——
Finally, trembling and weak, escorted out of the Political Hall, he returned ho to visit his unfortunate son.
He... this ti has hard not only the Crown Prince but also his own son!
Originally, if his son had developed steadily in the Imperial City over the past two years, at least his official rank could have risen a little. Now he’s been sent to Sairu City under the Crown Prince’s command.
Whether the Crown Prince would vent anger on his son due to his own disguised demotion, he doesn’t know.
The Duke grew more and more upset the more he thought about it, and after the court session, he returned ho with tears streaming down his face.
Jun Ning, who was having her legs treated by the Imperial Physician, upon hearing about the punishnt of the Duke’s family, smiled contentedly. And her leg seed to stop hurting imdiately.
She casually found a reason to dismiss the Imperial Physician and then waited for the Emperor to co and take her to Weiyang Hall for dinner.
Emperor Yongning saw the Imperial Physician leaving with his dical kit and didn’t stop him, nodding and letting him go.
"Yiyi, after you’re done causing trouble, let’s go eat with Father," Emperor Yongning said, "Today, you must eat two more buns, alright?"
Her father was cooperating with her like this, and he only wanted her to eat two more buns, so Jun Ning agreed without hesitating, nodding quickly, "Alright, I promise."
Emperor Yongning led Jun Ning to Weiyang Hall, saying to her on the way, "Yiyi, if Father is no longer around in the future, you mustn’t act so recklessly, understand?"
In the past two years, not only has Emperor Yongning’s hair turned white, but his health has also deteriorated rapidly.
However, the little girl hasn’t grown up yet. He feared he might suddenly disappear one day and no longer be able to protect the little girl.
Jun Ning pouted, "Don’t let Father say such nonsense; Father will definitely live to a hundred."
"Father wishes to live to a hundred too," Emperor Yongning said, sighing deeply, "Yiyi, after dinner, accompany Father to visit the Empress Dowager, alright? I heard the Empress Dowager’s health hasn’t been great lately."
There was another sentence Emperor Yongning didn’t say out loud, which was that the Empress Dowager had already started embroidering the wedding dress for Jun Ning.
What this ant was self-evident.
Yet Emperor Yongning dared not speak, only secretly mourning in his heart.
"Alright." Jun Ning agreed happily.
After dinner, Emperor Yongning and Jun Ning went to see the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked much better and spoke with energy. But the truth was, before the two arrived, the Empress Dowager had just taken a big bowl of dicine, and now her spirit was entirely supported by the dicine.
Emperor Yongning knew the real situation of the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager hadn’t concealed it from him. So when Emperor Yongning looked at the Empress Dowager who was forcibly holding on, he didn’t feel happy but rather very heavy-hearted.
Jun Ning knew nothing and said, "Grand Empress Dowager’s complexion has been improving recently."
The Empress Dowager smiled, "Seeing Yiyi makes Grand Empress Dowager happy, that’s why my complexion is getting better."
The Empress Dowager cautiously said, "Yiyi, will you be able to visit Grand Empress Dowager more often in the future?"
Jun Ning nodded, "Of course, Yiyi loves the cilantro green bean cake here the most." No matter when she cos, the cilantro green bean cakes here are always freshly prepared.
She very much likes coming to Grand Empress Dowager’s place.
"Then Grand Empress Dowager will have people prepare more for Yiyi." The Empress Dowager looked at the little girl indulgently.
Jun Ning laughed cheerfully.
"Yiyi, don’t forget, you must co visit Grand Empress Dowager often." The Empress Dowager, fearing the little girl might forget, reminded her again.
Jun Ning agreed without hesitation.
After leaving Cining Palace, Jun Ning headed straight to the Eastern Palace.
The Crown Prince is leaving today, not only him but the Crown Princess Consort, Jing Shu, Song Er, the whole family is leaving, going to the western Sairu City.
Jun Ning couldn’t bear to part with Jing Shu, and couldn’t bear to part with the Crown Prince.
Afraid of missing saying goodbye to the Crown Prince and the others, Jun Ning ran as fast as she could, using all her strength. By the ti she reached the Eastern Palace, she was covered in sweat. Fortunately, she made it, as they hadn’t left yet, but they were about to.
Despite going on such a long journey, they carried very little, just one trunk of clothes and another trunk of books, and their luggage was very sparse. The family also looked very downcast.
Jun Ning only took one glance, and tears started welling up in her eyes.
The once vibrant Crown Prince had vanished completely.
Jing Shu ca up to Jun Ning, crying, and Jun Ning reached out to hug Jing Shu, who was about the sa height as herself, choking up, "Jing Shu, I can’t bear to let you go."
Jing Shu cried, "Auntie, I can’t bear to leave you either."
Jun Ning wanted Jing Shu to stay, not to leave; she could take care of Jing Shu. But she knew the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort wouldn’t allow it, she couldn’t keep Jing Shu.
She could only say, "Jing Shu, you must take care of yourself. I’ll always wait for your return. I’ll always prepare your favorite foods for you, and I’ll win back the hundred taels of silver from Zhang Zihao you bet on..."
Jun Ning rambled on, saying a lot to Jing Shu.
Jun Ning never knew she had so much to say, nor did she know she would be so reluctant to part with this little girl who had played with her since childhood.
And Jing Shu felt the sa; she kept calling Auntie and crying.
Finally, Jun Ning stuffed a bulging bag of gold leaves into Jing Shu’s hand, and only then did Jing Shu stop crying.
The ti for bidding farewell was limited; they couldn’t just cry. Jun Ning let go of Jing Shu and looked at the worried Crown Prince, "Crown Prince brother, your sister has so things she wants to say to you alone."
The Crown Prince was not in a good mood and didn’t want to listen initially. But thinking that after today, he wouldn’t know when he could see the little girl again, he softened and agreed.
In the study room, the Crown Prince stood in front of the portrait depicting him in his pri when he was just appointed Crown Prince, silent for a long ti.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to speak; he simply didn’t know what to say, and he had to wait for Jun Ning to speak.
Jun Ning told him a story.
An emperor, to protect the successor to the throne, pretended to be dissatisfied with the successor in various ways and used so minor matters to expel the successor from the center of power, creating an illusion of wanting to depose the Crown Prince. It was only after the emperor had dealt with all the undercurrents and dangers in court that he welcod the successor back, allowing them to peacefully inherit the throne.
This story was short, yet profound in aning.
"Brother, you must believe in Father." Jun Ning spoke earnestly.
But trust doesn’t collapse overnight.
The Crown Prince used to trust Emperor Yongning greatly, but Emperor Yongning repeatedly suppressed him, resulting in even the Duke now overpowering him, and he has been indirectly demoted!
How can he trust again?
After hearing Jun Ning’s words, feeling she was comforting him, he didn’t have much emotional reaction, rely replied blandly, "Yiyi, Crown Prince brother appreciates your intentions."
"Brother, do you think Yiyi is just comforting you," Jun Ning said, "rather than stating a fact?"
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