Chapter 35: Coming to Fetch the Seventeenth Prince

Is it possible that the Empress is deliberately trying to trap him into speaking?

Despite Jun Yu's intelligence and precociousness, he is merely a child. He pondered for a long time and still couldn't make sense of these questions.

Seeing Jun Yu standing there silently for some time, the Empress grew very impatient and threw the teacup in her hand, shattering glass pieces all over the floor. The palace attendants of Jiaofang Palace were so frightened they immediately kneeled.

"Your Majesty, please calm down!"

Everyone advised in unison.

However, the Empress could not calm down.

The Empress most disliked Jun Yu's reticent demeanor. She simply could not understand why all the other princes were intelligent and sensible, endearing and lovable, except for Jun Yu?

Why is he always in this dull, unlikable state?

It would be one thing if he acted this way towards her, but he even behaves like this in front of the Emperor.

Does he want the Emperor to like him less and less, thus growing further from the throne?

Fool.

The more the Empress thought, the angrier she became, and she was about to explode when suddenly someone outside came to announce that Mr. Li, who was beside the Emperor, had arrived.

The Empress glanced at the mammy standing behind her.

The mammy gave a knowing nod and quickly had people clean up the glass shards on the ground. As for the seventeenth prince, who had been kneeling, he was picked up from the floor and placed next to the Empress.

When Xiao Lizi entered Jiaofang Palace, he saw the Empress holding a book with the seventeenth prince obediently sitting by her side. It was this scene of a loving mother teaching her son.

Xiao Lizi smiled and said, "This servant pays respects to Your Majesty."

The Empress looked up at the speaker with confusion on her face. "Why has the eunuch suddenly come to my Jiaofang Palace?" After a moment of silence, she boldly speculated, "Could it be that the Emperor has awakened?"

Xiao Lizi nodded, "Your Majesty guessed correctly, indeed."

"That's wonderful." The Empress joyfully put down the book in her hand and hurriedly stood up, starting to busy herself. "I will go with the eunuch to see the Emperor. Mammy, take the porridge that I personally prepared for the Emperor this morning, along with my treasured supplements, and bring them all... and also..."

The Empress wished she could present the best things in her palace before Emperor Yongning.

Xiao Lizi internally critiqued, "There's no need to curry favor so deliberately." Yet he showed no trace of this on his face and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, there's no need to busy yourself. The Emperor has just awakened and does not wish to see any concubines at this time."

The Empress let out a disappointed "oh."

Xiao Lizi's gaze fell on Jun Yu, who was sitting quietly on the throne behind, with his head lowered.

"The Emperor mentioned that he hasn't seen the seventeenth prince for a long time and misses him greatly. Thus, he sent me to bring the seventeenth prince to see him."

"See Xiao Seventeen?"

The Empress was somewhat surprised.

The Emperor typically doesn't pay much attention to Seventeen. How, after falling ill, does he suddenly wish to see Seventeen?

"Indeed, Your Majesty, if there's nothing else, this servant will take the seventeenth prince to see the Emperor now."

Hearing this, Jun Yu slid down from the Empress's throne and walked over to Xiao Lizi, ready to leave with him.

Seeing how sensible he was, Xiao Lizi shook his head slightly, feeling somewhat sympathetic.

Once the group left Jiaofang Palace with Jun Yu, he finally heaved a sigh of relief.

Before Xiao Lizi arrived, he felt as if he was about to faint from fright.

Noticing his demeanor, Xiao Lizi tentatively asked, "Your Highness, were you scolded by the Empress again?"

Jun Yu did not answer and lowered his head. After a moment, he raised his head again and looked at Xiao Lizi, "Mr. Li, why did Father suddenly summon me?"