The attendant hesitated for a moment, then finally answered.
"This servant is of low rank and has little influence, and dares not easily make decisions for the Ninth Prince. I hope Your Majesty will wait a moment, and I will go back and report to the Ninth Prince. Perhaps the Ninth Prince will come to pay his respects in person when he learns of Your Majesty's kindness."
The attendant's caution made Empress Dowager Cheng feel more at ease. No matter what, she wanted to see the Ninth Prince himself, and she wanted to be absolutely certain of success.
Empress Dowager Cheng waved her hand: "Then go back and tell the Ninth Prince to come often."
The attendant gave a final reply and respectfully withdrew from Yongshou Hall.
When news of Empress Dowager Cheng's invitation reached Yu Chuxuan, he went to Yongshou Palace in person shortly afterward.
When Empress Dowager Cheng saw that Yu Chuxuan had arrived so quickly, she deliberately acted like an elder and showed concern for him.
"Ninth Prince, how are you feeling? Is it alright for you to come all this way?"
Jingyi is a naive and easily deceived girl who is inexperienced in the ways of the world. If Yu Chuxuan wants to gain the trust of Empress Dowager Cheng, he cannot appear composed. He must find common ground with Jingyi in Empress Dowager Cheng's eyes and deceive her into thinking that he is easy to control.
Yu Chuxuan smiled, showing the respect a junior should have for an elder when addressing Empress Dowager Cheng.
"With the care of the palace physician, Chu Xuan is much healthier than when he was in Yu Kingdom. Princess Jingyi also comes to check on him occasionally. The Jing Palace is so attentive to Chu Xuan, how could he not even be allowed to visit the Empress Dowager?"
After he finished speaking, he glanced absentmindedly around the hall a few times, and when he came to his senses, a hint of disappointment showed on his face.
This is the second time that Empress Dowager Cheng has received Yu Chuxuan in Yongshou Hall. Compared to the first time when he was taciturn and unfathomable, it was difficult to judge the depth of his thoughts back then.
These few words allowed Empress Dowager Cheng to discern the underlying sentiments of youthful affection. After a moment's contemplation, she gladly brought up Jingyi.
"It's good that the Ninth Prince is comfortable living in the palace. As for what you said about Jingyi often going to check on things, I was quite shocked to hear that. This girl has been spoiled since she was a child and is extremely careless."
"It's rare to get along so well with the Ninth Prince. I love watching the younger generation playing together peacefully. It seems the Ninth Prince sent someone to look for Jingyi this morning."
"Unfortunately, this girl will be of marriageable age in winter. The Empress is meticulously teaching her the proper etiquette, hoping that she can appear dignified and poised on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony."
"Once you reach marriageable age, you can choose a husband and get married."
As Empress Dowager Cheng finished speaking, her aged voice deliberately lingered, sounding languid and as if she held boundless expectations for her granddaughter growing into a young woman.
Yu Chuxuan wasn't stupid. Empress Dowager Cheng said this to see how he would react. His smile froze, and his once bright eyes dimmed for a moment.
"Princess Jingyi's future husband will surely be very fortunate."
Empress Dowager Cheng pretended not to understand Yu Chuxuan's words, intending for him to carry this melancholy and sorrowful state of mind.
She didn't need to get involved in the rest; anyone with a discerning mind would be able to control their own actions.
"Alright, alright, I've gone off on a tangent with you. Didn't you want to play with Jingyi? I'll tell you a good time. Jingyi is getting annoyed by learning the rules lately."
"She loves to go to the zoo to see the animals and relax around 11 PM. Since the Ninth Prince is cooped up in the palace all day, why don't you go to the zoo together?"
"Thank you, Empress Dowager Cheng," Yu Chuxuan said, his spirits dampened as he walked away from Yongshou Palace, looking dejected and empty.
It wasn't until a palace servant informed Empress Dowager Cheng that Yu Chuxuan had left the vicinity of Yongshou Palace and had even asked people about the location of the Hundred Beasts Garden on the way.
Empress Dowager Cheng immediately ordered someone to keep an eye on Jingyi, and as soon as she left Jiaofang Palace, she would use an excuse to summon her.
She wanted to arrange for Jingyi to go to the Hundred Beasts Garden.
