So small.

Almost simultaneously, Gu Shao and the Crown Prince had such thoughts flashing through their minds.

The difference was that Gu Shao was struck by the age and astonishing immaturity. Despite realizing that this was already ancient times from the speech and behavior of those around him, and knowing that people in ancient times generally married early, seeing the young boy in front of him who looked no more than a junior high or high school student, Gu Shao still found it difficult to accept.

Most children were born with their parents present, and after being carried out by the midwife, they were usually the first ones to be seen by their parents. Gu Shao automatically regarded the Crown Prince in front of him as his father for this lifetime.

To acknowledge a high school student as his father, even if the other party's status was noble, Gu Shao couldn't get over this hurdle in his heart.

Wasn't this just purely harming the country's flower?

Remember, when he died in his previous life, he was almost thirty.

Not to mention that his biological father from his previous life had only passed away half a year ago.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince was amazed by how small the newborn baby was.

This small face, even just the size of his own palm, and his arms were no thicker than his two fingers put together.

Wasn't Empress Rong supposed to be nourishing herself every day during her pregnancy? When Duke Zhen went off to war, he gathered precious medicinal materials and tonics from various places and sent them to the palace like water. How come he didn't see her raising her child to be robust?

The Crown Prince felt like he could easily break this little thing with just a little force.

But it was precisely such a seemingly deficient little baby that, as he grew up in the future, would naturally learn to compete with him for things.

Born into the royal family, how could there be no competition?

Since the day the Crown Prince was born, he had been the heir apparent, and his status was naturally different from his other brothers. His other brothers were all illegitimate children. Since his birth, to avoid confusion between legitimate and illegitimate children, the status of his two elder brothers had plummeted.

After Emperor Jingwen ascended the throne, the contrast became even more apparent. His former brothers had now become his subjects.

So although there were many princes born later, this was the first time he had witnessed the birth of a younger brother.

Especially this royal brother, whose hair had not even dried yet and still carried a faint smell of blood.

The Crown Prince was inevitably moved by this scene for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, he regained his composure.

Gu Shao, on the other hand, found it somewhat difficult to understand why the aura of this cheap father figure in front of him changed so quickly.

With his poor eyesight now, trying to discern the other party's expression fell into such a state in the eyes of the Crown Prince.

The little baby opened his big eyes, the pure and innocent pupils turning around, reflecting the complex thoughts of this adult.

The Crown Prince took a deep breath, controlling himself not to look away. Then, he carefully handed the swaddle back to the midwife. "Take good care of your little master at home, and please let Empress Rong rest well. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

Wait a minute, Your Highness.

Does this mean that this little devil isn't my real father, but my real brother?

Was ancient times so open-minded? The father didn't come, and instead let his real brother accompany the birth?

Gu Shao, who had been an only child in his previous life, couldn't help but furrow his brow.

The small baby's face instantly wrinkled into a bun.

Because it happened that the Crown Prince handed the swaddle to the midwife, it appeared to everyone as reluctance.

"The little prince really likes Your Highness the Crown Prince." It was unclear who said this.

The Crown Prince paused for a moment, but he didn't say anything. After a final glance at Gu Shao, he quickly left.

On the other side, in the Hall of Diligent Governance,

Emperor Jingwen and the courtiers were in the middle of a discussion when a eunuch came to report from outside, saying that Empress Rong was about to give birth.

The courtiers thought that given the Emperor's favor for Empress Rong, he would rush over immediately. Unexpectedly, Emperor Jingwen just hesitated briefly and then instructed the eunuch to leave.

"The palace has an empress. There is no need for me to worry about such matters."

The Emperor of the state doesn't plan to attend the birth of his own child?

Which minister underground isn't shrewd? Seeing today's court session and the fact that Emperor Jingwen didn't summon Duke Zhen, none of the officials from Duke Zhen's faction had shown up. What else was unclear?

