Chapter 103: Chapter 103

An hour later, at sunset, Emperor Yongning appeared at the Cold Palace Gate with a group of Palace Attendants from the Imperial Kitchen.

Everyone in the Cold Palace came out to greet him.

Qiong Hua and Jun Ning also came out.

Among the crowd, Emperor Yongning only helped Jun Ning, who was kneeling before him, not just helping, but directly picking up Jun Ning, holding closely and affectionately.

As for everyone else, they had to get up by themselves.

Everyone watched enviously as Jun Ning was embraced by Emperor Yongning.

Such favor cannot be begged for!

"Why are you dressed as a boy again today?" Emperor Yongning was somewhat displeased, "Are you so angry with the Emperor that you stopped calling me? And don’t want to be a princess anymore? Hmm?"

Though it was an interrogative tone, it sounded somewhat dejected.

Emperor Yongning seemed like he had been abandoned.

Jun Ning snuggled in Emperor Yongning’s embrace, snorted, turned her face away, refusing to look at Emperor Yongning.

Emperor Yongning used one hand to support Jun Ning’s bottom, the other hand turned Jun Ning’s head, forcing her to look at him, but Jun Ning refused to look, turning her head again.

After sitting down indoors, Emperor Yongning had no choice but to promptly take out the Imperial Decree for Jun Yu and have Xiao Lizi read it to Jun Ning and Qiong Hua.

After listening, the tightly drawn faces of the mother and daughter finally relaxed a bit.

It was clear that this Imperial Decree from Emperor Yongning was meant for the mother and daughter; he was willing to let the Seventeenth Prince, Jun Yu, interact with them and build a relationship.

But there must be some reason preventing him from directly returning Jun Yu to Qiong Hua.

Jun Ning thought carefully and seemed to understand; many matters cannot be solely driven by emotions, especially when considering the greater good and the long-term development of the nation. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽

The reason the convenient father did not immediately return Ah Yu to his mother was probably also considering her origins and the safety of Eastern Chu!

After feeling like sighing about the old fox, Jun Ning wisely decided not to oppose Emperor Yongning further.

Because she clearly knew this was already the biggest concession from the convenient father, pushing him further might backfire.

"Rest assured, Father, I will change into it later," said Jun Ning.

Hearing the long-lost ’Father’ and her willingness to change back into the princess attire, "Good! Good! Good!" Emperor Yongning said three times.

His precious child had finally returned, finally stopped opposing him over the Seventeenth Prince, Jun Yu.

How could he not be happy?

He joyfully lifted Jun Ning and spun in several circles.

"My precious, my precious..."

Emperor Yongning was overflowing with joy.

Jun Ning was thrilled in the air. She really loved the feeling of being lifted high. Yet, in her memory, she seemed never to have felt being lifted by her parents; now she had felt it.

Seeing Emperor Yongning smiling at her, she also began to smile.

She didn’t know if it was because smiles are contagious, or if Emperor Yongning’s actions truly warmed her heart, making her want to smile.

Meanwhile, the palace maid had already set the meal, and after the playfulness, Jun Ning obediently sat in Emperor Yongning’s arms, waiting to eat.

But looking at the table full of her favorite dishes, she suddenly thought of Ah Yu in the Jiaofang Palace.

Though soon she could often see Ah Yu, and if he couldn’t get enough to eat, she could openly bring food to him. Still, at this moment, Jun Ning was wondering if he was hungry.

"What are you thinking about, precious, eat up now?" Emperor Yongning urged as he watched Jun Ning holding chopsticks but not moving for ages.

"Father, could we bring Ah Yu here too?"

"So our family can dine together?"

Next to them, Qiong Hua, who hadn’t spoken, although she said nothing, looked at Emperor Yongning with hopeful eyes after hearing Jun Ning’s words, sharing Jun Ning’s hope as her own.

Emperor Yongning glanced at the mother and daughter and nodded: "...Alright."

Xiao Lizi quickly took Emperor Yongning’s hand decree to Jiaofang Palace to bring Jun Yu over.

In a moment’s time, he had brought the Seventeenth Prince, Jun Yu, to the Cold Palace.

"Ah Yu! Ah Yu!" At the sight of Jun Yu, Jun Ning immediately jumped off Emperor Yongning’s leg and ran towards Jun Yu.

Once in front of Jun Yu, she quickly embraced him, whispering in his ear, "Ah Yu, I’ve done it, I’ve found your biological mother for you."

Overwhelmed with joy, Jun Yu didn’t even pay respects to Emperor Yongning from a distance; he anxiously asked, "Boss, really? Who is she?"

Jun Ning pulled Jun Yu over to Qiong Hua, "Look, it’s her, my mother, Qiong Hua."

Jun Yu: "............"

Pressing his lips, Jun Yu softly whispered in Jun Ning’s ear, "Boss, I can understand your eagerness to find my biological mother. But, but..."

Jun Yu was somewhat helpless, "No matter how eager, you shouldn’t hand your own mother over to me!"

This, this, what sense does that make?

"That’s not right, that’s not right!" Jun Yu shook his head in refusal.

"I didn’t hand over anyone." Jun Ning defended herself.

"What didn’t you hand over, just admit it?" Jun Yu retorted, "Boss, between you and me, there’s no need for secrets."

Turns out all her effort helping him find his mother was misunderstood as her sharing her own mother with him?

Heh heh... heh heh...

Jun Ning couldn’t help but laugh.

Bitterly, laughing in an extremely ugly way.

Seeing this, Emperor Yongning coughed twice, waving to Jun Ning, "Yiyi, come here."

Jun Ning sprinted to Emperor Yongning with little steps, tugging at the hem of his robes, "Father, Father, quickly reveal the truth to Ah Yu, my mother is his mother, we are twins, I didn’t deceive him."

Just now, Jun Yu spoke very softly, intending not to let Emperor Yongning hear the conversation with Jun Ning and cause unnecessary trouble. Emperor Yongning indeed hadn’t caught what they were saying.

At this moment, hearing Jun Ning say this, he instantly understood.

He looked towards his Seventeenth Prince, Jun Yu.

Also a child of Emperor Yongning, Jun Yu also wished to be close to the Emperor, to be held by him like Jun Ning, yet he could never muster the courage to go to Emperor Yongning’s embrace like her.

In his heart, a father and son relationship was also a ruler and subject relationship; between him and Emperor Yongning, there would always be the distinction of ruler and subject.

Forcing down those thoughts, he knelt respectfully on the floor to salute Emperor Yongning.

"Your son greets the Emperor, may the Emperor live ten thousand years."

Emperor Yongning lifted his hand slightly, saying, "Rise."

Jun Yu rose from the ground.

Only then did Emperor Yongning tell the truth that Qiong Hua was his biological mother, assuring him there was no need to doubt, facts are facts. He, as his Emperor, had no need to make such a joke.

After hearing Emperor Yongning’s words, Jun Yu no longer had doubts in his heart.

Emperor Yongning continued instructing him that after moving to the Prince’s residence, besides getting along with the Empress, he should often visit Qiong Hua and Jun Ning’s soon-to-be residence, Weiyang Palace. Carefully, he looked towards his biological mother, Qiong Hua.