Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 395

After Gu Ye was placed in the clean room, he began to undress himself, hardly considering sending his mother away. The maids brought in hot water, filled the tub, and then discreetly retreated. Gu Ye had already removed his shirt and was wearing large cotton boxer shorts, preparing to step into the tub.

Realizing his inebriation, Gu Yin felt naturally concerned about him attempting to bathe himself. She extended her hand to help him remove his boxer shorts and then gently guided him into the tub. Taking up a bath towel, she carefully washed him from head to toe.

As he relaxed against the tub, Gu Ye drifted off to sleep. Once his back was washed, his mother wrapped him in a large bath towel and placed him on the bed. The little boy soon stirred, his face flushed.

“Why did you bathe me in secret, Mother?” He mumbled as he accepted the new pants she handed him, playfully placing them on his head beneath the towel.

Gu Yin chuckled at the sight. “You were dozing off when you arrived. I was worried you might drown if you attempted to bathe on your own. I was simply lending a helping hand. Are you dissatisfied?”

“I’m sorry!” He responded, finally regaining his composure as he put on his underclothes and trousers.

Gu Yin encouraged him to rest, but Gu Ye found it difficult to fall asleep. Thus, the mother and son began to engage in a conversation.

“I must admit, I acted impulsively today,” Gu Ye confessed seriously. “I observed that he was so young, yet his words were so unpleasant. Subconsciously, I reached out to cover his mouth. Although the situation escalated, I don’t regret my actions for defending my father, the emperor. However, I never anticipated that this scuffle would become a matter of dignity…”

After a brief pause, he continued, “Experience teaches wisdom, and next time, I’ll know not to react instinctively. If a similar situation arises again, I won’t be so impulsive.”

Gu Yin wanted to offer her advice, but he had already pondered the matter deeply.

“I can’t assist you with palace matters; you’ll need to rely on your own judgment. Being cautious is always a good approach,” Gu Yin assured him, gently stroking his young head.

Gu Ye promptly shook his head. “How did you know? I overheard people talking later that the empress had to apologize on my behalf. You trusted me and insisted that I’m not the kind of person who resorts to violence.”

Gu Yin laughed and replied, “Even though you weren’t born to me, I’ve raised you to be the person you are today. I see you every day, how could I not know you well?”

Gu Ye continued, “I’ll still need your help tomorrow morning. I want to eat roujiamo (hamburgers).”

With a warm smile, Gu Yin agreed, and she gently coaxed him back to sleep.

After he was asleep, Gu Yin left quietly. Instead of returning to her room, she headed to the kitchen.

The next morning, when Gu Ye woke up, Gu Yin had already prepared a meal for him. It wasn’t just roujiamo; there were also braised pork biscuits.

The buns and biscuits were meticulously crafted to suit Gu Ye’s stature. They were exceptionally small, each no larger than a child’s palm. Despite using nearly identical ingredients, the buns for roujiamo were soft and absorbed the rich broth of the braised pork. On the other hand, the meat patty’s crust had been baked to a satisfying crispiness, offering a completely different taste.

The marinated meat in both dishes had been prepared the previous night, resulting in a truly delicious flavor.

Gu Ye enjoyed one serving at home and, not wanting to waste the rest, wrapped them in paper and brought them into the palace.

Feng Yu had arrived earlier than Gu Ye and was busy setting up the table with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.

When Gu Ye entered, he inquired, “What are you doing? Have you had breakfast? I brought something to eat.”

Feng Yu’s status in the Feng family had undergone a transformation. Even Mrs. Qin had to treat him with respect, and nobody dared to challenge him. However, without his mother around, the servants’ diligent service couldn’t compare to when Ge Zhu was present. Feng Yu had already eaten breakfast, but it didn’t satisfy his appetite, and he hadn’t eaten much.

Besides, since the food was brought by Gu Ye, Feng Yu naturally responded, “I’m just a little hungry. What did Your Highness bring?”

Gu Ye showed him the two oil-paper bags, one containing roujiamo and the other filled with braised pork biscuits, making a total of four items.

As the food was presented, Xiao Luzi arrived with a handkerchief soaked in warm water to help them clean their hands. Additionally, someone served tea, and a tablecloth was placed over the table to prevent any oil from splattering onto the study’s cherished brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Gu Ye thanked him with a smile, and while Xiao Luzi stated that he didn’t dare to accept thanks, Feng Yu, being more attentive than Gu Ye, had noticed a subtle change in the attitude of the palace servants even before Gu Ye’s arrival.

Previously, they were respectful and courteous, but there was a sense of formality. On this day, the tone had changed. The servants were especially attentive, even without Gu Ye having to request anything. This boded well for Gu Ye, so even though Feng Yu noticed, he remained silent.

As they set up, Lu Xu rubbed his eyes. At first, he was eager to experience it for the first time and had gotten up early in the morning the previous day. However, as the novelty wore off, he couldn’t muster the motivation to rise and was still in tears in Yonghe Palace. In the end, the wet nurse and the palace maid worked together to dress and bath him, and then carried him over.