Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

"Chunmei, what are you looking at? You look so absent-minded." Zhang Tianai's voice was like morning dewdrops, gently falling into Chunmei's heart.

She was stroking her cheek in an almost self-absorbed manner, and every movement exuded an indescribable charm, which surprised and delighted Chunmei, and her cheeks involuntarily turned red.

Zhang Tianai turned around slowly, her smiling eyes seemed to be able to see into people's hearts.

Chunmei lowered her head, but her heart was beating like a deer. She had never seen such a unique Zhang Tianai. The charm that radiated from the inside out was simply irresistible.

"Come, come to me." Zhang Tianai opened her red lips and hooked her slender fingers lightly.

Chunmei went forward as she was told, her heart full of curiosity and confusion.

She couldn't help but secretly look at the girl in front of her. Even though she was sick and had no makeup on, her face was still breathtakingly beautiful. Especially at this moment, it looked even more fragile and pitiful, making people want to protect her.

"Do you think my face is pleasing to the eye?" Zhang Tianai whispered softly, her fingers gently stroking her cheek.

Although she felt physically exhausted, she forced herself to stay strong and not show it at all. This tenacity made Chunmei admire her even more.

"The girl's beauty is unparalleled in the world. Even now, no one can match her." Chunmei answered sincerely, her eyes full of sincerity and praise.

Hearing this, Zhang Tianai curled up a satisfied smile.

She knew very well that sometimes, appropriate weakness and helplessness could arouse a man's desire to protect him.

So, she deliberately emphasized her tone: "Yes, it's a pity that this frail body reduces this beauty. However, perhaps it is precisely this fragility that makes people feel more pity."

After saying this, she smiled gently and moved her body slightly, as if she was looking for a more comfortable position. Every subtle movement exuded endless charm, making Chunmei blush again.

"If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince saw the girl's current appearance, he would definitely regret his decision." Chunmei couldn't help but blurt out the words, but as soon as she said them, she quickly covered her mouth, fearing that she had said something wrong.

Zhang Tianai just smiled calmly: "Regret? Then let him regret it."

Her laughter was clear and sweet, like a spring breeze, gently blowing through Chunmei's heart.

Zhang Tianai's lips curled up into a smile, and he whispered, "Oh, let him one day in the future suddenly realize how wonderful I am, and then beat his chest and stamp his feet in regret. Just thinking about it will make me feel relieved! Right now, his heart and eyes are filled with my legitimate sister."

After saying this, she couldn't help but join in the self-deprecating joke.

Upon hearing this, Chunmei wanted to call her "Young Lady" again, but she saw that she had already taken over the conversation and asked with a hint of amusement, "Speaking of which, I really want to know, if all men in this world see me, will they fall at my feet?"

After hearing this, Chunmei murmured to herself that the girl's confidence was a bit ridiculous.

"Girl, your confidence is truly beyond words, and you don't look sad at all." Chunmei joked.

Zhang Tianai shook her head slightly, gently putting down the bronze mirror in her hand, her eyes gleaming with reason. "Sad? Why bother? I'm secretly sad here, but maybe others are secretly happy. I won't do such a loss-making business, Chunmei, don't you think?"

She then ordered, "Go prepare some water for washing, and then see how breakfast goes. After that, I'll rest. Also, you have to keep a close eye on the people in the yard."

"Yes, young lady," Chunmei replied, and then added, "I will bring you some water right away. Breakfast is already prepared and hot."

Only then did Zhang Tianai realize that his food and daily life in this temple were all taken care of by Chunmei alone, and none of the servants were willing to lend a helping hand.

She couldn't help but feel more grateful and caring towards Chunmei.

"By now, maybe someone already knows that I'm awake." Zhang Tianai pondered for a moment and continued, "However, even if they do know, they may not make it public. After all, they are trying every possible way to prevent me from seeing the prince."

Chunmei was about to ask for advice when she heard this, but she saw that Zhang Tianai had already made up her mind: "Forget it, I don't want to see anyone, so as not to ruin my mood. I need to conserve my energy and wait for that person to come to me."

"Then I'll say I'm not feeling well and need to rest. I won't see anyone. If anyone wants to gossip, just mention my second sister. We have a deep sisterly bond. If she's not feeling well, how can I be immune?"

"Besides, we grew up together, so I can handle her little tricks. In short, I, Zhang Tianai, am not a soft persimmon that can be manipulated by anyone!"

Chunmei was stunned when she heard this, and secretly admired in her heart: "Young lady, you are really fearless now."

Zhang Tianai smiled slightly: "Only in this way can you live a wonderful life."

Zhang Tianai took over the conversation with a gentle smile. Chunmei tactfully stepped aside. The courtyard was quiet, and she was the only one left to fetch water.

