Chapter 41
Does the Prince of Ning still dare to come and demand an explanation?
He probably doesn't know what good thing his daughter has done. This phoenix hairpin incident is no longer just a curse on the little prince, but a curse on the entire Great Sheng Dynasty!
Sheng Yu waved his hand indifferently, and the guards vanished from their spots in an instant.
Yesterday, she gossiped in front of Jiaojiao and then expressed her sympathy for Jiaojiao in front of him.
Although he sneered inwardly, he couldn't really punish him severely, so he could only confine him to his quarters for three months.
Now it seems that she had been planning this for a long time!
Jiaojiao had never had any contact with her, yet she became extremely jealous simply because of the Prince of Ning's favor. This shows how bad the Prince of Ning's upbringing was.
A spoiled girl like that is also foolish.
But this idiot accidentally ran right up to Jiao Jiao.
Sheng Yu's brows furrowed deeply, his eyes swirling with a fierce aura, which gradually subsided and eventually turned into a deep, dark void.
Perfect timing! He was just worrying about how to win over her family's lord, and this solved his immediate problem.
Prince Ning followed the late emperor in conquering the country, so he was specially granted a fiefdom in the southwest and allowed to raise his own troops.
However, after the late emperor passed away, Prince Ning also passed away, and the personal guards inherited by his only son, who had no honor, had already exceeded the standard!
The General of Zhenbei wrote a letter a few days ago saying that the newly appointed Prince Ning had treacherous intentions.
Several times, the grain and fodder transported to the border would be held by him for a period of time, and by the time they were transported to the border again, only half of them remained!
He might dare to take half of the grain and fodder being transported to the border, but he'd have to pay with his life!
He has come all the way from the southwest for his beloved daughter, but this time he won't be able to go back.
If it were up to Prince Ning, he wouldn't mind sending him back to the southwest. It's just a pity that if he went back, all his personal guards would be incorporated into the Zhenbei Army.
Did they really think that inheriting a title would make them as valiant as Prince Ning?
What an idiot! And his concubine, does she really think he's just a figurehead emperor?
Lingwu, who was sleeping soundly in Fengyi Palace, was also aware of the things that her body had missed while she was asleep.
Consort Ning was banished to the Cold Palace, and Prince Ning was sent back to the southwest, never to return to the capital for the rest of his life.
The Prince of Ning's fiefdom in the southwest was poorly managed, leading to a peasant uprising. Fortunately, the General of the Northern Garrison returned to the capital and quelled the rebellion.
All of this seemed so coincidental, as if it were done on purpose.
But how could those within the palace walls be unaware of the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface?
But they dared not say anything, and only became more loyal and respectful to Sheng Yu.
Having resolved a major concern, Sheng Yu went straight to Fengyi Palace.
They happened to see the Empress braiding Lingwu's hair.
A palace maid tried to report, but Sheng Yu stopped her with a raised hand. Mu Zhi glanced at everyone, and soon only the three of them remained in the entire Fengyi Palace.
The mother and daughter's interactions in Sheng Yu's eyes were warm and beautiful.
Although the woman was dressed in gorgeous clothes, the gentleness in her eyes touched people's hearts. The little baby in the long dress was staring at her without blinking, and the joy in her eyes warmed Sheng Yu's heart.
She also felt guilty towards Ling Wu, as Jiao Jiao had been wronged regarding her birthday.
The Empress asked gently, "If Mother is too rough, Jiao Jiao will tell Mother."
"good!"
The Empress picked up Lingwu, who had her hair neatly braided, and said, "My darling is so beautiful. When you grow up, will you stay by my side?"
Lingwu revealed a tiny baby tooth, her smile innocent and adorable.
The Empress patted Lingwu, "Mother is joking. From now on, Jiaojiao can go wherever she wants. I hope Jiaojiao can experience what Mother didn't see."
Sheng Yu stared for a long time until the Empress noticed his presence. Then, he took a long stride, his previously cold expression softening. "Zitong..."
The Empress, however, warily embraced Ling Wu, saying, "Jiao Jiao said she wants to sleep with me tonight!"
