Chapter 123's logic sounds quite novel.
In the past seven years of Princess Zhaoning's life, no one had ever dared to speak to her like that.
Even though she wasn't the emperor's eldest daughter, she had two older sisters and a younger sister.
But she was the emperor and empress's only legitimate princess.
Her elder brother, the only legitimate prince, had disappeared, and she became Empress Xue's only child.
Empress Xue doted on her, and she only needed to act cute and obedient in front of her father to gain endless favor.
Whether it was her older sister, younger sister, or concubines in the palace, everyone had to coax her and indulge her!
Whenever she says she doesn't like or hates someone, the other person is so frightened that they immediately lower their voice and try to coax her.
Li Nanke was the first tough nut she kicked!
Extremely shocked, she stared blankly at Li Nanke for a long while before she came to her senses.
"How dare you speak to this princess like that! You...you're so bold! I'm going to tell my father and mother, and have my father beat your whole family to death!"
Li Nanke's face turned pale, and she burst into tears.
"No, Princess, spare my life! Don't kill my whole family!"
Her voice was already loud and clear, and when she opened her throat to cry out, the sound instantly carried out from the side hall.
Princess Zhaoning panicked.
"Hey, why are you crying?"
He subconsciously reached out to cover Li Nanke's mouth.
Li Nanke pretended to be panicked and backed away repeatedly.
"Ah! Princess, spare me! Princess, please don't hit me!"
While shouting, he turned and ran outside, his little legs moving incredibly fast.
By the time the palace maids guarding the door realized what was happening and tried to stop her, she had already darted out and run straight towards the main hall.
She ran while crying.
In Ninghui Palace, the emperor heard the crying, frowned, and gave instructions to Eunuch Ding.
"Go see who's crying? What happened?"
As soon as Eunuch Ding stepped out of the palace gate, he saw Li Nanke running towards him, her face flushed red and crying loudly.
He quickly reached out to stop him.
"Oh dear, Miss Li, what's wrong? Who bullied you?"
Li Nanke ignored him and knelt down at the palace gate with a thud.
They cried pitifully, shouting inside, "Your Majesty, spare us! Please, Your Majesty, don't kill my whole family! Your Majesty, spare us!"
When the emperor saw Li Nanke's face covered in tears and his breath coming in gasps, his brows furrowed even more.
"Ding Wang, call her in to give her an answer."
"Miss Li, please don't cry. His Majesty wants you to go in and give a report."
Li Nanke wiped away her tears, got up, and staggered into the hall.
Kneeling beside Song Yi, with her red, rabbit-like eyes, she looked pitifully at the emperor.
"Your Majesty, please don't kill my whole family! Your Majesty, spare our lives!"
The emperor looked puzzled.
"When did I say I was going to kill your whole family?"
Li Nanke choked up and said, "The princess just said she doesn't like me, she hates me, I... I'm scared, Your Majesty, please don't kill us."
She didn't mention Princess Zhaoning's exact words, but only pretended to be frightened.
The emperor pondered for a moment and then understood.
"Do you think that just because Zhao Ning doesn't like you, I'll kill your entire family?"
Li Nanke's face was as white as paper, her little body sobbing as she nodded pitifully.
"Your Majesty, could you... could you spare us from being killed?"
The emperor chuckled, "Of course!"
Li Nanke's eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly wiped away her tears.
She kowtowed earnestly and then grinned sweetly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The emperor shook his head, a smile appearing in his eyes.
Just like a child, their expressions change in an instant.
"Do you think I'm some kind of tyrannical ruler? Someone who kills people over trivial matters?"
Song Yi's face turned pale, and she quickly pulled him to kowtow.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I am timid and have never seen the vastness of the Emperor's power. I lost my composure for a moment."
The emperor showed no intention of punishing Li Nanke; he merely looked him over with a hint of disappointment on his face.
"Although this child is well-behaved, he is a bit timid and needs more experience."
Empress Xue nodded.
"Your Majesty is right."
The emperor leaned forward slightly and looked at Li Nanke, saying, "Little girl, I ask you, if I were to make you Princess Zhaoning's study companion..."
Would you be willing to accompany Princess Zhaoning to the palace every day for her studies?
Song Yi's expression changed, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on Li Nanke's hand.
Li Nanke's heart trembled.
She's already acted so timidly, why does His Majesty still need to ask her questions?
Just as I was pondering how to answer, Princess Zhaoning rushed in.
She rushed into Empress Xue's arms and tugged at her sleeve, acting coquettishly.
"Mother, I don't like her, I don't want her to be my study companion!"
Li Nanke swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Indeed, starting with Princess Zhaoning was the right decision.
At this time, Princess Zhaoning was still a child like her, and she hadn't become as wicked as she would later become!
Empress Xue embraced her daughter and patiently asked, "I think Li Nanke is quite sensible. Wouldn't it be better to have her as your study companion?"
Zhao Ning stomped her feet, remembering Li Nanke's words of rebuke, and became even angrier.
"No, no, I hate her, Mother, hit her..."
Empress Xue was startled and quickly pinched Zhao Ning lightly.
Princess Zhaoning twitched in pain, and the rest of her words caught in her throat; she couldn't cry out.
"Mother!"
Empress Xue sighed and looked at the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, look at these two children... they don't seem to get along. Perhaps we should just let them go?"
The emperor glanced between Zhao Ning and Li Nanke, then nodded.
"Very well, let's put this matter aside for now. It seems the two children are not meant to be."
Song Yi was filled with trepidation.
"Yes... I am not fortunate enough."
Li Nanke's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and he couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
The emperor's gaze swept over her small face, and he suddenly said, "I originally intended to choose you as Zhao Ning's study companion, but since that's no longer the case, I will give you another reward."
"Li Nanke, what reward do you desire?"
Li Nanke was stunned for a moment, not understanding why His Majesty did not ask his mother, but instead asked her what reward she wanted.
She thought for a moment, then asked with feigned innocence and a smile, "Your Majesty, can I accept any reward?"
The emperor stroked his short beard and nodded.
"Anything is fine, including pleading for your father."
Li Nanke's eyes lit up.
"Really? Can I really plead for Father?"
The emperor chuckled, "We can give it a try."
The Right Chancellor has already compiled the entire case file of Li Mu and has even written a memorial pleading for leniency for Li Mu.
However, he has not made a final decision yet.
Li Nanke's face scrunched up like a bun. After thinking for a moment, as if she had made up her mind, she shook her head.
"Let's not."
The emperor asked with a mixture of curiosity and a hint of persuasion.
"Why? If you plead for your father, I might release him without charge."
Li Nanke shook his head again.
“Mother said that Father did make a mistake, which is why His Majesty punished him. Grandmother said that Father accepted the punishment and learned his lesson so that he would not make the same mistake again.”
"His Majesty is doing this for Father's own good. If I plead for Father's release on His Majesty's behalf, Father won't have learned his lesson, and wouldn't that be harming Father?"
The emperor was speechless.
This logic sounds fresh!
Upon closer reflection, it does make sense!
The little girl from the Li family may be a bit slow-witted, but she speaks with remarkable clarity and logic.
Just as I was finding this interesting, I heard Li Nanke continue, "And..."
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