Chapter 97: Chapter 97

Jun Ning came here this time, not to learn about that matter.

He already sees it clearly; neither his mother nor his cheap father will enlighten her. If she wants to know the truth, she has to explore it slowly by herself.

Fortunately, she still has time on her side, and she can investigate slowly.

But on Ah Yu’s side...

Prior to this, Ah Yu had been living in a dire environment every day.

Now that the Empress has been permanently confined, she must be holding a grudge in her heart, and her temper will become increasingly odd. Those around her face danger at the slightest misstep.

Therefore, it’s truly dangerous to continue leaving Ah Yu with the Empress; she must rescue Ah Yu from the Empress as soon as possible.

"Please rest assured, Father Emperor, your son did not come for this purpose," Jun Ning said.

Emperor Yongning showed interest, "Then tell Father Emperor, what is your purpose?"

Jun Ning placed her hands on her hips, "Can Father Emperor first promise your son that you will definitely seek an answer for him?" After a pause, "As long as Father Emperor agrees, once your son finishes dancing, I will tell you."

Emperor Yongning replied readily, "As long as it’s not asking why your mother won’t leave the Cold Palace, Father Emperor can answer any other question for you."

At that moment, Emperor Yongning thought that his precious child was just a kid, unlikely to have any difficult questions. Like the question of why her mother won’t leave the Cold Palace, there’s probably only this one.

So he agreed readily.

Jun Ning was indeed waiting for this sentence from Emperor Yongning, finally hearing it. She jumped joyfully toward Emperor Yongning and held out her pinky finger, saying, "Pinkie promise, don’t change?"

Emperor Yongning also held out his pinky finger, cooperating in making the promise with Jun Ning.

"Alright, then let’s start dancing," she said.

Jun Ning began to dance.

Actually, Jun Ning was not skilled at dancing, or to be more exact, she could not dance at all.

The reason she chose to dance to win Emperor Yongning’s favor was purely because she understood the advantage of a child’s physical structure.

Children of her age are still developing their bones, so their limbs aren’t as stiff as adults. In fact, every part of their bodies is quite flexible.

Thus, children dancing don’t need to grasp as many techniques as adults suppose; they just need to spin around playfully, strike a pose, act cute, and pretend to be obedient, and they will be charmingly adorable with a sense of beauty.

This was the greatest advantage of being a child at present.

Jun Ning knew how to utilize her advantage.

Sure enough, Jun Ning just twirled her dress a few times, added some facial expressions, sometimes cute, sometimes adorably fierce, sometimes pouting... Emperor Yongning’s heart seemed to be melting.

"How can my precious child be so adorable?"

Emperor Yongning laughed heartily and clapped enthusiastically for Jun Ning.

After continuous clapping, his palms were turning red but he didn’t stop, showing his support very clearly.

When Jun Ning finished dancing, exhausted and sweaty, she took a deep breath and walked to Emperor Yongning. He immediately put both his hands around her waist, lifted her onto his lap, holding her with one hand and fanning her with the other.

"Is my precious child exhausted?" Emperor Yongning asked, "Xiao Lizi, quickly bring the handkerchief."

Xiao Lizi brought the handkerchief, and Emperor Yongning took it to gently wipe away the fine sweat on Jun Ning’s forehead. Watching her breathe with her small mouth open was truly endearing.

He smiled, kissed her little cheek.

"Now, can you tell Father Emperor what you want him to answer?" Emperor Yongning actively inquired, smiling like a kindly father.

Jun Ning exhaled and said, "Father Emperor, your precious child wants to know who Ah Yu’s biological mother is?"

Upon hearing this, the hand fanning Jun Ning froze in mid-air, and the smile on Emperor Yongning’s face was instantly replaced by seriousness.

He remained silent for a while, pursed his lips, and asked, "Yi Yi, what nonsense are you talking about? Seventeen’s mother is the Empress."

This remark carried a hint of warning, advising Jun Ning not to speak recklessly.

Jun Ning was not deterred by him.

She solemnly fabricated, "Father Emperor, you must not deceive your son. This matter was told to me by Nanny Li beside the Empress when I was Ah Yu’s companion. She said it, so it must be true."

For Ah Yu’s safety, Jun Ning couldn’t say directly that Ah Yu had told her this. So, she could only claim it was Nanny Li who said it.

Nanny Li is the most trusted person by the Empress; her words have more credibility than others.

Emperor Yongning certainly understood this.

"Well done, Nanny Li."

He clenched his fists and muttered to himself, silently noting Nanny Li.

"So, Father Emperor, don’t conceal anything from your son. Just tell him who is Ah Yu’s biological mother?" Jun Ning expressed while shaking Emperor Yongning’s arm and playfully winking at him, "Father Emperor, rest assured, I won’t tell anyone after finding out."

Emperor Yongning avoided Jun Ning’s playful winks, "Nanny Li is speaking nonsense, don’t believe everything you hear."

"Is it truly me believing everything I hear?" Jun Ning questioned.

Emperor Yongning said nothing, evidently feeling guilty.

"Father Emperor, do you intend to fool your son just to avoid answering the question?" Jun Ning was quick to see through Emperor Yongning’s thoughts, she huffed and released his hand, puffing her cheeks, "Have you forgotten what you promised your son just now?"

——"As long as it’s not asking why your mother won’t leave the Cold Palace, Father Emperor can answer any other question for you."

Emperor Yongning hadn’t forgotten those words.

But now he regretted agreeing so quickly just now.

He shouldn’t have been swayed by Yi Yi’s cute appearance, forgetting her pitfall tactics and imaginative mind unlike his other children, and walked straight into the trap she prepared for him.

Now he’s stuck - easy to fall into a trap, but hard to escape.

"Phew..." Emperor Yongning took a deep breath to calm his playful feelings and then spoke earnestly, "Yi Yi, some things aren’t as simple as you think and can’t be discussed casually. So this time, can you be considerate of Father Emperor?"

The reason Qiong Hua in the Cold Palace accepted his decree but refused to leave the Cold Palace was because she wanted back her son, the Seventeenth Prince Jun Yu, wasn’t it?

And isn’t Jun Yu’s biological mother precisely Qiong Hua?

Emperor Yongning had gone to great lengths to avoid the first issue, but he never expected to confront this second issue.