After washing up, Zhang Tianai asked softly if there was anyone outside, and Chunmei nodded in response.

A light cough came unexpectedly, which relieved the depression in her chest a little, but also caused her cheeks to turn red, adding a bit of delicate beauty.

She shook her head in self-mockery. This cough seemed like a joke played by her body. It felt like a burning fire in her heart while she was trying to hold it in, but after she coughed it was like a spring breeze on her face, leaving a faint blush. Her face reflected in the bronze mirror seemed even more vivid than before.

Speaking of bronze mirrors, Zhang Tianai thought to himself, everyone says that ancient mirrors are hazy, but few people know that they can reflect people's hearts very clearly.

She carefully examined herself in the mirror, looking left and right, until Chunmei walked in with breakfast in her hands, interrupting the silence.

The breakfast is simple, a bowl of warm rice porridge with a few plates of pickled vegetables. Although it is not rich, it has its own unique flavor.

Seeing this, Chunmei wanted to find more delicacies, but Zhang Tianai shook her head gently and said with a smile, "For now, the porridge is enough. When you get better, the bamboo shoots deep in the bamboo forest will definitely add some delicious flavor. Raise a few chickens and be self-sufficient. Wouldn't that be fun?"

When Chunmei heard this, a hint of longing flashed in her eyes, but she also knew that reality was not easy.

After the meal, Zhang Tianai washed up again and felt refreshed.

She politely declined the medicinal soup Chunmei brought her, knowing that medicine is always poisonous and an overdose would harm the body.

After asking, she learned that the medicine was a gift from outside. She then had an idea in her mind and told Chunmei to deal with it quietly when no one was around to avoid any trouble.

In the afternoon, under dappled sunlight, Zhang Tianai was taking a nap when she heard a commotion outside the courtyard. It was her younger sister, accompanied by Mrs. Liu, seemingly plotting something.

Zhang Tianai closed her eyes to rest, but her mind was as clear as a mirror. There was a mixture of reluctance and calculation in Liu Po's voice, and her younger sister was probably up to something again.

When she woke up again, everything outside the window was quiet.

Zhang Tianai raised a faint smile, with his own thoughts in mind.

Chunmei came lightly, bringing news about her younger sister, Zhang Tianci. There was a subtle hint in her words: "The Second Miss privately asked this servant, are you deliberately avoiding me?"

"Oh? How do you answer?" Zhang Tianai raised his eyebrows, secretly surprised at Zhang Tianci's speculation, and then asked.

Chunmei lowered her eyes, her tone firm, "I will tell you that the Second Young Lady is indeed resting due to illness, and is not intentionally avoiding you. As for Madam Liu's nonsense, it is simply a misunderstanding."

Zhang Tianai heard this and the corners of her mouth curled up in approval: "You answered very well."

Chunmei was secretly delighted and was about to say more, but Zhang Tianai stopped her with a look, indicating that she didn't need to talk more.

A few days passed, and Chunmei walked into the house with a letter in her hand. The letter came from Weiyuan Marquis Mansion.

Zhang Tianai took it, a cold smile curled up on the corner of his mouth, and thought to himself: "What kind of drama is this?"

She slowly unfolded the letter, and the words between the lines were full of disgust and threats towards her. They asked her to die quickly so as not to taint the purity of the world, and warned her not to let the palace remember her misdeeds again.

Zhang Tianai felt mixed emotions and found this "care" from his "family" extremely ironic.

She sighed softly and wanted to ask about her grandmother's recent situation, but she hesitated, knowing that asking was futile.

"Miss, you say..." Chunmei hesitated to speak, still holding a glimmer of hope in her heart, thinking that perhaps the mansion had changed its opinion of the young lady.

Zhang Tianai smiled calmly, but there were too many unspoken meanings hidden in that smile. Chunmei understood it instantly without asking any more questions.

"Put it away first." Zhang Tianai said softly, as if responding to the letter or letting go of the past.

Time flies, Zhang Tianci frequently sends delicious food, and Zhang Tianai lets Chunmei enjoy them all.

Zhang Tianci is inseparable from the prince, laughing and talking happily every day, and seems to have forgotten her, his sister, in the corner.

Until one day, Zhang Tianci and the prince announced that they would be returning to the palace. Zhang Tianai felt a stir in her heart, knowing that the long-awaited moment had arrived.

As expected, Chunmei hurried back, her eyes gleaming with excitement: "Miss, it seems the temple has welcomed a distinguished guest!"

Zhang Tianai's eyes narrowed, and then he ordered, "Go and find out who this person is."

Soon, Chunmei returned, looking even more excited: "Miss, it's the Emperor himself!"