Chapter 493 Extra Chapter 12: A Wise Husband and Loving Father, A Letter from Prince Yu
She instinctively wanted to confide in her mother, but when she reached the entrance of Chenning Palace, she turned away.
From this moment on, she will learn not to rely on anyone. Loneliness is the norm for an emperor, and she is determined to temper her character.
So she changed into casual clothes and left the palace, wandering aimlessly through the streets.
The streets were bustling and lively, filled with the sounds of people; these people were all subjects she was meant to protect.
A little girl with her hair in two buns ran into her line of sight, and her gaze was filled with a hint of envy.
There was a time when she also had such carefree days, and could run into her mother's arms and act spoiled as she pleased.
Her gaze followed the child closely. The little girl was laughing and running around when she accidentally bumped into someone who had just gotten off the carriage.
This man had an extraordinary air about him; he was clearly a noble young master from some wealthy family.
She had seen too many amazing people since she was a child. Not to mention, her father was a man that was hard to find in the world. Her standards had long been set very high.
Therefore, she only glanced at it.
But after glancing at it once, she looked at it again.
appearance......
It's passable, I suppose.
The man was wearing a moon-white robe, and the candied hawthorn skewer the little girl was holding was stuck to his front, making a large patch dirty.
The little girl knew she had caused trouble, so she pouted and burst into tears.
But she could tell the child was faking it; after all, she had plenty of experience. The man clearly noticed as well, and he raised an eyebrow.
Just when she thought he would scold her or ignore her, he squatted down, took out a pastry from his pocket, smiled and gently coaxed the little girl.
The little girl quickly stopped crying. He patiently reasoned with her, patted her head, and finally, the little girl blushed and watched the man leave.
For reasons unknown, she followed him all the way until she saw him enter the Xiu residence.
No wonder she had never seen such a person in Lin'an before; it turns out he was a newly rich man who had just moved here not long ago.
After that day, she began to prepare for the new emperor's ascension to the throne, just when she thought she had forgotten about it.
But when I was feeling exhausted and unable to sleep, I thought of him again.
And during the day, people talked about the possibility of appointing a royal consort after the emperor ascends the throne.
Her father gently told her not to rush, but her mother said that she should seize the opportunity to marry the man she liked as soon as possible, because good marriages don't wait for anyone.
Desiring? Not quite.
She simply felt that this kind of man would be perfect for raising her child.
She had to devote most of her energy to the court and politics, so the selection of the imperial consort needed to be extremely careful.
Who doesn't have some regrets from their childhood?
Her child must have the best father in the world.
The Empress issued a decree to select the candidates, but the Xiu family did not participate. She sent someone to inquire and learned that the second young master of the Xiu family had contracted a strange illness and was unable to serve the Empress.
She sent Wang Wanbai to investigate, and as she expected, it turned out that Xiu Ningchuan was unwilling to enter the palace and had ruined his face by taking medicine.
The Empress Dowager has many miraculous remedies, so it would be easy to cure her.
Actually, it's a good thing that Xiu Ningchuan doesn't want to enter the palace. Only without emotions can one remain calm and composed. She doesn't want another resentful husband in the palace.
However, things often don't go as planned.
The next day.
After the court session, Empress Chenzhao handled state affairs in the Qinzheng Hall and did not return to the Ziji Hall until late at night.
There was still one more resentful husband in the palace.
His resentment was so intense it threatened to lift the glazed roof of the main hall.
Empress Chenzhao asked in surprise, "Why are you still here?"
Xiu Ningchuan sat in the hall, his eyes dark with dark circles, and stared at her, saying, "His Majesty said he wanted to tell me this today."
Empress Chenzhao asked, "What did you say?"
Xiu Ningchuan thought she had forgotten again; the Empress often got confused at night and would deny it when she woke up.
He reminded him, "It is said that His Majesty chose me from among more than two hundred princes."
Empress Chenzhao was in high spirits and on high alert. She smiled and said, "You said that I was attracted to your beauty. You are right."
Xiu Ningchuan said plaintively, "Is there nothing else?"
Empress Chenzhao said, "Let me think about it... there are some."
Xiu Ningchuan asked, "What is it?"
The Empress smiled and said, "That's reassuring." She explained, "I feel very at ease leaving the matter of raising the children in your care."
Xiu Ningchuan frowned and said, "Is this why His Majesty favors me? Just because he thinks I'm a virtuous husband and father?"
Empress Chenzhao gazed at him, her eyes flashing.
She felt at ease sleeping next to him.
No one could soothe all her anxieties like he could.
But the Empress would never say those words when she was lucid in the daytime.
The Empress has angered the Emperor's husband again, and he has left.
This time, Xiu Ningchuan showed great backbone by not bringing Zhenzhen with him.
*
Streams and mountains.
Ji Qingwu looked at her son-in-law, who had reappeared in front of her in less than a month.
With a complicated look in her eyes, she asked, "Ningchuan, what good deed has Zhaozhao done this time, with your mother standing up for you?"
Xiu Ningchuan simply smiled and drank the soup, praising, "I've been missing the lotus root and pork rib soup from my mother's place. It's so fresh and delicious; one sip and I can forget all my troubles."
Since Xiu Ningchuan didn't bring his granddaughter, Zhao Mingyan didn't treat him well.
Seeing the sullen face of the person next to him, Ji Qingwu nudged Zhao Mingyan with his elbow.
She whispered, "Ning Chuan looks like he's been wronged, so don't give him that look."
Zhao Mingyan took a sip of soup and said, "Everyone has grievances. It's not right to come here just because you feel wronged."
Ji Qingwu took the soup from in front of him and said, "You even went back to the Ji family to complain to my father, have you forgotten?"
That's ancient history.
Ji Qingwu pressed him to tell her when he had fallen for her, but he refused to answer and even tried to gloss over the matter by acting cute.
Ji Qingwu didn't react at the time, but when he went to court, he secretly took his two children and the baby in his womb and went back to his parents' home.
After Zhao Mingyan finished court and heard Fanghua's report, he ordered someone to stop Ji Bolian, who was walking to the palace gate, and the two returned to the Ji family together.
On the way, Zhao Mingyan must have been bewitched by his father-in-law.
Ji Qingwu not only received a severe scolding, but was also kicked out that very night.
Yuan Heng and Qiu Qiu stayed at the Ji family's house for several days.
Ji Qingwu later realized that it was probably because Zhao Mingyan agreed to let the two grandsons stay at the Ji family home for a while that her father abandoned her.
Zhao Mingyan took the soup bowl in front of her and said, "I was in the right in that matter."
Ji Qingwu snorted and said, "You're the emperor, so of course you're right."
Speaking of this, Ji Qingwu could fully understand Xiu Ningchuan's difficulties.
Although Emperor Chenzhao was not as cold and aloof as Emperor Wusu, being around him was still quite stressful.
As someone who's been through it all, Ji Qingwu bluntly said, "Ning Chuan, just stay here. Don't go back unless Zhao Zhao comes to pick you up."
Xiu Ningchuan stayed for seven days, but no news came from the palace.
Xiu Ningchuan actually came to learn from the experience of the Emperor and Empress, hoping to gain some insights into their relationship.
But to his surprise, Ji Qingwu detained him here, and even if he wanted to leave, he couldn't.
On the eighth day, there was still no news from the palace.
But a letter arrived from the Prince of Yu in the Northwest.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