...
Inside the Imperial Study, the ambergris incense from the Boshan censer slowly rose, meandering and spreading to every corner of the hall. Objects touched by the smoke retained a faint fragrance.
Jing Yan took the sachet that Empress Dowager Cheng had given to Jing Yi and presented it to Jing Huaixu, pointing out the two small characters inside the sachet.
Upon seeing this, Jing Huaixu's expression turned solemn, suppressing his anger: "Is this true?"
Jingyan gave an example: "Can't Father Emperor see how Grandmother Zheng, his own grandmother, treats Jingning?"
"To put it bluntly, Jingyi is not Grandmother Cheng's biological granddaughter. All the kindness that Grandmother Cheng has shown Jingyi over the years has been in vain because Jingyi has become a target for Grandmother Cheng to attack Grandmother Zheng."
"Jingyi's current temperament is all thanks to Grandmother Cheng. Just when it seems that Jingning is about to become the mother of the Jade Kingdom, Grandmother Cheng is stirring things up and trying to match Jingyi with Yu Chuxuan."
"If she's not using Jingyi as a pawn in her game of marrying Grandmother Zheng off to Jingning, then what is she doing?"
Jing Huaixu was furious: "Outrageous! One of my daughters has already been sent to her death, and now you want to sacrifice another one of my daughters?"
Jingyan cupped his hands and begged for mercy: "Father, please consider that Mother has worked hard for most of her life and has not had time to teach Jingyi. Please do not let Mother lose her daughter."
Jing Huaixu nodded emphatically: "I understand."
...
As soon as Jingyi finished learning the rules at Jiaofang Palace and came out, the palace servants of Yongshou Palace spotted her with sharp eyes and hurriedly came to greet her.
"Princess Jingyi, please wait."
Jingyi suddenly heard someone calling her from behind. When she turned around, it was someone from Empress Dowager Cheng's side. She was already fond of Yongshou Palace, and she treated the person who came with kindness.
"My grandmother needs me to keep watch here?"
The eunuch smiled and guided Jingyi as they walked.
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager knows that Princess Jingyi has been studying etiquette very hard lately. She heard that a two-tailed fox has been newly acquired by the Hundred Beasts Garden, which is a rare sight."
"When the Empress Dowager found out, she wanted Princess Jingyi to go for a walk, but her health couldn't withstand the howling of the tigers in the Hundred Beasts Garden, so she asked the Consort to invite you to go and see it."
"A two-tailed fox? That's wonderful! I'll go find the Imperial Concubine." The two-tailed fox did indeed pique Jingyi's interest, and she enthusiastically prepared to go to Yongshou Palace.
However, before she could take more than a few steps, the eunuch called out to Jingyi: "Princess, you hear about nine-tailed foxes in books every day. Now you've met one with two tails. Even the Empress Dowager would be fascinated by it."
"The Imperial Concubine has already gone to the Animal Garden. You won't be able to see her if you try to find her now. Just go directly to the Animal Garden."
“The Imperial Concubine loves excitement,” Jingyi thought it made a lot of sense and, without suspecting anything, headed straight for the Hundred Animal Garden.
The zoo houses many rare animals, and you can hear the calls of both large and small animals as soon as you approach the zoo.
Jingyi hadn't been to the Hundred Beasts Garden in a long time, and she felt timid upon hearing these sounds. Only two palace maids accompanied her.
The young eunuch suddenly developed a stomachache halfway there, so Jingyi told him to rest.
Upon arriving at the Hundred Beasts Garden, she was furious to find not a single palace servant to greet her.
Before Jingyi could react, a figure suddenly emerged from the path lined with artificial rocks. She looked closely and exclaimed in surprise, "The Ninth Prince?"
Yu Chuxuan pursed his lips and walked towards Jingyi. When he got close, he dismissed Jingyi's attendant maids: "I have something to say to Princess Jingyi. You are not allowed to follow me."
After that, Jingyi was pulled by Yu Chuxuan into the depths of the Hundred Beasts Garden. Jingyi remembered what Yue Jiang had said about secret exchanges, and she was afraid and wanted to resist.
Before he could even utter a sound of anger, he looked up and saw an acquaintance.
"Sister-in-law!"
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