The villain prince is three and a half years old

She was not fully awake, so how could she have the energy to do morning exercises? She did not study seriously and was immediately scolded by the two old ladies.

She remembered her mother, Concubine Wan's advice that Empress Dowager You liked naughty children, so she scolded the two old ladies and punched each of them twice.

Then she knew what stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat was. The soft bamboo hit her buttocks and it hurt a lot.

After completing her morning exercises, the palace maid brought her breakfast. The cakes and fruits were things she didn't have in Linxi Palace. Her wounded heart felt somewhat comforted, but she had just eaten three large pieces when the cakes and fruit plate were taken away.

The two old ladies told her that there was something wrong with her body shape and she needed to control her diet and stop eating.

Even in Linxi Palace, she had never been hungry!

She ran towards the palace maid who was removing the cakes, knocked her down, picked up the cakes, and ate them while running.

The two old ladies chased after her, and after catching up with her, they beat her with a ruler and said they would deduct her lunch!

She felt that this was not the fairyland her mother had described, but the devilish land in the storybook!

Fortunately, they were just talking. The lunch was delicious, but the portion was a little small and she couldn't eat enough.

"Alright," the old maid who was teaching stood up, "Today's lessons are over. Princess, please don't slack off after class."

It is impossible not to slack off.

Ning Zhuzhu finally had a full dinner and ate to her heart's content. The palace maids muttered that she ate twice as much as the Ninth Prince.

She took it as a compliment.

Before she could feel proud, the two old ladies came back from their meal and began to criticize her words and deeds and teach her the etiquette of the palace.

Xia Jing overestimated Ning Zhuzhu. Before the day was even over, the girl could no longer bear it. She ran out of the Cining Palace, crying and shouting that she wanted to go back to Linxi Palace.

Yuhe reported this to Empress Dowager You, who took a sip of tea and said, "Don't worry about it. Let her be."

Wanpin was imagining the future in the room when she suddenly saw her daughter come back. She was shocked. After asking about the situation, she took Ning Zhuzhu to the Cining Palace.

Chapter 206 A Carrot (Two in One)

After the morning court session, Emperor Kangning had a bowl of lotus seed soup and was in a good mood.

The government was stable and the people were at peace, so it was rare that no trouble came to him.

The eastern and western borders were also very stable. There were some minor frictions in the northern border, and Xiao Jida in the southern border had just resolved a small-scale conflict and won a great victory.

"If it continues like this, it will only take ten years, no, only five years, for the national treasury to be full." Emperor Kangning stood up and sighed as he looked at the crystal ball with wheat ears on the shelf.

Xu Zhongde cleaned the table, handed the empty bowl to the eunuch to take away, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and came behind Emperor Kangning.

"Your Majesty has worked hard day and night and has finally cleared up the accumulated malpractices in the court and the country. The future will surely be a prosperous era." Xu Zhongde flattered in a low voice.

Emperor Kangning was very pleased with these words. He did not consider himself a clever emperor. During the previous emperor's time, he had been an ordinary prince. However, he considered himself a hardworking emperor. Except on holidays, he did not watch plays or visit gardens. He stayed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation all day, reviewing memorials.

Xu Zhongde was boasting about his accomplishments.

If it were just this kind of praise, some old eunuchs could do it, but what Xu Zhongde was best at was saying things that other old eunuchs dared not say.

Emperor Kangning mentioned that the treasury was full, but a full treasury was never the result, and Emperor Kangning was not a miser.

Xu Zhongde added, "Five years from now, General Xiao and General Qin will be able to march west to conquer Qi and north to defeat the Xiongnu. The whole world will be unified, right now!"

Emperor Kangning's eyes were filled with joy, but his expression darkened. "Nonsense! The people are living and working peacefully, how can we add to the war?"

Xu Zhongde immediately knelt down and apologized.

"Get up, don't say that anymore." Emperor Kangning stroked his beard.

Although Emperor Kangning agreed with Xu Zhongde's words, the current cabinet team consisted of people from literary families who were opposed to foreign wars, and he could not let them know that he was planning to go to war.

After five years, when a new group of main combat teams join the cabinet, we can start the war.

Emperor Kangning moved the crystal ball with wheat ears away and looked at the map of seven countries below, with ambitions rising in his heart.

However, he also knew that he would probably not be able to accomplish the unification of the seven countries by himself.

It will take the efforts of several generations.

Thinking of this, his face darkened.

"A prosperous era is only possible with a wise ruler. The foundation our ancestors worked so hard to build will always be ruined by some bastards!"

Xu Zhongde lowered his head and did not dare to respond. It seemed like he was calling on the prince.

This topic could not be continued, so Xu Zhongde handed over the tea.

After Emperor Kangning calmed down, he brought up a new topic: "Something happened in the Cining Palace yesterday."

"Oh, what happened? What did the Ninth Princess do?" asked Emperor Kangning.

This is Xu Zhongde’s main job. Emperor Kangning needs to know about the affairs in the harem through him.

