Quickly?
What exactly did Ziqing mean by that? Was she planning to storm in and seize the woman by force?
Watching Ziqing’s retreating figure, Jun Beiyue shook his head helplessly, choosing not to follow her, instead returning to his study and spreading out a map of Nanzhao.
While Ziqing rushed toward the palace with Jue Mingzi and Hongyi in tow, Jun Buli had already arrived at Xinning Palace, where Consort Li resided.
Without Jun Buli even needing to give the order, every maid and attendant withdrew of their own accord, with Nanny Xu personally closing the door behind them.
“Why has His Majesty come again?”
“I heard the Retired Emperor and the Empress Dowager have returned. Consort Li being moved out of Prince Yao’s estate at this particular moment must mean something’s wrong.”
“I’ve heard the Empress Dowager isn’t an easy woman to serve. Being her daughter-in-law, Consort Li… heh…”
…
Outside, the whispers spread on and on, while inside the room, all was silent.
Consort Li’s body seemed rather weak, her breathing shallow. The right side of her face was covered in bandages, loosely concealed beneath a strip of white gauze, and she pouted at Jun Buli with visible resentment. Even after he’d walked right up to her, she still said nothing, boldly glaring at him, her large, watery eyes brimming with displeasure.
Such a pitiful, delicate appearance was truly enough to make anyone forget the severe injury marring half her face.
Yet Jun Buli’s expression remained utterly blank. Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly called out from beyond the door, announcing an arrival: “The Empress Dowager has arrived!”
It was Hongyi making the announcement, for by now Nanny Xu and the others had all frozen in shock—none of them had ever imagined that after a full decade’s absence, the Empress Dowager could still look so remarkably youthful.
The words Jun Buli had been about to speak died on his lips at this announcement. Instead, he swiftly pulled Consort Li into his arms and turned, seating himself with her upon his lap.
A flicker of displeasure crossed Consort Li’s eyes, though she ultimately maintained her demure, obedient composure.
Nanny Xu and the others stood frozen in shock, while Ziqing, having asked no further questions, had no idea Jun Buli was even inside. The moment Hongyi pushed open the door, Ziqing froze instantly in place.
There sat her son, holding Consort Li on his lap, the two of them nuzzling intimately together!
Consort Li, as though suddenly startled, hastily pushed Jun Buli away and rose to offer a proper greeting. “This concubine pays respects to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings.”
Ziqing managed to hold herself together, taking a deep breath and forcing a smile. “Rise.”
Only then did Consort Li stand, hurrying forward personally to help seat Ziqing, though Hongyi quickly intervened, attending to Ziqing herself and seating her beside Jun Buli instead.
“Mother, what brings you here?” Jun Buli asked with a smile.
“I brought your grandfather to examine Consort Li’s face. And I wanted to ask you—you just promised me you’d go find Xiaosheng, and here you are hiding away instead! Are you trying to worry your father and me to death? If anything happens to that girl Xiaosheng, I’ll never forgive you as long as I live!” Ziqing said, growing more earnest with every word.
Beside them, Consort Li had heard “Xiaosheng” repeated several times now, and with a woman’s instinct, immediately sensed something was off. She glanced briefly at Jun Buli, but he paid no attention whatsoever to her questioning gaze.
“I’ve already arranged everything at court, and with Father here, I have nothing to worry about. I came here to bring—”
Before Jun Beiyue could finish speaking, Ziqing, apparently sensing what he was about to say, cut in immediately. “Don’t worry about that, Consort Li—I’ve already brought your grandfather here. I promise, by the time you return, you’ll have your pretty face back good as new!”
Hearing this, Consort Li finally understood—Mother was trying to send His Majesty away! And once he left, would she have any peace left to enjoy?
Just as Consort Li began to panic inwardly, Jun Buli suddenly wrapped an arm around her shoulders and said earnestly, “Mother, what I love is her person, not her face. Beautiful or not makes no difference to me at all. On this trip to Nanzhao, I intend to bring her along, and only her—I ask for Mother’s permission.”
