The Anarchic Consort (Book 1)

606-610

The next day Baili Jia Jue was awakened by the smell of breakfast, as usual.

He raised an arm and placed it on his forehead, as if still a little unused about it.

Helian Wei Wei placed the pork liver with vegetable porridge down and looked at the figure lying in bed. The figure might be small yet still eluded an aura of nobility, even his sleeping position was the standard posture, with both arms crossed on his chest. He only moved when she came into the room, turning his head to the side. His deep eyes and curly black hair was beyond cool.

Helian Wei Wei was engrossed in the sight.

The boy pouted and said mockingly, "Dummy."

Helian Wei Wei was speechless.

He had called her a dummy even before she had said anything.

How could this sort of life go on?!

Helian Wei Wei was prepared to teach him a lesson such as tying and beating him up, but seeing the boy smiling after, his adorable look made her reconsider. She could not do it to such a face, so she abandoned that thought. After eating a bite of the porridge, she said, "Have some porridge too, we'll find a way to deal with the Eldest Prince after eating."

The boy sneaked a peek at her and pulled his clothes before letting out two uncomfortable sounding coughs. After that, his voice sounded coarse, "I don't have the appetite, leave after you're done and close the door for me."

"No appetite?" Only then did Helian Wei Wei notice the unusual red on the boy's face, and touched him with her left hand. "Why is it so hot? I'll call for the imperial physician."

The boy pushed her hands away. "There's no need."

"Your cold seems pretty serious and not recent either." Helian Wei Wei glanced at the damp cloak he hung on the window and smiled. "But if you don't want the imperial physician to notice that you went out last night, I can help lower your body temperature physically."

The boy paused his fingers and squinted his eyes as he smiled again. "Looks like I need to hide it in the future."

"I didn't mean to expose you." Helian Wei Wei smirked, "I'm just trying to tell you that you can trust me. You're still young, it's unsafe to go out alone at night, you can call me if you need anything." It had always been dirty tricks inside the palace, her little prince clearly had not awakened and could barely deal with a servant. What could a child like him do when something happened at night?

Helian Wei Wei felt her responsibility was greater as she felt worried. She touched his forehead again and said, "Take your clothes off, I'll go prepare something."

The little boy looked as Helian Wei Wei left and turned his gaze toward the damp cloak, the warmth in his eyes disappeared.

He did not expect her to be so smart, it seemed like he could not leave any trace in the future.

"Why aren't you taking off your clothes?" When Helian Wei Wei returned with warm water and some wine, the little boy did not listen to her but instead took a fur coat and appeared to be leaving soon.

"I need to pay my respect to my Mother." His tone was even, "I was originally planning to go later, but you woke me up, so I might as well go now."

Helian Wei Wei extended her arms to stop him. "It's not necessary to do that daily, you're sick now, better get it fixed now."

"Sister, please don't stop His Highness." Yun Bilou came in. While her figure was small, her words sounded reasonable, "You're new here so you might not know about the inner rules in the palace. The Empress might be alright if His Highness didn't pay his respect to her in the morning, but others might think that His Highness doesn't follow the rules because the Retired Emperor favors him."