Being busy with household, politics etc and her husband serving as the frontier general of the border, defending the Yang dynasty from Daqian, she had a stoic face glued to her. But now, she had a grandson at last, whom she played with this entire morning. He not only bought smile to her face but also rejuvenated her entire being.
"Tian'er, you know that this grandma and your grandfather Su have a big gift for you?"
Hearing this, Su Lin's ears perked up and she asked cautiously "Mother, are you sure? Tian'er is still small and has yet to grow up.
Even if he decides to, is it necessary to give the new batch of death warriors to him so early? Is father really going to bet on Tian'er? I don't want to burden him so early, please let him decide for himself when he grows up.."
*Sob*
Su Lin eyes blurred at the end of her speech as she started weeping. Mrs Su quickly wiped her tears and coaxed her.
"Lin'er, I understand your worries. No one is forcing Tian'er, your father loves Tian'er is just worried that he will be bullied since he is too younger than his brothers. Your father also said to grow Tian'er happily and try to keep him from the politics.
Since he will be taught be imperial tutors after reaching 6 years of age and will be shifted to the prince manor, you need to teach him how to protect himself, your father has prepared 100 death guards specially for him."
"Whaaatttt!!!"
Consort Su's mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg in it, she doubted whether she heard the correct numbers. Then she broke out in cold sweat.
"Mother, isn't it too much to give 100 death guards? You know how hard and costly it is training them and father himself took only 100 to the border. We don't even have enough at the hand, how can you do this if you aren't supporting Tian'er for crown prince position."
"Your father and I have discussed and this is our final decision. And as for the crown prince position, let's leave it for Tian'er for decide. But both you and I know what happens to a prince without power, that's why, let's give these death guards to Tian'er when he grows up. Atleast he should be able to protect himself, till then, you can control them as you wish."
Surprisingly, Su Lin nodded at her mother's words.
In the royal palace, a prince without power isn't necessarily safe. They are used as scapegoats or mostly die during the battle for succession, with only few wise or lucky ones surviving the ordeal after the new emperor ascends the throne, after which they might be dealt with depending on their value or the situation.
She also understood that her child may fall in someone else's trap, or may be victim of the royal politics. Since the child is still small, she has to teach him the reality of palace and a royal prince as he grows up. As the wisdom cannot be imparted due to her son still being young, she had to focus on the other aspect, loyal retainers.
'Father and mother are right, Tian'er is safe now, what about the future? Once he grows up to be responsible, I will give the guards to him.'
"Ok mother, but you don't need to give them to me, I can't take them to palace, can I?"
"Ok ok dear, let's leave it at that, let me tell you about....."
The mother and daughter pair resumed their usual chit chat and after seeing the weather turning colder, Su Lin said goodbye to her family as she returned to the wuming palace in the inner palace.
Wuming palace was a bit too much of a stretch. It was actually a mansion with a courtyard, which was slightly bigger than other courtyards.
After opening the door, you can see the beauty of the Wuming mansion which earned it the name of Wuming palace. The ground of the front yard is paved with bluestone, with a circular pond in the middle. There is a rockery in the pond, pavilions and trees on the hill, and groups of red carp swim freely in the pond.
Pine, rosewood, camphor, and bamboo are planted on both sides of the courtyard. Although it is midwinter, it is still full of greenery.
When the eunuch Wei who was waiting outside saw them arriving, he shouted excitedly: Welcome back Madam Su!
"Hmm. Did anything happen while I was away?"
"No Madam, everything is at it was before you left."
"Good work, tell the maids to prepare a tub of warm water, while you guide Lili to my chambers, she is very sleepy."
"This slave obeys!"
After returning, Lili was too tired after playing and directly fell asleep. While Lin washed herself up and returned to her room. Seeing both her children asleep, she smiled, kissed both of them on their head and followed them to the dream world.
If dream was multiplayer, she would have realised that there were only 2 players online. The third player was still offline or in other words, awake.
*Sigh*
'I was so busy collecting information all day that I even forgot to check out the shop. Well, now it's all quiet, perfect for shopping.'
'Open the shop!'
[Sloth shop-
Sloth coins- 3050
Items currently redeemable-
Self-
*Basic eye enhancement - 400 coins
*Basic ear enhancement - 80 coins
*pee pee enlarger - 10 coins
*Basic strength enhancement - 500 coins
*Limiter removal (one-time)- 1000 coins
*Basic smell enhancement - 200 coins
*Canine smell mutation - 2500 coins
*....
Etc.]
'There are basic enhancements, they must be the peak of basic humans during my times, um lemme check. Yes, the peak of basic homo sapiens cover basic enhancements.'
'Pee pee enlarger? If it was the modern world, I would've been a billionaire or trillionare with it. What a scene it would've been, the messiah of men, the dragon raiser, hahahaha'
*Ding*
[Pride coins +20]
'The man among men thanks you for the 20 coins, now, let's see what I will probably need first, I will buy that.'
Before you could decide on the enhancement or mutation to select, a screech pierced the cold and silent night.
"Aahhhhh!! Fire!!"
"The garden is on fire!"
"Put out, put out the fire, who lit it? Eunuch Wei, you are here, someone set fire to the entire garden!"
"Find the perpetrator, which maid is missing! I will check on the consort."
Hearing the chaos outside, Yang Tian instantly became alert and quickly rescanned the shop, selecting the limiter removal option.
"Uhh.. hmm? What is that noise outside, who is shouting so loudly."
The loud cries and shouts woke Su Lin from her sleep, causing her to yawn in annoyance as she went to door.
*Swoosh*
Before she could open it, eunuch Wei opened it with a swoosh and upon seeing the drowsy consort immediately knelt and spoke.
"Forgive me Consort Su! Someone has put the bamboo garden on fire, the maids are still trying to put out the fire. It isn't safe outside, please stay in your chamber."
Eunuch Wei's words sobered her as up as she looked outside the door, as the garden in her sight, where she actually knit clothes for her childen was engulfed in flames.
"Who dares, let me see who dares! Where is your deputy eunuch? Tell him to guard my chambers and quickly inform his majesty. Let me see who is brave enough to harm me inside the inner palace."
"My lady, please don't! I have sent the deputy to inform the emperor and the royal guards as well as Jinyiwei must have seen the fire and should've already went to report to the emperor."
She looked at the raging fire outside as a similar fire lit inside her, her small peaceful abode had almost turned into ashes. She gritted her teeth as her eyes became resolute.
But before she could speak, a high pitched shrill voice pierced through the already chaotic scene.