Chapter 12: The art of controlling women still requires the son-in-law to be outside the palace...

There was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the hall, and the door was pushed open.

“Ningning…”

A bright yellow figure stood in the wind, and the emperor's gaze suddenly froze when it fell on Song Youning who was quietly reviewing memorials.

The South China Sea Pearl in his hand fell to the ground with a "bang" and rolled to Song Youning's feet.

My daughter, who used to be too lazy to even pick up a pen, is now leaning over the desk, writing on the paper quickly with a look of concentration in her eyes.

"Father, are you back?"

Song Youning glanced at it and went back to reviewing memorials.

“Yes…yes…”

He responded dryly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Li Funing calmly taking the memorial from his daughter's hand and adding notes. The familiar posture of the two when their sleeves overlapped made them look like an old couple who had worked together for decades.

The old emperor suddenly turned his back, pretending to cough but actually laughing.

He secretly gave Li Fu Ning a thumbs up, and Li Fu Ning secretly responded with a polite yet graceful... fake smile.

In just half a month, seeing his daughter change so much, he was so proud that he was like an old naughty boy who won a polo match.

It seems that my son-in-law is quite capable.

"Father?"

Song Youning looked up in confusion and saw his father covering his mouth and laughing in a strange posture, like a rat stealing oil.

"you...?"

"Ahahaha...it's cold! I need to stretch my legs!"

Song Luoshu suddenly withdrew his hand and fanned the air with his hand, "This weather is really too cold... too cold"

Song Youning frowned and asked doubtfully: "...is it cold?"

The old emperor seemed to have not realized what was happening, and responded in a pretentious tone, "Yes, it's too cold, fan yourself more... to cool down."

Song Youning was too lazy to pay attention to him as he still had a pile of memorials to review.

It's strange, but since I talked with Li Funing last night, I'm not so averse to reviewing memorials.

The old emperor pretended to fan himself, but this caused the pile of approved memorials on the desk to fall down with a crash.

The old emperor squinted his eyes and looked at the fallen memorials. The one on top was the "Lychee Tax Reform Plan in Lingnan" which Song Youning had just written.

That's clearly...but it doesn't look like my daughter's...handwriting.

The old emperor suddenly felt his eyes getting hot, his own devil had made it.

There is hope for the Song family!!!

"Father, I want to go out for a walk."

Song Youning looked at his father who was praying to his ancestors and was in a state of panic.

Song Luoshu didn't even turn his head, just closed his eyes and muttered to himself: "Go, go, have the blessing of our ancestors..."

"but……"

Song Youning changed the subject and looked at Li Funing who was standing beside him.

Li Funing felt his gaze and looked up at her. The smile on her lips grew wider and a smile appeared in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, I would like to borrow someone from you..."

Song Luoshu was so engrossed in his prayers that he didn't even hear what she said and dismissed her, "Take it, take it..."

Song Youning suddenly turned around.

She gently pushed the pile of memorials on the table to the eunuch beside her and said, "I'll trouble you, Father. I'll take my leave."

As her eyes moved, she gently grasped Li Funing's hand.

"My daughter will borrow Master Li right now."

She smiled brightly, but the strength in her hands didn't allow him to resist.

Li Funing was pulled forward slightly by her, but he still did not let go.

The old emperor finally reacted, his eyes widening: "Who... who are you talking about?"

"Master Li..."

Song Youning turned around and protected Li Funing behind him without leaving any trace.

She knew that Li Funing often helped his father with official business, and the old man would definitely not be willing to lend it to her.

Song Luoshu became anxious when he heard this.

"No, absolutely not."

He took two quick steps forward, trying to pull the person behind her over. "My dear daughter, Li Aiqing is an important official in the court. How can he go sightseeing with you? Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Well, I'll give Eunuch Guo to you. Eunuch Guo is considerate and thoughtful, and he's the perfect match..."

Upon hearing this, Song Youning not only did not let go of Li Funing, but instead held him even tighter.

She blinked her eyes and said, "Father, Eunuch Guo can't even tell the difference between lychees and longans. Last time, he even used my treasured collection of dried lychees as a medicinal ingredient to make soup."

Eunuch Guo: ... (When did this servant lose the ability to distinguish between lychees and longans? I'm talking nonsense.)

As she spoke, she stepped back, her shoe already touching the threshold. Li Funing stumbled slightly, the jade pendant at his waist jingling.

Seeing that Li Funing had been pushed out of the door, he became anxious and said, "Now, take whatever you want from the rest of the people. Li Aiqing must not leave the capital."

"Then Lord Li is still my son's consort. It is only natural for a consort to go out with the princess."

He suddenly smiled, a few lines of kindness forming in the corners of his eyes. "How about this, I ask your mother to accompany you?"

