Hearing these words, everyone understood the first part, but the latter part aroused some curiosity.
Zhao Ping immediately asked, "How could that be? Are you just overthinking it because you're not used to it yet?"
As Ah Qi thought about his situation, he felt increasingly dejected.
As others, we dare not speak ill of the royal family at this time, as it would be a matter of losing our heads if someone with ulterior motives heard it. Although Ah Qi had lived with us before, his status has changed now, and he is no longer the Ah Qi we knew.
If even he, as the crown prince, is not free to do as he pleases, then it's even more difficult for others to say anything.
"I want to go back to Tianxiang Tower and live with everyone. That way, I can be happy every day," Ah Qi said innocently. He still missed the days outside the palace. Although the food and clothing weren't as good as in the palace, it was more comfortable, happy, and real.
However, Xu Yuehuai shattered Aqi's fantasy the next second: "Aqi, are you sure you are the Empress's biological son?"
She decided to give Ah Qi a chance.
Upon hearing this, Ah Qi's expression immediately changed, instinctively assuming that Xu Yuehuai knew something.
"Grandma, why are you suddenly saying this?" His expression was clearly off, but he didn't directly answer Xu Yuehuai's question.
Seeing this, Xu Yuehuai understood his meaning and said, "Aqi, your life now is something many people envy. Although it's true that you're not used to it at first, and you don't have as much freedom as you did outside, everyone's status and responsibilities are commensurate. Before, when you were outside, people didn't know you were the Crown Prince, so the requirements for you weren't so strict. The others in the palace were there to protect us ordinary people. But now it's different. You are the Crown Prince, and there are so many ordinary people outside the palace who need your protection..."
Xu Yuehuai spoke at length, hoping he could understand that sometimes one has no choice in the matter; being in a certain position comes with certain responsibilities, and one cannot simply do whatever one wants. Some things are simply beyond one's control.
Or rather, he made the wrong choice from the start.
"But..." Ah Qi wanted to say more.
He was already quite adept at handling the Crown Prince's affairs; he simply wanted to get closer to Xu Yuehuai, hoping to gain the Duke of Zhenguo's protection and thus strengthen his own power.
But Xu Yuehuai's attitude today was clearly indifferent.
Everyone else quickly retreated at this moment. They dared not take the blame. If they said something wrong and Ah Qi really came out, they couldn't bear the responsibility. At this time, they could only place their hopes on Xu Yuehuai.
"Do you think Grandma can handle it?" Jiang Shichen asked, glancing inside the door as if wanting to hear something, but then looked back.
Jiang Qianqian shrugged, nonchalantly: "Who knows? This wealth and luxury that so many people envy, it's just something he was born with, but he's not used to it. You tell me..."
Others who heard this felt the same way, but didn't know what to say.
"Shi Chen, whatever happens inside has nothing to do with us." Jiang Qianqian knew that A Qi was not a good person, so she naturally didn't want to say anything more.
As soon as she finished speaking, they heard Xu Yuehuai inside asking for the dishes to be served, and they quickly split up to get busy.
"Alright, great responsibilities are bestowed upon people by Heaven, and everyone's plans are different. Since you've chosen this path, then live it well. Now that you're out, I'll treat you to a good meal. As for anything else that makes you unhappy, just forget about it." Xu Yuehuai said earnestly again, deliberately adding a few more dishes, hoping that Aqi would understand that it's not good to say too much.
I have said all I can say. If you still don't understand, there's no point in saying more.
"After you go back this time, don't come out again."
Finally, Xu Yuehuai added a sentence.
However, Ah Qi was a smart child, and he immediately understood the meaning behind her words. It seemed that he would have no further dealings with Tianxianglou in the future.
He pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Yes, this is delicious. Why don't you eat with me?"
"Okay." Xu Yuehuai knew that he understood what she meant when she saw that he didn't continue speaking.
Now that Ah Qi has truly chosen this path of no return, Tianxianglou and he will have nothing to do with each other anymore.
This meal was their farewell dinner.
After a while, when they had almost finished eating, Ah Qi remembered the rules taught in the palace and didn't force herself to continue. She also didn't intend to continue her battle of wits with Xu Yuehuai. Instead, she simply said that she was full.
"Then I'll escort you back to the palace." Xu Yuehuai rationally arranged everything, as if nothing had happened.
Seeing this, Ah Qi nodded and stood up: "Let's go!"
When the others saw that the Crown Prince was about to leave, they were reluctant to part with him and wanted to see him off, but Xu Yuehuai gestured for them to stay put and did not follow.
Soon, they arrived at the carriage. The others from the Eastern Palace were waiting, and they all breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the young prince had returned as promised.
"Set off!"
With a command given, the prince's carriage slowly started moving.
Xu Yuehuai quietly followed along, escorting the Crown Prince back to the palace with the others.
As they approached the palace gate, Xu Yuehuai finally breathed a sigh of relief. The journey had been peaceful and uneventful. However, in the last few hundred meters, they encountered the Marquis of Ningyuan leaving the palace. Not wanting to cause trouble, Xu Yuehuai lowered her head and pretended not to see him.
Marquis Ningyuan was indeed sharp-eyed; he immediately spotted the other person and noticed that the other person had deliberately lowered their head.
He stepped forward and blocked his way: "Why is Manager Xu following behind? You were once the Crown Prince's benefactor, yet he treats you like this. Manager Xu, how can you bear it?"
He and Ah Qi were indeed in the same boat, but they had long disliked each other.
Marquis Ningyuan, after all, was an old fox who had lived for so long, and naturally hoped that he could be in control of the overall situation. However, Ah Qi had her own ideas and even showed a woman's kindness towards Tianxiang Tower.
He had to find a way to drive a wedge between the two of them.
"Greetings, Lord Marquis, what a coincidence!" Xu Yuehuai gave a proper bow and then greeted him. "I heard that the other day, something happened to my Zhenxiufang restaurant, and the Lord Marquis even went to see Wu Zhaoyin. I am truly flattered to receive such concern from the Lord Marquis."
Marquis Ningyuan never imagined that his actions had already reached her ears.
From this perspective, there's no need for them to be polite with each other.
"I would like to show more concern for Manager Xu, but Manager Xu has countless powerful backers—" Marquis Ningyuan sneered, his eyes filled with coldness as he stared at Xue Jinruo.
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