Xu Zhongde recounted what happened last night: "...The Ninth Princess refused to obey the Empress Dowager's discipline, injured several servants, and fled back to Linxi Palace."

"What did Concubine Wan say?" Emperor Kangning frowned.

"Princess Wan took the Ninth Princess to the Cining Palace. It's said that she felt the Empress Dowager's arrangement was inappropriate, as the Ninth Princess was still young."

Xu Zhongde finished speaking and handed over a piece of paper: "This is the princess's schedule made by the Cining Palace."

Emperor Kangning took a look at it and said happily, "Isn't this the eldest princess's childhood schedule? The eldest princess can do it, but the ninth princess can't?"

Xu Zhongde didn't dare to answer.

Emperor Kangning glanced at the schedule again and pondered for a moment. "Jun'er is incredibly talented and has made many achievements in Beizhen. An ordinary princess can't compare to her. This schedule is a bit demanding for the Ninth Princess. Why did the Queen Mother choose the Ninth Princess?"

Xu Zhongde replied, "It wasn't the Empress Dowager who asked for the Ninth Princess. It was Concubine Wan who took the initiative to send the Ninth Princess to the Cining Palace."

Emperor Kangning frowned again and said sternly, "Since you took the initiative to send it, why are you criticizing me now? Besides, it's fine if you can't complete the schedule, but why did you hit me? You're so lazy and vicious at such a young age!"

He slammed the table and said to Xu Zhongde, "Go to Linxi Palace and tell Concubine Wan everything I said!"

"Yes!" Xu Zhongde agreed.

Emperor Kangning added, "It's rare for the Queen Mother to want a princess. We can't spoil her mood. Let the Queen choose one that the Queen Mother likes and send her over."

Xu Zhongde agreed again.

He didn't leave immediately because there was one thing he didn't ask.

Glancing at the ice basin beside him, he asked, "Your Majesty, the temperature has been rising recently. Are you moving to the Mountain Resort this year?"

The imperial palace's numerous high walls, coupled with its location in the heart of the capital, made the summer heat intense. During the reign of the previous emperor, the emperor would move to the Mountain Resort every year. Located in the mountains outside the capital, the resort enjoyed a lower temperature than the imperial palace.

This is the difference between being scorched to death and being bearable.

Emperor Kangning hesitated.

There is a big problem in going to the Mountain Resort - the morning court cannot be held.

Memorials could be sent to the Mountain Resort, but ministers could not move there. The Mountain Resort was not far from the capital, but one day was only enough for a round trip.

He thought about the recent stable situation and how bustling the imperial study would be in a while, and made a decision.

"We'll go there at the end of the month, and have the cabinet ministers accompany us," Emperor Kangning said. "The Crown Prince...will stay in the palace to oversee the capital's affairs. The Third Prince and the younger princes in the Upper and Southern Studies will all be brought with them, but the concubines won't be brought along. Also, ask the Empress Dowager if she wants to go."

"Yes." Xu Zhongde agreed and left the imperial study.

On the way out of the Yangxin Palace, Xu Zhongde's heart was beating wildly.

He thought that the emperor brought the cabinet ministers with him so that they could discuss matters when reviewing memorials, and leaving the prince in the capital to handle ordinary affairs was also a routine arrangement. It was even more appropriate to ask the empress dowager whether she wanted to go. It was a bit unreasonable not to bring concubines with him, but considering that the emperor was cultivating himself and not interested in women, it was also normal.

Only one thing is abnormal.

Why bring the princes? Why bring the little princes?

During the previous emperor's time, he always took the concubines with him, and took the little princes with him. The little princes would definitely make a fuss without the concubines, so why did the emperor take them with him regardless of this commotion?

Combined with Emperor Kangning's recent dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince, Xu Zhongde felt that he had grasped a big secret.

This trip to the Mountain Resort is very important, and I need to remind the Ninth Prince.

After leaving the Yangxin Palace, he thought again: Emperor Kangning was suspicious by nature. If he told the Ninth Prince, the Ninth Prince would reveal his flaws...

He shook his head, laughing at himself for asking for trouble. With the Ninth Prince's intelligence, if the Emperor had such intentions, how could he not notice it? He didn't need to remind him at all.

He selected a few eunuchs and went to Linxi Palace first.

As the intelligence chief in the harem, Xu Zhongde knew very well the real goal of Empress Dowager You. Concubine Wan was just making things difficult for herself.

When he stepped into the courtyard of Linxi Palace, Concubine Wan was already waiting there.

"Why is Eunuch Xu here?" Concubine Wan gave a wink, and the palace maids on both sides immediately came forward and handed fruits to Xu Zhongde and the eunuchs.

"I came here to convey the emperor's oral instructions." Xu Zhongde ignored the palace maid and repeated Emperor Kangning's words in a stern voice.

Wanpin's face turned pale and she was trembling all over. She had Ning Zhuzhu brought over and beat her twice in front of Xu Zhongde.

