Chapter 222: Chapter 222
Jun Yang recounted to Emperor Yongning everything she had just discussed with her father.
After listening, Emperor Yongning immediately knew without a doubt that the person Jun Yang spoke of was his beloved one. The characteristics described were unique to the little girl; no one else in the palace matched those traits. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵
He pondered why his beloved one would inexplicably hit Jun Yang and with such force?
From what he knew about his beloved one, the little girl was not someone who would carelessly hit others.
Could it be that Jun Yang provoked her first?
This, combined with the behavior of Prince Xiao Yao, who often indulged his daughter’s reckless actions and yet felt it was justified, and Jun Yang’s reputation within the Imperial City.
This guess was not impossible!
With this thought, Emperor Yongning glanced at Xiao Lizi, signaling him to summon the person involved.
To see if his guess was correct, he decided to have the two little girls confront each other directly.
Xiao Lizi: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will call them immediately."
Emperor Yongning gave Xiao Lizi just one look, and Xiao Lizi understood what the emperor meant, as well as who the emperor wanted him to bring.
Xiao Lizi went to bring the person.
Emperor Yongning told Jun Yang and Prince Xiao Yao, "I have sent someone to bring the person who hit you. When they arrive, you’ll confront each other to ascertain the truth."
Because Jun Ning was suddenly dragged into this, Emperor Yongning no longer believed a word Prince Xiao Yao said.
Nor did he believe Jun Yang.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Prince Xiao Yao, not knowing what Emperor Yongning was thinking, naively believed the emperor was going to stand up for him, and he was overjoyed.
Jun Yang was also elated, smiling broadly.
Emperor Yongning ignored the father-daughter duo and picked up the memorials in front of him to read.
He intended to use the waiting time to read some important memorials, so he could free up the afternoon to spend time with his beloved little girl. However, Jun Yang and her father were still chattering away.
"Father, my face hurts so much, can you blow on it for me?"
"Alright, alright, Father will blow on it for you."
Prince Xiao Yao blew on Jun Yang’s face covered in slap marks, speaking loudly as if afraid Emperor Yongning wouldn’t hear, and muttering incessantly. It was so noisy that Emperor Yongning couldn’t concentrate on reading the memorials.
Emperor Yongning was already an impatient man with a bad temper.
At this moment, faced with Prince Xiao Yao’s blatant disregard for imperial dignity, he nearly stepped forward to kick Prince Xiao Yao. However, the empress dowager’s advice made him quell his agitation.
He sat on the imperial chair, holding the armrests, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes to rest.
Soon, Xiao Lizi brought the person.
The little girl had just visited Qiong Hua at Weiyang Palace, where mother and daughter shared many private words. Now in a cheerful mood, the little girl hopped into the Imperial Study Room, humming a little tune.
Emperor Yongning heard the sounds, and the irritation in his heart was instantly replaced with joy. He smiled slightly and opened his eyes to look at the little girl walking through the door.
Prince Xiao Yao and Jun Yang saw a little girl enter from outside the Imperial Study Room without any report or announcement from the guards outside, humming a tune, as if treating the Imperial Study Room like her own home!
It was truly audacious.
Prince Xiao Yao, filled with rage, stepped forward, pointing at Jun Ning’s nose, and said, "Hey, who are you? What are you here for? Why did you enter without notifying the guards outside the Imperial Study Room?"
"Do you know what the penalty is for trespassing in the Imperial Study Room?"
Prince Xiao Yao spoke very harshly to Jun Ning.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongning stood up displeased, walking toward Prince Xiao Yao.
When Jun Yang saw Jun Ning, she also excitedly rushed forward.
She wished she could run up and beat Jun Ning to avenge the slaps she received. But realizing she couldn’t beat this obnoxious girl, and that she would merely embarrass herself again,
she restrained herself from acting, instead pinning her hopes of revenge on Prince Xiao Yao.
"She was the one who hit me ." Jun Yang pointed at Jun Ning with one hand, while clutching Prince Xiao Yao’s sleeve with the other, pleading, "Father, please, please avenge me."
Prince Xiao Yao was always indulgent toward his daughter, readily granting her every request.
Now, with her imploring him, solely relying on and trusting him, he would naturally not slacken the slightest in fulfilling her plea.
He rolled up his sleeves, raising a hand toward Jun Ning.
"You little brat, how dare you hit my daughter? Watch how I’ll hit you back!"
"If I don’t smash your mouth today, I’m not Prince Xiao Yao."
Prince Xiao Yao’s raised hand came harshly down toward Jun Ning’s face.
He was naturally strong, being a large and heavy-set man, and deliberately delivered this unrelenting slap toward Jun Ning’s face. If it connected, not only would her mouth be injured, but her ears might also be deafened.
Instinctively, Jun Ning took a step back, trying to avoid the slap.
But Prince Xiao Yao pursued relentlessly; as she retreated, he advanced, leaving her no room to escape.
Besides, as a child with short legs and the vast emptiness of the Imperial Study Room providing no hiding place, she couldn’t evade easily.
In just a few dodges, Prince Xiao Yao caught her.
With one hand, he stepped on her collar, raising his other hand high.
"Prince Xiao Yao, how dare you!"
Emperor Yongning hadn’t yet reached Prince Xiao Yao, he was still some distance away. There was no time to physically stop Prince Xiao Yao, so he shouted loudly, hoping it would make him stop.
But Prince Xiao Yao and his daughter were cut from the same cloth; once provoked, they couldn’t hear or care about anything else.
He stared at Jun Ning, his face twisted with anger, eyes burning with rage as if he wanted to consume her with flames.
Seeing the impending slap, Jun Ning’s eyes first widened like copper bells, terrified. Then, in a fleeting moment of avoidance, she closed her eyes tightly.
Her heart sank in despair, awaiting the slap to land.
Then... she expected her face not only to swell but possibly become partially deaf.
Several moments passed, and that fat, heavy, and terrifying hand did not fall, nor did Jun Ning feel any pain.
Confused, Jun Ning opened her eyes.
She saw Emperor Yongning panting heavily, holding Prince Xiao Yao’s raised hand in mid-air. His expression was not only serious but radiated with murderous intent.
Her father, the emperor, had saved her!
Judging by the emperor’s appearance, it seemed he had run over here.
One must understand that as an emperor, running was not allowed.
Yet, her father broke this rule for her!
Moved, Jun Ning took advantage of Prince Xiao Yao’s baffled gaze at the emperor, whose sudden intervention diverted his attention, and the fact that the hand grabbing her collar lacked force. She broke free from Prince Xiao Yao’s grasp and escaped behind Emperor Yongning.