My Parenting Skills

The golden morning sun filtered through the silk curtains of my chamber, casting a warm glow over the embroidered rugs and fine porcelain vases that adorned the room. Seated on a plush cushion, I watched as Raazi fidgeted uncomfortably in the pale lavender silk dress I had forced him into. His cheeks were flushed with both embarrassment and frustration, his small hands clenching the fabric as if he wished to tear it off.

"Mother," he whined, his voice barely above a whisper, "must I really wear this?"

I laughed, pulling him forward to adjust the delicate embroidery. "Of course, my dear. Look how lovely you are! Doesn't he look beautiful, Mei Lin?" I turned to my maidservant, who covered her mouth to suppress her giggle.

Raazi groaned. "Consort Sefa is very good to me," he muttered under his breath, though it was clear he was merely enduring this as a test of patience.

Just then, a loud announcement echoed from the entrance.

"His Majesty, the Emperor, has arrived!"

Raazi's eyes widened in horror. "What?" He scrambled to hide, but I held his shoulders firmly, turning him toward the grand wooden doors as they swung open.

The Emperor stepped inside, his regal presence filling the chamber. His golden robe shimmered under the morning light, the embroidered dragons along the fabric seeming almost alive. His sharp gaze immediately landed on Raazi, and his brows shot up in shock.

"What in heaven's name is going on?" His voice rang through the room, almost amused yet incredulous.

Raazi trembled behind me, avoiding his father's gaze.

I tilted my head, a playful smirk dancing on my lips. "Your Majesty, don't you think Raazi looks beautiful in this outfit?"

The Emperor blinked. "Sefa... you do know Raazi is a boy, right?"

I sighed dramatically. "Why does that matter if Raazi likes it?"

The Emperor exhaled sharply and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is outrageous," he muttered, then motioned for Raazi. "Come here. Bring your studies."

Raazi hurried to retrieve his calligraphy sheets, returning with six delicate pages, each adorned with phrases of blessing. The Emperor took them and read them carefully, his brows furrowing.

"A life longer than the southern mountains… a happiness that exceeds the eastern seas…" He flipped through the pages, his lips twitching. "These… these are phrases typically used by girls when offering congratulations."

Raazi lowered his head. "Consort Sefa has been teaching me congratulatory speeches," he murmured. "But… I still can't write well enough to present them…"

I snatched the pages from the Emperor's hand, waving them in the air. "Nonsense! I believe it is quite good. Returning to simplicity… and a common style! Moreover, he is of imperial blood. Who would dare to deny him anything just because his writing is a little poor?"

I winked, tilting my head playfully.

The Emperor burst into laughter. "You… with your personality, I should have made you adopt a princess!"

I grinned. "The fourth prince and I were meant to come together, Your Majesty."

The Emperor nodded approvingly. "It doesn't matter much if he's a bit slow in studies. His character is what truly matters."

I bowed, the silk of my robes cascading gracefully around me. "Your Majesty is wise, as always."

The soft glow of candlelight flickered against the ornate gold-framed mirrors as Consort Noor lounged on her chaise, her silk robes slipping slightly off her shoulder in an intentional display of effortless beauty. A smirk played on her lips as she admired her reflection.

A frantic maid burst into the chamber, breathless from haste.

"Consort Noor! You won't believe what I have seen!"

Noor turned lazily, arching a perfectly sculpted brow. "Speak."

The maid took a deep breath. "Consort Sefa… dressed the fourth prince like a girl!"

Noor's smirk faltered for a brief moment before she burst into laughter. "You're telling me that Sefa Yilmaz—who went through so much trouble to adopt the prince—has reduced him to a doll for her own amusement?"

The maid nodded enthusiastically. "Not only that, Your Grace, but she hardly ever lets him study. If you ask me, she isn't raising a prince… more like a pampered pet, a cat or a lapdog."

Noor tapped her manicured fingers against the jade bracelet on her wrist, her dark eyes glinting with satisfaction. "Hmm… In that case, it seems I overestimated her."

The maid hesitated before adding, "And… His Majesty has visited Consort Sefa multiple times. But he also mentioned that Consort Yahiya's eldest son is worthy of praise."

Noor's smirk returned, sharper this time. She lifted her teacup and took a slow sip, savoring the taste of jasmine and power.

"Heh… She's bitten off more than she can chew."

Placing the cup down, she gazed out at the moonlit courtyard, her mind already weaving a plan.

"Let's see how you deal with this, Consort Sefa."