Chapter 192 Phoenix Perches on the Wutong Tree

Yongning then went to Taiji Palace to visit the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was under the eaves, covered with a blanket even in the sweltering summer heat, while Princess Jinyang sat beside her reading to her.

I saw Yongning coming from afar.

The eldest princess put down the book in her hand and looked at her with a smile.

Seeing Yongning skipping and hopping over, he smiled and said:

"You're completely recovered, you can walk and jump around like that?"

Yongning smiled and bowed to Princess Jinyang and the Empress Dowager.

"Greetings, Grandmother and Aunt."

Then, without waiting for the Empress Dowager and the Eldest Princess to speak, he stood up, sat down next to the Empress Dowager, and took her hand, saying:

"Grandmother, are you feeling better today?"

The Empress Dowager looked at the beautiful girl before her, her face rosy and radiant, and felt a surge of joy. She smiled and said:

"Good, good. Seeing that you are so healthy, Grandmother is all right."

The Empress Dowager stroked Yongning's hand and asked, "Are you fully recovered?"

Yongning nodded vigorously and said, "It's almost done."

The imperial physician said that it was thanks to Sister-in-law Yu'er's timely vomiting that day that there were not many toxins in my body.

After a month of recuperation, my body has basically fully recovered.

Princess Jinyang, who was standing nearby, smiled slightly when she heard them talking about Xie Yunyu.

The Empress Dowager also laughed and said, "Your sister-in-law Yu'er has a clever mind and is a smart person."

"My mother said the same thing, and told me to learn more from my sister-in-law."

Yongning was quite excited when Xie Yunyu was mentioned.

"By the way, I went to the Prince's residence yesterday and met the twins and my sister-in-law."

Princess Jinyang has been staying at home every day recently, and after returning home yesterday, she naturally learned that Yongning had come to the residence.

Of course, he knew why she came, and he even knew that she would give Du Zhengming lotus flowers at the end.

Having met her today, I naturally know why she came.

The Empress Dowager chatted with Yongning for a long time, and finally Princess Jinyang jokingly said with a half-smile:

"What brings you here today, Yongning?"

Yongning felt awkward for a moment, scratched his head sheepishly, and said:

"Aunt, I've just come to visit the Empress Dowager."

Princess Jinyang smiled and said, "Really? Is there nothing else? Like, anything about Du Shaoqing?"

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Du Shaoqing? Which Du Shaoqing?

Upon hearing this, Yongning's face turned bright red, reaching the roots of her neck.

When the Empress Dowager saw this situation, how could she not understand the reason?

So he smiled and looked at Yongning with curiosity, asking:

"What, Ning'er, do you have someone you like?"

Princess Yongning lowered her head shyly and nodded almost imperceptibly.

The Empress Dowager was overjoyed upon seeing this and said:

"Haha, she's even shy now."

Tell me whose son he is, and if he's suitable, your grandmother will decide for you.

Upon hearing this, Princess Jinyang quickly interrupted the Empress Dowager:

"Mother, if she were a truly suitable match, would she have come looking for you?"

The Empress Dowager thought about it and agreed.

But seeing Yongning's shy, budding love, she still couldn't bear to say it:

"If there's a problem, it depends on what kind of problem it is."

If the problem is minor, the Empress Dowager can still make the decision.

Upon hearing this, Yongning suddenly gained courage, her cheeks flushed, and she looked up at the Empress Dowager, saying:

"Grandmother, I like Du Zhengming, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."

But my elder brother, the Crown Prince, and my mother both disagree, and I dare not ask my father.

After listening carefully, the Empress Dowager said:

"Du Zhengming? I know that person."

I've heard he's a stern and incorruptible judge, upright and honest, and deeply favored by His Majesty.

Yongning nodded repeatedly beside him.

The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and then asked, "Then why do your elder brother, the Crown Prince, and your mother disagree?"

Yongning lowered his head again: "They said he's too old and too aloof, and they're afraid he won't be able to take care of people."

The Empress Dowager frowned and asked, "Old age? How old?"

