Chapter 226: Princess Yongning
As Mingyuan Emperor's only full sister, Princess Li Xi of Yongning naturally received extraordinary treatment. She not only had a title and a fiefdom, but also her own residence in Chang'an, which spanned a massive eight hundred mu.
At the time, the granting of the residence sparked heated debate among officials, with various remonstrances arising. They argued that even princely estates did not have such specifications, so how could a Princess be so extravagant?
However, the Emperor still overruled all objections and insisted on it.
"Do you mean that a Princess is not worthy of such specifications? Where do you place Mingyuan Emperor?"
"Moreover, Princess Yongning has dedicated herself to the nation. Have you all forgotten the events of yesteryear? Now, I wish to compensate her a little. Do I not even have this power?"
At the mention of "the events of yesteryear," the court instantly fell silent.
"Let it be so," the Emperor waved his hand weakly, making his final, unchallengeable decision.
Now, in this Princess's residence, built at immense cost to resemble an earthly paradise, a mother and son were enjoying a rare moment of closeness.
"Xuanning, are you full?" Princess asked, looking at Wen Xuanning with loving eyes.
Although the table was laden with various delicious dishes, parents always worried whether the food suited their taste, if there was enough, or if it might cause internal heat.
Wen Xuanning nodded, revealing a pure smile: "Mother, that's enough. Any more and I'll get fat."
His face was already handsome, and with that smile, he was even more endearing.
"What, now you're afraid of getting fat?" Princess chuckled, "Are you afraid your image as the capital's foremost Young Master will be ruined?"
Wen Xuanning didn't answer, rubbing the back of his head with an embarrassed expression, even his ears turning a little red.
Princess shook her head with a smile. It seemed this child had reached an age where he cared about his appearance. Before long, he might bring a girl home and say he wanted to marry her…
Thinking of this, she felt a pang of reluctance.
Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Princess pushed away the maid's helping hand and personally served Wen Xuanning a large bowl of soup. She brought it to him and advised, "Have another sip of soup. This is Jade Returning Ganoderma Soup. It replenishes Qi and blood and restores brainpower…"
Princess stopped herself abruptly, secretly regretting mentioning "brainpower." What if it reminded him of the recent Examination?
Fortunately, Wen Xuanning's expression remained unchanged. He obediently drank the soup clean, even pouting childishly, "Mother, I finished the soup. Am I not very good? Is there any reward?"
"Good boy, you truly are a good boy. As for a reward…" Princess thought seriously about what rare treasures in the Imperial Storage she could give her son, but many good ones had already been given, and there didn't seem to be much left.
"Mother, I was just teasing you. As long as Mother remains youthful and happy forever, that is the reward I desire most!"
"You child, your words are so sweet it's sickening." Princess complained verbally, but her heart bloomed with joy. Disregarding her son's age, she happily embraced him.
Inside the room, a warm and harmonious scene of motherly love and filial piety unfolded.
...
"Why don't you stay here tonight? It's so late, and it's tiring to go back to your father's place."
At the west side gate of the Princess's residence, Princess stood by the cloud sedan, reluctantly holding her son's hand. Wen Xuanning, however, felt a bit embarrassed, pulling his hand away and exclaiming, "Mother, I'm old now, don't be like this."
"Nonsense, no matter how old you are, you're still Mother's precious Ning'er." Princess rolled her eyes at him, gripping his hand tightly. "When you were little, you loved holding Mother's hand the most, always obediently following Mother."
Wen Xuanning shivered at the words "precious Ning'er," then stopped struggling, letting Princess hold his arm.
"Why don't you relax here with Mother tomorrow? Consider it keeping Mother company." Although Princess was getting on in years and was a mother, she still pouted and acted like a little girl towards her son.
"Son still has many things to do tomorrow. The Hall Examination is not long after the results are posted." Wen Xuanning shook his head and refused, "With such changes in this Examination, I don't know if the Hall Examination will remain the same. I still need to prepare in advance."
As he spoke, his voice gradually lowered, seemingly recalling something that made him feel a little downcast.
Princess guessed that Wen Xuanning must be thinking of today's setback and found it hard to persuade him further: "Your concerns are not wrong. This Hall Examination, according to… and Your Majesty's wishes, will be somewhat different."
Upon hearing this, Wen Xuanning's eyes widened in shock. His eyes, like black obsidian, reflected the divine light from the sky, appearing exceptionally bright. His long eyelashes fluttered, making Princess feel a wave of tenderness in her heart. She remembered when he was a lovely, fair-skinned baby, always running behind her.
With her heart softened, how could she bear to see her son suffer?
Princess saw Wen Xuanning's initial surprise turn into a dejected silence, and quickly comforted him: "It's fine, overall there isn't much change. It's just that besides the Hall Examination, there will also be a martial arts Examination and the Six Arts. This was a decision His Majesty made after much deliberation."
Princess recalled again: "They said it was to divide into different academies on the spot… I don't understand what that means. Don't they all enter the National Academy in the end?"
Wen Xuanning heard this, his eyes dimming slightly, then he raised a youthful, spirited smile: "Mother, don't worry, I will definitely get the Zhuangyuan this time!"
Princess looked at her son's face with great joy, gently stroking his hand. Suddenly, her hand felt something hard. She looked down and saw a ring on his left index finger.
"Oh, when did you start wearing a ring?" Princess stroked it again, observing its texture, which resembled both agate and black jade. Its style was very unique, and it even emanated a spiritual glow, as if she had seen it somewhere before.
"This… Grandfather gave it to me a few days before he passed away," Wen Xuanning said sadly.
Princess remembered Old Mr. Wen's recent death and knew her son was inevitably concerned. She sighed and gently patted his head: "No wonder it looked familiar. I happened to see it when I went to the Shoufu's residence back then."
"You remembered it after just a fleeting glance, Mother?"
"Have you forgotten what Mother did in the northern desert back then? No extraordinary stone of any kind could escape your Mother's Dharma Eye," Princess said with a smile, tapping Wen Xuanning's nose, speaking with considerable pride.
"Moreover, it wasn't just a fleeting glance. When your father and I were together, I often ran to the Shoufu's residence." As Princess spoke, she looked into the distance, seemingly lost in memories, feeling a mix of nostalgia, sweetness, and a touch of bitterness.
Wen Xuanning, of course, was well aware that the two were now estranged, never to interact again. In fact, from the beginning to the end of their relationship, his hand had been behind it.
However, his methods were extremely covert, and no one had been able to discern them to this day.
Sitting in the cloud sedan, Wen Xuanning caressed the black ring, unable to suppress the anger in his heart. He sneered, "I followed your instructions, completing each step, and reached this point. What's the result?"
Inside the cloud sedan, he was clearly alone, yet it was unclear to whom he was speaking.
After his words fell, there was only silence.
After a long while, an aged voice finally spoke: "You did not fully comply."
Listening closely, the voice actually came from the ring, as if an old man resided within it.
"What do you mean?"
"The problem lies with Jiang Cai Zhi."
Wen Xuanning pondered for a moment, then tapped the cloud sedan with his slender fingers, instructing the cloud sedan, which was flying towards the Shoufu's residence, to turn towards Jiang.
Although it was late and might disturb someone's sleep, he was in a bad mood, so why should that person named Jiang still be sleeping?
Who doesn't have a ring-dwelling elder, after all?