Arc 4 Chapter 4.2 ( The Prince and The Eunuch )
Qiang Quiyue felt a cold towel pressed upon his forehead . The little prince raised his hands and pulled the clothe down to his eyes . He felt his head ached , it is heavy and also throb occasionally . Even his eyes felt hot and sleepy , Qiang Quiyue opened his little mouth then suddenly realized that his throat was soar . Its painful , he thought .
The little prince sobbed , he felt unbearable and weak . " Mama " he called out and reached his hand outside .
But as usual , no one held it . Qiang Quiyue couldn't help it anymore and cried . Tears flowed and was absorbed by the wet towel atop his face . Qiang Quiyue's hand weakly fell down in helplessness .
Qiang Quiyue groaned and was about to move again when he suddenly heard slow footsteps walking to his room's direction . Qiang Quiyue paused and didn't move , he immediately raised his weak hand and tucked himself in with the heavy quilt , he didn't even realized that his quilt had been replaced with a thick one . He just felt his body weak and thought that he was too weak so the quilt became heavy .
Mo Xun put down the bowl of porridge and glass of water and dragged a chair to sit beside the bed. Mo Xun properly tucked the quilt and chuckled.
It seems that the little kid is already awake .
" You're highness , it's time to eat now . " Mo Xun whispered and patted the quilt .
Qiang Quiyue removed the fabric on his eyes and looked at the side . There he saw a handsome young man dressed in a eunuch robe . It is the first time he saw such a good looking eunuch, usually they smell so bad that he always avoided them , they also sound feminine and looked weak . Although he was wondering why does men look like that, it became his beauty standard since he can't see any man aside from the imperial guards and eunuchs . Occasionally , he would meet old court officials everytime they go to the court , Qiang Quiyue always thought that his Imperial Father and imperial brothers were the most handsome in the world .
Qiang Quiyue's eyes turned bright . " Handsome " He muttered in whispery.
Mo Xun widened his eyes and looked at the cute boy looking at him with admiring eyes . Suddenly , Mo Xun felt that the little prince somehow resembled the mischievous Sean .
Mo Xun blinked and pointed at himself. " Do you mean me? Your Highness? "
Qiang Quiyue nodded .
Mo Xun immediately showed a flattered expression . " Ahaha this small one is greatly humbled by your highness' compliments . "
He then stood up and helped Qiang Quiyue sat up and lean on the bed .
Mo Xun then lifted the bowl and started feeding the little prince . Qiang Quiyue then stiffly opened his mouth and looked at the Eunuch with curiousity .
The handsome man's face doesn't look angry and uncomfortable . Rather , Qiang Quiyue detected a hint of gentleness upon the man's relaxed and bent eyebrows and eyes . There's a little wrinkle beside his eyes hinting that his good mood and smile is genuine , his thin red lips are also slightly curved up and does not looked exaggerated and flattery . Qiang Quiyue subconsciously felt closer to the handsome man . He instinctively felt that the young man would never hit him like how the former servants do .
Qiang Quiyue then didn't feel as stiff as before . He would usually stay away from people and would subconsciously reject their presence because of their formal attitude .
But seeing the doting look upon the handsome man's face , Qiang Quiyue now regarded Mo Xun as a rare good person .
" How can i address you? " Qiang Quiyue asked in a hoarse milky voice .
Mo Xun put down the finished bowl and lifted the glass of water . He then smiled to the child and answered . " You can call me Eunuch Mo or Xiao Mo , your highness as long as you deem it comfortable . "
Qiang Quiyue recieved the glass pf water and slowly drink . " Xiao Mo , how about your name? "
" My name is Mo(silent) Xun(to teach) , your highness . "
Actually , the name of the real eunuch is Mo Shun. Shun that meant (to obey , or obedience ) . There's no way Jiro would let his name mean something that sounded weak .
He's a dominant top, How can he submit? Of course , the little prince didn't know the thoughts running across the Eunuch's head .
" Then I'll call you by your name from now on, Mo Xun "
The three servants went back after cleaning the living room and mini kitchen they greeted the little prince on the bed .
Qiang Quiyue was a little bit vigilant but seeing their sweaty appearance . He gave them a weak smile then lied back down to sleep .
" His highness seems tired ." Lei Dandan muttered and looked at the cute prince .
" Then let's withdraw and go back to our room . " Su Jie
The three nodded and exited after saying a formal farewell . Mo Xun remained sitting on the chair , guarding the little prince . The fire in the fireplace sent warmth to the prince . The prince is now sweating a lot thanks to the thick quilt and jacket that the three servant put on to the prince . Base on his little knowledge while he's staying in the last world , this should be a good sign .
