Chapter 152 I'm so familiar with the Prince
Empress Xue was so angry at Princess Zhaoning's crying and tantrums that she got a headache.
On one hand, she secretly regretted that she had spoiled her too much, and on the other hand, she blamed Xie Xuanxiao for bringing this up in front of the Li family.
She remained silent with a somber face, and only Zhao Ning's sobs could be heard from inside the tent.
Li Nanke subconsciously looked at Li Mu.
Li Mu pursed his lips and stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. The princess is still young and was frightened after falling into the water. It is understandable that she is a little emotional. Your Majesty, please do not be angry with the princess because of my daughter."
"Furthermore, the princess is of high status, and my daughter is of low status. There is absolutely no reason for the princess to apologize to my daughter. My family cannot accept such an honor."
"Your Majesty has already bestowed enough gifts upon us. Please allow my family to take our leave so we can go back and treat my daughter's injuries."
Empress Xue's expression softened slightly, and she breathed a small sigh of relief.
She slapped Zhao Ning in the heat of the moment, and regretted it the instant the slap landed.
I feel both regret and heartache.
Although she ordered Zhao Ning to apologize to Li Nanke, it was more of a formality.
Deep down, she didn't believe that Princess Zhaoning needed to apologize to the daughter of a courtier.
The Li family truly couldn't afford it, but they couldn't say that out loud.
She nodded slightly, "You're right, Nan Ke's injuries should be treated first. Today's events have truly wronged Nan Ke."
"Alright then, I will bestow another box of pearls upon Nanke, so that the child can make jewelry when he is bored."
Li Mu, Song Yi, and Li Nanke knelt down at the same time to express their gratitude.
Empress Xue continued, "Zhao Ning did indeed make a mistake today. I will punish her by making her copy the 'Standards for Being a Good Student and Child' and the 'Thousand Character Classic' ten times so that she can learn the rules properly."
"Mother!"
Zhao Ning pouted, looking aggrieved.
Empress Xue hardened her heart, turned away and ignored her, instead urging Li Mu to take Li Nanke back to apply the medicine.
Li Nanke left with his parents.
Empress Xue looked at Xie Xuanxiao, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
Although she felt a little guilty towards Xie Xuanxiao, she thought about it more deeply.
Does Lady Xin Guogong know that Xie Xuanxiao came to apologize?
If the Duchess of Xin knew but did not object, what did the Duke of Xin's mansion mean? Could it be that they did not want to form a marriage alliance with the Xue family?
Multiple thoughts churned in her mind, but her expression remained gentle.
"Your Highness, please rise as well. Today, it was Zhao Ning who acted willfully; you have done nothing wrong."
"You have rendered meritorious service in saving the princess, and I will send a reward to the Duke of Xin's mansion later."
Xie Xuanxiao looked ashamed, stammered his thanks, and withdrew from the curtained area.
Shen Cong stood up and adjusted his cloak.
"It's getting late. Let the Imperial Guards escort the Empress Dowager and Zhao Ning back to the palace. Your Majesty, go and make the arrangements."
Only Empress Xue and Princess Zhaoning remained inside the tent.
She gently touched Princess Zhaoning's face with tenderness and softened her voice.
"Quickly, let the Empress Dowager see if your face still hurts."
Princess Zhaoning threw herself into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Bad mother, I don't like you anymore! You don't love me at all, and you even side with Li Nanke! Waaaaah..."
"Silly child, how could your mother not love you? You are the one I love the most."
"Then why are you punishing me by making me copy books? Waaaaah..."
"That was a punishment meant to show Li Nanke's family. If you don't want to copy it, we won't."
When Empress Xue saw that her daughter's eyes were swollen from crying, she quickly withdrew the punishment she had just given.
Princess Zhaoning then stopped crying, her eyes still brimming with tears, half-believing and half-doubting.
"real?"
Empress Xue nodded and tenderly wiped away her tears.
"Silly child, would your mother lie to you? You're just too straightforward. Even though you're a princess, you can't act recklessly."
Furthermore, you mustn't leave any leverage that could be used against you. Like today, you left Li Nanke outside. If anything happens to her, your father will be the first to punish you.
When the emperor was mentioned, Princess Zhaoning shrank into Empress Xue's arms with a hint of fear.
"I understand, Mother. I won't do that again."
"That's a good boy."
Princess Zhaoning secretly curled her lip.
Li Nanke, you just wait, this princess will never let you get away with this!
Li Nanke was unaware that Princess Zhaoning had taken a deep liking to him.
She stepped out of the curtain and said to Li Mu, "Father and Mother, wait for me a moment, I'll be right back."
Li Mu frowned.
"You're covered in injuries, why aren't you going back to get your medicine? Where are you going?"
Li Nanke pointed forward.
"I'll be back after saying a few words to Prince Xie."
She lowered her voice and winked at Li Mu, "Father, don't worry, I'm not injured. It's just that the wound on my palm looks scary, but it's not deep. The blood on it has already dried."
Li Mu was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened.
This girl...
Li Nanke stuck out her tongue and walked towards Xie Xuanxiao, who was approaching from a short distance away.
He bowed slightly to him and said with a smile, "Thank you very much for speaking up for justice today, Your Highness."
The Imperial Guards would never have told her that Princess Zhaoning had abandoned her; if Xie Xuanxiao hadn't said it, Empress Xue probably wouldn't have believed it at all.
Xie Xuanxiao looked at the injury on her palm, his eyes flickering slightly.
After a moment, he said in a muffled voice, "I didn't do it for you. If I was wrong, I was wrong. No man of the Xie family is a coward!"
Besides, even if I didn't say anything, King Xuan would probably have brought it up anyway, so you don't need to thank me specifically.
Li Nanke blinked.
Will Shen Cong reveal this?
She wasn't sure.
"Regardless of who you helped, Young Master Xie, you did help me, so I must express my gratitude."
Xie Xuanxiao pursed his lips.
"Whatever you want."
After saying that, he nodded slightly and walked away.
Li Nanke made a face at his back.
Xie Xuanxiao is really an unlikable person.
A soft hum sounded behind her. She turned around and met Shen Cong's pale face.
His narrow eyes scanned her up and down, his gaze unfathomable in the dim light.
"I never knew you were such a polite person. I found you in the wilderness and brought you back, and you didn't even say thank you."
"What? Xie Xuanxiao helped Zhao Ning abandon you, and now you're rushing to thank him just for saying a few words?"
Li Nanke blinked.
Huh? Didn't she thank Shen Cong?
His eyes darted around, and he said with a smile, "Oh dear, the prince and I are so familiar with each other that I forgot to be polite for a moment."
I'm not familiar with Prince Xie, and if I don't thank him, people will think I'm impolite.
Shen Cong raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.
Li Nanke's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward, tilting her head to look at him.
"Oh, Your Highness, you're smiling."
Shen Cong's lips instantly returned to their original position.
You've misjudged.
"I wasn't mistaken, you definitely laughed just now."
Li Nanke spoke with righteous indignation.
As soon as she finished speaking, a cloak was draped over her head.
Li Nanke hurriedly pulled off his cloak, only to find that Shen Cong's thin and frail figure had already left.
He simply said, "You said you would help me wash my cloak."
Li Nanke hugged the cloak, her little face scrunched up.
This person is just as obsessive about cleanliness as the one in my dream!
While she was talking to Shen Cong, she had no idea that her own father, Li Mu, was jumping up and down in a panic in the distance!
Seeing Xie Xuanxiao and Shen Cong chatting and laughing with their daughters one after the other.
A string in Li Mu's mind was instantly pulled!
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