Chapter 42: Miscommunication

If you were to ask Wen Di where the best food and drink were, which girls had the softest waists, or where the best singing could be found, he could answer without hesitation.

Even if he were to storm the palace, the emperor might go easy on him for his father’s sake.

But Xitong County was far from the capital, and Wen Di had no backing.

Going into someone else’s territory alone to make a fuss was out of the question.

Wen Di resolutely refused to agree.

Li Ning’an had no choice but to play her trump card.

“You don’t want people saying you’re useless, do you?”

“Being useless isn’t so bad.”

“You have to achieve something to impress the Grand Tutor.”

“With my father’s hardworking nature, he won’t outlive my mother, and a few insults won’t cost him any flesh.”

Wen Di didn’t care; he was the only one without prospects, while the Grand Tutor’s family could stand for three generations at least.

The one who should truly worry was his grandson.

Li Ning’an was somewhat speechless; just moments ago, he had been so spirited.

How did he suddenly lie back and lose interest?

As she pondered, it hit her.

“Oh, so you’re using the excuse of saving me to go look for your little flings.”

Li Ning’an had thought that, given their ties through the Guozijian, Wen Di genuinely cared about her.

Turns out he was just thinking about his own pleasures.

Wen Di chuckled, showing no signs of being caught out.

“If you don’t want to see my father, I’ll relay the message for you.”

Wen Di remembered how Li Ning’an looked when she saw her father—like a mouse encountering a cat; she was quite obedient then.

He couldn’t care less about the fate of the old Inspector Ji.

But when Li Ning’an said the Jing Wang might really rebel, that was serious.

He should inform his father quickly.

One emperor, one set of officials.

The Grand Tutor’s household had always supported the Ninth Prince, Li Ning Zhao.

He was the queen’s legitimate son and was meant to inherit the throne.

Once he ascended, he would undoubtedly show some kindness to the Grand Tutor, who had once guided him.

But if the Jing Wang succeeded in rebelling, the Wen clan might not be spared.

After all, he was far away in Xitong County; he would promote those who fought alongside him.

The capital would inevitably undergo a shake-up.

Rebel subjects were something his father would never tolerate.

When the time came to confront the Jing Wang, it would be the officials who would pay the price.

Li Ning’an couldn’t help but scrutinize Wen Di, who still looked laid-back and indifferent.

Perhaps he had been standing in the wind too long, as his face was slightly flushed. He rubbed his hands together and brought over a cup of tea, sipping it slowly.

Wen Di remembered that Li Ning’an never cared about these matters; her heart was always with men.

In the past, it had been Yan Ziqi, always chattering beside him.

Then it was Fu Minglang, sending pastries, money, and contracts.

Now, she was clinging to Yan Ziqi once more.

He heard she sent him a letter every day at the border, full of tender sentiments, but Yan Ziqi had yet to respond.

“Could it be you’re not really Li Ning’an?”

Wen Di’s voice of doubt reached Li Ning’an’s ears.

In truth, she wasn’t exactly Li Ning’an.

She was the future Li Ning’an.

Li Ning’an didn’t want to reveal the secret of her rebirth to Wen Di.

Since he didn’t want to help, she had no choice but to tell him everything she knew that she could share, so he could relay it.

Then, Li Ning’an hurried back. When the guards of the Imperial Army saw her, one asked curiously, “What about the things you were supposed to buy?”

Li Ning’an kept her head down, still speaking in a hoarse voice: “I was late, and I have to report back to Qian Shangshi about what soup to prepare for His Majesty tomorrow.”

The guards, feeling a hint of sympathy, let her go.

“Being a palace maid is pitiful; she’ll probably get scolded when she returns.”

Li Ning’an quickly returned to Chang Le Palace, and the captain of the guards directly allowed her inside.

Once she was out of earshot, one guard asked the captain.

“Isn’t that Princess Ning’an? Captain, how did you…”

Just like that, she went out and then came back.

The captain of the guards clicked his tongue, “This is why you can’t be the captain while I am your superior.”

With the clumsy acting of Xing’e, how could he not see through it?

Even if he didn’t understand it at first, he surely realized something was off when Hongxiu didn’t return.

After Li Ning’an disguised herself as Hongxiu and left, she had not come back.

