Usually at this ti, all the palaces are having breakfast.
And Emperor Yongning generally finishes his morning court session by this hour.
So, now is the perfect ti to serve the al, and it seems his precious daughter will soon arrive.
The palace maids quickly laid out the al.
Today’s al looks more sumptuous than usual.
Because in recent days, Emperor Yongning’s appetite hasn’t been good, lacking the mood to eat, and only enough food was prepared for sustenance.
But today is different; this large spread for breakfast showcases Emperor Yongning’s affection for his little princess!
But does the little girl know this?
Alas—
A cup of tea’s ti has passed.
Two cups of tea’s ti have passed.
Half an hour has passed.
An hour has passed.
Emperor Yongning watched as the food before him turned cold and was reheated several tis, but Jun Ning never ca.
Emperor Yongning was truly hungry, his stomach constantly growling, but he refused to pick up his chopsticks, stubbornly waiting for his beloved daughter to arrive.
Another half an hour passed, and even knowing Jun Ning wouldn’t co, Emperor Yongning still harbored a sliver of hope, stubbornly waiting.
He waited until lunchti.
"Your Majesty, shall I have this cold breakfast removed and prepare your lunch instead?" Xiao Lizi cautiously suggested, carefully avoiding the topic of the absent princess.
But Emperor Yongning was unwilling to avoid it. He asked, "Xiao Lizi, are you sure the ssage was conveyed to the Eighteenth Princess?"
Even up to this mont, Emperor Yongning refused to accept that his dear daughter was unwilling to join him for a al. He still suspected, suspecting that Xiao Lizi hadn’t passed the ssage.
Xiao Lizi hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I am positive, and it was ensured that the ssage was delivered."
"Who delivered it?" Emperor Yongning asked, unwilling to relent, "Bring him here to confront ?"
"...Yes, I will summon him imdiately!"
Xiao Lizi went to summon Xiao Linzi, who delivered ssages from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Emperor Yongning pinched his eyebrows, feeling a rising regret in his heart.
Previously, when she asked him about who the biological mother of Seventeen was, he should have just told her directly. Why hesitate so much?
His hesitation caused the little girl now to ignore him.
In the end, to nd the relationship between father and daughter, doesn’t he still have to speak?
Alas...
This fussing back and forth, Emperor Yongning doesn’t even know what he’s fussing about!
Xiao Linzi soon arrived and recounted the ssage he delivered to Jun Ning and her response to Emperor Yongning, leaving no detail unspoken as Emperor Yongning seed very concerned.
After listening, Emperor Yongning finally accepted the fact that Jun Ning simply did not want to co and eat with him, ceasing his suspicions.
"Why is this little girl so hard to deal with?" Emperor Yongning asked, slightly troubled.
This really is harder to deal with than state affairs!
As for so-called national matters, solutions always outnumber problems whenever they arise. He can always co up with a counterasure, whether using force or a gentle approach, to solve the issues step by step.
But with his daughter!
eting issues, he can’t hit! Can’t scold! Can’t be fierce!
Of course, it’s not that he doesn’t want to act that way, but he can’t bear to.
So, it’s really hard to handle a daughter!
After pondering for a mont, Emperor Yongning said, "Xiao Lizi, you should personally go and tell Yiyi that I’m willing to tell her about Seventeen’s biological mother, and invite her to co and dine with for the evening."
Breakfast is no longer possible.
Now lunchti is also over, so Yiyi must have already eaten. Calling her here again might be inappropriate.
So, it can only be for dinner.
Fortunately, there’s still a long ti until dinner, and he can instruct the people in the Imperial Kitchen to prepare well.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xiao Lizi imdiately went to carry out the task.
But lunchti had just passed when he arrived at the Cold Palace; the people newly assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to serve the princess said she had just gone to sleep and would not wake up for half an hour.
Jun Ning had the habit of taking a noon nap, usually for about half an hour.
Because if she slept too much, she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep at night.
Hearing this, Xiao Lizi naturally didn’t dare to wake the princess; he said, "Then I’ll wait here for a while, and talk to the princess when she wakes up about what His Majesty instructed."
"Is it Mr. Li?" Qiong Hua heard Xiao Lizi talking to soone outside and called out.
Outside, Xiao Lizi nodded and replied, "Greetings to Lady Hua, it’s this servant."
"Mr. Li must be here to see Yiyi, right? But Yiyi just fell asleep. She gets cranky if woken up, so please kindly wait a bit?"
Xiao Lizi hurriedly said, "I’m in no rush, no need to disturb the princess."
To achieve his mission on this trip, Xiao Lizi absolutely dared not forcibly wake Jun Ning.
Otherwise, if he couldn’t complete the task His Majesty assigned today and failed to bring the princess for dinner with His Majesty, His Majesty wouldn’t spare him.
Qiong Hua continued, "It’s hot outside; why not co in and wait while sipping so tea to cool down?"
Xiao Lizi wiped the sweat from his forehead that had erged during the journey here, "Thank you very much, Lady Hua."
Xiao Lizi entered the room.
He saw Qiong Hua still bedridden, recovering from injuries, while the two girls newly assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs were massaging her legs, which hadn’t moved for days.
Upon his entry, one of the girls respectfully poured him so tea.
After drinking the tea, Xiao Lizi started chatting with Qiong Hua about Jun Ning, and who would’ve thought that they ended up discussing Jun Yu? Qiong Hua asked Xiao Lizi if she could visit Jiaofang Palace to see Jun Yu.
Xiao Lizi had served Emperor Yongning for many years, and how could he not know about Jun Yu and Qiong Hua’s relationship?
Precisely because he knew, he was particularly cautious when the topic ca up.
"Lady Hua, I advise you to wait for His Majesty’s permission before going. Otherwise, a ruler’s mind is unfathomable, and who knows what could happen?"
"But..." Qiong Hua couldn’t hold back tears, "But I’ve heard from Yiyi that Ah Yu isn’t doing well with the Empress."
"...Not doing well?"
This was sothing Xiao Lizi hadn’t heard about.
He only knew the Empress had always been two-faced, doing virtuous performances for show, but he wasn’t too clear about her true character in private.
And as for whether the Seventeenth Prince was faring well there, he was even less inford.
"Lady Hua, this issue is significant; I will report it to His Majesty. As for whether you’ll be permitted to see the Seventeenth Prince afterward, I cannot say."
"No matter," Qiong Hua replied, "as long as His Majesty pays attention to this matter and spares Ah Yu from suffering, I can forgo seeing him."
Xiao Lizi nodded in agreent, for this was the attitude a mother should have.
"Mr. Li, the Eighteenth Princess has awakened," announced Jun Ning’s maid suddenly.
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