Xu Zhongde sneered inwardly. He could see clearly that although Wanpin's movements seemed to be strong, when she reached Ning Zhuzhu, she reduced her strength and hit only the least painful areas.

This woman is so bold that she even dares to be perfunctory even after being reprimanded by the emperor.

Wanpin ordered the maid to hand over some silver. Xu Zhongde accepted it and said a few more words: "The Empress Dowager's meaning is the Emperor's. The Emperor ordered me to go find the Empress and choose a princess who can satisfy the Empress Dowager. Only then can this matter be put to rest."

The previous sentence is not important, what is important is the sentence "this matter is now over". If it is not over, then of course Wanpin must be held accountable.

If it were for other concubines, Xu Zhongde would have said the last sentence in vain, but for Wanpin, only by saying this would she understand. Only then could she take the initiative to send Ning Shuang'er, thus saving Empress Dowager You the trouble.

Xu Zhongde left Linxi Palace, and Concubine Wan hurried to Yihe Palace to discuss with Concubine Rou.

Empress Dowager You has kept a low profile for a long time. Concubine Wan never expected that Emperor Kangning would attach so much importance to that old lady!

In the Yihe Palace, Concubine Rou had already learned about this and was cursing Ning Zhuzhu as a waste in the room.

How could she not know that the Empress Dowager was strict? She had deliberately not told Wanpin in order to allow Ning Zhuzhu to pass through and establish a connection with the Cining Palace. She thought that although the Empress Dowager was strict, she would not really do anything to the princess. The eldest princess had a very good childhood.

I didn't expect Ning Zhuzhu to use it to this extent! She couldn't even last a day!

Ning Sisi and Ning Gaoxiang were also in the room. Ning Sisi listened without saying anything, while Ning Gaoxiang followed his mother in cursing.

Before this, Concubine Rou and Ning Gaoxiang had imagined their life behind the Cining Palace, but their imagination suddenly came to nothing, and both mother and son were very angry.

"The question is which princess to give to the Queen Mother." Concubine Rou sighed as she sat on the armchair.

"Didn't you say to let the Queen take care of it?" Ning Gaoxiang's words were not respectful. He was equally hostile to anyone who was above him in status.

"I took over this matter from the Queen a while ago. If anything goes wrong, the Queen will only find trouble with me." Concubine Rou rubbed her forehead. "I need to find a princess, and the concubine who raised the princess must agree."

Ning Sisi didn't understand the tug-of-war, but seeing Concubine Rou's expression, she knew the seriousness of the matter. She thought for a moment and took a step forward.

"If mother is in trouble, I am willing to go." Ning Sisi gritted her teeth.

"Yes, let my sister go!" Ning Gaoxiang said excitedly. Wouldn't it be better to let Ning Sisi go than Ning Zhuzhu? By then, everything in the Cining Palace would be hers!

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Concubine Rou hit Ning Gaoxiang's head hard.

Ning Gaoxiang covered his head and looked at Concubine Rou in confusion.

Concubine Rou pulled Ning Sisi over and rubbed her head: "Don't worry, if Ning Zhuzhu can't do it, there is still Ning Shuang'er. Even if Ning Shuang'er is gone, it won't be our Sisi's turn to suffer."

She glared at Ning Gaoxiang again: "Who is the Queen Mother? Can your sister live well under her rule?"

Ning Gaoxiang muttered, "You just said that the eldest princess is living a good life."

Concubine Rou sneered, "Yes, she learned a lot of men's things and married directly to the Xiongnu. It's a desolate place, with no food to eat, and she can only eat the sheep and horses!"

She looked at Ning Sisi again and smiled gently: "Our Sisi is going to marry a nobleman from a wealthy family."

Ning Sisi looked at Concubine Rou, with both emotion and struggle in her eyes.

She had known for a long time that her mother was not a good person, but her mother treated her sincerely.

"Empress, Concubine Wan is here." The palace maid shouted through the door.

"Okay, you guys go out now. Let Ning Shuang'er go to the Cining Palace. It's a pity that Ning Shuang'er and Wanpin have no feelings for each other. Well, it's a good thing for her." Concubine Rou pushed the two children.

Walking out of the main hall, Ning Gaoxiang glanced at Ning Sisi, snorted, and walked towards his room.

He still felt that it would be better for Ning Sisi to go to the Cining Palace.

Ning Sisi lowered her head and turned to the back corner of the yard, where there was a small shed. Inside the shed was General Gray Rabbit Stone, who was named by Emperor Kang Ning himself.

When the gray rabbit saw Ning Sisi, it immediately jumped out of the house and jumped into her arms.

The girl hugged the stone general and stroked its back.

If Xia Jing were here, she would be very surprised. The gray rabbit is a wild rabbit, which is very alert and sensitive and difficult to tame. The girl can be so close to the gray rabbit, so she must be very gentle and friendly to it.

General Shi moved his nose, smelled the scent in the girl's sleeve, and nudged her arm with his head.