After I transmigrated, the cold king clung to me every day.

Chapter 228 Su Wan'er Returns to the Prince's Mansion with the Child

Su Wan'er held the baby boy steadily in her arms, a smug smile playing on her lips. She strode to the door, glancing outside, a hint of wickedness flashing in her eyes. She murmured softly, "I, Su Wan'er, finally have my own son. From now on, I can live a good life in this palace thanks to him! Hmph~"

Looking at the bed, Huan'er had just experienced the excruciating pain of childbirth, and was as weak as a candle flickering in the wind.

Her eyes were fixed on Su Wan'er's every move, her lips were bitten until they turned white, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Those tears were filled with unspeakable bitterness and despair.

Sun Lan stood by, watching Huan'er's grief. She gently walked to the bedside, approached Huan'er, and softly patted her back, trying to offer her some comfort. But Sun Lan's brows furrowed tightly, and she sighed helplessly. That sigh seemed to carry too much powerlessness and sympathy.

Huan'er slowly raised her head and met Sun Lan's gaze, which was filled with helplessness and despair.

She was completely immersed in this immense sorrow, as if swallowed by endless darkness, unable to find a single ray of light.

Su Wan'er slowly turned around, her gaze sharp as a knife as she glanced at Huan'er. Her head held high and her arrogant posture seemed to proclaim her victory to the world. A wicked smile curled at the corner of her lips, her tone full of haughtiness: "Huan'er, you gave birth to a son for this princess. Your contribution is the greatest. Don't worry, this princess will not mistreat you!"

Huan'er's lips trembled slightly, her eyes filled with pain and struggle. She weakly spoke, "Your Highness... this child..."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Wan'er interrupted him urgently.

"This child... is the first child I have with the Prince, of course I will take good care of him!" Su Wan'er spoke very quickly, as if afraid that Huan'er would say something she shouldn't, and her eyes revealed a hint of panic that was hard to detect.

Upon hearing this, Huan'er felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if a thousand needles were piercing her.

She had carried the child for ten months, endured countless hardships to give birth, and now others were to label her as their mother, while she could only watch silently from a lowly position. She knew in her heart that her status was lowly, and she was pregnant out of wedlock; if she uttered even the slightest complaint, she would likely be rejected even by this royal palace.

She could only swallow her pain and grievances, tears welling up in her eyes before finally rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably.

She dared not utter a sound, only silently weeping. Those silent tears were her protest against the injustice of fate, and also her deep longing and reluctance to part with her child.

Su Wan'er hugged the child tightly with both arms, as if holding a priceless treasure. She looked around warily and said urgently, "It's getting late, I should probably go back! It would be troublesome if we were discovered!" Her tone left no room for doubt, as if staying even a moment longer would be extremely dangerous.

Huan'er's eyes were red and pleading, her voice trembling with tears: "Your Highness, could you please let me... hold the child one more time..." Her gaze was fixed on the child, her hands unconsciously rising slightly, as if trying to seize this last chance for intimacy.

Sun Lan, standing nearby, looked on with pity and quickly chimed in, "Your Highness, please think about it. This separation of mother and child must be so painful for Huan'er. Let her hold her one more time; it will ease her longing for this moment." As she spoke, she gently tugged at Su Wan'er's sleeve, her eyes full of earnestness.

Upon hearing this, Su Wan'er's eyes darted around, and after a moment's thought, a wicked smile curled at the corner of her lips, as if she were certain that everything was under control: "Alright! Anyway, this child is mine now, and I'll have plenty of time to hold him in the future!" With that, she reluctantly handed the child to Huan'er.

Huan'er took the child with trembling hands and hugged him tightly, as if she wanted to transfer all her body heat to the child.

She looked down at her child's rosy face, her fingers gently touching the child's cheek, and tears uncontrollably fell onto the child's swaddling clothes.

Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but endless sorrow choked her throat, and she could only let out suppressed sobs, each one filled with a deep longing for parting.

Sun Lan watched this scene, her eyes reddening as well. She turned her head away, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and murmured softly, "Poor child, poor mother..."

Looking at Huan'er, who was immersed in grief, Su Wan'er suddenly seemed to think of something, her expression changed drastically, and her brows furrowed into a deep frown.

She frantically ran her hand through her hair, then subconsciously straightened her clothes, silently planning: [If the prince asks, I'll say I accidentally fell and miscarried, but luckily an old woman came along who had experience in midwifery, which saved the baby…]

Thinking it over, she quickly loosened her carefully styled hair, letting a few strands fall messily beside her cheeks. She then rubbed her cheeks vigorously, making her face look pale and haggard. She slightly hunched over, feigning weakness, and looked at her "masterpiece" with satisfaction. A smug smile reappeared on her lips, as if she could already see her bright future in the royal palace, secured by this child.

Su Wan'er carefully held the child in her arms, a smug look on her face. She walked to Huan'er's bedside and said softly but firmly, "Huan'er, I'll go back to the manor first. In a few days, I'll find an excuse to bring you back. Then, we'll see how things go!"

She leaned forward slightly, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes, as if everything was under her control.

Huan'er's lips moved, but she ultimately said nothing. She simply nodded silently, her eyes empty and sorrowful, tears welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back.

Su Wan'er straightened up, holding the child, turned to face Sun Lan, her expression instantly turning serious, and coldly commanded, "You come back to the manor with me!"

"Huh? Me!" Upon hearing this, Sun Lan's face showed surprise and hesitation. She subconsciously took a step back, her voice tinged with fear.

Su Wan'er glanced at her and explained, "Of course! You delivered my baby, so you have to help me back. That way, the people in the manor won't suspect anything..."

A hint of impatience flashed in her eyes, as if she felt Sun Lan's reaction was too slow.

"Oh, yes." Sun Lan quickly replied, her face full of a flattering smile, but a hint of helplessness flashed in her eyes.

Su Wan'er pulled out a thick wad of money from her bosom and handed it to Sun Lan, her gaze sharp as a knife as she warned, "Don't talk nonsense! Keep what happened today a secret! If you dare to let out even a whisper, you should know how this Prince's Mansion operates. At that point, forget about this money, you might not even be able to save your life!" Her voice was low and threatening, making Sun Lan shiver involuntarily.

Sun Lan stared intently at the money pouch, her hands trembling as she took it. A greedy smile instantly spread across her face as she repeatedly nodded and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, rest assured, I'm very tight-lipped. I promise I won't utter a single word about what happened today. Even if you beat me to death, I won't reveal a single word!" As she spoke, she gripped the money pouch tightly, as if it were her lifeblood.

Then, with Sun Lan's help, Su Wan'er slowly walked towards the door.

Huan'er, lying on the bed, watched their departing figures, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Her child had been taken away by Su Wan'er, and she was powerless to stop it.

Sadness and helplessness mingled in my heart, yet I dared not show it in the slightest.

She knew that her fate was firmly in Su Wan'er's hands, and what abyss awaited her in the future was unknown.