Chapter 24: The Prince is a Woman 24

“Your Majesty, please allow Heir Apparent Ning to stay,” Hou Rongfa said with a smile. Nothing could be read from his face, yet he felt a flicker of worry in his heart.

He hoped that Heir Apparent Ning would be tactful enough in a moment and not provoke His Majesty's anger.

Heir Apparent Ning had so many ties; once he became loathed by His Majesty, the people he had offended in the past would likely take the opportunity to tear the Prince Ning Mansion apart.

If that happened, the young ladies of the Prince Ning Mansion, who had only just begun to enjoy a better life, would suffer along with him.

“People from the Prince Ning Mansion are waiting outside the palace; Eldest Sister can just return with them,” A-Zhen said. “Regarding the Duke of Anguo's compensation and Eldest Sister's dowry, Qingzhu and Ying Fang will negotiate with the Duke of Anguo's household. There is no need to worry.”

Ning Yulan left with peace of mind, not feeling that A-Zhen staying in the imperial palace would cause any issues.

From previous events, it was clear that His Majesty was a man of clear principles; if he asked A-Zhen to stay, he must have some instructions for her.

The crowd dispersed, leaving only A-Zhen.

Hou Rongfa stepped forward: “Please follow this servant, Heir Apparent Ning.”

A-Zhen nodded slightly and followed.

After walking for quite a while, Hou Rongfa suddenly spoke: “It is truly rare to see Heir Apparent Ning care so much for his sisters.”

“Not really. There are many people who care for their siblings; it’s just that I express it more obviously. Besides, many people have their own helplessness and many concerns. As for me, I have no reservations other than them,” A-Zhen said.

Her task was to care for them, without having to consider anything else.

For a moment, Hou Rongfa did not know how to respond; the answer was too pure.

He had followed His Majesty since he was very young and had seen all manner of things, yet this was the first time he had met someone like Heir Apparent Ning.

“As long as the Prince Ning Mansion exists, Heir Apparent Ning need not worry about anything.”

A-Zhen said: “Is it not because I am here?”

Hou Rongfa: “...”

A bit arrogant.

But it was also logical.

“Yes,” Hou Rongfa’s smile remained unchanged as he leaned in slightly, “That is also because you are stronger than them. If you do not want to be bullied, you cannot be weak. And as for how to maintain your own strength...”

A-Zhen looked at Hou Rongfa earnestly, waiting for him to continue.

Being stared at like this, Hou Rongfa suddenly felt a great deal of pressure.

This person clearly was not simple; why did he have the illusion that he was coaxing a young master?

For the sake of His Majesty's wishes being fulfilled smoothly, he gritted his teeth and said: “Be loyal to His Majesty.”

“In this vast world, being in Northern Xia, loyalty to His Majesty is the only righteous path.”

A-Zhen’s eyes carried a hint of a smile. She found this old eunuch quite interesting, actually speaking for *that person* in a roundabout way. Here, that person was the Emperor; he could have anything he desired. Why was this old eunuch so worried?

He must know something.

A-Zhen did not answer and quickened her pace.

Hou Rongfa did not know if she had understood, so he did not dare say more and hurried to catch up.

Finally arriving at Ye Ji's sleeping quarters, Hou Rongfa stood at the door. He watched A-Zhen enter, then closed the door himself and dismissed the others. He stood guard at the door, occasionally wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

He was truly worried.

This was his first time doing something like this.

He wondered if the books he had collected for His Majesty had actually been read.

A-Zhen stepped into the sleeping quarters. The room was empty, as if no one were there; indeed, there was no sign of anyone within her sight.

But the moment she entered, she heard a heavy breath. As she walked further in, the breathing grew heavier.

“Your Majesty,” A-Zhen called out, looking toward the position of a certain screen. “Ning Zhen has indeed arrived. I wonder what business His Majesty has in summoning this lowly official?”

Behind the screen, Ye Ji clenched his fists.

He knew the person had arrived; it wasn't that he couldn't hear.

