Chapter 156: Chapter 156

In the Imperial Study Room, there was a figure stretching their neck to look at the scene outside. Seeing Jun Ning still waiting at the door without any intention of leaving, Emperor Yongning sighed and murmured, "She’s been waiting for so long, why hasn’t she left? So persistent at such a young age."

Yes, the figure peering outside the Imperial Study Room was Emperor Yongning.

Emperor Yongning thought that Jun Ning had come to see him again to talk about not wanting to be betrothed. If he didn’t agree, she’d probably start crying, making a fuss, and throwing a tantrum, which he couldn’t handle at all.

To avoid such difficult situations, he deliberately stayed inside the Imperial Study Room without going out.

Usually, at this time, he would have finished his dinner and gone for a walk in the Imperial Garden.

But today was a bit unusual.

Jun Ning, waiting outside, also found it strange.

Why hasn’t the Emperor come out for his walk after dinner for such a long time? She’s been waiting so long she’s worried the flowers might wither.

When Xiao Lizi returned from his busy errands at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Jun Ning stopped him, "Mr. Li, could you please go inside and check? Why hasn’t the Emperor gone for his walk in the Imperial Garden yet? Did something happen?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lizi also assumed something must have happened to Emperor Yongning, which was why he didn’t follow the Imperial Physician’s advice to go for a walk. He didn’t even have time to respond to Jun Ning and rushed into the Imperial Study Room.

Seeing Emperor Yongning inside the Imperial Study Room perfectly fine, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Emperor Yongning looking troubled, he asked, "Your Majesty, why haven’t you gone for a walk in the Imperial Garden today to aid digestion?"

Emperor Yongning glanced at Xiao Lizi with a look that said, ’Don’t you know why?’

Xiao Lizi quickly responded with a smile, "I was foolish just now. With the princess waiting outside, His Majesty would definitely find it hard to go for a walk. Otherwise, if he were stopped and couldn’t leave, he would have to face the princess pleading again."

Xiao Lizi knew well that Emperor Yongning treasured this only princess, willing to give her anything she wanted, even fearing she wouldn’t want it.

So, how could he bear to see the princess pleading for something?

Whenever the princess pleaded for something, it was the most difficult and uncomfortable for Emperor Yongning.

To avoid this happening repeatedly, Emperor Yongning carefully avoided such situations.

"So, won’t Your Majesty go for a walk today?" Xiao Lizi asked again.

Emperor Yongning pondered.

His health wasn’t good now, and the Imperial Physician had advised him not to sit for too long without activity, but to walk around and breathe some fresh air in the Imperial Garden, which would be good for his health.

He wanted to live longer, so how could he not want to go for a walk?

But given the current situation, he couldn’t go out!

Xiao Lizi noticed Emperor Yongning’s dilemma and said, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? There’s another secret door in the Imperial Study Room. Although it’s farther to go to the Imperial Garden through the back door, making a detour, we can still go out."

This back door of the Imperial Study Room is usually kept shut, only opened in life-or-death situations like a coup.

The Emperor could not simply be trapped in a small study room, unable to move, at the mercy of others.

Thus, the existence of the back door was crucial.

If Xiao Lizi hadn’t reminded him, Emperor Yongning would have almost forgotten about the seldom-used back door of the study. A gleam suddenly appeared in his eyes.

"Alright, we’ll go to the Imperial Garden through the back door, so we won’t run into Bao’er."

"By the time we get back, Bao’er should have gone back too, so I won’t be troubled anymore!" Fınd the newest release on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝕟𝕖𝕥

Two birds with one stone, very worthwhile.

Emperor Yongning, along with Xiao Lizi and the others, headed to the Imperial Garden through the back door.

Jun Ning waited and waited until it was evening, but the Emperor hadn’t come out from the study. Xiao Lizi seemed unreliable too, disappearing into the study and never reappearing.

Unaware they had already gone to the Imperial Garden, Jun Ning mistakenly thought something had happened to the Emperor, causing Xiao Lizi to be stuck.

Worried, she dashed into the Imperial Study Room, determined to see the Emperor.

Being small and clever, if Jun Ning really wanted to rush past the guards into the study, it would be effortless, depending on her will.

At that moment, she slipped past the Imperial Guards into the study. The guards dared not use force, fearing to hurt her. Being slippery like an eel, they couldn’t catch this mischievous little rascal, so they could only watch as Jun Ning burst into the study.

On the other hand, the two maidservants following Jun Ning, lacking her cleverness, were blocked outside the door and couldn’t get in.

However, after rushing into the study, Jun Ning didn’t find Emperor Yongning. Neither Xiao Lizi nor Wei Lin, who usually stayed by the Emperor’s side, were there.

At this moment, she remembered once, out of boredom, wandering around the Imperial Study Room for fun, and seeing something shaped like a door, though sealed, with a lock on it, not easily noticeable.

She didn’t think much of it at the time, just played around, but now upon reflection, that might be the back door of the Imperial Study Room.

Indeed, how could a place like the Imperial Study Room have only one door?

The Emperor must have escaped through that back door.

Thinking of this, Jun Ning hurriedly ran out of the study, rushing towards the Imperial Garden.

Seeing this, the two maidservants, afraid something might happen in the now darkening sky, broke free from the guards blocking them, hurriedly following Jun Ning to protect the princess’s safety.

Jun Ning was a very determined person. No matter what it was, once she set her mind on it, she had to accomplish it.

Today, she was determined to see Emperor Yongning, to clear up the matter, and then take the opportunity to get the Emperor to agree to her request.

But as soon as Jun Ning set foot towards the Imperial Garden, the eunuch guarding the garden entrance promptly recognized her and hurriedly reported to Emperor Yongning.

Jun Ning recognized that eunuch. Hurrying, she lifted her flowing skirt, not at all like a girl, rather like a mischievous boy, chasing after a foe openly, shouting with a cute fierceness, "You, you, why are you running? Stop right there for the Princess!"

How could the eunuch possibly stop, or dare to stop? He needed to quickly inform Emperor Yongning.

Relying on his adult stature and longer legs, he ran faster than Jun Ning, quickly reaching Emperor Yongning to inform him of the princess’s pursuit.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongning was about to leave the Imperial Garden immediately, but the next moment, he saw in the distance his dear Bao’er running towards him like a little warrior.

He watched as she, lifting her skirt, eyes closed, giving her all, ran frantically, sweating profusely yet unwilling to stop, completely disregarding her princess image, resembling a wild child.

First, he twitched his mouth, then thought of something...