CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 83: WHEN WILL HE BE BACK?

"By the way, you just mentioned that someone gained imperial favor by cross-dressing as a woman?" Qiong Hua raised her curious question belatedly.

Cai Wei replied, "Exactly! Now the whole palace is abuzz with the gossip."

"Then, then..." Qiong Hua grew anxious, disregarding even her injuries, and struggled to sit up, her face pale as she asked, "What’s the empress’s reaction?"

All along, she dared not let Jun Ning present herself in her true gender, knowing Emperor Yongning had always yearned for a princess.

While other concubines from powerful families, including the empress, had failed to bear a child, she, without any backing, managed to conceive one. And this happened precisely when she offended His Majesty and was punished to the Cold Palace.

The concubines who hadn’t birthed a princess must surely loathe her.

Thus, to protect Jun Ning, she had no choice but to disguise the naturally female Jun Ning as a male.

Unexpectedly, Jun Ning was identified as a boy because of this.

Even more absurdly, she inexplicably left the Cold Palace and gained the emperor’s affection by cross-dressing!

It felt as if an unseen hand was orchestrating everything—a hand she couldn’t see or touch, yet it pushed everything to its destined place.

This day was inevitable, so Qiong Hua was not surprised.

However, her primary concern now was the empress’s reaction. Given the empress’s envious and narrow-minded nature, seeing someone favored and especially if that someone was her child, she wouldn’t let it go.

"The empress’s reaction is unknown for now, but it’s said that she’s been permanently confined to Jiaofang Palace, though the reason is unclear."

The Cold Palace is almost isolated from the outside world, making news scarce.

Even the news of the empress’s permanent confinement reached them only because it caused such a commotion.

"Then Jun Ning should be safe for the time being." Qiong Hua exhaled in relief and continued to lie down.

Cai Wei was almost beside herself with frustration, "Ah Hua, you should worry about yourself!"

...

Panlong Palace.

After dinner last night, Jun Ning went directly to sleep at Panlong Palace.

Previously, as Jun Yu’s companion, she would eat and reside with him. But since she became the eighteenth princess and acknowledged her father, the emperor, her residence shifted from Jiaofang Palace to Panlong Palace.

Emperor Yongning wanted to cuddle his little princess to sleep every night.

The seventeen princes before her, except for the Crown Prince, never received such treatment.

Jun Ning, accustomed to sleeping alone, wasn’t sure if this was fortunate or unfortunate.

The next morning, when Emperor Yongning got up for court, Jun Ning awoke as well. She dressed alongside Emperor Yongning, then waited in Panlong Palace for him to return from court, so they could visit the Cold Palace together.

Xiao Lizi’s diligent apprentice thoughtfully prepared her breakfast with all her favorite foods, yet Jun Ning wasn’t inclined to eat. Her mind was entirely on retrieving Qiong Hua from the Cold Palace.

"How much longer? Why hasn’t Father returned yet?"

Jun Ning leaned against the window, watching the path Emperor Yongning would surely take upon his return, staring unblinkingly for a long time. Yet, not even a fly crossed that path.

It was desolate and very somber.

"Sigh..." She propped her chin with her small hand, waiting listlessly.

The wait extended until noon, but Emperor Yongning still hadn’t returned.