freenovelworld Chapter 691: Adopting a Prince
Chapter 691: Adopting a Prince
"Huan'er, I know your suffering, and I wish I could take your place."
"If I had returned earlier, you wouldn't have to endure so much hardship in the palace."
"No matter how wrong it is, it's all my fault."
Prince Guo held Zhen Huan's head in his hands, his eyes filled with deep affection that almost overflowed.
"Huan'er, do you still remember the promise I made before we went to Yunnan and Tibet? It's still valid today. As long as you nod, I will take you away even if it means risking my life!"
Zhen Huan smiled bitterly and shook her head, gesturing quickly with her hands.
"Yunli, we can't go back. Something big happened in the west side hall in the backyard of Zhongcui Palace. The palace is under martial law. Any disturbance will be detected."
After a loud noise was heard in Zhongcui Palace, Zhen Huan noticed the emperor's control over the harem.
With just one sentence, Xiao Xia Zi withdrew most of the staff in her palace.
These people were all sent by the Imperial Household Department, and it was obvious whether any of them were the emperor's doing.
Zhen Huan was afraid that Yun Li would do something stupid, so she forced herself to push him away.
"Your Majesty, since I have chosen to return to the palace, I will never leave again. Don't mention this again. I am tired, you...you..."
Her hands were shaking, and she could no longer gesture the next words.
Yunli loves her deeply, and she must not harm him.
If the emperor knew that Yunli had secretly entered the harem to meet him during the period of mourning, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Xiao Shiyi unfortunately passed away, but she still had their daughter Lingxi to take care of.
Prince Guo grabbed Zhen Huan's hand and said with heartache.
"Huan'er, I know you can't bear to leave Longyue and Lingxi. Don't worry, as long as you don't agree, I will never force you."
"If you ever figure it out, be sure to tell me. But there's one thing I need you to promise me."
He paused and continued.
"Miss Bai Zhi, who was loyal to you, has had an accident, and you don't have anyone available right now. I have a few palace maids who served me in the past who are of good character. I will find a way to send them to you, and I hope you won't refuse."
"Having them by your side will make me feel more at ease. When you have trained your own people, you can find a way to get rid of them."
Zhen Huan nodded gratefully, tears flickering in her eyes.
"Your Majesty, do you know the whereabouts of my sister Yu Rao?"
She gestured several times before Prince Guo understood.
Prince Guo shook his head in embarrassment, his mood instantly falling.
When Zhen Yurao first arrived at Ganlu Temple, he created an encounter and won her favor while she was in a low mood.
Not long after, under his guidance, Zhen Yurao asked to go to Lingyun Peak for cultivation.
Prince Guo asked a doctor to cure the scars and dark spots on her face. The girl looked exactly like the old friend in his memory, and she captivated him at first sight.
With his repeated gestures of goodwill, the two of them left countless footprints and laughter in the rarely visited mountains.
They meet in the spring when everything comes back to life, to enjoy the emerald green of the mountains; in the hot summer, to escape the heat on the top of the mountain; in the autumn, to pick mountain berries and make wine together; in the winter, to make tea around the fire and enjoy the snow falling from the sky.
Unfortunately, when he returned to Lingyun Peak again, the beauty he had an appointment with had disappeared.
When Zhen Huan sent someone to deliver the letter to him, Prince Guo had already personally led people to search the area around Lingyun Peak, but still failed to find the whereabouts of his beloved.
Prince Guo felt indescribably frustrated as he was unable to find Zhen Yurao for a long time.
Perhaps only by sitting in that seat can he find the girl who makes his heart beat again.
Prince Guo was afraid that Zhen Huan would notice something was wrong with him, so he quickly hugged her in his arms.
"Huan'er, I'm sorry. If I hadn't been wandering outside the capital, I wouldn't have been unable to find a girl."
Zhen Huan covered Prince Guo's mouth with red eyes. She understood Yunli's difficulties.
If Yunli does not stay away from the capital, his life will be in danger.
Zhen Huan slowly loosened her hand and pointed outside, signaling Prince Guo to leave as soon as possible.
Everything her family had suffered was caused by the emperor, and this time she would never leave the palace again no matter what.
I just hope Yunli can find a girl who truly loves him and live a happy life with her.
As for herself, she was probably destined to be trapped in this suffocating palace.
"Huan'er, I..."
Zhen Huan hardened her heart and pushed the man out of the bedroom with all her strength.
Just now, there was an inconspicuous sound of birds singing outside the house. It was A Jin reminding him to evacuate.
Prince Guo walked out under Zhen Huan's force, his face full of reluctance and helplessness.
He held Zhen Huan's hand tightly and whispered instructions.
"Huan'er, I understand your difficulties and respect your choice. But you must remember, if you ever need me, you must send me a message."
The tears that Zhen Huan had been holding back finally fell. She nodded heavily and continued to push the person out reluctantly.
Prince Guo took a deep breath, loosened his hand, and looked at Zhen Huan affectionately, as if he wanted to engrave the person in front of him in his heart.
His back looked even lonelier in the dim candlelight and soon disappeared into the darkness.
Zhen Huan looked at the thick curtain that had stopped shaking and wiped away the tears from her cheeks.
She walked slowly to the bed and tucked the quilt around Lingxi.
The cold wind was howling outside the window, making the branches sway.
Zhen Huan seemed not to feel the cold, she stood quietly by the window.
Cui Jinxi, the traitor, was dealt with in time by himself, and Prince Li, the mastermind behind the scenes, was demoted to a commoner.
What happened between her and Yunli...
At that time, only Cui Jinxi and Bai Zhi were with her at Lingyun Peak. When she decided to return to the palace, she ordered Bai Zhi to dispose of the evidence of their love.
Looking back now, she chose Baizhi to get rid of those things. Was it God helping her?
Zhen Huan finally felt better.
However, just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the fighting within the palace never stops.
Not only does she have to fight with the women in the harem, she also has to fight with the emperor.
Now he only has two princesses, and when they reach the age, they will get married. If he wants to climb up the social ladder, he must have a prince.
Zhen Huan had long been resentful of the emperor, so she naturally didn't want to curry favor with him anymore.
Then there is only one way left - to adopt a prince.
The first person she thought of was the Ninth Prince, whom Huanbi had given birth to with great effort. His biological mother was her own sister, so it was perfect for her.
Zhen Huan made up her mind and started thinking about how to get the emperor's agreement.
After much thought, she decided that she should take better care of her health.
So in the next few days, Zhen Huan cooperated with the imperial physician's treatment, and her gentle and delicate voice soon returned to normal.
"Qingluo, I need to go to Yangxin Palace. Please help me wash up quickly."
Qingluo, Qingzhi, Xia Fu, Zhao Fugui and Liu Xier were the people sent in one after another by Prince Guo through various channels.
"Yes, slaves obey."
Qingluo was experienced and quickly applied makeup to her to make her look haggard as Zhen Huan wished.
She helped Zhen Huan walk out while whispering a reminder.
"Master, I heard that Eunuch Su, who serves the Emperor, accidentally broke his leg and may have difficulty walking in the future."
When Zhen Huan heard this, her heart moved and she immediately understood what she meant.
"Who is currently serving the Emperor?"
"It's Eunuch Xia, Su Peisheng's apprentice. I heard that he has good relations with all the palaces, and his strategies and tactics are no less than Su Peisheng's."