Chapter 254: Chapter 254

"Hmph..." Emperor Yongning tossed the telescope in his hand to Xiao Lizi, "I won’t be fooled by her!"

"But Your Majesty, if the Imperial Concubine’s unstable pregnancy is real and not just a trick, what are we going to do?" Xiao Lizi, as the loyal servant of Emperor Yongning, was truly considerate of the emperor’s concerns.

"It can’t be real." After Emperor Yongning asserted this, he descended the pavilion.

He hurriedly walked towards the direction of the Imperial Study Room, treading like the wind.

Xiao Lizi sighed and followed.

After Jun Ning returned, she asked Madam Qi to enter the palace to check on her mother, the Imperial Concubine.

Thanks to General Qi, Madam Qi held an official title of the current dynasty. As long as she presented a visiting card, she had the authority to enter the palace.

Jun Ning couldn’t visit Qiong Hua herself, so she could only ask for help from others.

Madam Qi agreed without hesitation, "Absolutely, no problem at all."

As she spoke, Madam Qi began to dress up to enter the palace as soon as possible.

Pregnant women are already very tired, both physically and mentally. If they encounter an unstable pregnancy, it burdens them heavily, perhaps driving them into a corner.

She must enter the palace to check, and at the same time, comfort Imperial Concubine Hua.

"Dearest, after mom leaves, you and Jing Shu should stay at home, don’t run around, understand?" Madam Qi instructed.

Jun Ning nodded, "Understood, mom."

"Good." After saying this, Madam Qi, assisted by the maids, got dressed and went to the palace.

Jing Shu went to catch butterflies, inviting Jun Ning to join. Jun Ning didn’t want to go, but was dragged along.

While Jing Shu was catching butterflies, a group of servants assisted. Jun Ning wasn’t in the mood to play. She sat by the garden, watching Jing Shu happily capture butterflies, while her mind was occupied with thoughts of her mother, the Imperial Concubine.

The matter of her mother’s unstable pregnancy was not trivial; she was truly worried.

Nanny Zhang and Lan Xihe exchanged glances, both wanting to comfort Jun Ning. However, the Imperial Concubine’s unstable pregnancy wasn’t a matter that could be brushed off with a few comforting words.

As Jun Ning was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly overheard a group of cleaning maids gossiping.

"Ever since Princess Anle came to the mansion, the madam has given her the best of food and drink, spending quite a bit of the mansion’s silver!"

"Exactly! Before Princess Anle came, the General and Madam lived frugally, never indulging. Thus, they were able to save a portion of the General’s salary to invest in the military, rewarding soldiers with achievements."

"Now, alas...nothing can be saved..."

"The General and Madam never said anything because of her status as a princess. But I hardly believe they don’t have qualms. Even as a servant, I can’t accept it; I’m very opinionated."

Separated by layers of trees, Jun Ning and her companions heard the maids’ gossip clearly.

Nanny Zhang’s face darkened, "Talking behind the master’s back, do they have a death wish?"

Nanny Zhang was about to go teach those gossipy maids a lesson, but Jun Ning stopped her.

"They aren’t wrong in what they’re saying; there’s nothing to be upset about."

"Princess?" Nanny Zhang was really angry.

Lan Xihe looked worriedly at Jun Ning, "Ah Ning, are you alright?"

"I’m fine!" Jun Ning shook her head, pulling out a bag of gold leaves from her green backpack and handing it to Lan Xihe. "Sister Xi He, please take these gold leaves to the mansion’s steward for me!"

She might lack many things, but not money. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝘯𝘦𝘵

She had stayed in the National Guardian General Mansion for so long, and Madam Qi always treated her well, with no signs of grudges. But, it’s important to be self-aware.

She indeed needed to bear some of her expenses.

Lan Xihe, seeing the bag of gold leaves that Jun Ning took out, suddenly thought of something. The money Jun Ning had given her earlier, she had kept, intending to return it or repay Jun Ning when the time was right.

Now was the perfect time.

She gave her own bag of silver coins, along with the one Jun Ning handed her, to the steward of the National Guardian General Mansion. Understanding the reason, the steward didn’t refuse and recorded it in the accounts, to be reviewed later by Madam Qi.

Now there would be no more random gossip.

Because the money Jun Ning gave, plus Lan Xihe’s, was enough for their group to eat and drink well in the National Guardian General Mansion for a long time.

Anyone gossiping now would truly just be making trouble.

After Lan Xihe returned from giving the money, she reported back to Jun Ning, who didn’t listen and remained gloomily waiting for Madam Qi’s return.

Madam Qi had been gone a long time and still hadn’t returned.

Seeing her , Jing Shu lost interest in catching butterflies and sat beside Jun Ning, leaning her head on her shoulder, "Auntie, please don’t be upset."

Jun Ning ruffled Jing Shu’s hair, "Silly girl, I want to be happy every day too!"

But being human, no matter where you stand, comes with troubles.

"If you want to be happy, just be happy, it’s easy!" Jing Shu said innocently.

Jun Ning remained silent, letting out a long sigh.

She continued waiting for Madam Qi, but instead, Nurse came for Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao’s nurse said he cried again and asked Jun Ning to come see him.

Jun Ning went to help, with Jing Shu and Lan Xihe following.

As soon as little Qi Xiao saw Jun Ning, he waved his arms, wanting her to hold him.

Jun Ning picked up the little one in her arms, and as she was about to make him laugh, he already started smiling at her. It was as if something amusing was on her face that he liked, making him burst into laughter upon seeing her.

But indeed, there was nothing on Jun Ning’s face.

"What are you laughing at, huh?" Jun Ning asked.

An amused Jing Shu quipped, "He must be happy to be held by a pretty sister." She paused, then added shockingly, "He probably didn’t want the old nurse to hold him, that’s why he cried earlier."

The nurse, who was unwittingly caught in the crossfire, "........."

What did she do to deserve this? She wasn’t even thirty yet and was already being called old?

"Jing Shu, don’t talk nonsense." Jun Ning said.

Jing Shu grinned, "I wasn’t talking nonsense, I’m telling the truth. If you don’t believe me, we can test it."

"Oh? How do we test it?" Jun Ning got a little interested.

Jing Shu touched her nose and said, "It’s simple. Let people who look good and those who don’t carry Qi Xiao, and see how he reacts."