Seeing that Yongning's face was practically dripping with blood, Princess Jinyang replied:

"Du Shaoqing is a good person, capable, and good-looking, but he is nine years older than Ning'er."

Born into a collateral branch of the Du clan of Jingzhao, his parents were swept away by a flash flood when he was young, and he later lived with his grandparents.

He was very talented in his studies, but unfortunately his family was too poor to support him, so he had to borrow money from all over the place to barely make ends meet.

After his grandparents passed away one after another, he was extremely poor. In order not to delay his studies, at the age of twelve, he went to the capital alone to find the head of the Du family at that time.

Finally, with the support of the Du family elders, he was able to complete his studies.

Three years later, he was personally selected by the Emperor as the second-highest scorer and entered the imperial court.

Because of his cautious approach and decisive judgment, His Majesty entrusted him with important responsibilities, and at only twenty-five years old, he is already the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

After hearing Du Zhengming's detailed account, the Empress Dowager nodded:

"Yes, his talent and ability are both quite good, so it's only right that His Majesty values ​​him."

After saying that, he looked at Princess Jinyang and asked, "What did you say about her appearance just now?"

"His appearance is slightly inferior to Ling'er's, but similar to Yanchi's. He has a handsome and dignified appearance and is a good young man."

The Empress Dowager laughed upon hearing this: "She's about the same age as Yanchi, so she's definitely a top-tier beauty."

Then, looking at Yongning jokingly, he said, "It's no wonder our Ning'er has taken a liking to you."

Then she added, "Your elder brother, the Crown Prince, and your mother disagree, simply because he is older and has a rather aloof personality?"

Yongning nodded.

The Empress Dowager said, "Being old is nothing. You're so mischievous, and as you get older, people will be more tolerant of you. It's not a bad thing."

Upon hearing this, Yongning's eyes revealed a hint of hope.

"As for his aloof personality, it's hard to say."

Look how aloof your brother Ling was before; everyone was afraid he'd become a monk.

He found Yu'er, and she seemed quite satisfied with him; their lives were blissfully happy.

Princess Jinyang laughed upon hearing this: "Ever since I married Yu'er, I've noticed that Ling'er smiles much more."

The feeling of emptiness from the Buddhist temple was gone, and I felt much more grounded.

Finally, I entered this mundane world.

The Empress Dowager nodded and looked at Yongning, saying, "You see, finding the right person can bring about earth-shattering changes in another person."

Your elder brother, the Crown Prince, and your mother are not without reason to worry; they are afraid that you have chosen the wrong person.

If we're just talking about age and personality, these aren't really big issues.

Yongning listened in a daze, then asked sincerely:

"Then how do you determine if someone is the right person?"

Princess Jinyang said, "You are happy when you see him and miss him when you don't see him. This is your heart."

However, even with the right person, it's still important to consider their perspective; that's crucial as well.

If he has someone he likes and doesn't like you at all, then he's not the right person for you.

If he cares about you and thinks about you, he'll be happy when you're happy, and he'll be sadder than you when you're unhappy.

Being with him makes you happy and free; you can relax and be yourself.

Then this person is the right one.

Yongning listened thoughtfully, and finally frowned as he said to the two of them:

"So I need to determine if Du Zhengming is the right person."

If so, then you will support me; if not…

Princess Jinyang tilted her head and looked at her, saying:

"If that's not the case, what will you do?"

Upon hearing this, Yongning seemed to understand what the two meant, and then spoke:

“If he doesn’t cherish and love me like I do, then I’ll just find someone else. Anyway, there are plenty of talented young men in the capital.”

Upon hearing this, Princess Jinyang reached out and patted Yongning's head, saying with affection:

"Ah, that's right."

We are all princesses of this royal family, originally golden phoenixes in the sky. If we were to land, we would not perch on any tree but the parasol tree.

"You must never do anything that would lower your own status."

Yongning opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Upon seeing this, Princess Jinyang asked, "What? What do you want to say?"

"Now that I'm interested in him, would it seem beneath me to give him small gifts and be more proactive?"