Chapter Nineteen: The Young Girl Cultivation Plan?

"Yan Hong, Cui Liu, quickly, quickly, go fetch a wet nurse!"

Perhaps it was hunger, but the child who had slept quietly all the way began to cry incessantly as soon as she entered the gates of the Prince Zhou's mansion. Though she was small, her cries were anything but, and no amount of soothing would calm her. Li Xian was beside himself with worry, rushing toward the inner hall and shouting before he even stepped inside.

"Your Highness, is this—"

"Could this child be—"

"Impossible, surely Your Highness wouldn't—"

There was no need for Li Xian to call for anyone; the maids had already been startled by the cries. Five or six of them rushed out, curiosity shining in their eyes as they crowded around, their gaze darting between Li Xian and the wailing child in Gao Miao's arms, discussing the situation in hushed, excited tones.

What are they thinking? At my age, how could I possibly have a child this big? A bunch of airheads! Li Xian felt a wave of embarrassment as he listened to their wild speculation, and the black lines on his forehead drooped even lower. He couldn't very well explain the true origin of the girl, so he had no choice but to put on a stern face and cough a few times. Unfortunately, his coughs were too soft, and the maids' gossiping energy too strong—far from quieting down, their chatter only became louder, leaving Li Xian in an awkward predicament.

"Your Highness, my wife is currently nursing a child, and she has plenty of milk. I think she could manage." Just as Li Xian was feeling frustrated, a rough voice sounded behind him.

"Oh? Wonderful! Lin, please go fetch your wife immediately. I won't be stingy with rewards," Li Xian said, turning to find the speaker was his newly promoted personal attendant, Lin Hu. Delighted, he urged him on.

"Certainly, Your Highness. Please wait, I'll fetch her right away," Lin Hu replied, hurrying out. Formerly just a deputy captain in the mansion's guard, he had no right to live in the mansion until a recent case in the imperial prison had earned him a promotion and generous reward from Li Xian, allowing his whole family to move in. Deeply grateful, Lin Hu was eager to repay Li Xian's kindness. He quickly returned with a sturdy-looking young woman.

"Your Highness, this is my wife, Lady Wang," Lin Hu said, smiling sheepishly. He then turned to his wife and barked, "Foolish woman, what are you staring at? Hurry up and pay your respects to His Highness."

"Ah, so this is His Highness. I—I greet you," Lady Wang stammered, clearly unaccustomed to such occasions and unfamiliar with proper etiquette. Her awkward greeting made Lin Hu blush with embarrassment, and he apologized, "Your Highness, my wife lacks experience, but her milk is plentiful. Our own daughter never finishes it all—it would be a shame to waste it."

"No need for formalities," Li Xian waved off the apology. "I've asked Lady Wang here for a favor: this little girl has just lost her mother, and Heaven knows, I ask Lady Wang to care for her. If you agree, I will grant your household one string of coins monthly, and all food and supplies will come from the mansion’s kitchen. Will this arrangement suit you?"

A string of coins per month was no small sum; common folk could hardly hope to earn it, and even Lin Hu, with his post, received only four hundred coins a month. The comparison made the offer staggering, and Lady Wang could barely contain her joy, hastily agreeing, "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you! I’ll take good care of her, she won’t be neglected—"

"Quiet!" Lady Wang was quick to accept, but Lin Hu was furious. He had brought his wife solely to repay Li Xian’s favor, never intending to ask for money. Before entering, he had warned his wife repeatedly not to mention payment, but she had forgotten everything at the sight of such generous reward, not even bothering to consult him. Embarrassed and angry, Lin Hu interrupted her declaration and turned to Li Xian, bowing deeply: "Your Highness, please forgive her lack of manners. It’s only nursing a child, nothing difficult. My life belongs to Your Highness; to serve you is my honor. I couldn’t possibly accept your money—this must not be."

