Chapter 15 Bullying. The General's Mansion is a very large place. ...

The elder sister Jing Hui mentioned was the Fifth Princess Jing Ning.

Jingning's life story is so full of hardships that even folk tales wouldn't dare to describe it like that.

Her birth mother was a daring palace maid in the Empress Dowager's palace. During a palace banquet, she took advantage of Emperor Jingwen's drunkenness and followed his carriage from Taiji Hall all the way to Yangxin Hall.

After sneaking in, she not only forged an imperial edict to send away the concubine who was supposed to serve Emperor Jingwen that night, but also took her place herself and served Emperor Jingwen for the entire night.

When Emperor Jingwen woke up, he had no recollection of how she ended up in his bed. He simply assumed that he was drunk and out of his mind, and that was how he ended up giving her a title.

However, only three months later, the empress who had been driven away learned the truth and made a scene before Emperor Jingwen and the empress.

Emperor Jingwen was furious that a palace maid had manipulated him, and ordered that she be torn apart by five horses and thrown into a mass grave.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the imperial edict was issued, the palace maid began to vomit incessantly. Those with experience immediately recognized this as a sign that she was pregnant with the emperor's child.

The crowd looked at each other in bewilderment, then summoned the imperial physician to take her pulse, and it was indeed confirmed that she was pregnant.

She was lucky; she became pregnant on her very first night with the emperor.

Emperor Jingwen was still furious and determined to execute him. Even though Emperor Jingwen did not have many children at the time, no one came forward to offer any advice in the face of his anger.

At this moment, the Empress stepped forward.

At this time, she had just become pregnant with Jing Hui. She said that the child was innocent and asked the emperor to spare the child in the palace maid's womb, as a way to accumulate good karma for Jing Hui.

Emperor Jingwen hesitated, but seeing the Empress's firm stance, he agreed.

However, he only agreed to let the mother go and leave the child behind. After the palace maid gave birth, she was still executed by being torn apart by five horses.

After Jingning was born, because she was a princess, the concubines who originally wanted to adopt her all left. In the end, the Empress ordered someone to take her to the central palace and have her raised, so that she could be kept as a playmate when Jinghui was born.

Jingning and Jinghui were only four months apart in age. Over the years, they grew up together in the Empress's Palace and received almost the same upbringing, but gradually developed different personalities.

Jing Hui was of noble birth and intelligent. Although he was spoiled and playful, he was deeply loved by the emperor. He entered the court at an early age and was taught by the emperor's tutor. At a young age, he already had the appearance of an emperor, which was unmatched by many princes.

Jingning, however, was an ambitious woman. She had been learning martial arts from the palace guards since childhood, and she would fall asleep whenever she had to study. She was illiterate.

As she grew up, she began to imitate her mother's ways, using clever tricks to sneak out of the palace to find martial arts masters in the countryside to learn martial arts.

Emperor Jingwen knew about it, but did not discipline him.

He disliked Jingning from the start, but later the Empress couldn't bear to see Jingning continue to waste his talents and persuaded Emperor Jingwen to find him a proper martial arts instructor.

After Jingning found a martial arts master, her martial arts skills became increasingly proficient. Just then, Jinghui came of age, and Emperor Jingwen wanted to let her go out of the palace to gain experience. He entrusted her with many tasks outside the palace, and it was at this time that Jingning's martial arts skills came in handy.

Jingning kept in mind the great kindness of the Empress and Jinghui. She followed Jinghui and went into dangerous places with her many times. She herself was injured, whether slightly or seriously, but she never let Jinghui get hurt.

However, fate is unpredictable. Last year, when Jing Hui was arresting a corrupt official, some crucial evidence that Jing Hui had been searching for for many days fell into the fire. After Jing Ning rescued Jing Hui, he went back to the fire to retrieve the evidence.

Jing Hui advised her not to go, but Jing Ning did not listen. In the fire, she was hit in the chest by a poisoned arrow shot from the shadows.

In the chaos, all the guards who were with the two of them died. Jing Hui helped Jing Ning escape for their lives, and the two of them almost lost their lives.

After returning to the palace, Emperor Jingwen was furious. After using all the resources of the Imperial Hospital to save Jing Hui, he refused to let anyone go to treat Jing Ning. On several occasions in front of outsiders, he said to let Jing Ning fend for himself.

