CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: WANTING TO DECEIVE MYSELF ONCE

He always felt that these matters were her fault, but little did he know, if he had her in his heart, would she need to do this?

She wouldn’t need to.

All her troubles, he would solve them for her, rather than leaving them for her to handle.

"Your Majesty, if you had even a little hope or trust in me, you wouldn’t think it’s wrong for me to painstakingly change companions for the seventeenth prince, nor that it’s wrong for me to desperately try to escape today."

"I am not wrong. The ones who are clearly wrong are you—all of you."

The Empress screamed hysterically, completely broken down, not caring about her dignity anymore.

Moreover, she fiercely threw the chopsticks she had been gripping tightly, which had long since been soaked with her sweat.

To prevent Jun Ning from being hurt by the suddenly irrational Empress, Emperor Yongning hurriedly pulled the still-crying Jun Ning behind him, shielding her, and accused the Empress, "Empress, you are simply being unreasonable."

The Empress’s eyes were blurred with tears, "I am not; the one who is truly unreasonable is you."

"Hmm?"

These words completely enraged Emperor Yongning.

He, a dignified Emperor, was actually called unreasonable by the Empress?

"Empress, since that’s the case, you can stay in Jiaofang Palace forever! Don’t think about coming out again." Emperor Yongning gritted his teeth as he left this remark, carrying Jun Ning out without looking back.

How could the Empress accept such a result?

She chased after Emperor Yongning, wanting an explanation, but just a few steps into her pursuit, she was stopped by Xiao Lizi with people. Xiao Lizi looked at her with disappointment.

"Your Majesty, the Empress, you are truly bold."

"That is the Emperor, a single word from him could put you to death; how could you speak to him like that?"

"Even if your father is the Marquis Zhongyong, with illustrious military achievements, you cannot speak to the Emperor like that."

Because of the Empress’s strong maternal family influence, Xiao Lizi usually treated the Empress with respect, no matter how outrageous her actions, never speaking harshly.

But today, the Empress dared to speak to the Emperor like this, and Xiao Lizi was truly angered.

He didn’t even maintain basic courtesy, directly confronting the Empress, and even after they left Jiaofang Palace, he had the Imperial Guard seal its doors, completely confining the Empress inside.

To the Empress’s knocking and shouting, he paid no attention whatsoever.

...

The Imperial Study Room.

Liu Pin came to visit Emperor Yongning, but unfortunately, she happened to catch him returning, face darkened, and still holding Jun Ning.

Originally, she intended to ask, Your Majesty, what happened? But just as she was about to speak, she was distracted by the crying child in Emperor Yongning’s arms.

Recently, she had heard that the Emperor had a princess, but this princess was actually a disguised boy.

The Emperor wished so much for a princess that he resorted to such self-deception.

She originally came intending to advise the Emperor not to let his inner demons lead him astray. But upon seeing the little princess’s delicate face, she completely forgot her purpose of persuasion and also wished to indulge in self-deception once.

She looked at Jun Ning with pity, longing to give a hug.

Yet, countless times she extended her hands and ultimately withdrew them again.

Emperor Yongning’s whole heart was on Jun Ning now, and he didn’t pay attention to Liu Pin.

"Darling, don’t cry, be good."

Emperor Yongning had never coaxed a child before; currently, he was awkwardly patting Jun Ning’s back, hoping she would stop crying.

Seeing her tear-stained face, his heart ached as if being twisted.