After exchanging glances with each other, the ministers remained silent, pretending not to understand.

However, privately, they had already figured out how to distance themselves from Duke Zhen.

On the sidelines, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, who had been somewhat tense, relaxed inexplicably upon hearing this.

The small interlude quickly passed, and the Hall of Diligent Governance returned to its previous solemnity.

However, as time passed, the Grand Tutor couldn't help but wonder why the Crown Prince hadn't arrived yet when they were about to discuss the regulations.

Half an hour later, as the courtiers began to leave one after another, and there were no others left in the Hall of Diligent Governance, the news of Empress Rong's successful delivery was also placed on the Emperor's desk.

"Is this how you handle things?" How many times has this happened? Is this child just so lucky?

Looking at the empty space in front of him, Emperor Jingwen rubbed his temples with a slight headache.

In the next moment, there was a flash in front of him, and a man dressed in dark clothes suddenly appeared.

Without a word, the man immediately knelt down.

Failure to perform duties is a capital offense.

However,

"At that time, when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's attendant, Moshu, suddenly appeared, the midwife lost control, and the servant failed to fulfill his duty. I

ask Your Majesty to punish me." The man bowed deeply, showing no resistance.

With a pause in his movements, Emperor Jingwen raised his eyes abruptly. "Are you saying that the Crown Prince was also involved in this matter?"

The man hesitated for a moment but recounted the whole incident.

"When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince appeared, we dared not act."

Emperor Jingwen simply didn't know what to say.

Could it be that it's truly heaven's will?

"The little prince is a person blessed by fortune."

Emperor Jingwen: ...

Of course, isn't that obvious enough?

Neither the decoction to prevent pregnancy nor the tricks from the harem's ghosts could harm him, and Empress Rong's discomfort couldn't get rid of him. On the day of his birth, the person who had threatened him the most saved him.

Emperor Jingwen had nothing to say.

"I understand, you may withdraw." Because it was the Crown Prince who intervened, Emperor Jingwen decided not to punish him after some thought.

The man disappeared quickly.

After a long time, Emperor Jingwen sighed deeply.

The vast Hall of Diligent Governance carried this sigh far.

Now that the situation was irreversible, he might as well let it be.

Emperor Jingwen had completely given up this time.

After all, all the mistakes, big or small, were Duke Zhen's fault.

On the other side,

Just as Gu Shao was still pondering who wanted to kill him, Empress Rong finally slowly regained consciousness.

By now, it was already late at night.

At that moment, the midwife was helping Empress Rong clean up.

Sensing the unusualness coming from the bedding, Empress Rong's hand on the side involuntarily tightened slightly.

Almost as soon as she opened her eyes, Su Xin took Gu Shao and hugged him over. "Your Highness, take a look at the little prince. Look, the little prince is looking at you."

At this moment, Gu Shao was staring wide-eyed at the woman who appeared to be in her twenties.

Because he had a good memory and started remembering things early, even though so many years had passed, Gu Shao still remembered what his mother looked like.

Even though the retinal imaging had become blurred, he could still discern it difficultly because she was close enough.

The woman's face in front of him was very similar to his mother's.

Although it wasn't a perfect replica, it was about seventy to eighty percent similar.

In a daze, Gu Shao felt as if he could feel his mother's delicate and gentle hands again.

Even her breath was so familiar.

This warm feeling was truly long overdue. Since he was six years old, he hadn't experienced it again.

"Ah, ah." Excitedly, Gu Shao opened his mouth wide, instinctively reaching out to hug.

In the next moment, the swaddle in front of him was pushed away, and Empress Rong's slightly cold and impatient voice followed.

"Move away quickly, this palace doesn't want to see him."

With a snap, something broke into two.

The completely uncontrollable little baby's eyes quickly filled with tears.

The author has something to say: Gu Shao is my heart, my heart ah

Gu Shao's mother, please take another look

Empress Rong, hmph, ugly thing.