The death of a eunuch couldn’t stir much commotion. After the snake was eliminated, his remains were casually discarded. Everything returned to tranquility, and no one remembered him anymore.
Princess Manor.
Zhao Qingning’s injuries had completely healed, but she still had a few days left on her approved leave. She simply lounged at home like a lazy fish.
After all, no student would willingly return to school early.
During this period, she finished copying the Three Character Classic that Yongjia had previously assigned as punishment.
Since she had nothing better to do anyway, she personally delivered the completed copy for Yongjia’s inspection.
Looking at the handwriting practice in her hand, Yongjia felt her daughter was being obedient and sensible, thinking she might have been too harsh with the punishment.
However, there was one matter that needed clarification.
She set down the copy: “Aning, I heard you took the Ninth Prince out of the Cold Palace and sent him to the academy as a servant?”
Yongjia chose her words carefully, still referring to Lu Jinghan as the Ninth Prince.
Zhao Qingning hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Frowning, Yongjia told her: “Your uncle never concluded he was a bastard, so he remains a prince. You shouldn’t have done this.”
Seeing that she wasn’t angry, Zhao Qingning whispered: “Mother, I know I was wrong.”
“Knowing you’re wrong means you should change. You’re a young lady now – in a few years we’ll be discussing marriage arrangements. You can’t just brush everything aside with an ‘I know I was wrong’,” Yongjia said helplessly. “You should return the Ninth Prince as soon as possible.”
Zhao Qingning blurted out: “No.”
Seeing Yongjia’s gaze upon her, she quickly added: “Mother, I’ve stopped bullying him. I treat him quite well now. Can’t we let him stay?”
“This isn’t about whether you treat him well or not,” Yongjia said with greater foresight. “Royal children can never escape power struggles. Just by associating with him, you’ll attract speculation from interested parties. Then we’ll find ourselves roasted over the fire.”
The censors at the Imperial Censorate weren’t idle – if they memorialized the Emperor claiming Princess Manor intended to participate in seizing the throne, things would become serious.
No matter how close she was with her brother, she still needed to maintain proper boundaries.
However, Zhao Qingning had no intention of sending him back.
If he returned to the Cold Palace, she couldn’t frequently enter the palace to help Lu Jinghan. He would be bullied again, and his personality would still become twisted.
Keeping him under her watch was the best option – it also allowed her to maintain presence.
Noticing her reluctance, Yongjia asked curiously: “Why are you so determined to keep him at the academy?”
Zhao Qingning considered for a moment before putting on an innocent expression: “I treated him poorly before, but now that I’ve grown wiser, I want to make amends. As the saying goes, bad causes lead to bad consequences – I’m afraid something unfortunate might happen in the future.”
Yongjia scoffed: “The Ninth Prince has no foundation whatsoever. How could he possibly bring you bad consequences? You’re overthinking this.”
Zhao Qingning silently complained: Oh mother, it was indeed him who had me sliced to death in my previous life.
But she couldn’t say that, so she pretended to be pitiful and tugged at her sleeve: “Please, mother, just let me keep him for now. I promise I’ll send him back later.”
Yongjia initially wanted to refuse, but seeing her daughter’s pitiful expression, she found herself unable to.
In the end, she relented.
Zhao Qingning breathed a sigh of relief internally and leaned into her embrace: “I knew you were the best, mother.”
With Yongjia’s permission, she could continue helping Lu Jinghan without worrying about causing trouble.
But when she went out, she didn’t show her relief.
Even on the way back, she appeared somewhat unhappy.
In her room, Chunlan served her tea: “Young mistress, what’s wrong?”
Did you have another argument with His Highness?
Zhao Qingning pouted, “Mother forbids me from associating with Xiao Jiu and even scolded me. I’m feeling upset.”
Hearing this, Chunlan was inwardly delighted but outwardly advised, “Her Highness is considering your best interests. Perhaps you should listen to her.”
