Pregnant Before the Royal Marriage - Chapter 857

Chapter 857: Chapter 857: The Tree Stands Out in the Forest_1

“Really? I’ve taken a thing from him and he didn’t make a fuss.”

“It’s merely a bottle. I don’t think Emperor Father would care,”

“So you’re saying….”

“It’s just that no one has ever dared to ask Emperor Father for such things,” Li Hongyuan remarked indifferently. “You went to the Crystal Frost Hall just to get this?”

“Of course not, this was just incidental,” Jiang Ning casually handed the bottle to Gufeng to hold.

Gufeng then stepped back a few steps to allow them to talk.

Li Hongyuan glanced at Gufeng and asked Jiang Ning, “Why would you have a fine man dress up as a palace maid, isn’t it too humiliating for him?”

Jiang Ning laughed: “I’m not that bored.”

“You’re bored enough to wander around the Imperial Palace.”

“…I am really bored indeed, but not so bored that I’d bother Gufeng,” Jiang Ning irritably said, “He chose to dress like this. Why should I interfere with his decision to wear what he wants?”

“Dress Freedom?” Li Hongyuan scoffed, “This is the Imperial Palace, there are rules here, it’s not about freedom.”

“Oh? I feel quite free in choosing my clothes.” Jiang Ning raised her hand to shield off the sunlight, “The weather is getting hotter. Wearing this skirt is really comfortable. Your outfit, Crown Prince, must be uncomfortable in this heat.”

“Stay calm and you will feel cool,” Li Hongyuan said. “People like you who are restless, can’t stay put even for a moment and always complaining will naturally feel hot.”

“You’re the crown prince, you’re always right. I won’t argue with you.”

“What did you do at the Crystal Frost Hall?” Li Hongyuan asked again.

“I was expressing concern for the Emperor, urging him to take good care of his health and focus his mind on state affairs instead of leaving everything to his Crown Prince.”

Li Hongyuan paused, stared at her closely: “You don’t want me to continue as Regent.”

Jiang Ning looked around, and earnestly said the idiom: “The tree that stands above the rest captures the wind.”

“Oh?”

“You’re showing off too much,” Jiang Ning said in a steady tone. “I acknowledge that you’re competent and smart. This point, I believe everyone agrees. In history, there have also been crown princes acting as regents. However, your situation is different. The Emperor is right here in the palace. Although he’s not as healthy as before, he is not so sick as to be unable to attend court. You helping with state affairs for a while is fine, but monopolizing power for so long inevitably makes people suspect other intentions.”

Li Hongyuan did not reply.

Jiang Ning continued: “Even if you don’t care about the speculations of princes and courtiers, what about your father, the Emperor? Why don’t you hand over the power promptly? What is your plan?”

Li Hongyuan said, “As long as Emperor Father speaks a word, I will hand over the power.”

“Why don’t you take the initiative?” Jiang Ning advised, “Look at your Emperor Father. He’s rushing to consort with Concubine Ya, and now he’s excessively partial to Concubine Zhu. What do you think he’s aiming at?”

“Surely he loves them.”

“Of course he loves them, who wouldn’t love beautiful women? But the question is, has the Emperor ever been impulsively indulgent before?”

“No.”

“Exactly,” Jiang Ning emphasized, “When he was young and strong, he was able to resist the most beautiful-looking Lin Zizi. Now that he’s old, he cannot hold himself back. He even risks his health to have elixirs, just to spend time with a few concubines?”

Li Hongyuan chuckled, “I have reason to suspect you’re praising yourself.”

“That’s not the point.”

“I know what you’re talking about,” Li Hongyuan responded, his hands behind his back, “But I didn’t overthink it. Seeing that Emperor Father was not in good health, I just wanted to help him share some burdens for a while. Since you’re worried, I will ask for leave from Emperor Father tomorrow.”

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