Chapter 127 I will never abandon you
"It's all because you brought me the manuscript and notes." Ye Wanning leaned against him. "Without these, no matter how much I pleaded, the Empress Dowager wouldn't believe me."
“We’re husband and wife, we should support each other.” Pei Zhi pinched her cheek. “Come on, I’ll take you to eat red bean buns to celebrate your victory today.”
The children at Ci'an Hall have been behaving strangely lately. Before, whenever Ye Wanning was around, Xiaodouzi would rush over, hug her legs, and call out "Sister Wanning." But these past few days, the children have been avoiding her and won't speak to her at all.
Ye Wanning was a little puzzled. That day, she specially steamed some sweet cakes and delivered them to Ci'an Hall. Little Bean took the cakes, but instead of immediately stuffing them into her mouth as usual, she whispered, "Sister Wanning, do you not like us anymore?"
Ye Wanning was taken aback, then bent down and patted his head: "Why would you ask that? I love Xiaodouzi the most."
“But…” Little Bean hesitated, “Sister Li Yanran said that you only wanted to use us to please Brother Pei, and that you didn’t actually like us. She also said that you threw away our tiger plush toys, saying we were a burden.”
Ye Wanning's heart sank. No wonder the children had been cold towards her lately; it turned out Li Yanran was stirring things up. She wasn't angry, but instead smiled and said, "Sister Li Yanran is lying. How could I possibly throw away your dolls? Come on, let's go look for them together. Maybe we just forgot where we put them."
She led Xiaodouzi and the others to search the Ci'an Hall, and soon found the tiger doll in a corner of the storage room, still covered in dust. Ye Wanning picked up the doll and brushed off the dust: "See, it's not lost, it just accidentally got left here."
Little Bean was still somewhat unwilling to accept it and still believed Li Yanran's words to some extent: "But... what Sister Li Yanran said sounds very true."
“Whether it’s true or not, we can tell with our own eyes.” Ye Wanning held his hand. “I come here every day to play games with you, tell you stories, and make snacks. Is all of that fake? If I didn’t like you, why would I spend so much time with you?”
For the next few days, Ye Wanning came to Ci'an Hall every day to help the children make kites and play shuttlecock. She also made each child's favorite snacks by hand—she made tiger-shaped sugar cakes for Xiaodouzi, crabapple-shaped cookies for Xiaohua, and armor-shaped steamed buns for Xiaoshitou.
As the children gradually lowered their guard, Xiaodouzi finally couldn't help but ask, "Sister Wanning, do you really like us? You won't stop coming to see us like Sister Li Yanran said, will you?"
Ye Wanning picked him up and said gently, "I will always love you, even more than I love my own children. No matter what happens in the future, I will come to see you and will never abandon you."
At this moment, Pei Zhi walked in carrying a brocade box, inside which was evidence of Li Yanran stealing the doll and speaking ill of the children—there were photos taken by the secret guards, as well as the testimony of the old nanny who overheard her speaking.
"Children, look," Pei Zhi opened the brocade box, "Li Yanran is lying to you. She just doesn't want you to be good friends with Wan Ning."
Looking at the contents of the brocade box, the children finally understood. Little Bean said angrily, "Sister Li Yanran is so mean! We'll never believe her again!"
Pei Zhi chuckled and patted his head: "If anyone speaks ill of Sister Wan Ning to you again, just tell us, and we'll help you deal with her."
After the children had all gone to play, Pei Zhi pulled Ye Wanning into his arms and said with a smile, "You're so good to the children. Let's have a few kids too, and they should be as cute as Xiaodouzi and the others."
Ye Wanning blushed, leaned against him, and gently nodded: "Okay, our children should be as kind and brave as them."
The New Year's Eve banquet was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where colorful flags fluttered and lanterns twinkled, creating a strong festive atmosphere. Ye Wanning originally wanted to go earlier, but the children from Ci'an Hall said they wanted to eat the dumplings she made, so she stayed a little longer.
By the time the dumplings were cooked and delivered to the children, and they went to the palace, the banquet had already begun. As soon as they entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony, they heard Li Yanran's voice: "Oh, Madam Ye, you really know how to put on airs. Such a grand banquet, and you're only arriving so late. We thought you weren't coming."
Ye Wanning ignored her and was about to walk to Pei Zhi's side when Li Yanran raised her voice again, making sure everyone present could hear: "Madam Ye is truly ill-mannered, daring to be late for a royal banquet. It seems she doesn't respect the Empress Dowager and the Emperor!"
Immediately, the surrounding ministers and ladies all looked at Ye Wanning and began to whisper among themselves. Just as Ye Wanning was about to explain, Pei Zhi stood up, walked to her side, and pulled her aside: "Wanning went to take care of the orphans at Ci'an Hall, cooking dumplings for them, that's why she's a little late."
He paused, then continued, "Those children are pitiful orphans. What's wrong with wanting to eat hot dumplings on New Year's Eve? The Empress Dowager is kind-hearted and cherishes orphans the most; she will naturally understand Wan Ning's actions."
Pei Zhi's gaze swept over the surrounding ministers, and he said coldly, "My wife's character is none of your business, you idle people. Miss Li, you should mind your own business and stop focusing on other people's affairs!"
Li Yanran's face turned pale instantly. She wanted to retaliate but dared not—Pei Zhi was now the emperor's favorite. If she provoked Pei Zhi, not only would she suffer the consequences, but she would also implicate the princess.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager spoke up, smiling, "General Pei is right. It's a good thing that Lady Ye is kind-hearted. It's alright to be a little late. Please sit down. Are the dumplings ready? Did the children enjoy their meal?"
Ye Wanning breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Your Majesty, the dumplings are ready. The children ate them very happily and asked me to thank you for your continued care!"
"That's wonderful!" The Empress Dowager nodded and had someone bring Ye Wanning a bowl and chopsticks. "Quickly try this dish; it's a new dish from the palace called 'Abundance Year After Year,' a very auspicious name!"
After Ye Wanning sat down, Pei Zhi placed a piece of fish in her bowl and whispered, "Don't take Li Yanran's words to heart; she's just jealous of you!"
Ye Wanning laughed and said, "I know! But the way you protected me just now was really cool!"
Pei Zhi's face immediately turned red, and he put some more vegetables on Ye Wanning's plate: "Eat up, don't starve yourself, you didn't eat anything this morning!"
Halfway through the banquet, the Emperor suggested everyone drink more. Li Yanran, however, wouldn't let it go, and walked up to Ye Wanning with a wine cup: "Madam Ye, I was wrong just now. I apologize. Please drink this cup and pretend nothing happened!"
Ye Wanning had been coughing lately and couldn't drink alcohol. Just as she was about to refuse, Pei Zhi took Li Yanran's glass: "Wanning hasn't been feeling well lately, I'll drink this!"
He downed his drink in one gulp, then looked coldly at Li Yanran: "Don't offer Wan Ning a drink again. She can't drink. If you force her, don't blame me for disrespecting the Princess!"
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