Mo Xun patted the child's sweaty head . No one even cared for the child while he was sick , if this kind of thing continues , how can this child survive without a mother? He's only three years old for Pete's sake . No wonder the interface told him to take good care of the child . Mo Xun suddenly activated a father's heart and a determined look appeared upon his face .
He will do everything to take care of this child and not let him be wronged by others , even if it's by hook and crook .
That night , the snow storm unfortunately became worse and Mo Xun has to close the windows and put a second layer of quilt , constantly wiped the child's sweat and let the child drink glasses of water in order to avoid dehydration , he would also change the towel regularly and put extra logs on the fireplace .
" Have you guys already settled? " Asked Mo Xun to the three girls .
Lei Dandan had a frown on her face and answered. " Yes , but when the three of us passed by the other servants of the other consorts and princesses , they stared at us with mocking expression . "
Su Jie also joined . " Yeah , they also mocked the third prince's birth mother for being fallen out of favor . I'm really anxious for the little prince. "
Yin Ping has a rather calm voice when speaking . " I'm afraid , if this continues , our shares of monthly supplies given by the court officials would be embezzled by those schemers . " Although Yin Ping was still a newbie , she has heard a lot of things during her training it cannot be avoided if her thought would stray far away after imagining a lot of things base on her knowledge bank .
Mo Xun has also thought of it and was a little worried , if they wanted to be treated fairly in the palace , then they has to take the prince's birth mother back to favor and fight for harem schemes .
However , the fallen rank former Imperial Noble Consort , Lin Lifen has a sickly body and can't withstand any more stress . It's seems that they can only climb higher by pushing their little prince up . Originally , he was only an apprentice class Eunuch , however , this kind of low ranked eunuchs should not have been assigned to wait upon princes and princesses , it is obvious that the department responsible for appointing Eunuch's assigned places deliberately placed a low ranking eunuch beside the prince to suppress the third prince . If an influencial eunuch was assigned , wouldn't that make the third prince's situation lighter and easier?
Suddenly , the quartet heard couples of footsteps . Mo Xun narrowed his eyes and looked at the direction of the footsteps then suddenly saw a familiar face .
Doze?
Before Mo Xun could speak . The three girls behind him immediately gasp . " Brother Xun , He's a high ranking eunuch . "
Mo Xun immediately woke up from his trance as the quartet bowed to the eunuch .
" What made senior visit this humble place? " Mo Xun asked .
Doze doned in a high ranking eunuch robe almost laughed and made a stiff face trying his best to look solemn .
" We're here to deliver today's monthly ratios . Here's the list of the supplies , as the new eunuch assigned to the third prince . Take care of him , i heard that the court will undergo another censoring . Several officials do not dare embezzle supplies so you're lucky . "
When the quartet heard this , they were inwardly delighted and a humble restrained smile flashed upon their faces .
Low ranking eunuchs moved and put several wooden boxes containing materials inside the Prince's palace . Once the materials were successfully put in , Mo Xun bowed down in gratefulness and even invited Eunuch Chūn for a tea but the senior ranked Eunuch formally declined and exited .
[ Master , we have to go to the other inner palaces . Don't worry , i got your back . ] Doze's voice echoed within Mo Xun's head .
Mo Xun subconsciously smiled and looked at the calligraphy materials , bolts of expensive fabrics , gold coins and several miscellaneous materials .
The tree palace maids behind Mo Xun was so excited that hey started hugging each other . However , Mo Xun didn't let them celebrate for a long time and sternly ordered them to start arranging the ratios .
Qiang Quiyue's fever subsided when the sun finally set . The little prince removed the fabric from his eyes and slowly sat up , he felt sticky and heavy . He climb down from the bed as his naked feet touched the cold ground . Qiang Quiyue immediately climb back and rubbed his feet .
Mo Xun heard movements inside the prince's room and hurriedly looked inside . He saw the prince rubbing his naked red feet . Mo Xun then remembered that he forgot to put a sock on the prince's feet.
Qiang Quiyue looked up and saw the handsome eunuch at the doorstep . Held within his hands were a pair of white socks embroidered with small flowers . Qiang Quiyue obediently stretched his feet and let the young man put him a sock .
When he finally didn't feel cold , Qiang Quiyue's trembling body relaxed as he no longer gritted his teeth .
" Thank you , Mo Gege " said the little prince.
Only then did Mo Xun realized how fluent the child was when it comes to speaking . Three years old kids like him would usually stutter . The child must have been forced to mature early . Mo Xun pity the child and subconsciously rubbed his head .
