Chapter 126 The Emperor Becomes Suspicious, Shen Cong Covers the Way

The emperor did not answer Empress Xue immediately, but stroked his beard, seemingly lost in thought.

Empress Xue felt uneasy.

Zhao Ning was unwilling from the bottom of her heart to have Li Nanke be her study companion.

Firstly, she looked down on the impoverished noble family of the Marquis of Anping, and secondly, she preferred that Cong's family, the Duke of Xue's family, choose two girls from their families who knew her well to accompany Zhao Ning.

She glanced at the emperor's expression and said carefully, "That little girl from the Li family doesn't seem very clever, and I don't think Zhao Ning and she get along very well."

"Since a companion will be spending every day with Zhao Ning, I feel that compatibility in temperament is also very important."

The emperor raised an eyebrow and snorted softly.

"Does the Empress really think that little girl isn't very clever? I think she's quite clever."

That little girl is incredibly clever!

At first, the emperor genuinely thought Li Nanke was cowardly and easily frightened, until he mentioned the story of Marquis Anping performing a grand opera.

Only then did he suddenly realize what was happening.

How could a little girl who dared to set a trap for her own grandfather in front of the imperial messenger be as timid as a mouse?

If someone were truly timid, they should have been trembling with fear when entering the Ninghui Hall to meet the Emperor.

Could it be that the little girl doesn't want to be Zhao Ning's study companion, so she's pretending to be stupid?

"Since His Majesty thinks she's good, then let's make it official?"

Empress Xue misunderstood the emperor's meaning, thinking that he still wanted Li Nanke to be his study companion, and reluctantly agreed.

Princess Zhaoning, nestled in Empress Xue's arms, raised her head, looking so aggrieved she was about to cry.

"Father, I don't like Li Nanke. I don't want her as my study companion. Please, Father."

The emperor frowned.

Empress Xue quickly coaxed Zhao Ning gently, "Your father is doing this for your own good. You mustn't throw a tantrum."

"But Mother..."

The emperor suddenly interrupted her, "Zhaoning, I ask you, what did you and Li Nanke say when you were in the side hall? Why did she suddenly run back crying?"

Zhao Ning's coquettish voice caught in her throat, and she looked at Empress Xue with a flustered expression.

Empress Xue patted her gently, "Tell your father everything that happened back then, so he can understand why you don't like Li Nanke."

Zhao Ning rolled her eyes and stammered, "I didn't say much. I just told her what it takes to be a study companion."

She cried and said she couldn't do it because she thought it might be tiring to help me with my studies and homework.

Once she got started, Zhao Ning spoke more and more fluently.

"She knelt on the ground and begged me not to make her a study companion and not to hit her. I told her to ask my father about this matter."

Then she ran out crying, "Father, Li Nanke is foolish and cowardly, I don't like her."

The emperor frowned. "Is that really the case?"

Zhao Ning leaned against Empress Xue's chest and nodded.

Empress Xue gently embraced her, "Doesn't Your Majesty understand Zhao Ning? This child has always been well-behaved; when has she ever lied?"

The emperor looked intently at Zhao Ning without saying a word.

Zhao Ning dared not look him in the eye, and pretended to be coquettish, burying her face in Empress Xue's arms.

Empress Xue seized the opportunity and said, "Should we reconsider the matter of having someone as a study companion?"

At this moment, Ding Wang came in to report, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Prince Xuan has arrived."

A smile appeared on the emperor's face.

"Ah Cong is here. Why did this kid have to have someone report it? Just come in."

Shen Cong walked in slowly, a smile on his pale face.

“Your Majesty, I am no longer a child. I must still abide by the rules of the palace.”

The emperor glared at him and pulled him to sit down beside him.

“You were raised by me and your sister-in-law since you were a child. Entering the palace is like coming home. There are no so many rules at home.”

She touched his hand again, and her brows suddenly furrowed.

"Why are your hands like ice crystals? Where's your hand warmer? Why didn't you bring it?"

