During the New Year this year, Cen Yelan had a headache.
Cen Yu’s tooth had gone bad, and the pain was severe, her cheek had even swollen. Su Chenzhao prescribed a remedy to ease the pain and firmly reminded her that she mustn’t eat sweets anymore.
At the time, Cen Yu covered her face and nodded obediently, but the moment the pain eased even a little, she forgot everything completely. And the one who spoiled her most was still Yuan Zheng. He was clearly aware that Cen Yu couldn’t have sweets, yet completely helpless against her soft pleading. Just a few drawn-out, sweet calls of “Emperor Father” were enough to make his head spin, and he’d respond with a string of “Alright, alright, eat, eat,” ordering the imperial kitchen to bring out every new dessert they had just invented.
In just a couple of days, Cen Yu’s tooth was aching again. But this time, she didn’t dare let Cen Yelan find out. She quietly packed a small bundle, and planned to hide away at the Meng’s Mansion. Meng Tan doted on her fiercely, perhaps even more so than Yuan Zheng. If Cen Yelan tried to discipline her, Yuan Zheng’s interference might be useless, but with Meng Tan around, her father might just let her off the hook.
She hadn’t even made it out the door yet before Cen Yelan caught her by the back of her collar. Cen Yu blinked pitifully and looked up at him. Her voice was muffled from the toothache, “Father…”
Cen Yelan asked indifferently, “Where are you going?”
Cen Yu’s eyes darted around, then shifted toward her other father, who was pretending to admire the red plum blossoms nearby. She mumbled, “Yu’er… Yu’er is not going anywhere.”
Cen Yelan let go and pinched her cheek, eyeing the slight swelling on one side of her face. He frowned and asked, “How much sweet did you eat yesterday?”
Cen Yu’s voice grew even softer. “I didn’t eat—a bit.” Then, sensing danger, she quickly added, “Father gave me a little… and the Dowager Consort Niangniang gave me a bit too…”
Yuan Zheng cleared his throat and said, “Ah Lan, don’t scare Yu’er. She really didn’t eat much yesterday, she just had a little taste. This is all the Imperial Kitchen’s fault—I only asked them to make a couple of new pastries, who knew they’d—”
Cen Yelan shot a glance at Yuan Zheng and said, “Shut up.”
Yuan Zheng immediately fell silent.
Cen Yu lowered her head, gripping Cen Yelan’s sleeve, and earnestly admitted her mistake, “Father, Yu’er knows my fault.”
Cen Yelan looked at the two figures before him, one big and one small, rubbed his forehead, and crouched down. He asked, “Yu’er, what did Uncle Chenzhao say?”
Cen Yu whispered, “He said Yu’er should eat fewer sweets.”
Cen Yelan asked, “Why didn’t you listen?”
Cen Yu bit her lip, her voice full of pitiful sincerity as she said, “Father, Yu’er knows my fault.”
Cen Yelan looked at the little girl’s reddened eyes and sighed. “Yu’er, your tooth hurts, you need to listen to Uncle Chenzhao. He’s a physician, or your teeth will be ruined later.”
Sensing that Cen Yelan wasn’t angry anymore, Cen Yu hugged his arm and said, “Yu’er understands now.”
Cen Yelan then asked her, “Does it still hurt?”
Cen Yu took his hand and guided it to her swollen cheek. “It hurts, it’s all swollen,” she said, pouting. “Yu’er has become ugly now.”
Cen Yelan felt both angry and heartbroken. “Will you act recklessly like this again in the future?”
Cen Yu shook her head vigorously, then looked over at Yuan Zheng, who was watching her with a longing gaze. “Father, it’s not Emperor Father’s fault. It’s Yu’er who was greedy…”
At just the right moment, Yuan Zheng spoke up, “Ah Lan, I know I was wrong. I’ll keep an eye on Yu’er and make sure the palace attendants don’t give her any more sweets.” Noticing the little girl’s widened eyes, he added, “At least until Yu’er gets better.”
Cen Yelan gave Yuan Zheng a glance but did not respond to him.
Yuan Zheng dragged out his voice, “Ah Lan.”
Cen Yu imitated him, “Father.”
Cen Yelan: …angry.
That evening, Yuan Zheng was driven out of the General’s Mansion by Cen Yelan.
Yuan Zheng stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, gazing at the tightly shut gate with a heavy sigh. Cheng Huai stood quietly beside him, eyes fixed straight ahead, not glancing to either side.
Yuan Zheng asked, “Have you ever seen an emperor being kicked out of the house?”
Cheng Huai replied, “This servant saw nothing, Your Majesty.”
Yuan Zheng let out another deep sigh.
Suddenly, the door creaked open slightly, and a small head peeked out—it was Cen Yu.
Yuan Zheng immediately leaned forward, saying, “Has your father changed his mind?”
Cen Yu shook her head and said seriously, “Father said if Emperor Father climbs over the wall today, you don’t need to come back tomorrow.”
Yuan Zheng: “……”
Yuan Zheng: “Yu’er—”
Cen Yu patted Yuan Zheng’s shoulders and promised, “Emperor Father, don’t worry. I’ll speak well of you and make sure Father forgives you soon.”
Yuan Zheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He patted Cen Yu on the shoulders and said, “Emperor Father is relying on you!”
Cen Yu nodded seriously.
After a moment, Yuan Zheng rubbed Cen Yu’s little head and asked, “Does your tooth still hurt?”
Cen Yu’er replied, “Uncle Chenzhao made medicine, I drank it, and it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Yuan Zheng said, “Even if it doesn’t hurt anymore, you’re still not allowed to eat snacks. Just look at your father’s face, it’s completely dark today.”
He said, “I haven’t seen your father’s face darkened for many years.”
Cen Yu responded obediently.
Yuan Zheng smiled and said, “Go back, it’s cold outside. Don’t catch a chill.”
Cen Yu rubbed Yun Zheng’s large hand and said, “Then Emperor Father should go back early too.”
Yuan Zheng replied, “Alright.”
He watched as Cen Yu’er withdrew her little head and couldn’t help but smile. The moonlight was bright, and his heart felt soft and warm.
T/N: So Cen Yu called YZ ‘Fuqin’ and CYL ‘Diedie’. Since both mean ‘father’, I use ‘emperor father’ to refer to YZ in order to avoid confusion. ‘Diedie’ could also be translated as ‘daddy’ or ‘papa’… but it sounds too modern, so let’s just go with this xD
