Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

The night was as dark as ink, quietly descending upon the ancient temple. Eunuch An hurried out of the temple, only to realize that his surroundings had been swallowed by deep darkness.

He hurriedly quickened his pace to catch up with the emperor, who looked a little lonely in the night.

"Your Majesty, it's late at night and you haven't had your meal yet. Why are you in such a hurry to pray? You just took a short nap. Would you like to have dinner first?" Eunuch An's voice was filled with concern and caution.

As he spoke, he took a lantern from a guard beside him. The dim light swayed in the cold wind, adding a bit of warmth to the quiet night.

Upon hearing this, Murong Shuo stopped, his eyes seemed to penetrate the night, and finally he slowly turned around and sat back in his original place.

Upon seeing this, Eunuch An immediately ordered his servants to fetch food.

Soon, the dinner specially prepared by the temple was served. Each dish was extremely exquisite and exuded an enticing aroma.

The first two meals were prepared by the former Crown Princess, but today, she is bedridden and naturally cannot cook for Your Majesty.

"Your Majesty, dinner is ready." Eunuch An reported softly, secretly guessing what the emperor was thinking.

Murong Shuo remained silent, just quietly looking at the dishes on the table, with an imperceptible emotion flashing in his eyes.

He slowly picked up the chopsticks, and every time he took a bite, he seemed to be making a silent comparison with the taste in his memory.

Finally, he gently put down his chopsticks, a faint smile on his face.

"The food in this temple has a unique flavor." He said softly, but secretly thinking of that woman in his heart. The food in the temple is still the best. How dare she refuse his kindness!

Eunuch An carefully observed every subtle expression of the emperor. Seeing that His Majesty had finally finished his meal, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that the emperor's mood seemed to have improved, at least he was quite satisfied with the meal.

However, Murong Shuo did not stay long. After finishing his dinner, he stood up again and prepared to continue his prayers.

Eunuch An hurriedly followed, but he couldn't help wondering in his heart: Your Majesty ate very little today, could it be that he is worried about something?

"Your Majesty, the imperial physician is still waiting outside. What should we do?" After walking a distance, Eunuch An finally plucked up the courage and asked in a low voice.

Murong Shuo didn't stop, just said lightly: "Send it back."

At the same time, in another quiet courtyard, Zhang Tianai was resting with his eyes closed, but was interrupted by Chunmei's soft call.

She opened her eyes again and looked at Chunmei who looked anxious, and couldn't help feeling helpless.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly, with a hint of fatigue in her tone.

"Miss, you haven't had dinner yet, why do you want to go to bed?" Chunmei said anxiously. She seemed to have forgotten that she had reminded Zhang Tianai to have dinner many times before.

Zhang Tianai sighed softly when he heard this, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart.

She knew it was time for her meal, but at this moment, she seemed to have lost all her appetite and strength.

The night is still deep; everyone has their own thoughts.

Zhang Tianai's thoughts are as delicate and complex as moonlight.

She spoke softly, as if she was talking to herself, or as if she was trying to soothe the tranquility around her: "Wait a little longer, Chunmei, we'll talk about dinner later."

"Your Majesty, it's time for dinner. Even if your appetite is poor, please eat as much as you can. It's important to take care of your health. I was deeply worried about you during your illness a few days ago, and the Emperor must be concerned about you as well."

Zhang Tianai felt a surge of warmth in her heart upon hearing this, but it was also tinged with a hint of worry: "I'm so frail, I'm afraid I might bring trouble to the Emperor. I should have sent someone to inform him earlier, but I'm powerless. If I go now, I'm afraid the Emperor might have already eaten, or maybe..."

There was a hint of uncertainty in her words, as if even she herself was guessing the emperor's intentions.

Seeing this, Chunmei quickly comforted her, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will report this to the Emperor right away. No matter what the result is, the Emperor will surely understand your intentions."

After saying that, she wanted to turn around and leave, but Zhang Tianai grabbed her sleeve again. Her coquettish attitude made Chunmei's heart soften.

"Chunmei, look at my smile, is there anything wrong?" Zhang Tianai smiled gently, and that smile was like a flower blooming in spring, bright and beautiful without knowing its beauty.

Chunmei shook her head and said with a smile: "Your Majesty's smile is enough to make everything in the world pale in comparison, but it is too dazzling. I am afraid that if I look at it too much, my heart will be intoxicated."

