I Don't Want to Be a Charmboy【Quick Wear】

Chapter 366 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (4)

Lin Shen's dark eyes darted around, as if he had come up with a brilliant idea.

He raised his two chubby little hands, which smelled of milk and medicine, and cupped the Emperor Qi's incomparably handsome face, forcing the other to look into his eyes.

With a serious expression on her little face, she said in a childish but clear voice, "Father, I don't like the incense being used in the palace anymore."

Emperor Qi was enjoying his son's affection when he heard this and was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting him to suddenly bring it up.

He let those two chubby little hands knead his cheeks haphazardly, even pouting slightly in agreement, and asked with interest, "Oh? Why doesn't my Abao like it? This is a top-grade spice that calms the mind and soothes the nerves."

Lin Shen's little mouth twitched, revealing a hint of spoiled willfulness, as if he were trying hard to recall: "It was... a few days ago, when Consort Yuan came to see me, she brought that incense, it smelled so good! It made me happy and my head felt light and comfortable. I liked it!"

He paused, his tone filled with obvious disappointment and longing, "But... it was only lit that one day, and I haven't smelled it since. Father, I want that incense!"

A very subtle doubt suddenly flashed through Emperor Qi's mind, like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake.

His expression remained unchanged, still one of doting indulgence. He even reached out and pinched Lin Shen's chubby little hand, which he was trying to pull back, and gently stroked it, asking in a gentle tone, "What day was it ordered? Father will have someone ask around. If there's any left, bring it all to A Bao."

Lin Shen released her hand, but her small hand was still enveloped by Emperor Qi's large palm.

He tilted his little face up and answered innocently, in the tone of a child recounting an ordinary event, "It was the day I fell into the pond."

These words struck Emperor Qi's heart like a soft chime.

His heart sank, and a vague guess suddenly became clear, like a spark that suddenly lit up in the darkness.

However, his years of experience as an emperor honed his composure, and his expression betrayed no change whatsoever. He still looked like he was completely obedient to his son, with even a gentle smile on his lips.

"So that's what Abao likes. Alright, Father will have someone go to Consort Yuan's place to ask and get some for you, okay?"

Lin Shen immediately smiled, his big eyes curving into crescents, and nodded vigorously.

"Thank you, Father!"

He knew that this was all he could say. Given Emperor Qi's almost pathologically suspicious nature, once suspicion arose, there was no need for him to say anything more during the subsequent investigation. The seed had been planted; it was just a matter of time before it took root and sprouted.

After that, Lin Shen was pestered and teased by Emperor Qi for quite a while.

They might lift you up high, recite childish nursery rhymes, or pretend to fight with a jade ruyi...

Of course, most of the time it was Emperor Qi who took the initiative, while Lin Shen cooperated half-heartedly.

Children's bodies tire easily. As he played, Lin Shen's eyelids began to droop. Finally, his head tilted to the side, resting against Emperor Qi's firm and warm chest. His breathing became even and long, and he fell asleep.

Emperor Qi felt the little one in his arms soften, and looked down at his peaceful sleeping face with a complicated expression.

He gently patted Lin Shen's back, just as he had coaxed him when he was a baby, his movements extremely gentle.

However, his son's seemingly unintentional words kept echoing in his mind—"the day he fell into the water," "the incense of Consort Yuan," "it smells so good, it makes my head feel light and airy"... A strong, ominous premonition surged into his heart like a tide, almost drowning him.

He carefully placed the sleeping baby in his arms on the large bed, pulled the brocade quilt over him, and covered him up gently.

After doing all this, he stood up, and the gentle smile he had shown when facing his son vanished instantly, replaced by a cold gloom between his brows.

He walked steadily out of the bedchamber and into the outer room. Facing the empty corner, his voice was deep and carried an unquestionable authority.

"Someone is coming."

A dark figure appeared silently like a ghost, kneeling on one knee. It was one of Emperor Qi's most trusted bodyguards.

Emperor Qi stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, his voice as cold as ice.

"Investigate. Carefully investigate the exact ingredients of the incense that Consort Yuan brought to the palace on the day the Crown Prince fell into the water. Also, besides the incense, did the Crown Prince come into contact with anything else in her palace that day, such as... tea, snacks? Investigate what the effects would be if these things were mixed together."

"Yes." The guard didn't say anything more. After accepting the order, he disappeared into the shadows again, as if he had never been there.

Emperor Qi stood still for a moment, emanating a chilling aura.

Only after his emotions had calmed down a little did he turn around and walk back to his bedchamber.

On the bed, the little child was sleeping soundly. Perhaps feeling hot, he kicked off the blanket, revealing a large part of his calf and chubby feet.

Upon seeing this, the coldness in Emperor Qi's eyes melted instantly, and he couldn't help but let out a helpless chuckle.

He stepped forward, skillfully removed his dragon-patterned outer robe, leaving only his inner garment, and quietly lay down on the bed. He turned to his side and pulled the unsuspecting little boy back into his arms, carefully tucking him in.

The baby in my arms was soft and warm, with the sweet scent unique to infants.

Emperor Qi lowered his head and, by the dim light filtering through the bed curtains, gazed at Lin Shen's sleeping face.

Those eyebrows, those nose, those slightly pouting lips when she's asleep...

It's so similar.

Jiji: "I'll leave you in suspense for now. Actually, it's not as simple as you all think, so who do you think it is?"