Chapter 524: Chapter 523: 523: Must Go

Gucheng glanced at her.

Jiang Ning said, “If you want to know, just ask. What are you looking at?”

Gucheng quietly walked behind her.

Jiang Ning knew that she couldn’t wait for his question anymore, so she took the initiative to explain: “Because the Emperor is not in his sleeping chamber at the moment, he went to the Splendid Palace.”

Gucheng gave a soft grunt as a response.

“As a good conversation partner, at this moment, you should ask me why I know that the Emperor is in the Splendid Palace.” Jiang Ning gently guided.

Gucheng remained quiet.

Just when Jiang Ning thought that he would no longer speak, he suddenly said, “I want to.”

Jiang Ning clapped: “Right, because the Emperor missed Concubine Jin, that’s why he saw the mooncakes I sent and summoned me.”

Gucheng grunted again.

“You are quite cunning.” At the turn of the corner ahead, a cold voice suddenly came.

Jiang Ning was startled, and upon careful identification, she found it was Li Hongyuan, who wore a red robe.

He walked around a cluster of flower trees, coming through the flowering willows with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, looking at Jiang Ning, “You’ve used all your little cleverness to calculate people.”

“I am just being filial.” Jiang Ning didn’t pay respects to him.

Li Hongyuan didn’t mind.

If she offered him her respects courteously at some point, that would mean there was a problem.

“Mu Jian certainly complained about you quickly.” Jiang Ning’s words were not without sarcasm.

“What, do you think a mooncake can buy my Right Imperial Guards General?” Li Hongyuan took a few strides to her front, “I told you to stay in the East Palace honestly. Why didn’t you listen?”

“The Emperor summoned me. I can’t disobey the Imperial Edict.”

“If you hadn’t deliberately sent mooncakes to the Splendid Palace…”

“Today is the Mid-Autumn Reunion Festival. I had someone send some mooncakes to express my longing for Concubine Jin. What’s wrong with that?” Jiang Ning interrupted him.

“Jiang Ning, both you and I know your thoughts on this.” Li Hongyuan’s face suddenly darkened, “Go back.”

“Your Highness, are you going to refuse the Emperor’s edict?” Jiang Ning didn’t retreat half a step, “Li Hongyuan, our Emperor still lives well. You are just a regent now. Don’t overdo things, or it will not end well when the Emperor hears of this.”

“You must go?”

“Why can’t I go?”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“I have Gucheng, and I don’t need your protection! You better go take care of your state affairs and your Concubine Li. Gucheng, let’s go.” Jiang Ning pushed him away and left.

Li Hongyuan frowned, but didn’t stop her anymore.

Gucheng, who was always by this woman’s side, was an expert.

Even he himself might not be able to win for sure.

Truly a thorny existence.

Li Hongyuan shook his head and said to Mu Jian, who was standing not far away, “Forget it, you go back to the East Palace.”

“What about Your Highness?”

“I still have some memorials to read.”

“Aren’t you going to pay tribute to Concubine Jin, Your Highness?”

“No.”

“Your Highness, dealing with state affairs is not as urgent at this moment.” Mu Jian advised.

Li Hongyuan glanced at him, “Is it your turn to interfere with my affairs?”

Mu Jian bowed his head, “Your subordinate wouldn’t dare.”

“Go ahead.” Li Hongyuan waved his hand, “I don’t want to see any edicts being sent to the East Palace without my consent in the future.”

“Your subordinate understands.”

After Mu Jian left, Li Hongyuan looked towards the direction of Splendid Palace for a while.

At this time, Jiang Ning had already arrived at the Splendid Palace.

As expected, the Emperor was sitting in the courtyard with only an old, decrepit Eunuch attending to him. The full moon in the sky seemed to be covered with a layer of mist.

There was a sense of lonely desolation.