Zhang Tianai blushed when she heard this. She patted Chunmei's hand and said with a smile, "You're just sweet-talking. Go back quickly and use it. I'll wait for you."

Chunmei responded and left in a hurry, but her heart was warm.

When she brought the dinner, Zhang Tianai was already sitting alone at the table, quietly waiting. She waved Chunmei away, not wanting to wait on her, and picked up her chopsticks to savor the food herself.

"Chunmei, no matter what the future holds, we have to face it together, right?" Zhang Tianai said softly while eating.

Chunmei nodded slightly.

Zhang Tianai raised her lips to a faint smile. It would have been easy for her to improve her life now, but she chose a more simple path.

Let’s use it like this for a few more days and let people take a look!

"Go check out the situation." She ordered softly.

---

Chunmei stepped into the temple, which was surrounded by darkness. The lanterns were dim and the light was mottled. She still spoke to the guard and asked him to convey the message.

The guard recognized her and entered.

Chunmei was waiting outside for good news, and time seemed to stand still.

The guard returned and reported to the palace, but all he got in return was Murong Shuo's silent wave and his departing back.

Seeing this, Eunuch An tactfully pulled the guard out. After a few whispers, the guard took his orders and left.

---

Chunmei returned with mixed feelings and told her everything she had seen and heard.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianai gently asked Chunmei to eat, and the two shared this simple yet warm meal.

At the first light of dawn, Zhang Tianai got up early, feeling refreshed, and even his cough seemed to have quietly gone away.

She took Chunmei with her and held the hoe given by Liu Pozi, and walked into the depths of the bamboo forest in the backyard.

There, rows of green bamboos stand tall, and the ground is dotted with new bamboo shoots, making it full of vitality.

Every time the hoe is used, it is an exploration and harvest of nature. The white and tender appearance of the bamboo shoots makes people happy.

However, the work was not easy. Zhang Tianai felt pain in her palms after digging a few times. She looked at her delicate hands with a wry smile, and then looked at Chunmei who was digging hard with sweat on her forehead. A spirit of not giving up surged in her heart.

"I want to learn this craft too." Zhang Tianai said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, his smile full of self-mockery and determination. "I can't let you suffer alone all the time."

Hearing this, Chunmei looked up at the girl, her eyes full of heartache and admiration. She said softly, "Girl, you take a rest. I'll do it."

But Zhang Tianai shook her head and insisted on her decision. The two continued this simple yet fun work in the morning light. Laughter and joy echoed in the bamboo forest, complementing the quiet morning.

As night falls and the stars disappear, it seems that even the sky is stained with an imperceptible dimness.

Zhang Tianai looked at herself in the mirror and sighed softly, "I've gotten darker and thinner." Chunmei, standing aside, was puzzled as to why the girl was so self-pitying again.

"It's okay, this skin color is only temporary." Zhang Tianai raised the corner of his mouth with a faint smile.

She glanced at the busy Liu Pozi, wondering whether she should find some good things to nourish the skin of these people, but shook her head secretly.

My hands were flying in the mud, my fingertips were gradually stained with the color of the earth, tiny bubbles quietly emerged, and the slightest touch caused a piercing pain.

But she did not give up and led Chunmei into the kitchen, where there was another lively scene.

"Chunmei, you cook and I'll give you the instructions." There was a hint of playfulness in Zhang Tianai's words, but she didn't do it herself.

The bamboo shoot soup is clear and sweet, paired with crispy and tender stir-fried bamboo shoots, the aroma of eggs and chicken intertwined, and the poached chicken with attractive color and delicate taste. Each dish is a gift from nature, derived from ingredients carefully cultivated in the courtyard, fresh and pure.

After putting this delicacy full of love into an exquisite food box, Zhang Tianai set off on the journey again, with Chunmei following closely behind with brisk steps.

They seemed to arrive earlier today than yesterday.

Murong Shuo was about to step into the place for morning exercise when he suddenly heard a notification. He stopped and turned his gaze to Eunuch An beside him.

Eunuch An bowed slightly, his eyes passing through the door and falling on the familiar figure.

"Your Majesty, Miss Zhang has arrived."

Murong Shuo gently turned the Buddhist beads on his wrist, and each bead seemed to carry endless thoughts.