Chapter 237
Chapter 235: The Prince Can’t Bear It Anymore
Prince Yong’s manor was very close to the Imperial City. They arrived in the blink of an eye.
Luo Ning did not speak the whole way.
Her mind was churning. All sorts of thoughts rushed in. She did not know why Empress Zheng had suddenly called her and Xiao Huai Feng into the palace.
Why call both of them?
If they had only called Luo Ning alone, she would not have been this surprised.
After they entered the Imperial City, an eunuch attendant was waiting and led them to Shoucheng Palace.
Was the Empress Dowager unwell?
Luo Ning’s steps sped up until she was almost running. Because she was walking so fast, Xiao Huai Feng lengthened his stride and caught her by the arm.
“Princess Consort, in the inner court your manners must be graceful. You cannot rush about and lose your dignity, letting others catch your fault,” he said calmly.
Luo Ning answered softly.
Although it was warm in the third month of spring, the palace walls were very high. The long covered walkway still held some of early spring’s chill. After hearing his words and being brushed by the wind, Luo Ning instantly became much clearer-headed.
The Empress Dowager would not be in serious danger.
Empress Zheng had sent for Prince Yong and his wife. That was a sign of goodwill toward the Empress Dowager, which meant the Empress Dowager was all right.
If something truly serious had happened to the Empress Dowager, the first thing the inner court would do was close the palace gates. Empress Zheng would keep Prince Yong outside the gates.
Luo Ning was only confused because she cared too much.
It was also because the Empress Dowager’s situation was tied to her own interests.
Prince Yong and Luo Ning’s promise to each other was only spoken. It had no binding power. If, one day, the Emperor passed away and the feelings between Prince Yong and Empress Zheng suddenly flared up, Luo Ning, as Princess Consort Yong, would have to tuck her tail between her legs and live carefully.
But the Empress Dowager would not change. She would always be Luo Ning’s support.
Luo Ning always remembered that, after she died, the Empress Dowager had lit an everlasting lamp for her for fifteen years.
In the eyes of her sons, the Empress Dowager might not be very loving, but Luo Ning had truly received her deep gratitude.
Luo Ning slowed down and followed behind Xiao Huai Feng. The husband and wife arrived together at Shoucheng Palace.
The Empress Dowager’s bedchamber was very lively.
Before Luo Ning even went in, she heard the laughter of children.
She also heard the Empress Dowager laughing: “You are all little mud monkeys. Take them down and wipe their faces.”
Luo Ning also heard the voice of her imperial elder sister, Princess Ping Yang. “They are so noisy. I am getting a headache. Hurry and take them out.”
A palace maid led several children out.
Luo Ning and Xiao Huai Feng entered the room and first saw the Empress Dowager lying on the couch.
“You are here too? It is nothing, I only fell,” the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
Princess Consort Wei and Princess Ping Yang stood in front. Luo Ning could not squeeze past, so she stood to the side and asked: “Imperial Mother, did you hurt yourself? Are you badly injured?”
“There is only a small bruise. The imperial physician told me to rest quietly for half a month. It is nothing,” the Empress Dowager said.
Empress Zheng sat by the bed and explained to Luo Ning and Xiao Huai Feng: “It rained a few days ago, and the imperial garden was a bit muddy. Yesterday evening, Imperial Mother accidentally stepped wrong.”
“It was just one fall on flat ground. Not worth all this fuss,” the Empress Dowager said.
Prince Chen came a little later.
Not long after he arrived, the Emperor also came to Shoucheng Palace after court.
The Emperor had grown much thinner. His face was even paler, pale like paper.
He first swept a cold glance over Xiao Huai Feng. Xiao Huai Feng’s gaze darkened, and his eyes were even colder than the Emperor’s.
Luo Ning lowered her eyes. She was very afraid that if she looked too much, she would become the target when the Emperor chose to vent his anger on Xiao Huai Feng.
“Imperial Mother, are you feeling better?” The Emperor stepped forward. His voice was full of gentle concern.
All five of the Empress Dowager’s children were now present.
Luo Ning saw that the Empress Dowager was indeed not badly hurt and knew that Empress Zheng was doing this on purpose to please her. Luo Ning’s heart finally settled.
The children ran in again, led by Princess Ping Yang’s son.
Two of the Emperor’s young princesses joined in the game.
“Our family still has too few children,” Princess Consort Wei said with a smile. “Sister in law, you must work harder.”
She herself had two sons and one daughter. Her eldest son was seven this year, one year older than Princess Ping Yang’s son, and was the late Emperor’s eldest grandson.