"!!!"
The softness that had just risen suddenly dissipated!
"Jiaojiao, do you really say that? Your father raised you with so much care, and now that you've just learned to walk, you don't want your father anymore?"
When Sheng Yu started acting shamelessly, it made the Empress's right eyelid twitch!
Sure enough, the sweet and soft little one in her arms started comforting that stinky man, saying, "I want Daddy."
"So Jiaojiao doesn't want her mother anymore?"
"I want my mother too."
"Then you don't want Daddy anymore? Daddy even made a jade pendant for Jiaojiao!"
"Mother made a little dress for my darling!"
"Father still..."
"..."
Ling Wu covered her ears and slowly moved to the side, while the two continued their back-and-forth.
"..."
After a while.
"You promised me back then that we would be together for life!" The Empress's eyes reddened, and her voice became nasal.
Sheng Yu was overjoyed. After all these years, he could finally explain things to her properly. In the past, she always had a cold face and never showed him any affection.
“Back then, the struggle for the throne was intense, and I had no interest in the throne. Zitong knew that…” Sheng Yu lowered his eyes, his fingertips trembling slightly.
The Queen laughed until tears streamed down her face. "Liar."
Sheng Yu's lips curled into a bitter smile. "It is widely rumored that I was responsible for the deaths of my elder brother and younger brother. If you want to find fault, you can always find a reason. But their deaths were indeed coincidental. They were fighting each other and wished they could devour each other's flesh and drink their blood. After my elder brother died, my younger brother also died of poison. My father has few children and only me. As soon as I ascended the throne, I was watched by countless people! They threatened to kill themselves if I refused, but they threatened you and the children's lives... I had no choice but to comply."
Sheng Yu slowly closed his eyes and continued, "Later, I came to power, but you still refused to forgive me. Zitong, give me a chance, let's start over, okay?"
Apart from Lingwu, the births of the other princes and princesses, when calculated carefully now, did indeed occur during the years when he first ascended the throne and his position was unstable.
The Empress's eyes were blank, but full of mockery. Just as she was about to speak, Ling Wu sighed softly, her little voice filled with doubt, "Mother, Father, is Jiao Jiao sleeping by herself?"
"Here with Mother!" The Empress forgot everything that had just happened.
Sheng Yu's eyes softened slightly. Well, he was also grateful to Jiao Jiao for this matter; otherwise, he and Zi Tong wouldn't have been able to speak, let alone explain.
"Okay, but tomorrow..."
"Jiaojiao has agreed to stay at Fengyi Palace for a period of time."
"Permanent residence?" Sheng Yu's voice was a little louder.
The Empress, however, changed her strategy. She lowered her eyes as if she were about to cry, "Your Majesty said back then that you would have a daughter with me in the future. Now that I have a daughter, does Your Majesty still want me to endure the pain of separation?"
Sheng Yu was reluctant to part with Ling Wu, but this was the first time in so many years that the Empress had given in so much.
In the end, he didn't know why he agreed, but he didn't sleep a wink all night.
The next morning, the Empress kissed Lingwu, and before she could even take a deep breath of the fresh morning air after stepping out of Fengyi Palace, she saw Sheng Yu with dark circles under his eyes.
The two looked at each other, but remained silent.
"Mother... Father?" Lingwu's voice sounded from behind.
The Empress turned and picked up Lingwu, speaking softly, "Jiaojiao is awake?"
"Um."
The Empress, her previous gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold expression as she looked at Sheng Yu. "Why has Your Majesty come?"
Sheng Yu's eyes shone brightly. He touched the old purse he had treasured for a long time. The stitches on the purse were fine and lifelike. "I arrived at midnight."
The Empress noticed the sachet at his waist, pursed her lips, and her expression softened somewhat.
After that day, Sheng Yu shamelessly stayed at Fengyi Palace, and the days gradually passed.
Three years passed quickly, and Lingwu became the beloved princess of the deep palace.
Before long, the day arrived that the Third Prince had lost both legs in his previous life, and the Second Prince and the Crown Prince were separated by death.
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