Shen Cong smiled and said, "The charcoal in the hand warmer went out, so I left it in the sedan chair."

The emperor glared at him irritably.

"You're already twelve years old, and you still can't put my mind at ease. When will you learn to take care of yourself?"

Empress Xue hurriedly instructed a palace maid, "Go and fetch a hot hand warmer."

The palace maid quickly brought over a hot hand warmer.

Empress Xue personally took it and placed it in Shen Cong's hands, then helped him adjust his cloak, like a mother who was worried about her child.

"You just recovered from a fever a few days ago, so you can't catch a chill again. Your body can't take it."

"I understand, Your Majesty."

Zhao Ning also rose from Empress Xue's embrace and obediently bowed to Chen Cong.

"Ninth Uncle".

The emperor was the eldest son of the late emperor, while Shen Cong was the ninth son of the late emperor, so Zhao Ning had to address him as Ninth Uncle.

Shen Cong nodded and casually asked, "What were Zhao Ning saying to your father and mother just now?"

Zhao Ning pouted, "Father and Mother want Li Nanke to be my study companion, but I don't like it. Ninth Uncle, can you talk to Father and Mother for me?"

Shen Cong smiled and said, "Your father and mother love you the most, so the companion they chose for you is naturally the best in the world."

Zhao Ning pouted and glared at him.

The emperor's eyes flickered slightly.

"Acong, do you think it's appropriate for Li Nanke to be Zhao Ning's study companion?"

Chen Cong stroked the hand warmer, thought carefully for a moment, and then spoke.

"I've met Li Nanke a few times. I just bumped into him at the palace gate and we exchanged a few words."

That girl seems clever, but she acts recklessly. The type of person the Emperor wants Zhao Ning to become depends heavily on her study companion.

Whether or not she is suitable to be Zhao Ning's study companion is a matter for the Emperor to decide; the opinions of others are ultimately one-sided.

The emperor nodded.

“Acong’s words make the most sense, then…”

Shen Cong abruptly changed the subject, interrupting what he hadn't said.

"However, this matter can be put aside for now. I have come here today because of an urgent matter that I cannot wait to report to my elder brother and sister-in-law."

"What's the rush?"

The Emperor and Empress Xue looked over at the same time.

Shen Cong took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.

The emperor glanced at his hand before his gaze fell on the paper.

Upon seeing the contents of the paper, he was so shocked that he suddenly jumped up from the dragon throne.

The movement was so large that it knocked over the teacup next to it and onto the ground.

The emperor, however, disregarded everything else and grabbed Shen Cong's hand, asking excitedly, "Is what's written here true?"

Immortality...is there really news of immortality?

"Immortality?"

Upon hearing those two words, Empress Xue trembled violently, almost sliding off her chair.

Pushing Zhao Ning aside, Empress Xue excitedly rushed to Shen Cong's side and grabbed his other hand.

Her lips trembled violently, and before she could even speak, tears streamed down her face.

"A-Cong, do you think... Changsheng really... really has some news?"

Shen Cong nodded earnestly.

"It's true. It's confirmed that it's Changsheng, and it's also confirmed that the person is near Xuzhou, but the exact location is still uncertain."

But brother and sister-in-law, rest assured, I have already dispatched additional men to Xuzhou, and I believe we will receive news soon.

Empress Xue stared intently at Shen Cong for a long time before finally releasing him and collapsing to the ground.

She covered her face and burst into tears.

"Eternal life, my eternal life..."

The emperor's eyes reddened with emotion, but unlike Empress Xue, he quickly composed himself.

He asked Shen Cong, "We've searched Xuzhou many times before without finding anything. How come we suddenly have news this time?"

Shen Cong said, "This matter is somewhat related to Li Nanke."

The emperor frowned. "What does this have to do with Li Nanke? Did she tell you that immortality is in Xuzhou?"

That's really true!

Shen Cong denied it with a smile, his expression unchanged.

"Of course not, how could she possibly know that? Actually, it's..."