"You've grown up so big, but you've never traveled with your mother."

Song Youning was speechless. How could his father be so shameless... He even started playing the family card to snatch someone away.

"Father, as a son, I must be filial to my parents..." She suddenly smiled sweetly, so innocently that Song Luoshu even thought she was about to agree.

"But Queen Mother just said she wanted to go to Luoyang with Father to admire the peonies. If I were to abduct her, wouldn't that be considered breaking up the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl? Or does Father not want to go to Luoyang with her?"

"Ningning...don't talk nonsense."

Song Youning threatened: "If your father is annoying your mother, I will go and talk to her."

"No, no." Seeing that she had brought up the queen, Song Luoshu was the first to give in.

"Never mind..."

Seeing that his expression relaxed, Song Youning quickly stopped and dragged Li Funing out, "I'll take my leave now."

However, the two of them immediately disappeared outside the hall, leaving him no chance to regret.

Song Luoshu felt a headache when he saw the pile of memorials on the table in front of him.

He casually flipped open the top book. The ink of the red comments had not yet dried, and a few lively strokes occasionally jumped out among the elegant small characters. It was obvious that the girl had been forced by Li Funing to practice calligraphy.

This font is obviously hers, just like her personality, lively and energetic.

At the end of the approval document, there was a picture of a small lychee, with a few spots of ink on the bright red skin.

After flipping through several books, I found that these memorials had already been reviewed.

Although the handwriting is childish and lively, the insights and strategies expressed are novel and highly innovative. Although a bit radical, they are indeed good ideas.

He suddenly chuckled: "This girl, even the memorials are reviewed as if they were travel notes."

Song Youning held up the hem of her skirt with one hand and grabbed Li Funing's wrist with the other, pulling him all the way back to the bedroom, with the scarlet ribbon flying behind her.

The little palace maid sweeping the corridor stood on tiptoe to look, and saw a crimson figure with a hint of blue passing through the corridor like a whirlwind, making the copper bells on the eaves tinkle.

"Did you see that?"

A round-faced maid nudged her companion and said, "Your Highness, the princess ran away even faster than when the imperial kitchen caught fire last time."

She lowered her voice and asked, "I'm afraid you lost the bet again?"

"What do you know..." the companion beside him responded

"The princess is very sentimental. She must have owed a debt of love. Look, she's dragging Lord Li along with her and running away."

Song Youning trotted all the way to Youning Palace. People were talking about it along the way. They said that someone owed money, was being hunted, or was hiding from a debt of love... everything.

"Chun Tao, hurry! Prepare the horses!"

As soon as Song Youning entered the hall, he shouted towards the inside.

He turned to Li Funing and said:

"Lord Li, I'll give you one incense stick of time to return to the Prime Minister's Residence to pack your things. I'll pick you up there half an hour later..."

"grown ups……"

Before he finished speaking, a familiar figure appeared. Jingwen was wearing riding clothes, holding two bundles tied neatly in his hands, and carrying a food box on his back.

Why does this look like it was planned for a long time? ...

"My change of clothes has arrived..."

He smiled at Song Youning, walked over slowly, took the package from Jingwen's hand, shook it, and picked up the carved food box on Jingwen's back.

"There are also snacks that His Highness likes to eat on the way."

"You? Are you ready already?"

The smile in Li Funing's eyes was brighter than the midday sun. "Ever since Your Highness said he wanted to take me on the trip, I've been preparing."

"Is it still timely?"

Song Youning stood there in a daze, the corners of his mouth twitching, "...Just in time, just in time..."

Suddenly, the familiar sound of carriage bells came to my ears.

This sound...

It was clearly the sound of the bell of the sedan chair she had hidden in the backyard of Zuixian Tower. Even the sachet hanging on the sedan chair was tied by her own hands.

Li Funing bowed and made a "please" gesture, indicating her to go out, with half of the Dagan road map exposed from his sleeves.

Seeing his impatience, Song Youning paused and burst out laughing: "Master Li, are you planning to abduct me and elope?"

Li Funing looked at him calmly, with an innocent look on his face: "Oh? Didn't His Highness ask His Majesty to take me with him?..."

"...As the son-in-law..."

"Could it be that the princess wants to default on her debt?" He raised his eyebrows slightly, his tone lazy and with a hint of teasing.

"I...how could that be..."

Her voice lowered a few notches, sounding angry and annoyed, yet revealing a barely perceptible panic.

Before he finished speaking, Jingwen came to ask for instructions at an inopportune time, which just broke the delicate atmosphere.

"Sir, the princess's favorite plum drink has been loaded onto the truck!" Jingwen reported with his head lowered, but his eyes couldn't help but flicker between the two of them.

The atmosphere was really subtle.

Even he, who had never understood romance, had noticed something was going on. His master was being a lapdog again...