“I refuse,” she flatly rejected. “At most, I’ll just secretly spend time with Xiao Jiu.”
However, mentioning Lu Jinghan reminded her that she hadn’t seen him for quite some time.
Since she had free time now, she might as well go check on him.
And incidentally, give certain people an opportunity.
“Qiuhua, go prepare some snacks. We’re going to find Xiao Jiu now. Chunlan, you stay home and keep an eye on Mother for me. Don’t let her find out.”
Qiuhua looked troubled, “Miss, is this really appropriate? Her Highness will be angry.”
But Chunlan said, “We must naturally follow Miss’s orders. Let’s hurry and prepare.”
She pushed Qiuhua out the door, and the latter sighed, praying that if Her Highness discovered this, she wouldn’t punish the young lady.
Zhao Qingning observed their reactions carefully.
For now, it seemed Qiuhua could be kept.
She lamented how foolish Chunlan was, unable to see the situation clearly.
Soon everything was ready, but just as she reached the front courtyard, a servant reported that Chen Jinbao had arrived and was waiting in the front courtyard pavilion.
Since it was still early, she decided to head to the pavilion instead.
“Zhao Qingning,” he said coolly upon seeing her, “I came to see how badly you’re injured. If it’s serious enough, I can attend your funeral banquet.”
Zhao Qingning glanced at him and plopped down unceremoniously, “Then you’ll be disappointed. I’m perfectly healthy and have a great appetite.”
She picked up the pastries he brought and unceremoniously popped one into her mouth.
Chen Jinbao was annoyed, “These are my things. Why are you eating them?”
Zhao Qingning shot him a look, “If they weren’t for me, why did you bring them?”
Tch, such a tsundere. He clearly brought snacks to see her but had to say things like that.
With such a sharp tongue, he’ll end up friendless sooner or later.
Chen Jinbao was speechless, then said, “You still haven’t apologized to me.”
She pretended not to know what he meant, waiting until he grew anxious before bursting into laughter.
“Alright, Young Master Chen, I was wrong. I’m sorry.” She picked up a pastry and offered it to him, “Please forgive me.”
Chen Jinbao was stunned.
“You’d actually apologize to me?”
This would have been impossible in the past!
The original Zhao Qingning was so aggressive that even he had to yield somewhat.
On his way here, he had thought getting an apology from her would be difficult.
He asked cautiously, “Are you really Zhao Qingning? How have you changed so much?”
Zhao Qingning’s heart skipped a beat, surprised that Chen Jinbao knew the original host so well.
But she grinned, “Of course I am. As for the changes, I’ve just come to understand some things better. After all, we’re friends. Isn’t it normal for me to apologize to you?”
Hearing this, Chen Jinbao examined her carefully.
Hmm, it was indeed Zhao Qingning.
Only, her smile was much cuter than before.
He snorted coldly, taking the pastry and stuffing it into his mouth, “Good that you know you were wrong.”
After finishing it, he added, “Not that I want to criticize you, but that Little Wild Seed is nothing but bad luck. Why do you insist on playing with him? Even giving him a name like Xiao Jiu. He should be called Turtle instead.”
Zhao Qingning frowned.
In the book, Chen Jinbao’s ending was quite tragic too.
After Weiyuan Marquis died in battle, he was too spoiled and incompetent to support the marquis household. Being resented by Lu Jinghan, he was eventually beaten to death.
Although he was somewhat tsundere, he wasn’t fundamentally bad and had always treated her well. She didn’t want to see him meet such a miserable end.
Then she spoke mysteriously: “You don’t know this, but I met a fortune teller earlier who said I would encounter a noble person. And then I met Xiao Jiu.”
“At least make your lies more believable! Do you think I’m a three-year-old?” Chen Jinbao said discontentedly. “If he’s your noble person, why do you hit him?”
“…”
Ah, children grow up and indeed become harder to fool.