Qiang Quiyue immediately moved his head away in vigilance . Mo Xun's hand was left mid-air , and silence invaded the whole room . Qiang Quiyue clenched his fist and observed Mo Xun's face . Seeing as his brows were not knotted in anger or irritation , he doesn't feel vigilant anymore and moved his head below the hand and let the palm land on his head. Qiang Quiyue sucked his thumb in nervousness .
Mo Xun's heart warmed by the cute behavior of the little prince . He chuckled and rubbed his hair .
" Do you want me to brush your hair? " Asked Mo Xun .
Qiang Quiyue's eyed widened and remembered the event in which the former servants that serve him before combed his hair . It was painful and uncomfortable. The little prince subconsciously guarded his hair , and became vigilant again .
Mo Xun understood the little prince's worry and assured him he will never hurt him .
Qiang Quiyue then obediently turned his back to Mo Xun and let him brush his hair . The little prince then felt a gente force running through the strands of his hair . He subconsciously purred and closed his eyes in comfort. Mo Xun subconsciously stopped and widened his eyes , he suddenly felt that Qiang Quiyue's reaction resembled his wife's coquettish appearance whenever he massaged him . Mo Xun immediately disposed of those thoughts , how could he have such indecent thought about the little prince . He cannot deny that little prince is indeed cute .
" Mo gege " Called out Qiang Quiyue .
" Hmmm? " Answered Mo Xun .
Qiang Quiyue habitually sucked his thumb and asked him. " Will you comb my hair tomorrow too? "
" Do you want me to comb your hair everyday? " Mo Xun asked gently .
The little prince weakly nodded. Mo Xun chuckled then agreed . " Then I'll comb your highness' hair everyday from now on . "
A cute smile emerged from his cute face and shyly bowed his head . He often saw his brothers and sister being comb by their birth mothers , Qiang Quiyue admits that he indeed felt jealous and also wanted to be comb by his mother , but his mother no longer visited him .
" Good night , your highness . " Mo Xun whispered and gently closed the door .
The little prince is now asleep , Mo Xun spent a lot bit of time inside to stare at the little prince's face before exiting .
The next day Qiang Wei is no longer hot . Early in the morning , Qiang Quiyue woke up . He saw that the sun has yet to rise , thinking that the palace maids were probably still asleep . Qiang Quiyue decided to bath himself . Qiang Quiyue wrapped himself with a cloak from the closet and exited the room . He padded towards the direction of the mini kitchen with cute socked feet . His toes curled up for a moment because of the cold before tiptoing to see where the kettle was placed.
Qiang Quiyue saw that there's a boiling kettle at the stove. Someone probably has an intention to drink tea. But Qiang Quiyue didn't think too much and just stole the kettle and went to the bathroom .
The little prince was so dilegent and independent that it makes anyone who saw this to pity him . Once Qiang Quiyue arrived at the bathroom with a hot kettle , the child suddenly doesn't know what to do . Usually , the former servants would bring the water for him inside and he just have to submerge in the water and be brushed with soft fabric .
But his former servants were already assigned elsewhere and he woke so early that he can't bear to wake his new servants up . He's afraid those three big sisters would get angry at him and hit him just like how his former servants do . They would usually hit his buttocks or head , although it's not as painful as how he felt when he accidentally get hurt when fell down before , the feeling of being scolded and hit because of his insensible behaviour made Qiang Quiyue feel emotionally depressed and nervous .
Whenever Qiang Quiyue saw a happy expression upon their faces , he would usually want to get their attention . Just like how babies pointed and chuckle whenever their mom stares at them with affectionate eyes and soft voice . But if their mom has an emotionless expressions , babies would try their best to put a smile upon their faces. They would cry especially if they sensed that their parents aren't in a good mood , they would cry and try to get their attention , to amuse and entertain them , pointing everywhere , speak baby noises and pat their cheeks with trembling palms .
Qiang Quiyue as a three years old child also did those things , he would give his palace servants his doodles , amusing things that he collected , and even give them gold coins that he recieved from his kept bamboo bank.
Qiang Quiyue's eyes turned watery , he doesn't want to be scolded again . He doesn't know why , but his chest would feel painful whenever he heard bad tones within their voices , just like normal babies , Qiang Quiyue is also sensitive to the environment around him.
As he grow up , Qiang Quiyue became more and more well versed when it comes to reading facial expressions , and his instincts as a child were particularly good . He could feel if someone is good or bad depending on his emotions and atmosphere .
He may not know a lot of things , but Qiang Quiyue knows how to distinguish good from bad . He knew that the scenario he saw in one of the concubine's courtyard before was bad , he saw his imperial father's concubine drowning someone to death in the fish pond .
That mean looking concubine even pointed their index finger at him . Qiang Quiyue particularly feel strange when he was pointed at , his cheeks would turn stiff and cold and his blood pressure would turn high , he felt that witnessing the scenario is wrong and he should never tell someone else about it .