The captain of the guards couldn’t linger inside for long, so he returned to his post at the entrance of Chang Le Palace.

Before long, Xing’e came out, her expression somewhat unnatural. “The princess is fine, but Hongxiu…”

“She hasn’t returned yet; perhaps her night blindness is acting up. Don’t worry about her.”

Xing’e quickly turned and ran back inside, fearing the captain might ask more questions.

The captain had never heard of Hongxiu suffering from night blindness.

This was enough to raise suspicion.

Moreover, upon entering, he noticed Hongxiu standing at the door with her head down, which seemed inappropriate.

Her demeanor was anything but that of a palace maid.

But some things needed to be ignored.

The guard nodded blankly; he still had much to learn from the captain.

In the Imperial Army, there was one captain for every twenty guards, one company leader for fifty, a lieutenant for a hundred, and a colonel for a thousand.

The commander of the Imperial Army was in charge of everything, primarily serving in the Qian Kun Palace alongside the emperor.

Today’s captain responsible for Princess Ning’an was named Yuan Ze, twenty-one years old, at a good age for rising through the ranks.

He had joined the Imperial Army two years ago, and his mentor was a lieutenant who had taught Princess Ning’an for many years.

Unfortunately, this lieutenant had fallen ill and retired to his hometown last year.

Previously, it was this lieutenant who had accompanied Princess Ning’an as her guard, and now it was Yuan Ze.

The commander had transferred him over, hoping that Yuan Ze’s familiarity with the princess would help.

Little did they know that this familiarity had allowed the princess to slip out of the palace.

Yuan Ze had brought only his most trusted brothers with him to Chang Le Palace.

Only then was he bold enough to let Princess Ning’an go out.

If anything went wrong, it would be Xing’e’s fault for misleading him.

After all, she was the one who suggested that Hongxiu go out to find a doctor.

Concubine Tong Xian had been too preoccupied with the Ji family’s relentless pursuit of Princess Ning’an to pay much attention to Chang Le Palace.

With the queen’s mood worsening by the day, even the daily affairs of the harem had been delegated to them.

Who knows, perhaps it was truly Princess Ning’an’s fate that had come.

It was a pity that Ji Jian had not died.

Had he truly died, Ning’an would have faced even more blame.

Under the pressure of it all, the emperor could not protect her.

With the queen losing two sons in a row, not having Ning’an around could potentially break her.

After Li Ning’an left, Wen Di insisted on climbing the wall to help her, ultimately provoking his father.

He knelt in the center of the hall, his father glaring at him with anger.

“What more do you want to do to turn the Grand Tutor’s residence upside down before you are satisfied?”

Madam Wen naturally followed along; she didn’t think Wen Di had feelings for Princess Ning’an.

If he truly liked her, he would have already made a move.

Their friendship had merely developed during their time at the Guozijian.

But that didn’t warrant the household going to bat for Princess Ning’an.

“My son, you should know about the Duke of Dingguo’s household. The duke merely spoke a word in support of Princess Ning’an, and…”

Wen Di, confined at home for several days, was quite unaware of the outside happenings. “And what?”

Madam Wen noticed her husband remained silent, which meant he tacitly agreed to let her inform Wen Di.

“Someone stopped the Duke of Dingguo’s carriage on the street, questioning why he was helping a murderer.”

The Ji family had always been known for championing the people.

The citizens of the capital praised the Ji family highly.

Upon learning that the old Inspector Ji had encountered trouble, many wanted to visit but were blocked at the door.

Numerous people went to the temple to pray for the old inspector’s safety.

“Don’t cause a scene; don’t risk everything for Princess Ning’an.”

The Grand Tutor only wanted to see the great Qi thrive in peace during his lifetime.

He had thought that with Young Master Yan heading to Northern Yue and bringing back good news, the external threat had been resolved.

Little did he know, internal troubles were arising again.

All because of Princess Ning’an.

The Grand Tutor had taught Princess Ning’an and knew she could be willful at times, but she would never act recklessly.

Wen Di was making a fuss, not just to get scolded.

He immediately shared what had happened with Li Ning’an.

“This matter… the Ji family hasn’t sent anyone to speak up,” the Grand Tutor said, confusion rising in his eyes.