Chapter 239: Chapter 239

Not to mention accepting these things darting beneath or over their feet.

If they dared to crawl up their bodies and gnaw at them, it would be even more terrifying.

"Quick, quick, everyone start driving away the rats together, do not let these rats disturb His Majesty." Someone in the crowd shouted to take the lead.

In the next moment, another voice echoed, "You’re right, we mustn’t let these blind things disturb the nobles, there’s strength in numbers, let’s all drive them away together."

The scene suddenly became chaotic.

The Imperial Guards, along with several of the masters’ attendants, hurriedly started to drive the rats away.

Those who carried tools used their tools to chase the rats away; those without tools took off their outer garments, using their clothes as weapons to drive away these reckless rats.

Everyone was very diligent, not a single person slacking off.

Under usual circumstances, Jun Ning and Jing Shu would certainly enjoy watching the commotion. But today’s commotion was caused by rats, which were truly too frightening for them to enjoy.

When Jun Ning saw a rat about to dash towards her feet, she screamed in fear, "A rat, there’s a rat..."

Seeing that dark thing rapidly approaching her, Jun Ning’s scalp tingled with fear, nearly fainting from terror.

But just as the rat was about to reach her feet and scamper across them, her feet suddenly lifted off the ground, and a pair of large hands embraced her waist, lifting her up, allowing her to avoid the rats.

Upon smelling the familiar ambergris scent from the person behind her, she immediately knew who was holding her.

It was her father, the Emperor.

"Father, there are rats..." Jun Ning was too scared to look, she turned around in Emperor Yongning’s embrace, facing him, her little head nestling tightly in his chest.

Emperor Yongning, while observing the surrounding commotion, gently patted Jun Ning’s back, comforting, "Don’t be afraid, my treasure, Father is here, he will protect you."

"Mm." Jun Ning nodded.

Emperor Yongning’s deep gaze settled upon the room from which the rats had emerged.

Jun Ning’s fear of rats was well known throughout the palace after she had encountered them twice and was terrified to the point of illness. Consequently, he had ordered the extermination of all rats in the palace.

At this moment, anyone with sense wouldn’t stir trouble using rats, nor would rats appear freely under their watchful eyes.

So why are there still rats?

This is not a coincidence; it’s man-made!

Who exactly harbors ill intentions to harm his treasure?

Thinking of this, Emperor Yongning’s gaze settled on Prince Xiao Yao.

Why did Prince Xiao Yao offer such a meaningful remark to his treasure upon arriving at the western annex? And why was he looking at the room where rats emerged? Suddenly, it all seemed clear.

Emperor Yongning decided to move everyone to Delin Palace to inquire more about this matter.

A startled cry rang out, halting his steps.

"Your Majesty, it’s bad, it’s bad..."

The voice was Xiao Lizi’s.

Emperor Yongning furrowed his brows, angrily saying, "What’s the bad news you want to report to me now? What’s bad?"

Today was supposed to be a good day, both his treasure’s birthday and New Year’s Eve banquet, yet so much unexpected trouble occurred?

Xiao Lizi rushed in front of Emperor Yongning, reporting with a flustered expression, "Your Majesty, there’s not only rats in that small room beside the western annex, but also people."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongning recalled why they had come here, hadn’t it been because of following that scream?

"It’s... it’s..." Xiao Lizi stammered, struggling to get the words out.

Emperor Yongning glanced askew at him, "What is it exactly? If you stutter again, I’ll cut off your tongue."

Xiao Lizi, thoughtfully taking a glance at Prince Xiao Yao by his side, straightened his tongue and said, "Inside are Prince Xiao Yao’s legitimate daughter and Princess An Ding."

"What?" Prince Xiao Yao at the side felt as if the sky was falling upon hearing these words.

Emperor Yongning showed little emotion, he asked again, "Are they still alive?"

"Alive, but both are in a dire state, wretchedly miserable." Xiao Lizi sighed, "With so many rats, it’s fortunate we arrived in time, otherwise the two girls would have surely died." Updates are released by 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝗇𝗲𝘵

Emperor Yongning: "Let’s go see."

Although many rats had emerged from that room, after everyone’s frenzied efforts to drive them away, and with some time having passed, many rats had lost their way, some fell off high platforms, while others scampered to unknown places, there were hardly any rats left underfoot.

There was no difficulty for everyone to approach that small room.

A group of people quickly arrived at the front of the room.

Seeing Jun Yang and Yao Yao, who had already been carried out and were now lying on the ground, with clothes torn long ago, bodies covered in stains, and faces marked with strange wounds, but barely recognizable, everyone sighed.

Being bullied by rats was indeed somewhat miserable.

Emperor Yongning merely glanced briefly, then instructed Xiao Lizi, "Go get the Imperial Physician."

Yao Yao must not die; his nurturing and granting her princess status were all for a reason.

In contrast to Emperor Yongning’s composure, Prince Xiao Yao was extremely agitated.

Seeing Jun Yang lying there, motionless, covered in injuries, even though knowing she was not dead, but alive, he was still worried and frightened, trembling all over.

"Yang Er..." Tears flowed from him as he crawled to Jun Yang’s side, murmuring, "...why did you suddenly end up ? Hmm? Why was it you bitten by rats ? How did it become you? Why were you here?"

This entire room of rats was prepared for Jun Ning.

But why was it his daughter who was ultimately gnawed and bitten by the rats?

He became the person who harmed his daughter to this extent.

He was not a good father; he failed to protect his daughter.

Prince Xiao Yao felt guilty.

In addition to guilt, his heart was burning with an unending, furious rage.

It obviously shouldn’t be this way. The one bitten by rats should have been Jun Ning.

How did it suddenly switch to his daughter?

Definitely, Jun Ning must have had a hand in it.

Yes, it must have been Jun Ning who harmed his daughter .

So, this was not his fault.

"You wretched girl..." Prince Xiao Yao suddenly turned around, looking angrily at Jun Ning in Emperor Yongning’s embrace, shouting, "Did you harm my Yang Er , didn’t you?"

Before Jun Ning could respond, he added, "It must be you, otherwise why would she be in that dark room, being bitten by rats ?"