A sincere man—capable, perhaps even indispensable if he proves himself. Li Xian, experienced in such matters, judged Lin Hu at a glance, noting the genuine feeling behind his words. He did not say as much, but smiled and waved a hand, "No need to be so restrained, Lin. My word stands; the arrangement is settled. There is one condition, though: your wife must live in the inner quarters, and your daughter may join her, so they can keep each other company. It will be harder on you, as your wife can only return home when she has time. Are you willing?"

"All will be as Your Highness commands." The prospect of his daughter living in the inner quarters delighted Lin Hu, and though it might bring some inconvenience, with both husband and wife residing in the mansion, it was manageable. He agreed without hesitation.

"Good, it's settled. Lady Wang, the child is hungry—please feed her in my room," Li Xian said, eager to finish the arrangements.

"Certainly, Your Highness. Leave it to me," Lady Wang replied, beaming as she took the swaddled infant from Gao Miao and, accompanied by Yan Hong and the maids, entered the main room to nurse the child.

At last, it’s settled—what a hassle! Hmm, is this the legendary 'raising a little girl'? Perhaps, maybe, possibly. As the crying ceased, Li Xian breathed a clear sigh of relief, wiped his face, and with a hint of mischievous amusement, recalled tales from later generations about raising little girls. His lips curled into a sly smile, making Gao Miao, who stood nearby, shiver involuntarily, utterly unable to understand what had come over his young master.

What’s he smiling about? Why so ambiguous? In the midst of Li Xian’s wandering thoughts, laughter and playful shouts from the maids erupted in the main room, piquing his curiosity. He wanted to peek inside, but feared witnessing Lady Wang nursing the child—that would hardly be appropriate. He hesitated, glancing at the curtain separating the door, and finally contented himself with pacing restlessly outside.

"Your Highness, the child is asleep. I have fulfilled your request," Lady Wang finally emerged, accompanied by Yan Hong.

"Excellent! Gao Miao, go arrange for the courtyard to be cleaned and prepare quarters for Lady Wang, not too far, a nearby courtyard will do." Overjoyed, Li Xian hurried to see the sleeping child, barely pausing to issue instructions before pushing past the curtain into the room. There, Cui Liu and the other maids were clustered around the bed, chattering about the infant.

Li Xian did not wish to squeeze into the crowd, but after waiting a while and seeing no sign of quieting, he coughed twice to assert his presence.

"His Highness is here."

"Your Highness."

…

The maids turned at the sound, greeting Li Xian in a flurry, but their faces were flushed and the atmosphere oddly tense, leaving Li Xian baffled. He frowned and asked, "Why are you all gathered here?"

His words had barely left his lips when the maids burst out laughing, darting out of the room in a flash, leaving Li Xian feeling even more uncomfortable. He turned to Yan Hong, who had followed him in, and asked, annoyed, "Yan Hong, what were those girls up to? Is what I said really so funny?"

…

Yan Hong did not answer immediately, instead blushing and lowering her head shyly, refusing to meet his eyes, which only deepened Li Xian’s confusion. He scratched his head and pressed her, "Yan Hong, tell me, did I do something wrong?"

"No, it’s just—ah, it’s just…" Yan Hong stammered, flustered by his questioning.

"Well? Speak clearly—what’s all this about?" Li Xian’s suspicion grew, and he spoke sternly.

"Ah, the maids thought the child was yours, but when Lady Wang explained, they realized—realized Your Highness couldn’t, ah…" Yan Hong blurted out, but halfway through, realizing her words were inappropriate, she fell silent, lowering her head in embarrassment.

Oh, so that’s it! No wonder those girls laughed so crudely. Damn it, they dare say I couldn’t possibly father a child—wait until they all do! Though Yan Hong’s explanation was incomplete, Li Xian understood perfectly. He felt a surge of anger, but then remembered the awkwardness of his current age and sighed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head helplessly. Turning, still feeling aggrieved, he walked over to the sleeping Shangguan Wan’er…