Chapter 102: Chapter 102

"Lady Hua, this servant will take his leave first."

Xiao Lizi left the room.

In another room next door, Jun Ning had just woken up. After her usual inquiry about her mother’s condition to the maid beside her, she was ready to get out of bed. As she got up, she muttered, "It’s really quite unsettling not to sleep in the same room as mother."

"Princess, from now on, you’ll have to sleep alone," the little maid said. "Especially after moving to Weiyang Palace, the princess’s residence will be quite far from her ladyship’s, not just a wall’s distance." The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩

"Don’t mention it. It makes me sad just thinking about it. Quickly, help me dress!" Jun Ning said, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

The ancient clothes are too cumbersome and difficult to put on. Every time Jun Ning dressed, it felt like a battle, exhausting her. But the maid skillfully helped her dress in no time.

At this moment, Xiao Lizi entered.

Xiao Lizi chuckled and told Jun Ning that Emperor Yongning intended to clarify the previous matters for her and invited her to join him for dinner.

Jun Ning listened, then waved her hand disinterestedly with her eyes closed, "No need, Mr. Li, I already know who Ah Yu’s biological mother is."

"Huh?" Xiao Lizi was somewhat confused, "Princess, you already know?"

Xiao Lizi thought he might have misheard. Although some people in the palace knew who His Highness the Seventeenth Prince’s birth mother was, no one would speak carelessly about it, not even Lady Hua, who was reluctant to say anything.

Otherwise, the princess wouldn’t have sought the emperor for answers time and again.

So how did the princess suddenly find out?

He rubbed his ears, "Princess, did I mishear something just now?"

Jun Ning stretched lazily and got out of bed. "You didn’t mishear. Ah Yu’s mother is my mother. Ah Yu and I are twins, and I know everything now."

"So, will the princess still go to the Imperial Study Room and have dinner with His Majesty?" Xiao Lizi started to worry about this matter.

Initially, if the princess didn’t know, the possibility of inviting her over for dinner would have been very high. But now, he was suddenly uncertain.

Jun Ning’s reaction only added to his uncertainty.

"I’m not going, I’m not going."

Xiao Lizi wanted to persuade her further.

Jun Ning said, "When His Majesty returns Ah Yu to my mother, that’s when I will have dinner with him." In other words, when they reconcile.

Xiao Lizi understood Jun Ning’s meaning and saw her resolve.

And under this resolve, the princess didn’t even call him "Father Emperor."

Xiao Lizi’s grip tightened on the floating dust in his hand.

Returning to the Imperial Study Room, Xiao Lizi relayed Jun Ning’s words verbatim to Emperor Yongning.

Emperor Yongning was slightly surprised that Jun Ning knew who the Seventeenth Prince’s birth mother was, but he seemed to have anticipated her reaction and appeared quite calm.

He didn’t say a word, remaining silent for quite some time.

Indeed, when Emperor Yongning decided to reveal the Seventeenth Prince’s birth mother’s identity to Jun Ning, he already anticipated Jun Ning would side with her mother, Qiong Hua, sharing the same attitude.

Forcing him to return the Seventeenth to them. Otherwise, she would continue to oppose him.

However, he didn’t expect this day to come so quickly, so quickly that he wasn’t ready to accept it. His mind had still been set on waiting for Jun Ning to come and have dinner with him, to see her first before discussing other matters.

Counting the days, he hadn’t seen Jun Ning in quite a while.

He truly missed her dearly!

Xiao Lizi also noticed Emperor Yongning’s thoughts and asked, "Your Majesty, what should we do now?"

"What should we do?" Emperor Yongning sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Given the current situation, even if they all stand against me, I can’t return the Seventeenth to Qiong Hua. We can only think of other ways to reconcile."

What measures should be considered?

True to his form, Emperor Yongning quickly came up with an excellent strategy.

The reason Qiong Hua wanted the Seventeenth back was that he had been confined with the Empress in Jiaofang Palace, keeping her from seeing him, preventing them from bonding as mother and son.

Now, as long as he moves the Seventeenth out of Jiaofang Palace, letting him reside in the Prince’s quarters and allowing him to visit Qiong Hua frequently during his spare time, creating the appearance of returning the Seventeenth to her, but in reality, he remains under the Empress’s care as her son, won’t that suffice?

This way, it can be explained reasonably to the Empress, reasonably to Qiong Hua, and will also not sow any discord for the future of Eastern Chu—truly achieving three benefits at once.

After making up his mind, Emperor Yongning immediately issued an Imperial Decree.

The general idea of the Imperial Decree was as follows: To prevent any delays in the Seventeenth Prince’s studies, he shall be moved out of Jiaofang Palace to reside and study at the Prince’s quarters.

This decree, while creating opportunities for Qiong Hua, Jun Ning, and the Seventeenth Prince, Jun Yu, to interact, also indirectly freed the Seventeenth Prince from the Empress’s implicated restrictions.

Xiao Lizi marveled, "Your majesty is wise indeed!"

"However, in this arrangement, the Seventeenth might be aggrieved."

For a two-and-a-half-year-old child, without the Empress’s care, staying alone at the Prince’s quarters, Emperor Yongning considered this a grievance.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lizi recalled something else.

"Your Majesty, according to Lady Hua, the Empress often tormented His Highness the Seventeenth, and he hasn’t been well under her care. So, moving him to the Prince’s quarters may not be an grievance, but a liberation from the Empress’s clutches."

"Hmm? Is there such a thing?" Emperor Yongning squinted his eyes and asked, "Qiong Hua has been in the Cold Palace for a long time. How could she have heard about this? Don’t let her deceive you!"

Xiao Lizi awkwardly scratched his neck and replied, "It’s impossible that I was deceived. With lived this long, I at least have some discernment. As to how Lady Hua heard about this?" Pausing, "It was the Eighteenth Princess who told her personally!"

Jun Ning had served as a companion to Jun Yu and naturally knew how the Empress treated Jun Yu.

So, it’s reasonable for Qiong Hua to have learned this from Jun Ning.

Was the Empress truly like that?

The Empress was, after all, the mother of a nation!

Even if she wasn’t broad-minded, could she really stoop so low and evil?

Though a hint of doubt rose in Emperor Yongning’s heart, unless he witnessed it firsthand, it would be hard for him to heavily punish the Empress on this matter.

He planned to secretly investigate the circumstances before moving the Seventeenth Prince out of Jiaofang Palace.

Then, the truth would become clear.

Right now, he had more important matters to attend to. He insisted on dining with his precious daughter for dinner, and he also wanted her to see his decree. Surely, his daughter would be delighted with his decision.