Chapter 525: Suffered Great Trauma
He looked up and saw the little girl staring at him without blinking, his own small face flushing red with embarrassment.
"Don’t worry. Just take your time."
Gao Qi gave a slight nod and sat quietly.
His eyes would occasionally dart toward Ye Qianning’s face.
Ye Qianning sighed softly.
Seeing the tears still shimmering in the little boy’s eyes, his face bright red, and noticing his small stature, she felt a pang of pity and simply closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look at him.
Inside the carriage, it was utterly silent for a moment.
Outside, the bustling sounds of street vendors and crowds flowed in ceaselessly.
Ye Qianning leaned against the soft couch, resting with her eyes closed.
Gao Qi felt a strange nervousness in his heart. He fidgeted with the corner of his clothes, his breathing having finally calmed. Seeing the little girl with her eyes closed, he didn’t know how to begin speaking.
His gaze fell upon her chubby little face. It was as if carved from pink jade, with features as picturesque as a painting—like a little fairy descended from the heavens.
Just as he was lost in thought watching her, Ye Qianning opened her eyes.
Their eyes met. Gao Qi froze, his cheeks visibly flushing red. Unable to stop himself, he hiccuped again.
"Not over it yet?" she asked.
Gao Qi nodded, then shook his head. "I’m... I’m fine."
"So, can you tell me what this is about now?"
"Um..." Gao Qi hesitated for a moment, lowering his head slightly. "Why haven’t you been to classes at the Academy for so many days?"
"What? You think you haven’t copied the Disciple’s Rules enough?"
"I... You... If you’re afraid of being punished, it’s okay that the Eighth Prince isn’t here. I’ll help you copy them. No matter how much you’re assigned, I’ll copy it for you." Gao Qi looked up, his small face extremely earnest.
Ye Qianning met his earnest gaze, but the playful smile from before was gone.
"Really. I’ll copy as much as you need." Seeing her silence, Gao Qi grew a little anxious, his expression still serious.
Ye Qianning found it very confusing. She and the Prime Minister’s Residence had never been on good terms, and Gao Qi couldn’t have known that she had stormed his home last time. Before, his friendliness might have been understandable—perhaps because his father had mentioned a potential marriage alliance. But now she was the Crown Princess Consort; there would be no more connection between her and the Prime Minister’s Residence. So why was he still trying to be so close to her?
Seeing that she remained silent, Gao Qi didn’t dare say more, his eyes fixed on her.
After a long moment, Ye Qianning asked softly, "Something happened at your home a while ago. Did you know?"
"Are you talking about my mother being divorced by my father?"
...
Ye Qianning was taken aback for a moment. ’So he knew?’
’Is it normal to be so calm about your own parents getting a divorce?’
"Last time I went home for a break from school, I heard the maids talking about what happened on the streets. It wasn’t your fault. Besides, what adults say and do is their business. We’re just kids; we don’t understand it," Gao Qi added.
Ye Qianning looked up at him. For some reason, she felt there was a hidden meaning in his words. After a moment of contemplation, she asked, "Aren’t you sad that your mother left you?"
"A little. But I’m used to being by myself."
Ye Qianning had heard that Lady Gao doted on her youngest son, but from Gao Qi’s attitude, she sensed that he didn’t seem to care much for his mother.
For a child to treat his mother like this, it was highly likely that he had witnessed something or suffered a great trauma.
Moreover, Gao Qi was ill—very seriously ill.
The cause of his illness involved being frightened so badly it triggered a persistent high fever, which in turn damaged his body. That, combined with long-term psychological suppression, led to a hormonal deficiency that would affect his future height.
He was not just a little shorter than other children his age; he grew very slowly, and only now were the changes in his physique becoming noticeable.
Gao Qi peeked at her. "Will you go back to the Academy for classes?"
Ye Qianning nodded.