Because if he did , that concubine might do the thing she did to the victim to him . He's afraid , and Qiang Quiyue wants to be hugged and patted like how other concubines comforted his crying brothers and sisters .
Qiang Quiyue shook his head and slapped his cheeks . He knows deep inside that his birth mother would never take care of him again . Qiang Quiyue ran to the corner where the big buckets were located . They were full of water and Qiang Quiyue went to drag them to the wooden bathtub .
It feels heavy , Qiang Quiyue thought and roam his eyes around the bathroom . He saw a small dipper then dipped it under the bucket before transferring the water to the bathtub .
After he is done , he immediately added the hot water in the kettle and mixed it for a few seconds before removing his clothes .
On the other side , Mo Xun was done excercising at the backyard and took a sip on the flask and wiped his sweaty face . His robes were in disarray after moving a lot .
When he went to the mini kitchen , he suddenly saw that his kettle disappeared . Where did it went? Has it grown legs and escaped?
Mo Xun crouched down and find the kettle but he cannot find it in the kitchen . He goes out and knocked on the three servants' room .
But they seem to be still asleep .
Who could have stolen the kettle?
Mo Xun was about to walked back to the kitchen when he suddenly heard some noises at the direction of the third prince's room .
Mo Xun runs toward the room and saw that the prince was struggling on wearing clothes . He was currently shivering while trying to find out how to wear the scattered robes that he had chosen to wear today .
Mo Xun's brows raised and chuckled . " What is your highness doing? Wearings these complications clothes without asking for the eunuch to do it for you . Let me let me . "
Standing atop the bed , Qiang Quiyue obediently stopped and let the handsome eunuch help him wear his clothes . Unlike the rough way the servants help him wear his clothes , Mo Xun is more gentle and considerate .
Qiang Quiyue couldn't help feeling his heavy , lonely heart feel better and lighter . He subconsciously said. " Mo gege is so good to me . "
While tying the knot , Mo Xun paused and looked at the adorable face of the little prince. He smiled to him and rubbed his head . " It is only natural that i , as a eunuch would serve his highness properly to the best as this humble servant could . "
Qiang Quiyue shook his head . " No ... "
" You are different to the servants that served me before. "
Qiang Quiyue peeked at the Eunuch's face , but he cannot see any change of expressions , even small twitching or constriction of pupils never happened. He's gentle as usual with a doting brotherly look . Qiang Quiyue couldn't help feeling wanted to be intimate with him .
" Those were probably assigned by your birth mother's enemy . They are not good people , you should not imitate and learn from them . "
" But they said I'm a bad child , and I'm a bastard son . "
Technically , he's indeed a bastard if this is in the modern era . But this is the ancient times , where polygamy is normal .
Qiang Quiyue is a shū( child of a concubine ) child , and he could be considered illegitimate as his birth mother wasn't the main wife .
" Does it really matter to his highness if he is a bastard ? "
Qiang Quiyue nodded , it really matters . Maybe , the reason why his father never looked at him is because he is a bastard .
Mo Xun could respond for a while , after all , different people has different thoughts . For him , being a bastard son is not a big deal , as long as he lives , and does trample innocent people .
All it really matters is wether , a parson is good or bad .
Can you eat it if you are a legitimate child?
But he can't really say that to an ancient man like Qiang Quiyue .
" For me , even if you're a bastard . As long as you are a good child , you are good . " Said Mo Xun as he patted his head in a doting matter .
" As long as his highness is filial to his parents , you are a good child . Even if your imperial father doesn't look at you , as long as you grow up upright and smart . No one would say you are a wicked person . "
Mo Cun really cannot say that everything he said was right , humans are both innately good and evil. Depending on the environment they used to stay , humans tend to adapt to their environment .
There's goodness within evilness and there's evilness within goodness .
" You will learn a lot of things when you grow up . As a child , you don't need to be too concerned about these things, this servant will protect you from them . "
" If you ever feel sad , just tell it to brother ok? I'll make you happy . "
" If you are happy , then share it with me so i can also be happy with you . "
" If you feel anger , i will also be angry with you . "
The words that Mo Xun said may sound simple to the scholarly officials in the court that served the emperor .
But for Qiang Quiyue , his words were like bible verses that remained marked within his head.
" Brother " Qiang Quiyue's childish voice trembled as his eyes turned watery .
Qiang Quiyue immediately hugged Mo Xun and burried his hed on his chest . He burst out in sadness and tightened his hug .
A thought flashed within his heart . ' brother will protect me from now on , I don't need to care about other people think about me . As long as i have brother by my side , my heart would turn light and happy . '