14 years ago...
"Bring this newly recruited servant to the Shanji Mansion of the Second Prince of Zhu."
"Yes, Secretary Lin!"
The three Court Ladies accompanied the nine-year-old little girl to the Shanji Mansion, the residence of the Second Prince of Zhu.
"Your Highness, your new servant has arrived."
The second prince says, "Let her in!" in a slow voice that can be heard outside the Mansion.
The three Court Ladies unlocked the door and let the small girl into the Second Prince's Mansion, then shut it once the new servant entered.
"Your Royal Highness, Your servant Shuang Lvshi greets you" the little girl said, kneeling in front of the second prince and bowing her head at the top of her hands.
"*sigh* w-welcome to my place Shuang Lvshi" the second prince said who is seated comfortably in his wheelchair and gestures for his new servant to stand up and welcome her.
"T-thank you for accepting me, Second Prince; it is an honor for me to serve and protect you" Shuang Lvshi said as she kneeled down to thank the Second Prince of Zhu once more.
"Welcome to the Shanji Mansion Shuang Lvshi, we are only five here at the Mansion, including you and the Second Prince by the way, I am Matron Xin and this is Eunuch Qin, as well as Wu Xiyan the Second Prince's personal maid" said Matron Xin, a middle-aged woman in her early forties.
"H-hello, t-thank you for having me here"
"Hmmnn... it appears that you and the Second Prince Weixiu are the same age, based on what we can see; I hope you two can be as close as Wu Xiyan, who is a year older than you and the Second Prince."
"H-hope so, Matron Xin" Shuang Lvshi stammered, flashing a bashful smile in front of Matron Xin.
"Aiyaah! No need to be bashful among us Lvshi, you're already a part of the family the moment you walk into the Shanji Mansion, okay?"
"T-thank you so much for accepting me"
"You're always welcome Lvshi"
"By the way, Lvshi, you and Xiyan will be sharing a room, is that okay with you?"
"It's all right with me, Matron Xin, and a-also so that Lvshi 妹妹 mèi mei can be close to Xiyan 姐姐 jiě jie."
"All right, then, it's settled!" Let's first head to the kitchen so you may get your breakfast, okay?"
"Y-yes Matron Xin"
*******
"*cough!* *cough!*" Wu Xiyan imitates a cough to attract the attention of the Second Prince, who is discreetly smiling while admiring the new servant who was led to their kitchen by his Matron Xin.
"W-what?" Zhu Weixiu innocently questioned Wu Xiyan, her personal maid.
"*smile* Why does Xiyan 姐姐 jiě jie think our new servant Lvshi 妹妹 mèi mei is liked by our Weixiu 弟弟 dì di?"
"I-i'm not!" Zhu Weixiu continues to smile while denying the truth to Xiyan.
"*cough!* *cough!* So, why is our Weixiu 弟弟 dì di still smiling for no apparent reason? Is it because Xiyan姐姐 jiě jie got it correctly? *wink*"
"Y-you!" Zhu Weixiu exclaims quickly, interrupting Wu Xiyan's taunting.
"What? Come on, Weixiu 弟弟 dì di *smirk*, you're cute when you blush."
"*sigh* Okay, Okay, you've already won, Xiyan 姐姐 jiě jie, and I like her!"
"Omo! B-but how about your Wang Meixie 妹妹 mèi mei?"
"Aiyaah! Who said I like Wang Meixie 妹妹 mèi mei, she's so annoying and she can't even, shut her mouth for a seconds, also she keeps on disturbing my leisure time with my flute!"
"*sigh* Okay okay, you win and I lose. But, what if she's also annoying like your Wang Meixie 妹妹 mèi mei?"
"I don't care if she's a-also annoying as long as she's not Wang Meixie 妹妹 mèi mei, okay? And also can you stop calling her my Wang Meixie cause it's irritating my ears Wu Xiyan 姐姐 jiě jie!"
"Hahahaha... Got it! As you wish, Weixiu 弟弟 dì di hahahaha... *cough!* *cough!* So, let's go?"
"Eh? W-where are we going Xiyan 姐姐 jiě jie?"
"Where? Of course, to your lovey-dovey Lvshi 妹妹 mèi mei! ayyiiee!! Ahahahaha.."
"*sigh* I can't believe you are crazy Xiyan 姐姐 jiě jie"
"What?! Who said I'm crazy?! You!"
"Ahahahahahaha... St-stop it now Xiyan 姐姐 jiě jie ahahahahahaha.. St-stop tickling me ahahahahahaha.. I-i-ii got it already, I got it! ahahahahahaha.. I-i-ii won't call you crazy anymore ahahahahahaha.."
"Weixiu 哥哥 gē ge!"
"Eh? Eh? W-wang Meixie! A-ayaah! I-i-ii c-can't breathe!"
"Omo! S-sorry Weixiu 哥哥 gē ge!"
"*sigh* I've already forgiven you."
"Yyeyy!! 谢谢 xièxie ni Weixiu 哥哥 gē ge"
"And what are you doing here again?"
"Ehh *pout* did you not miss me Weixiu 哥哥 gē ge?"
"谢谢 xièxie ni Matron Xin"
While observing Shuang Lvshi being cared for by Matron Xin, Wang Meixie asked him, "Eh? W-who is she Weixiu 哥哥 gē ge?" with an innocent expression and innocent tone of voice.
"She's Shuang Lvshi and she's mine Wang Meixie 妹妹 mèi mei. Bring me to her Xiyan 姐姐 jiě jie" Zhu Weixiu replied her with a sudden change of his mood to Wang Meixie and Wu Xiyan instantly obeyed his command, leaving Wang Meixie in the garden, staring at them, puzzled.
Inside the chamber of the Empress
"Mother, why is the second prince not me, but the Eunuch son, Zhu Weixiu, and why does Father accept him as his own son and allow him to use our surname despite the fact that he is not our Father's true son?"
"My son, my second Prince Zhu Jielou, it is because he is the only son of your father's Personal Eunuch, and since his mother and your father's Personal Eunuch are both dead, he must protect and care for his one and only child as if he were his own son."
"But Mother, does he really need to take my position? If he wants to be a prince, he can be the third prince, but not my title Mother.. please, I want to be the second prince because I'm your second born prince.. I want to reclaim my title as your second prince, Mother, please can you ask Father about it, please Mother.."
"My Son, whether you like it or not, you must accept your Father's decision; after all, he is your Father and the Emperor, which means he is also the Father of this country; besides, you are already fortunate that you are the third prince rather than the fourth prince, who is the son of your Father's current favorite concubine.
"I-i see Mother.. M-my apologies for my inappropriate behavior."
"It's fine, my son, but don't say it again... okay? Soon, you'll see why I always accept your Father's decision; after all, I'm already fortunate that they picked me as his Empress, and I'm still your Father's current Empress."
"O-okay Mother"
"Good... Would you give a hug to your mother?"
"*hug* I love you, Mother"
"*genuine smile* I love you too, My Second Prince Zhu Jielou"441Please respect copyright.PENANAzjhqX0EySw