Too high to reach

Chapter 41 One Shot, One Whole Body

Li Jing is almost at the gate of Zhengyang Palace...

"Seventh Brother!" a voice called from the side.

A woman walked out of the gallery next door.

He stopped and turned his head to look until he saw her walk up to him.

The woman wore a red satin cloak with a white fur collar. On her head was a white fur hat, with sparkling jewelry pinned to the brim.

High, arched eyebrows, bright red lipstick. A noble yet flamboyant appearance.

At first glance, I thought it was...

But Li Jing would never admit her mistake; it was just a poor imitation.

However, she still sighed inwardly: looking at her now, who could have imagined that she was once so timid and self-conscious, with a sour face, prone to tears, and avoiding people like a doormat, not even having the demeanor of a palace maid!

A slight smirk crept onto his lips...

As soon as you get close, you can smell a strong fragrance.

"Seventh Brother!" Her voice trembled slightly.

This is Princess Yu'an, the Crown Prince's half-sister and Empress Feng's biological daughter.

"What is it?" Li Jing asked in a calm voice, his expression as blank as ever.

"I'm here to ask if Seventh Brother is alright. I wanted to ask him if Dongfang... is he alright?" The sadness and helplessness in her voice were truly touching.

"Whether the prince consort is good or not, the princess doesn't know, yet she comes to ask me?" Li Jing asked knowingly.

"...My mother is sickly, and my father is always being scolded by the Emperor because of him. He didn't even come back for my sister Dehui's wedding! Seventh Brother, he has a family..." Princess Yu'an's eyes reddened, and tears welled up.

She said somewhat absentmindedly, "If this continues... when will it end? If he really doesn't want... my sister to be sad anymore, then..." She was so emotional that she couldn't finish her sentence.

She's now considered a legitimate princess, yet she's been forced into this situation...

How hateful that East is!

But Li Jing smiled nonchalantly, which was quite infuriating. "If the princess truly misses her husband, it's only a little over a thousand miles away. She can go find him anytime!"

Having said that, he walked past Princess Yu'an and continued forward.

Princess Yu'an lost control of her emotions and her voice became shrill: "Isn't he afraid of not seeing his loved ones one last time?"

King Qi stopped in his tracks, did not turn around, and said indifferently, "With my protection... I'm sure his family will be able to wait safely until the day he returns in triumph."

Princess Yu'an bit her lip hard, wiped her eyes, her gaze fierce, and said no more.

At the entrance of the main hall, several palace maids came forward to greet him. "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qi!"

Years later, when Li Jing enters this courtyard, she still experiences moments of disorientation. It's as if she can hear Ming An's genuine, unrestrained laughter at any moment…

"Your Highness, the Empress is waiting!" A palace maid interrupted his thoughts.

Upon entering the main hall, the Empress, dressed in magnificent robes, sat regally in the main seat.

He knelt on one knee: "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

The Empress smiled gently, her tone concerned, "Little Seven, you're finally back. Get up, sit down!" She even gestured for him to sit down.

Standing up, Li Jing looked at the Empress's smiling face. She always knew exactly what to do!
"Have you been injured in the past two years?" On the table next to him were many account books, paper and pens.

Yes, even the Empress of a nation is busy!
When her mother was still alive, she was Consort Wen. Among the concubines in the harem, she was unknown and inconspicuous. She obtained the rank of consort through her family background and by bearing children.

He was respectful to his mother and never caused trouble.

She never posted any notices when Consort Dong was acting arrogantly and domineeringly.

When she beat Li Zhen, angering her father and making it difficult for her mother to move about in the palace, all the concubines couldn't hold back any longer and started running around. She, however, stayed quietly in her own palace.

Later, the Empress Dowager passed away, the Imperial Concubine died, and the concubines became even more agitated.

And she remained as low-key as ever...

After becoming empress, she continued to mediate between her father and herself. She also married one of the most famous noblewomen in the capital at the time.

Regardless of her consistent behavior or my years of investigation, she has no flaws whatsoever.

I should have no reservations about her.