When Jing Hui woke up and learned of this, she pleaded with him many times despite her illness. Emperor Jingwen felt sorry for her and sent an imperial physician to her.

Jingning's life was saved with great difficulty, but the poison remained in her body for too long, damaging her health. She suffered from shortness of breath on several occasions and has been bedridden ever since.

Emperor Jingwen used this as a pretext to place Jingning under house arrest in the palace.

Jing Hui regarded Jing Ning as his closest relative and was often inseparable from him. Although Emperor Jingwen allowed Jing Hui to visit him, the number of visits was strictly limited.

Recently, Jing Hui was leaving the palace for his marriage and had been visiting Jing Ning too often, which greatly displeased Emperor Jingwen. However, he did not vent his dissatisfaction on Jing Hui, so he scolded Jing Ning in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

On the palace road, large swaths of clouds drifted overhead. On a whim, Jing Hui pushed Lu Songyuan's wheelchair and began to tell him the story of Jing Ning.

After finishing his story, Lu Songyuan suddenly sighed, "Your sister's life has been truly full of hardships."

"My elder sister is the person who treats me the best in the world besides my father and mother. She was injured while protecting me."

Jing Hui's sleeves fluttered in the wind. Every time she went to Jingning Palace, her heart was filled with mixed emotions. "If it weren't for Father Emperor's objections, I would definitely take my elder sister with me and take care of her myself."

The palace appears to be filled with royals who have received the highest level of education, but some of them are all show and no substance, constantly resorting to underhanded tactics behind the scenes.

Similarly, although Jing Hui appears to be surrounded by beauty and doting affection, there are some things she has no one to confide in.

After sharing her thoughts with Lu Songyuan today, she didn't expect him to reply, but to her surprise, Lu Songyuan said, "The General's Mansion is a very large place."

"Um?"

A gust of wind whistled past his ear. Jing Hui paused, then looked down and asked, "What did you say?"

Lu Songyuan sat upright in his wheelchair, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

He rested his hand on the armrest of his wheelchair and rubbed his fingers together, asking instead of answering, "How much longer until we arrive?"

Jing Hui had already heard it, and she chuckled, "I haven't complained about being tired yet, but you're already urging me on."

After saying that, Jing Hui pushed Lu Songyuan's wheelchair and started running, and the servants quickly followed.

Despite the jolting motion beneath him, Lu Songyuan wasn't worried at all about Jing Hui falling. He even glanced at her sideways and chuckled as he raised the corner of his lips.

They are truly blessed; their troubles pass in the blink of an eye.

I don't remember any of the unpleasantness that happened in the manor just now.

Lu Qingyue, who was following behind them, smiled at their backs, a smile full of ill intent. Just as he was about to say something, Lu Zhouxue showed her disgust and said, "Follow me."

Lu Qingyue: "..."

Pushing all the way to the Lotus Jade Palace where Jing Ning was, Jing Hui's forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat. She took the handkerchief handed to her by A Yu and glanced at Lu Songyuan.

Because of Emperor Jingwen, Jingning had always disliked men, and was furious when she learned that she was going to get married.

She probably didn't want to see Lu Songyuan.

"Your Highness, please go inside. I'll come pick you up later to take you home."

Jing glanced at him and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Since His Majesty has granted me the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards, and I have nothing else to do, I will go and take a look at the Imperial Guards station set up in the palace."

Jing Hui nodded. "Okay."

"Zhou Xue, please follow Your Highness."

Lu Songyuan said calmly, "Your Highness, please feel free to give her any instructions."

Lu Zhouxue, like Jing Ning, also knew martial arts. Recalling the words the two had exchanged in the mansion that day, such as "your people are my people" and "my people are your people," Jing Hui smiled.

"Okay, thank you."

-

The Lotus Jade Palace was already heated by fire in the autumn, and stepping inside felt as hot as summer, with the flowers inside looking wilted.

As Jing Hui stepped into the bedchamber, she straightened a fallen flower branch by the door, leaving A Yu and Lu Zhouxue outside. She then entered the chamber and called out, "Sister!"

Jingning's injury had spread to her ears. At first, she couldn't hear anything at all, but now she is gradually recovering and can hear again. However, she needs people to speak loudly for her to hear clearly.

After falling ill, Jingning disliked having many people in the palace, so in the vast Lianyu Palace, only two maids who knew martial arts were left.

