Chapter 129: Chapter 129

Minister: "Your Majesty must consider the future of the Eastern Chu Kingdom."

Minister: "Our Eastern Chu Kingdom must not be destroyed by this disaster star. The Jiangnan Grain Storehouse must be secured, and the lifeline of the Eastern Chu Kingdom must be protected. Nothing is more important than these two."

The ministers passionately presented their counsel, unafraid of life and death.

Initially, only a few spoke up, but gradually, more voices joined in, each demanding Emperor Yongning to kill Jun Ning.

Merely giving counsel was not enough. In the court, all the ministers knelt down.

They shouted: "Your Majesty, please prioritize state affairs and immediately execute the Eighteen Princes!"

Emperor Yongning was almost driven to the point of drawing his sword to kill those who first incited him to eliminate Jun Ning. But seeing that everyone wanted him to kill Jun Ning, he suddenly laughed in anger.

Is this relying on the law’s incapability to punish everyone?

So now everyone dares to use the safety of the Eastern Chu Kingdom as a reason to demand he kill Jun Ning!

Jun Ning, a child over two but not yet three years old—what did she do wrong?

"My grand Eastern Chu Kingdom, having gone through seven emperors, never had any saying of disaster stars ruining the world, nor any absurd theory of a child being able to affect a nation’s destiny."

"You are so eager for me to kill my beloved daughter. Do none of you feel your incompetence?"

"Problems should be solved, but you only implicate the innocent. Have the imperial grains I fed you over the years been eaten in vain?"

Emperor Yongning angrily spoke out, reprimanding all the ministers, and without waiting for their reactions, he stormed off, swinging his sleeves.

Xiao Lizi shouted: "Dismissed."

Emperor Yongning’s words were piercing and the ministers were left speechless, "......"

Afterward, it was unclear who first spread the idea that a disaster star could ruin the world, but soon it spread throughout the court, harem, and the entire Imperial City.

Everyone unanimously agreed without any room for negotiation that Emperor Yongning should execute Jun Ning, the disaster star.

Upon hearing she was labeled as the disaster star, Jun Ning’s first reaction was to flee.

This matter was clearly not simple, but she didn’t have the time to investigate further.

Escaping was the priority, she had to run.

If she delayed until she couldn’t bear it and then wanted to run, it would be too late.

Because without any preparation, she couldn’t escape from the fortress-like imperial palace.

Nor did she expect her father to save her.

Because saving her meant opposing everyone in the Eastern Chu Kingdom and bringing trouble upon himself.

Furthermore, in this era, not only the Royal Family but even commoners believed in divination and astrology. People would often cast lots to seek good fortune.

Being identified as a disaster star left no room for negotiation.

Under such pressure, she was doomed.

If not escaping now, then when?

Jun Ning briefly mentioned to Qiong Hua her plan to leave temporarily and return after the situation calms down. Qiong Hua feared she would face trouble alone outside, refused to agree, and insisted on pleading with Emperor Yongning on her behalf, claiming he would protect her.

Jun Ning did not pin her hopes on this.

After Qiong Hua left, she quickly packed some belongings, took some gold and silver, and managed to find a spot under the seat in a fruit and vegetable delivery wagon leaving the palace, luckily unnoticed.

Being small made her easy to hide, so she found a spot under a wagon seat to hide and escape.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly and she got out of the palace safely.

But when she stepped outside, it was already completely dark.

Jun Ning had no choice but to find an inn to stay at, planning to handle other matters after daybreak.

The innkeeper assumed she was a child, a girl traveling alone, albeit well-dressed, but thought she might have run away from home after an argument, likely without a copper coin, and unable to pay for her stay, thus refused to accommodate her.

"How can you treat me , innkeeper?"

"Don’t look down on me just because I’m young, I have money."

Jun Ning stood on tiptoe, placed a piece of Silver with a snap on the table in front of the innkeeper.

Upon seeing the Silver far exceeding any lodging fee, the innkeeper’s demeanor instantly changed. He warmly said, "This way, young miss, please follow me upstairs to the superior room."

Walking in succession, Jun Ning was led to the superior room on the second floor.

While ascending the stairs, they encountered a heavily pregnant lady. Despite her beauty, she appeared somewhat plump. Yet, the man beside her showed no disdain, smiling and chatting with her, carefully supporting her as they walked.

Following them was a group of maids and guards.

Clearly, someone of significance.

As the lady passed the innkeeper, she also mocked him, "Looking down on people, are you?"

This lady originally came alone to dine, but upon attempting to pay, she found her purse was lost. She remained calm and informed the innkeeper that she was the National Guardian General’s wife, and the meal charge should be added to the National Guardian General Mansion’s account, to be settled later.

However, the innkeeper assumed she was an impostor, unqualified to charge it to the General Mansion, accusing her of freeloading among other harsh words.

Fortunately, her husband discovered her sneaking off to indulge and came not only to pay her bill but also to reprimand the innkeeper.

Even after that, she still felt upset, so she insulted the innkeeper once more as she passed him.

The innkeeper quickly nodded and bowed, saying, "My apologies for the oversight, Madam."

The lady coldly huffed, then continued on her way. Orıginal content can be found at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥

Upon seeing Jun Ning, attracted by her cute and endearing appearance, the lady instinctively glanced at Jun Ning a couple of times and smiled at her. But at that moment, her unborn child suddenly kicked her.

"Ah..." she exclaimed.

It was the first time the baby kicked her.

The lady was both surprised and delighted.

She pointed at her belly, excitedly telling her husband, "Husband, husband, the baby kicked me."

The man beside her was indeed the National Guardian General, and upon hearing this he too became exceedingly excited, supporting her more cautiously, chatting with her as they left the inn together.

Jun Ning, intrigued by the lady’s round belly, casually remarked, "Judging by her belly, it seems she’ll deliver in three or four months. Alas, I wonder where my future husband is, or if he’s born yet?"

Upon realizing Jun Ning had suddenly disappeared, seemingly having sneaked out of the palace, Emperor Yongning felt like his world was collapsing.