Changle Palace.
"In your son's opinion, mother does not need to be so guarded. So what if Wan Fei is temporarily favored? She had no children, so what threat could she pose in the future if she had no one to rely on?”Qi Muyuan could not understand why the Empress was so anxious.
"No, could it be that my son thinks that mother is only doing this because of this? Mother had many other considerations for doing this, but she could not tell her son about this for the time being. When the time came, his son would naturally understand her mother's painstaking efforts.”
"Yes, it's still a thorough plan behind the scenes. Your son always trusts mother.”Qi Muyuan was clearly unconvinced, but he still smiled and said," Then, are those beautiful ladies ready now?”
When the Empress heard Qi Muyuan's words, she raised her head and looked at him. Then, she lowered her head and continued to drink her tea. She did not speak for a long time before saying,"This doesn't seem to be something that my son should be concerned about, right?”
How could the Empress not see through Qi Muyuan's ulterior motives?
Qi Muyuan raised his head to look at his mother and hurriedly explained," I'm just afraid that mother will be overworked…I don't have any other intentions. Mother, please don't misunderstand your son!”
Actually, the more he explained, the more difficult it was to explain. The more he said this, the more it was smeared.
The Empress tilted her lips and said with a smile,""Mother did not misunderstand my son! Why was his son in such a hurry to explain?”
Qi Muyuan was speechless. After all, he was only a 12-or 13-year-old youth. His skin was still very thin. When he heard his mother say this, he immediately felt embarrassed as if his thoughts had been seen through.
"What is my son trying to say? Why don't you tell mother?" The Empress smiled at Qi Muyuan. Qi Muyuan's thoughts were no longer a secret to her.
Qi Muyuan only said indifferently,"I didn't think of anything. As your son said just now, I was just afraid that mother would overwork herself.”
The Empress smiled indifferently." Ha…then, don't come begging Mother when the time comes.”
"Mother, what do you mean?"
Could it be that Lin Changning was really among the candidates? When Qi Muyuan realized this, he instantly became nervous.
The Empress smiled." She's not among them. Mother really didn't understand. Although she was beautiful, she was just a woman. There were so many beautiful women in the world. What kind of beauty didn't she have? Why is my son so worried about her?" She had made a mistake at the right time, and she had fallen ill at the right time!
Qi Muyuan heaved a sigh of relief. His expression softened, and it was obvious that he was no longer as tense as before. How could he tell his mother that even though the world was filled with beauties, he had already set his mind on Lin Chang Ning and would probably never change his mind in this life.
"Mother is worrying too much…"
The Empress waved her hand." Alright, since my son doesn't want to say, then mother won't ask anymore. As long as his son didn't disappoint his mother, his mother didn't want his son to do everything according to his mother's wishes.”
"Your son has made mother tired."
"Alright, you can go back now. They should be here soon."
*——*——*
Qi Muyuan only knew from the Empress 'words that Chang Ning was not one of the beauties. However, how could he have thought that he had just stepped out of his mother's bedroom and casually sized up the group of beauties when he noticed Lin Chang Ning with a lonely expression in the queue!
Mother was lying to him?
This was Qi Muyuan's first reaction. Perhaps his mother had said this on purpose so that he would give up at the last moment?
Although he knew that this might be his mother's intentional arrangement, he still couldn't help but walk forward." Chang Ning-"
"Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince…"
Qi Muyuan was dressed in bright yellow, a symbol of his status as the Crown Prince. As soon as he walked over, the ladies had already half-squatted and bowed, but Qi Muyuan did not pay any attention to them.
"Chang Ning, why are you here?”Under the bright sunlight, Qi Muyuan ignored everyone's gazes and stared at Lin Changning.
When Qi Muyuan said this, Lin Changning's eyes could not help but turn red.
Since she was young, she had been taken for granted to be inferior to others. These 'ordinary things' were simply ordinary things to others. It was not a big deal. She had always thought that only she knew how much humiliation she had suffered!
Why did she have to replace Lin Changan when he was sick?
Why was it that no matter what good or bad things Lin Chang 'an did, he would always end up safe and sound? As for her?
Why did she have to bear these things that she shouldn't have to bear even though she didn't do anything?!
The so-called difference between Di and Shu, could it be that the son of a concubine could only be a substitute for the son of a Di? She couldn't even be considered a substitute. Was she a servant girl who could be ordered around at any time?
The conversation with her father still lingered.
"Father, why are you looking for your daughter?”Don't know? How could she not know that she even remembered the doctor's arrogant attitude and inviolable behavior from the beginning to the end.
"Your mother told you about this, right?”
Hearing his father's words, Lin Changning looked up at his father in disappointment. He didn't want to say anything, but in the end, he had no choice but to say,""Yes, I told you."
"Well, since you already know, then prepare well.”The Prime Minister felt a headache coming on. He didn't want to be so cold, but things had already come to this, and there was no turning back. There was no point in saying anything more…
"Alright." After a long while, he could only say this word.
She was thinking, if Lin Changan was not injured, if Lin Changan was not injured…Suddenly, she realized that something was not right!
Why was his father, who had always doted on Lin Chang 'an, so easily agitated this time? He was furious on the spot and even ignored the First Madam's advice to use the family law on Lin Chang' an?
At this moment, Lin Changning was truly enlightened!
However, there was no turning back. Her father's voice was like the deepest ice, making Lin Chang Ning feel cold.
He said," Go back. If you need anything, just let me know. After lunch, I'll get someone to send you to the palace.”