The two women stepped forward and greeted the princess, saying, "Your Highness, we pay our respects. May you be well."

"Get up."

Jing Hui stood in the hall, looking at the bed hidden by heavy curtains, and asked, "My elder sister hasn't woken up yet?"

The maids turned around and glanced at the bed, then shook their heads and said, "Yes, the princess went to bed late yesterday, and someone came looking for her early this morning. The princess spent a lot of energy dealing with them, and just went to sleep here."

Just as Jing Hui was about to ask who it was, a soft call came from the bed.

“Ah Zhu”.

Jingning's voice was hoarse for years, sharp and occasionally lost in its own murmur, "Is that you?"

"It's me."

Jing Hui strode into the palace, and the maids stepped forward to lift the curtains.

She strode forward and sat on the bed, looking at Jingning's chapped white lips. She reached for a cup and held it to Jingning's lips.

"Sister, have some water."

"good."

Jingning inherited the best features of his mother and Emperor Jingwen in terms of appearance, and was also an exceptionally beautiful person.

She used to dress as a man, but now, in her illness, she wears no jewelry, her long hair is loose, and she is only wearing a white nightgown. Anyone who sees her would feel sorry for her.

Jing Ning slowly propped herself up, coughed twice, swallowed hard and drank two mouthfuls of water, then fell back onto the pillow, panting heavily, and looked at Jing Hui.

Since her serious injury, Jingning's eyes have always been vacant. She took Jinghui's hand and asked, "Azhu, how have you been lately?"

"good."

Jing Hui smiled and started talking to her while massaging her hands.

She didn't tell Jingning about her injury a few days ago, but instead chattered on about the funny things that happened at the General's Mansion and the jokes that were circulating in the market.

Jingning listened quietly, occasionally responding with a few words.

When Jing Hui's throat was dry from talking and she took a drink of water, Jing Ning asked again, "After you got married, how did he treat you?"

Jing Ning didn't even know the name of Jing Hui's husband.

Jing Hui was stunned for a moment.

"It's alright."

Jing Hui leaned on Jing Ning's shoulder, pouted her upper lip, and said, "I am a princess, no one dares to bully me."

Jing Ning chuckled softly.

"Yes, everyone likes our Ah Zhu."

After he finished speaking, the room was quiet for a while.

After a moment, Jing recalled what the maid had just said, straightened up and asked, "Sister, who came looking for you this morning?"

After Jing Hui finished asking the question, he keenly noticed that Jing Ning's expression was a little off for a moment.

As expected, Jingning said, "Nobody..."

Her reaction ignited Jing Hui's anger instantly. "It's Jing Ao, isn't it?"

Jing Ning remained silent for a while, then nodded slightly.

"What's he doing here again!"

Jing Hui shouted, "Sister, what did he say to you!"

Jing Ning looked at Jing Hui for a while before asking, "You were injured a few days ago, why didn't you tell me?"

Jing Hui was taken aback. While cursing Jing Ao in her heart, she extinguished the fire and sat on the edge of the bed. She took Jing Ning's hand and said, "That day, Lu Songyuan protected me, so I wasn't seriously injured. Sister, don't you see I'm fine now?"

Jing Ning remained silent, only looking at Jing Hui.

Do you remember what I told you before I left the palace?

Jing Hui rubbed her cheek with Jing Ning's hand and said, "None of those princes can be trusted. Don't listen to anyone except me. Sister, we all know what kind of person Jing Ao is. What I least want to see is you feeling guilty towards me."

Jing Ao's illness has been going on for a long time. Ever since he started to dislike Jing Hui, he has always tried to provoke the people Jing Hui cares about.

However, these were all just idle chatter and playful pranks; he wouldn't dare to openly harm someone's life.

Doing this is like a toad crawling on your foot—it doesn't bite, it's just disgusting.

"Remember."

Jingning blinked her dry eyes and said, "Azhu, just don't hide it from me next time. It hurts me to see you injured, and it hurts me even more to find out from someone else."

“Okay,” Jing Hui said.

Just as the two finished speaking, Lu Zhouxue's voice came from outside the door.

"Your Highness, the general has returned from the Imperial Guard and is currently outside the gate."

"knew."

Jing Hui turned to Jing Ning and asked, "Sister, do you want to see him?"

A note from the author:

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Updates will resume today! I'm back to life! [Milk tea emoji]