After she spoke, Princess Consort Wei’s gaze slid toward Luo Ning.
The Empress Dowager smiled and took Luo Ning’s hand. “A’Ning is not in a hurry. Her health is not very good.”
She looked at the Emperor. “She still has old injuries from blocking a blade for me. If they act up again, they could cost her life.”
The Emperor said: “Imperial Mother is right. Sister in law should rest and take good care of herself.”
Then he said: “Tell the imperial pharmacy to send two old ginseng roots to Sister in law.”
Luo Ning bowed to thank him.
Prince Wei’s face did not look very good. He secretly glared at his Princess Consort, signaling her to keep quiet.
After they talked for a while, the Empress Dowager said she wanted to rest, and everyone rose to take their leave.
Luo Ning looked back at her. The Empress Dowager said: “A’Ning, you stay. I have something to tell you.”
Luo Ning answered.
When the room was quiet, Luo Ning asked again and again: “Where did you hurt yourself?”
“My old bones ache from the fall. At my age, one fall is enough to alarm everyone. Do not worry,” the Empress Dowager said with a smile. “A few days of quiet rest and I will be fine. Nothing is broken.”
Luo Ning let out a breath.
“You should go back too. Do not keep Huai Feng waiting,” the Empress Dowager said again.
She did not want Luo Ning to draw hatred either. Everyone else had gone, and if only she stayed behind, others would surely grow jealous.
“I will come see you again in a few days,” Luo Ning said.
The Empress Dowager nodded.
When Luo Ning walked out of the bedchamber, she saw that Xiao Huai Feng, the Empress, and the Emperor had not left yet. The three of them were standing under the eaves of Shoucheng Palace, talking.
None of their expressions looked very good.
Luo Ning’s steps slowed a little.
Last time, Xiao Huai Feng had warned her not to get involved in the matters between him and the Empress. Luo Ning remembered that clearly.
Before the wedding, she had thought that in the future she would share her master’s burdens and help cover for him and the Empress. After the wedding, she only thought about how not to anger her master and how to avoid making mistakes herself. The less she did, the fewer mistakes she would make.
[Smart people are usually born to worry. I do not want to exhaust myself.]
Thinking this, she walked out openly and greeted the three of them.
“It is getting late. Your subject younger brother will take his leave,” Xiao Huai Feng said to the Emperor, bowing.
The Emperor nodded slightly.
Xiao Huai Feng looked at Luo Ning. Luo Ning also bowed to take her leave and followed him out of Shoucheng Palace.
All the way out, Xiao Huai Feng did not speak.
Only after they got into the carriage did Luo Ning ask him: “Prince, are you still going to the fief?”
“Not for now. In a few days. There is something to do these days. Imperial Elder Brother has given me a task,” Xiao Huai Feng said.
He told Luo Ning that less than four hundred li away from Shengjing, someone had reported a pest infestation.
If that was true, it would affect all the crops within a thousand li. The Emperor had told Xiao Huai Feng to go and take a look.
If he handled it well, there would be no great merit. If he handled it badly, he would be punished.
Strictly speaking, this was not Xiao Huai Feng’s duty.
He did not say anything about that and simply planned to go. The matters in his fief were not very serious and could be put aside for now.
He would not take Luo Ning with him anymore.
“We have been married for so long, but the days I have actually spent in the manor can be counted on one hand,” he suddenly said.
Luo Ning: “…”
Wasn’t that the truth?
One principal consort and four Secondary Consorts, all of them were just decorations.
“Prince, your future will be glorious beyond measure. Every task you do is tied to the people’s livelihood. These are all your subjects. When you work for them, you are working for everyone under heaven,” Luo Ning said in a low voice.
Xiao Huai Feng was silent for a moment before saying: “You have a point.”
[So ambitious.]
This time, however, he was not afraid. He did not warn Luo Ning about committing a crime of disrespect.
He had probably had enough.
The Prince went out again.
As soon as he left, Luo Ning stayed shut inside the inner residence and did not go anywhere.
This year’s spring viewing banquets were already coming to an end, and Luo Ning had not attended a single one.
Wang Jun came every day to pay her respects.
She never complained and never asked to return to her maiden home.
She was a smart person.
It was not tiring to get along with a smart person.
Every night, Luo Ning told Nanny Kong to send extra food to Cui Zheng Lan so she would not go hungry.
Very soon, the three Secondary Consorts’ days of confinement ended, and they were released.
The four Secondary Consorts once again came together to greet Luo Ning.
Pei Yu even brought a gift for Luo Ning.