The Princess And The Lord

That day is the first time they met Zhao Li Xin, a prince who looks like them….suffered.

Zhao Li Xin kneel in front of Consort Ying "Mother consort" he cupped his fist courteously, his voice is low and slightly hoarse.

Noble Consort Ying stares at his second child with disdain. He is not his real child, he just a stranger that he picks up on a whim, he is not very useful but he would be a good stepping stone for her first child, the worst he becomes the brighter her biological son shined, a lot of people already compare between the fifth prince and the second prince they all say the fifth prince is much smarter and brighter compare to his slow and dim-witted younger brother.

Because of Zhao Li Xin bad performance a lot of people praised Zhao Qin Feng a lot of official and eunuch sound their worry about Zhao Li Xin to the Emperor, they suggest the emperor give Zhao Li Xin extra lesson but other people said Zhao Li Xin unable to do that because his frail body, he needs to rest longer than normal children, day by day more people convey their disappointment towards the sixth prince and soon the Emperor grew more dissatisfaction towards his younger son and as result, he fond Zhao Qin Feng more. This is exactly what Noble Consort Ying wanted.

Zhao Li Xin kneeled on the floor while cupping his hand firmly he bows his head deeply like a lovely servant would "Mother Consort" he greeted with a quiet and slightly hoarse voice.

Noble Consort Ying furrow his eyebrow, just listening to his voice make her feel annoyed, it's hard for vain and selfish women like her to love someone who had no blood related to her, even though she is the one who picks up Zhao Li Xin but she did it because she wants to get the emperor attention, someone like her barely has motherly affection, the reason she loves her biological son also because she wants to make him as the next emperor so she would become the Empress dowager. In the end, whatever she did is run around back to her again.

Unconditional love is something she incapable of.

"Li Xin, I'm gonna pick two personal servants for you, I don't want anymore rumor about me neglecting my youngest son" she gruntle at him as if it was his fault she was mocked as a heartless mother.

"Thank you, consort mother…" he timidly said.

The little Zhao Li Xin is still a normal child or at least as normal as he can be. He knew his mother hates him, he never understands why because he listened to her all the time and never whines even though she beat him, he also never complained when other people maltreat him, he try as much as he could not bother ever but she still hated him nonetheless.

Zhao Li Xin timid behavior only anger her, his weakness is sickening, it reminds her that the child is not his real biological child, he is not royalty like his biological Son, the truth is she feel repulsive to take care of a child who she didn't know what his origin is, the women who hand the child to her seem like a noblewoman but what noble woman do in that place alone, and why she was hurt? Is she running from her family, or from her husband, is she done something awful that force her runaway? A lot of negative thoughts came to her mind and it only make her hate Zhao li Xin even more, she worries if someday Zhao Li Xin would drag her son down.

"Take that child and….that child as your personal servant" she points aimlessly at the six children who were brought by her old maidservant.

The two people she was pointing at is the children in front of Mong Ki and Mong Yi, so they don't know what happened to them if they not been chosen, do they send them back or force them to become eunuch, Mong Ki had heard about the rumor that many young male children were sent to the palace to become young eunuch, Mong Ki bites his lower lips, he doesn't care about him, but he doesn't want his younger brother to become a half-man, that will be terrible! 

Zhao Qin Feng suddenly shouts "No Mother consort, I want them, give brother other people I like them!" Zhao Qin Feng is a spoiled brat with bad-tempered because his mother excessive pampering, and he witness how his mother treats Zhao Li Xin he always perceives Zhao Li Xin is someone beneath him so when his mother gives Zhao Li Xin something no matter how trivial it is Zhao Qin Feng would not be consent.

Noble Consort Yu surprised but then she yields to her son's request "Fine, you can take them…." She smiles in an indulgent smile, for her his Son is the future Emperor and that's why he deserved to have anything he desires. Noble Consort Ying then look at Zhao Li Xin and her motherly love dissipated without a trace on her face "That child would become Fith prince servants, you choose your owned people then"

"Yes, mother consort…" Zhao Li Xin answer weakly, he lifts his head and greets Zhao Qin Feng's smug face. Zhao Li Xin face remains placid, he already numb from his brother mockery, he shifts his glance back to his mother and all he can see is disgust and he always laments to himself 'why'

Zhao Li Xin swallows down his sadness, he looks at the young child servant who was kneeling on the floor, he doesn't have an opinion about them then he saw two children kneeled close to each other unlike the other kids the two of them seems close, judging by their face they look similar so they might be brothers.

Mong Yi feel Zhao Li Xin's eyes peered at him, he got anxious he shrunk his neck then move even closer to Mong Ki, Zhao Li Xin saw Mong Ki warry expression it look like he tries to protect his younger brother. Sibling love or family love are two distant words for him, it was something unreachable for him

"I'll take both of them then" Zhao Li Xin point at Mong Ki and Mong Yi.

Noble consort Ying frown, he sizes up the two brothers, they look very skinny and their skin is dulled it was obvious that their life is not easy, they must be illiterate and uneducated. Noble consort Ying smirked inwardly, she doesn't want Zhao Li Xin to have smart people beside him because she doesn't want them to influence him, she wants Zhao Li Xin to remain foolish and gullible so she could easier controlling him.

"Fine, take them with you" she waved her hand with a bored expression.

"Thank you, Consort Mother" Zhao Li Xin bow his head obediently.

Since that day Mong Yi and Mong Ki, served Zhao Li Xin together. Normally a young prince should have supervised by an older maidservant or older male servant, however, no one cares about him and because he still has mother people would think it was the mother who took charge watching over the young prince however the reality is Zhao Li Xin only has two little kids to taking care of him.

Mong Ki was surprised when he knows Zhao Li Xin is older than Mong Yi by a year because his body is very small he thought his master is much younger than his brother. The reason Zhao Li Xin small is the same as Mong Ki and Mong Yi, they all malnourished unfortunately Zhao Li Xin condition might even worst than them because eventually he was told that Zhao Li Xin has an old sickness so he depends on the medicine given by Noble Consort Ying later they would know that the medicine that was given by Noble Consort Ying is not a medicine at all but it was a cold poison pill that deteriorated his body.

Zhao Li Xin always feel cold, especially at night, and he didn't have much sleepless night where he curls inside his blanket. Mong Yi used to cover him with three more blankets, but it only gives little comfort to him, Zhao Li Xin's body would be shaken profusely and cold sweat damped his body which only make his condition worst because after that he would get cold and then follow by high fever.

Mong Ki who lost his younger sister because of high fever become panic, at first he runs to the Noble Consort Ying for help but that woman only gives a perfunctory request to the kitchen to go give Zhao Li Xin tonic soup to relieve his fever, of course, it has no use for a severe condition like Zhao Li Xin is like trying to cure a cough with candy, it had no used at all.