her cheeks bulging, mumbling something.
They also heard Lian Changhe repeatedly instructing Lian Hua, “His Majesty is right, Nannan, you should listen to him more. Now that you’re expecting, give up on ice carving and skating. The most important thing is to nurture the fetus peacefully, so you’re well, your baby is well, and your parents and brothers outside the palace can be at ease.”
Lian Changhe didn’t know his little daughter wanted to do so many dangerous things. Fortunately, there was His Majesty and that Nanny Qi to watch over her, keeping his little daughter in line, thankfully, thankfully.