*——*——*
Seeing that Lin Changning's expression didn't seem right, Qi Muyuan held her hand.
"Chang Ning, what's wrong? Are you alright?" Qi Muyuan's voice pulled Lin Changning back to reality. When he looked up, he saw the boundless red walls and glazed tiles. When he lowered his head, he stepped on the white marble floor.
Lin Changning felt a little dazed. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at Qi Muyuan.
" Your Highness, I, I…" He finally understood the truth. However, she really did not know how to tell Qi Muyuan about this. Moreover, it was just her own guess. Lin Changning suddenly felt so wronged that he couldn't speak. He choked up.
Qi Muyuan pulled Lin Changning out of the group and said to the girls," You guys go in first!”
The other women were just curious. Some of them were also young ladies of the official families in the capital and knew Lin Changning, but they only knew that the Crown Prince and the prime minister's daughter, Lin Chang 'an, had been close since childhood. Now that they saw this scene, they were really shocked. However, on second thought, perhaps it was because of Lin Changan that the Crown Prince called Lin Changning away to take care of him alone?
However, before they could think further, they had already followed the group into the hall.
Qi Muyuan brought Lin Changning to a fake mountain." Why are you among the beauties? Imperial Mother clearly said that you weren't among them!”
"It's Sister!" Lin Changning's eyes were filled with hatred.
"Chang 'an?" Qi Muyuan was at a loss. What did this have to do with Chang 'an?
Lin Changning did not hear Qi Muyuan's reply, so he looked up at him. However, he could clearly see the confusion and hesitation in Qi Muyuan's heart.
When did Qi Muyuan start to hesitate about matters related to Lin Chang 'an?
"This matter is related to her? Isn't she still injured?"
"So the Crown Prince didn't know! The Empress had originally called for her sister to come, but because her sister was injured, her father had no choice but to order Chang Ning to represent her in the election!”Chang Ning was a little disappointed.
Qi Muyuan grabbed Lin Changning's hand." No! You can't go!"
Qi Muyuan's tone was extremely firm, but Lin Changning felt helpless. So what if he was firm?
Shouldn't these words be said to the Empress? He said the word 'no' to her in a commanding tone, as if this matter was something she was willing or able to decide.
"Is Your Highness mistaken?" Lin Changning wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and looked at Qi Muyuan." Is this something that a little concubine's daughter in Chang 'an can decide?”The tears that she had wiped away came back.
Looking at Lin Changning's tearful eyes, Qi Muyuan did not know how to answer her. He retracted his gaze and looked into the distance. The sun in the midsummer afternoon was so hot and glaring that even the air made him feel anxious!
Even though he was the Crown Prince, there were some things and some people that he could not disobey.
He couldn't go against the Empress's wishes, just like how Lin Changning couldn't go against the Prime Minister's wishes. Before he had the ability to decide everything, everything could only be decided.
Fate seemed to be out of his control. From the moment he was born, he was controlled by others. However, when he curled his five fingers and clenched his hand, the mark on his palm was still in his palm. Thinking about it, a lifetime was so long. How could he be willing to continue being so weak?
Every time her tears fell, Chang Ning wiped them away.
" In the end, it's because of a perfect existence like sister that makes me seem so dispensable. I believe that if I'm no longer around one day, not many people will miss me…"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Qi Muyuan held Lin Changan's hand tightly, afraid that he would disappear in the blink of an eye.
Qi Muyuan's strength was a little too strong. Lin Changning clearly felt that his hand was hurting, but he felt very safe in his heart. Perhaps, only by holding his hand tightly like this could she feel that there was always such a person. He clearly understood how imperfect the real Lin Changning was, but he still never left her.
Qi Muyuan's voice was very gentle, and it inadvertently revealed the cautiousness in the depths of his heart. He said," If there comes a day when you're no longer around, how am I supposed to continue?”
"Your Highness?" Lin Chang Ning knew that Qi Mu Yuan had always liked her, but she did not know how deep his feelings for her were. When she heard him say this, she felt that it was unbelievable.
"Big Brother, why are you standing outside Changle Palace and not going in?”
The sweet voice of the Fourth Princess, Qi Yingluo, came from behind Qi Muyuan, interrupting the conversation between Qi Muyuan and Lin Changning.
Qi Muyuan had no choice but to let go of Lin Changning's hand and turn around to face his sister who had suddenly appeared in Changle Palace.
"Yingluo, why are you here? Mother should be busy right now and won't have time to accompany you.”Qi Muyuan felt a little helpless. His younger sister was clearly already over ten years old, but she still had the temperament of a child.
"Humph!" Yingluo looked very unconvinced and said,"Do I look like I need someone to accompany me?”
Qi Muyuan just smiled and patted Yingluo's head. He looked at the servants behind her and then lowered his head to smile at Qi Yingluo."Hurry up and go in."
Qi Yingluo was about to enter when she realized that there was a woman standing behind her brother.
"Eh, why is sister Chang Ning here?”She sized Lin Changning up." Are you here to participate in the selection of the show girls?" Why aren't you going in?"
Qi Muyuan frowned and looked at Qi Yingluo unhappily.
" Greetings to the princess-" Lin Changning bowed to Qi Yingluo.
Qi Muyuan urged her." Alright, aren't we going in to see Mother? Children shouldn't care so much about things that they shouldn't!”
Qi Yingluo stuck out her tongue at Qi Muyuan." Big Brother, don't be too blunt! Since Big Brother said so, then Yingluo didn't care. Sister was leaving.”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。