Though the person was here, Ye Ji did not dare step out for a moment. He stood behind the screen, able to vaguely see a silhouette through it. His gaze was deep, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

A-Zhen was in no hurry. When no one answered her call, she stopped speaking.

Ye Ji stared fiercely at the silhouette through the screen, his mind racing.

Today, he must not let this person leave the palace even half a step.

Then he quickly thought: would that scare them?

Having grown accustomed to the other's obedient, confident, and even arrogant side, he dared not imagine what kind of expression of despair and hatred would appear on their face. At the thought of this, his heart felt heavy and stifled.

But today was a hard-won opportunity. He had already made up his mind; if he let them go just like this...

He would not be reconciled.

Since Ning Zhen no longer distinguished between men and women, they could likely accept a man.

However, the person he had set his sights on could not touch anyone else. The past could be left in the past, but once they followed him, they could not think of others. As long as Ning Zhen was obedient, he would forget their past.

“Is Your Majesty asleep?” A-Zhen asked again, pretending not to hear the increasingly heavy breathing behind the screen.

“In that case, this lowly official shall take his leave...”

Seeing that the person was about to leave, how could Ye Ji sit still? He shouted, “Stop!”

He strode out, and the moment he saw A-Zhen, he pulled back the panic from his face. He walked over with a cold expression, reaching her in a few steps.

It was the first time the two were so close, and Ye Ji realized that this person was even smaller and thinner than he had imagined.

Thinking that the other person had failed to grow tall because their body had been compromised due to their lack of distinction between genders, he felt extremely displeased.

He gritted his teeth. It would be best if Ning Zhen did not provoke anyone else in the future. As long as they were obedient, he would not hold those things against them; he would have the best imperial physicians treat them.

At this moment, he forgot that A-Zhen had powerful doctors by her side.

“Ning Zhen.”

A-Zhen put on an obedient and honest appearance: “Your Majesty.”

Ye Ji's dark gaze clung to her. They were too close; it was the first time they had been this close. If he weren't afraid of being too sudden, he would have grabbed them directly. He had replayed many actions in his mind over and over: “I heard you do not distinguish between men and women?”

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart.

No rush. Since they were already here, he would take his time.

He did not want to force this person; mutual consent was what he desired.

Since this person was fine with both men and women, as long as they were willing to stay by his side, he could give them what no one else could. After all, he was the Son of Heaven; who in this world could compare to him?

A-Zhen blinked. Who told them that?

That old eunuch?

Rumors.

“Ning Zhen.” Ye Ji suddenly reached out to pinch A-Zhen's chin, leaning in even closer until their eyes met.

One gaze was clean and innocent, carrying a hint of confusion; the other was deep and dark, seemingly bottomless, yet upon closer inspection, one could still see a volcano hidden beneath the dark pool, ready to erupt at any moment.

“From now on, stay by my side. You are not allowed to seek out those people again. I can give you everything you want.”

“Power, wealth, and glory—I have it all.”

He had only two requirements: agree to him, and cut all ties with those people from the past!

The person in front of him did not speak. Ye Ji felt both angry and anxious, yet he could only wait.

If Ning Zhen did not agree, would he have to lock them up? Where would be a good place?

He did not want to imprison Ning Zhen.

But what if they refused?

Ever since he learned that there were people around Ning Zhen, he had been unable to tolerate it.

“What, is it so difficult for you to choose between me and those low-life things?” Ye Ji grew angry. He did not let go of A-Zhen's chin, pinching it somewhat tightly, though he controlled himself from using too much force.

His other hand was clenched into a fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.

A-Zhen's gaze returned to focus, and she looked at the person before her again with a serious expression: “This lowly official was merely thinking about who would be on top and who would be on the bottom. How can anyone in this world compare to Your Majesty? To have Your Majesty alone is better than everything else.”

Ye Ji's hand loosened, and his mind went blank from those words.

The busy 997 returned just in time to hear this sentence.

Could someone tell him what was going on?

Hehehe... *rubs hands*

(End of Chapter)