Even if... she becomes empress and her son is made crown prince, and she has the last laugh... there's nothing to doubt!

Because there always has to be an empress, and there always has to be a crown prince. If it's not her, it'll be someone else.

But if we're talking about suspicious points, there really is one: she chose Dongfang Dexiang as Yu'an's consort...

That's not right!!
My sister and Dongfang have been inseparable since childhood. My sister saved that bastard Dongfang's life! She said it from the beginning: his life belongs to my sister.

When his sister died, if his grandmother and mother hadn't threatened to kill themselves, he probably would have followed her.

This friendship is known to everyone in the entire capital.

My sister is gone... Dongfang can marry a noblewoman to uphold the family's honor and have children to continue the family line.

But he can no longer be a prince consort!
Need I say more?!
Princess Ke Yu'an, why did you choose him of all people?
Why would the Emperor arrange a marriage? It would be a miracle if the Empress hadn't intervened!

But if this was the Empress's idea... then everything that was "normal" before was just an illusion!
It's just that it hasn't been found out yet!

These emotions, suppressed for years, have become a habit, and others cannot see them.

"Your Majesty asked, 'Were you unharmed?'"

"That's good! Your father has been talking about your return the other day! Although he is a strict father, he has always been thinking about you."

Li Jing nodded without saying anything.

"Oh, have you met the Empress Dowager?"

"I've seen it before."

"The Empress Dowager's memory is getting worse and worse; she doesn't recognize people and keeps repeating herself."

Li Jing didn't speak, silently looking at the carpet at her feet.

My mother always loved carpets covered in flowers; walking on them felt like strolling through a garden.

Empress Feng, on the other hand, preferred cool colors. Her style was understated and simple, much like her personality.

"Where is your fifth brother? Didn't he come with you?" The Empress looked outside.

"The Crown Prince has other matters to attend to."

"Go back and rest well. You haven't been back for two years, so take care of things at home. After a couple of days, we'll hold a banquet to welcome you back!"

"Yes."

"Furthermore... your father has repeatedly mentioned wanting to remarry for you. Now that you've returned, he'll most likely be arranging this. If you have any plans in mind, tell me quickly..."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," he said, but it was as if he had said nothing at all.

"That's only right. Also...did you see Yu'an just now?"

This time, Li Jing didn't even nod, her eyes lowered, her thoughts unreadable.

"Alas...what a tragedy! If...if I had known they would become a bitter couple, I would have stopped them no matter what! I'm so worried..."

Li Jing suddenly smiled, looking quite happy: "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, Your Majesty need not worry too much."

Seeing his attitude, the Empress swallowed back what she wanted to say.

After a brief chat, Li Jing left.

Looking at his retreating figure with a complicated expression, the Empress seemed lost in thought for a long while before letting out a long sigh.

Yu'an took a liking to Dongfang Dexiang.

However, everyone knows that Dongfang Dexiang almost committed suicide for Ming'an...

Of all the good men out there, she chose him out of all people!

He disagreed, but Yu'an was as stubborn as a madman, threatening suicide, saying that he couldn't live without him!

Yu'an...she's so pitiful!

When Consort Dong was alive, she was capricious and took pleasure in tormenting people. She herself almost lost the Crown Prince! She truly didn't sleep well for many nights. She completely neglected Yu'an. Yu'an lived a life worse than a servant!

I owe her, and the Emperor owes her!
These past events, buried deep in her heart, fermented. Furthermore, after securing her position as Empress, having endured hardship and achieved her dream, she must have become a little arrogant, right? She even encouraged the Emperor to grant her a marriage.

But who would have thought that bastard Dongfang would run away on their wedding day...

The emperor was so enraged he was practically fuming! Li Jing jumped in to stop him, preventing the emperor from issuing an edict to hunt him down!

This person is so embarrassing!

The Empress's eyes were deep and thoughtful. She was meticulous, patient, and adept at planning. She was never one to back down from a task, and once she did, she had no regrets. But this was the only matter…

Hopefully, this one incident won't cause serious problems for the whole body...

There will be another chapter later.

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(End of this chapter)