Chapter 118: Chapter 118
Only one princess left.
Xiao Lizi felt a mixture of sadness for Emperor Yongning and genuine happiness for Jun Ning. He was quite conflicted.
"What are you thinking about? Hurry up and make preparations." Emperor Yongning noticed Xiao Lizi standing still for a while and urged him. He was waiting for his little daughter to be drawn to what he had prepared.
Xiao Lizi listlessly went about his tasks.
Emperor Yongning rose and stood by the window for a moment to get some fresh air.
In the following days, Jun Ning indeed visited the Imperial Study Room more frequently because of the food prepared by Emperor Yongning, but it was still not as often as she went to Cining Palace.
The root cause wasn’t just about the food; every time Jun Ning went to Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager would accompany her in play, trying out everything Jun Ning enjoyed.
She was very happy playing in Cining Palace, spending her days quite fully.
But it was different when she was with Emperor Yongning.
Whenever she came here, Jun Ning could only watch Emperor Yongning handle memorials, hear him inquire about the studies of her royal brothers, or discuss state affairs with ministers.
Emperor Yongning was busy every day. But she could only sit idly in his arms, doing nothing, and simply stare blankly at ministers and servants. It was very dull.
So she preferred going to the Empress Dowager!
That day, as usual, Jun Ning paid her respects to Emperor Yongning, stayed briefly in the Imperial Study Room, and then headed to Cining Palace.
Just as she left, the lady-in-waiting Jiang Li came to request an audience.
Jiang Li was responsible for the procurement of common necessities and coordinating the distribution of supplies with the Ministry of Internal Affairs for various palaces. Although these seemed like minor tasks, they involved all the palaces, making her a notable figure in the palace.
Logically, if she had issues, she could directly approach the Ministry of Internal Affairs instead of requesting an audience with Emperor Yongning. But she still came, claiming, in good faith, to be there for the Empress with something very important to report.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongning spoke with great disdain, "Send her away, I won’t see her."
Having done such things, Emperor Yongning was currently uncomfortable with the Empress. He didn’t want to hear anything about her or see anyone from the rear palace associated with her.
Anyone with any sense would naturally avoid bringing it up.
It was rare for someone like Jiang Li, claiming to represent the Empress, to be so forward.
Xiao Lizi was tasked to dismiss Jiang Li.
However, Jiang Li was quite stubborn and refused to leave. She insisted on seeing Emperor Yongning for the sake of the Empress. If Emperor Yongning wouldn’t meet her, she would wait at the door of the Imperial Study Room until he agreed to see her.
This was akin to wielding a soft knife as a threat.
After hearing Xiao Lizi’s report, Emperor Yongning scoffed dispassionately, "If she likes kneeling, then let her kneel!"
Whether by soft threats or hard, the costs were inevitable.
And the costs were significant.
For example, a cost of one’s life.
Xiao Lizi initially thought that the Emperor’s lack of a direct expulsion was a sign of granting an opportunity, to test Jiang Li’s sincerity in seeking an audience. After all, speaking on behalf of the Empress could count as giving face to Marquis Zhongyong.
But what Emperor Yongning said next completely shattered his assumptions.
"In this hot weather, if she dies of thirst or hunger, have the Imperial Guard drag her away early. I don’t want to see her."
"Out of sight, out of mind."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
Xiao Lizi went to relay Emperor Yongning’s words to the Imperial Guard.
Emperor Yongning picked up a book and began reading, completely unaffected by Jiang Li’s appearance and not deigning to care about her.
Jiang Li knelt outside the Imperial Study Room for two whole days.
Two days without eating, drinking, or resting.
In such hot weather, if one doesn’t drink water, the body dehydrates quickly.
To have survived in such a state, Jiang Li surely had a strong life force.
On the third day, as she saw Emperor Yongning returning from court, Jiang Li no longer waited for a summons but used her last ounce of strength to kneel before Emperor Yongning, blocking his path with her outstretched arms.
Emperor Yongning glanced displeasedly at Jiang Li’s disheveled form, her lips cracked and bleeding, yet still unwilling to give up her request for an audience. Coldly, he said, "Since you don’t want your life, take her away and cane her to death." Content orıginally comes from 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⚫𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⚫𝕟𝕖𝕥
The stench of sweat was truly unbearable.
Emperor Yongning pinched his nose and took a step back.
The Imperial Guard stepped forward to seize her, intending to drag Jiang Li away to be caned to death. But somehow, Jiang Li drew forth a sudden burst of strength, breaking free from the guards and crawling to Emperor Yongning’s feet.
"Your Majesty, spare this servant’s life, this servant truly has important matters to report."
Again, the same words!
Emperor Yongning had no intention of listening.
He continued to cover his nose, showing utmost disdain for Jiang Li.
Xiao Lizi signaled to the Imperial Guard with a ’hurry up and drag her away’ look. The Imperial Guard understood and immediately hauled her up, prepared to take her away.
Jiang Li, knowing she couldn’t afford to waste any more words, shouted out her purpose without regard for anything else.
"Your Majesty, the beloved little princess you have been yearning for has already been found by the Empress and her father, Marquis Zhongyong. There’s no need for anyone to impersonate her anymore..."
Hearing this, Emperor Yongning finally cast a serious glance at Jiang Li.
"The real little princess has been found?"
"Yes..." Jiang Li reiterated her earlier words.
After listening, Emperor Yongning looked towards the two Imperial Guards holding Jiang Li, "Release her."
The Imperial Guard released her.
Jiang Li knelt before Emperor Yongning, kowtowing three times, "Your Majesty, since you ordered the search for the little princess, the Empress and Marquis Zhongyong have been tirelessly assisting, striving to dispel your worries. Despite having searched for so long without any results and seeing you now with Princess Anle by your side, they were ready to give up, thinking it impossible to find her. However, half a month ago, by chance, Marquis Zhongyong discovered the little princess in Jiangnan."
"He boldly brought the little princess and her mother back from Jiangnan, and they should arrive in the Imperial City tomorrow."
"However, Marquis Zhongyong considered that with Princess Anle now bringing joy to you, directly bringing them into the palace might displease you."
"Therefore, he wrote to the Empress to inquire about your wishes on whether to meet this mother and daughter."
"Alas, the Empress is currently confined in Jiaofang Palace, unable to see you."
"And given the grace the Empress has shown me, when distributing supplies at Jiaofang Palace three days ago, I heard her mention this matter and decided to help her once."
"I kindly ask Your Majesty to take a trip to Jiaofang Palace and see the Empress."
Using the last of her strength to convey all this, Jiang Li kowtowed loudly and fainted.