Lang Wuying put his brush down, checking over his written forms and notes for the upcoming royal family trip, carefully putting the paper aside to dry, unrolling the other forms, and putting them back in their tray for his servant to pick up.
He picked up the brush again and unrolled a blank scroll to add more notes for the other departments, but his mind kept going back to the emperor's visit and his brain went blank.
He lets out a frustrated sigh, knowing that he won't get much done. He puts down the brush, closes his eyes, and leans back in his empty workroom away from prying eyes.
It's been a few days, yet the emperor's words continued to scurry around his head like roaches, accusing him of jealousy and misuse of his power as manager of the harem as if they both weren't aware that Noble Consort Gao had the backing of his high standing official father, meaning he has to have physical evidence other than hearsay that incriminates Noble Consort Gao or Noble Consort Chen for that matter, meanwhile, Lang Wuying has no one but a well respected traveling father in who knows where, and well, his three-year-old son who is the current heir, whos, unfortunately, have been sickly seen his birth, so he can't outright say that it was the Noble Consort's maid that gave Jing Ling something to make him sick.
Jin Ling's sickly constitution brought so much heartache to Lang Wuying. Since the months after his birth A' Ling got sick every few months, sometimes it was bad enough that the doctors weren't even sure if he would survive. The longest he lasted without getting sick was five months when he turned one.
Lang Wuying could do nothing but soothe his child in silence. With only his friend to ease his worries, instead of his 'husband' Lang Wuying had to fortify the walls in his heart. When A-Ling kept getting high fevers just a few months after his birth, Lang Wuying acquiesced to emotionally distance himself as much as possible just in case the worst happened. He would nurse his son when he was asleep but left him to be cared for by his nannies.
Lang Wuying knew that if the worst came to happen he would never recover from it, but maybe the emotional pain would hurt less.
A Ling is now three years old close to four and recently just came out from being sick again, and that seems to somehow change him, maybe since he's now able to grasp the world and people around him he's developing a personality.
He stands up, grabs the scrolls on his desk, and walks to the shelve putting them back in their rightful place. Though it's a little odd since A-ling used to be pretty attached to his nannies and quite shy around Lang Wuying himself, now he seems to have completely forgotten said shyness.
During their daily meals, A Ling mumbles to himself quite a lot and stares at him often enough that Lang Wuyin has to act like he's not aware of it. He thought that the snow accident was the last of odd things that his son would do, however, according to his eunuch Xiao Qiu it was not.
Xiao Qiu informed him that he regularly runs away from his nannies and causes disturbances despite getting light punishment. Instead of sleeping in the afternoon he rather runs around the palace. He grumbles, fusses, and even scratches when getting caught or held. Getting taught new words seems to be an issue as he either doesn't repeat or chooses not to listen. The more Lang Wuying hears about his son the more he starts to resemble a wild animal rather than a toddler.
He doesn't know what to think or do about it.
The door to his workroom opens abruptly, his old friend and head eunuch Xiao Qiu, calmly saunters in holding his son in one hand by the scruff of his clothes like some stray kitten. By the impressive scowl on Jing Ling's face, he is not happy about his situation.
He bows lowly, and an amused smirk spreads through his face. "Empress. Seems like Prince Jin Ling has escaped his nannies once again." He promptly puts Jin Ling on the ground.
The child immediately puts space between himself and Xiao Qiu. Lang Wuying watches him silently, Jing Ling pats himself down face scrunching in disgust, and glances at Lang Wuying almost wearily but intently as if he's waiting for him to say something. Lang Wuying has no idea what to say, his child seems to have become something of a wild card in just a few days.
Lang Wuying stares back, either way, he has to educate him as he is a prince and princes do not and cannot act as such.
" Jin Ling," A-Ling turned to face him fully," You are a prince. Princes do not run away from their nannies nor do they cause such difficulty to others. It is unbecoming of you." He lectures.
Jing Ling responds with an unimpressed look, "Bored. Nannies boring, I wanna explore."
" You can explore after your studies and a nap as per schedule. Running away from them and causing disruptions results in punishment and a lecture A-Ling."
A-Ling seems to be digesting his words as he glances to the right, " No nannies, want to explore. I be good if not boring and quiet." Jing Ling looks ahead at Lang Wuying, side glancing at Xiao Qiu who's been watching on silently but slowly growing more amused by the second.
Are three years old like this? Lang Wuying can't help but question if children at this age can be this articulate in their words. Maybe Jing Ling has gotten tired of being always handheld all the time due to his sickness. Yes, that must be it.
He hears giggling and turns to his eunuch who's sat on the day bed as if it was his own.
"Oh wow. I've never seen something like this." He chuckles.
"What is so funny?" Lang Wuying asks.
"Ah. Hehe. Nothing, nothing. Your son is just amusing, Wuying. His only been awake for a few days and causing more commotion than anyone in this palace in months." He relaxes even more into the day bed, completely disregarding etiquette making Lang Wuying's eye twitch in his shamelessness.
Lang Wuying huffs indignantly, " That is not a good thing, Xiao Qiu. There are rules in this Jade palace therefore he must abide by them. It builds discipline and fortitude." Lang Wuying states a bit more forcibly than he intended to come across.
Rules are important for balance in this world, especially in the royal palace. He's made sure his palace is strictly under them to make sure nothing is out of his control.
" Yeah, yeah, " the young man waves his hand, his expression and mannerism sobering up, " So you have said. But I have to agree with the kid. It's too quiet, after those maids and the nanny's expulsion it's been quiet enough that it's been making me anxious."
The Empress sits down on his chair, posture straight and face revealing nothing. He's been aware that firing that maid sent from the Noble Consort wasn't a good idea, it made people talk and his actions questioned. But he was filled with so much rage and full of fear for his child's safety that the moment he found out who was in charge of A-ling's feeding and preparing the food he fired her from the palace then and there.
The gossip from them must've been rampant, and judging by the Emperor's subsequent visit, Noble Consort Gao took full advantage of it.
"I'm aware, but the Jade Palace has its rule about too much noise. For now, let's leave it as it is." He responds, Xiao Qiu merely sighs yet nods knowing that it's a discussion best left for later.
In the moments of silence, Lang Wuying looks down in the direction of Jing Ling who's somehow pushed a small stepping stool near his table and is pulling himself onto it to stare at his notes on the table. Lang Wuying once again finds himself baffled as his son stares at his notes thoughtfully as if he can read them. Can he read it? Hmm.
" A-Ling, what does this say?" He points to the word for 'river'. A Ling glances at him, but answers without any hesitation.
"River."
He points to another word, "And this?"
"Authority."
Lang Wuying's brows twitch, and he can see Xiao Qiu lean closer at the corner of his eyes.
He tries a different approach, curious he slides his finger to the next word. " And who's this?" He points to the word for 'Empress' and watches as A-ling merely blinks and stares at Lang Wuying as if it's a dumb question.
"You."
Lang Wuying nods. He then points to another word. " Who is this, A-Ling?"
A-Lings eyes dimmed and his brows furrowed. " The Emperor." He answers after a pause.
"...Yes. But what else?"
"...The Emperor."
"Hmm. Alright." Lang Wuying shares a look with Xiao Qiu. Both stare at the tiny toddler in varying degrees of bewilderment.
Lang Wuying stores this revelation for later thinking.
It's very peculiar since A-ling had never called the Emperor by his title, it's always been 'A-die'.