Chapter 233: Chapter 233
She smiled and quickly took a piece of osmanthus cake while Jing Shu wasn’t paying attention, stuffing it into her mouth.
If Jun Ning knew where Jing Shu learned these words, she definitely wouldn’t be able to laugh.
Where did Jing Shu learn them?
She was always strictly controlled by the Crown Princess Consort, yet her nature followed the Crown Prince’s—very lively, active, and somewhat gossipy.
Those words were what she heard while sneaking off to play at the Eunuch Bureau, listening to the eunuchs who served before the emperor gossiping.
After she heard it, she naturally remembered it.
When she mentioned these things to Jun Ning one day, Jun Ning was stupefied. Who would have thought that this girl, Jing Shu, would run off to the Eunuch Bureau to gossip?
Of course, that’s a story for later.
By now, Jun Ning no longer worried that Jing Shu would go and sit with Yao Yao.
With Jing Shu’s personality, not continuing to curse Yao Yao to the point of wanting to end it all was already her restraint.
Jun Ning had simply forgotten Jing Shu’s nature after spending so much time with her.
This girl Jing Shu is not someone who is easily manipulated, and she doesn’t regard anyone highly. For instance, their first meeting wasn’t pleasant. It was only because the Crown Prince intentionally had them bond that they slowly got along while playing together.
For Yao Yao to suddenly show goodwill, to Jing Shu, as the Crown Prince’s eldest daughter, there were too many people trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince through her, and she’d seen it all, naturally not caring.
Yao Yao was so insulted by Jing Shu’s words that she couldn’t lift her head.
Since arriving at the palace, she had been sensitive about anyone mentioning her mother’s origins, let alone herself.
Palace attendants who served her usually knew she was sensitive and reluctant to discuss it, and to accommodate her, they naturally wouldn’t bring it up. However, just because the servants don’t talk about it doesn’t mean the masters won’t.
Like now, with just a few light words, Jing Shu made her unable to lift her head.
Her hatred towards Jing Shu suddenly increased, and she wished nothing more than for Jing Shu and Jun Ning to die together.
Yes, let them die together.
The dark room full of rats shouldn’t only be enjoyed by Jun Ning; Jing Shu should be sent there too.
Aren’t they getting along well?
Then they should go on a journey to the Western Paradise together!
Yao Yao thought maliciously, casting a venomous gaze at Jing Shu, who had skipped back to Jun Ning’s side.
Jing Shu kept rubbing against Jun Ning, insisting on sitting beside her.
Jun Ning, however, didn’t accommodate her at all, maintaining her previous stance, unwilling to let Jing Shu sit next to her.
Jing Shu was thick-skinned, and through sheer obstinacy, managed to stay by Jun Ning’s side.
No matter what Jun Ning ate next, Jing Shu would look at her with those pitiful eyes, making it impossible for Jun Ning to eat a bite. She could only drink porridge with Jing Shu. For origınal chapters go to 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥
On the other side, Jun Yu, seeing that Jun Ning was only drinking porridge, asked with confusion, "Sister, are you feeling unwell? Is that why you don’t want to eat?"
Jun Ning smiled wryly, "No."
"Well, if not, hurry and eat. You didn’t eat much for dinner, don’t just sit idly now." As he spoke, Jun Yu picked up the drumstick from his plate and placed it in a small bowl, handing it to Jun Ning.
Jun Ning took it, just about to eat when Jing Shu started looking at her again with those pitiful eyes.
"Jing Shu, if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll starve to death."
Jing Shu laughed, "How could you possibly starve? You can drink porridge with me!"
"Drink porridge?" She didn’t like porridge.
"Why don’t you share the drumstick with me instead?" Jun Ning stuffed the drumstick from the small bowl into Jing Shu’s mouth, "If you can’t chew and swallow it, just lick it."
Jing Shu, with her mouth stuffed with a drumstick: "..."
Jing Shu had chipped her two front teeth, making it impossible to chew the drumstick, and her gums still hurt, meaning she couldn’t eat anything that required biting. Just as Jun Ning said, she could only lick it.
She could only lick while Jun Ning ate in big mouthfuls?
Jing Shu’s eyes welled up with tears.
The aroma of the drumstick lingered around her nose. So fragrant, so fragrant... Jing Shu watched as tears and saliva involuntarily flowed.
Yao Yao derided in her heart, "Useless fool, how dare she drool in such a situation? How is she even fit to be the Crown Prince’s eldest daughter? Ha!"
Yao Yao secretly sent someone to inform the Crown Princess Consort that Jing Shu and Jun Ning were having a dispute.
Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess Consort unhesitatingly sent the nanny to lead Jing Shu away from Jun Ning. Jun Ning initially wanted to keep her, but seeing that it was her own nursemaid taking Jing Shu away, she didn’t intervene.
However, she reminded, "Jing Shu’s nanny, you must keep a good watch on Jing Shu from now on, don’t let her wander around, and don’t let her meet strangers."
"Thank you for the reminder, Princess. I understand."
The nanny politely replied and then took Jing Shu away.
To be safe, Jun Ning sent Nanny Zhang to follow Jing Shu, to prevent Yao Yao and Jun Yang from using her when she was alone.
As long as Jing Shu was fine, she naturally would be as well.
Nanny Zhang went, but half an hour later, she returned to Jun Ning, looking anxious.
However, the feast was almost over, and Emperor Yongning had already started celebrating Jun Ning’s birthday, so Jun Ning had long gone to sit by His Majesty’s side, making it impossible for Nanny Zhang to approach her even in her urgency.
The master from Huguo Temple first recited a blessing for immortality for Jun Ning, then led everyone in praying for her. Following that, the acrobat troupe began their performance.
All sorts of captivating performances emerged in succession.
There were also various colors of fireworks, resounding in the sky.
While celebrating Jun Ning’s birthday, the officials’ wives specially presented her with birthday gifts.
Jun Ning soon received a pile of gifts, the most precious of which were from the Crown Prince—a pair of golden bracelets, adorned with a phoenix presenting good fortune. The phoenix was intricately carved and made of pure gold, extremely valuable.
Before Jun Ning could be moved, Xiao Lizi brought the gift prepared by His Majesty for her. It was also made of pure gold, but not a bracelet; it was a longevity lock.
The lock was engraved with exquisite peony patterns. Peonies symbolize wealth, and this pattern was usually reserved for the most prestigious members of the Imperial Family, like the Emperor, the Empress, and the Crown Prince...
Jun Ning was the first to have such a patterned piece of jewelry, and she was a princess.
This demonstrated His Majesty’s affection for her.
Below the lock hung three small palace bells, in hollowed-out designs, also made of pure gold.
When Xiao Lizi helped Jun Ning put on this longevity lock, he was both crying and laughing, his expression very complex...
When Jun Ning asked him what was wrong, he didn’t explain.
After helping Jun Ning put on the longevity lock, he returned to serve by Emperor Yongning’s side.
Even though he stayed by the side, he frequently glanced in Emperor Yongning’s direction, and his eyes were constantly on Emperor Yongning’s bandaged left hand, where traces of blood seeped.