Not just Ziqing—even Consort Li was somewhat taken aback. She couldn’t help but look up at him, gazing at Jun Buli’s strong, handsome profile, warmth surging through her heart, her devotion to this man growing ever more resolute!
Whatever the reason—habit, convenience, or something else entirely—as long as he couldn’t do without her, she was content, and would never leave his side.
Consort Li was thoroughly moved, while Ziqing nearly choked on her own fury. She pressed both hands firmly against the armrests, using every ounce of restraint to keep herself from exploding.
Seeing this, Hongyi hurried forward, offering counsel. “Young master, this trip to Nanzhao is of vital importance, and extremely dangerous. Bringing Consort Li along would only complicate matters—and should anything happen to harm her, that wouldn’t be good either!”
Yet Jun Buli didn’t so much as glance at Hongyi, his gaze fixed entirely on Ziqing’s face, while Ziqing stared right back at him with equal intensity.
Without question, mother and son had finally reached this point—no more pretense, a direct standoff at last.
Ziqing’s eyes burned with fury, disappointment, and icy coldness—the very same cold look she’d once given young Xiong Xiaobao whenever he’d done something wrong.
And in Jun Buli’s eyes was firm resolve, utter refusal to yield—just as stubborn now as he’d always been as a child whenever he’d set his mind on something.
The room fell into complete silence; even Hongyi didn’t dare speak, while Guxi had already slipped away to fetch reinforcements in the form of Jun Beiyue.
After a long, deathly silence, it had to be said that even Consort Li’s heart was pounding wildly, because she understood all too well just how much this woman before her meant to Jun Buli.
She was afraid—afraid she might be the one left behind, and she knew that if she were, she’d face brutal interrogation.
The Princess Consort of Prince Yao’s cleverness had once been known throughout all of Da Zhou—of course she’d suspect something between her and Jun Buli.
She didn’t want to betray Jun Buli, but even more than that, she didn’t want to die.
At this thought, Consort Li’s small hand unconsciously clutched at the fabric of Jun Buli’s robe at his waist. Ziqing glanced sideways at this, her fury finally reaching its peak, and said coldly, “And what if I say she absolutely must stay behind?”
“Mother, this son has guarded this entire realm on your and Father’s behalf—must you really quarrel with me over one insignificant woman?”
Jun Buli’s voice remained perfectly calm, yet somehow, inexplicably, it carried an undeniable note of sorrow.
Hearing this, Ziqing’s heart felt as though it had been stabbed viciously with a knife, aching sharply!
Was her son blaming them? Had he been silently blaming them in his heart all along?
Blaming them for never giving him freedom, for chaining him to the throne?
Ziqing didn’t dare let her thoughts continue down that path, staring blankly at the son before her, that same familiar-yet-strange feeling washing over her once more—so close, yet somehow feeling impossibly distant.
Yet Jun Buli, paying no heed to the tears glistening in Ziqing’s eyes, continued on, word by deliberate word, “Mother, this son will defer to you in everything else. I ask only for this one freedom—the freedom to choose the woman who will accompany me through this life. I beg Mother to grant me this.”
With that, he released Consort Li and dropped to his knees!
Consort Li was startled as well—she had never seen Jun Buli behave this way before, and in her fright, she knelt down alongside him.
By this point, Ziqing had entirely forgotten Consort Li’s presence, her eyes filled only with her son’s obedient yet sorrowful face.
Freedom?
Just this one freedom?
Had she truly constrained him that much?
Every single word from Jun Buli’s mouth struck Ziqing’s heart like a heavy blow. She suddenly realized she truly had no grounds, no right, to interfere like this, to make such demands of him!
Ten years ago, little Xiong Bao would have thrown an angry tantrum, run away from home in protest. Yet now, ten years later, Jun Buli chose this obedient, humble way instead, simply begging her for one small freedom.
What was Ziqing to do?