The emperor nodded and said, "Is it really so? If so, I will surely reward you handsomely!"
Seeing Wei Dongling about to kneel again, the emperor quickly stepped forward to help her up.
Wei Dongling grabbed the emperor's hand, tears in her eyes, and said, "Daughter would like to thank Father Emperor on Uncle Li's behalf for the reward! I'm ashamed to say, but I have an impertinent request!"
The emperor, seeing her so affectionate and loyal, smiled tenderly and said, "Why are you crying? You're my princess. You can ask for whatever you want."
Wei Dongling choked back her tears and said, "Just now, I heard what the crown prince said. Uncle Li and the others who have been protecting me have been arrested and taken to the yamen! Father Emperor! They did show disrespect to the crown prince, but it was all because they wanted to save me!"
She would do anything, even throw a tantrum, to protect all the uncles.
The emperor raised his eyes and said to General Fang, "Give the order to pardon them all!"
"Yes."
It had to be said that it felt good to have the emperor as a shield!
Wei Dongling stopped crying and smiled through her tears. She grabbed the emperor's sleeve and coquettishly said, "Father Emperor is so kind!"
Ruan Niang beside her coughed softly and said, "Quickly express your gratitude!"
"Thank you, Father Emperor!" Only then did Wei Dongling realize and was about to kneel.
The emperor grabbed her arm and doted on her, saying, "Princess Five has been living outside since childhood. You don't have to be so formal in front of me."
Not long after, the imperial doctors from the palace rushed over and helped Ruan Niang suture Wei Dongling's wound.
Wei Dongling discussed with the emperor that she needed some time to learn the palace etiquette and hoped to move into the palace after her injury healed.
After much thought, the emperor agreed. He ordered the accompanying eunuch to select some maids to serve her first, and then arranged for some well - behaved and experienced old maids from the palace to teach her etiquette. He also asked General Fang to send two teams of imperial guards to protect Wei Dongling. After making these arrangements, the emperor returned to the palace first.
Mu Rongxuan led the soldiers of the Rui Prince's Mansion to clean up the aftermath as ordered. He was feeling quite helpless inside. He wanted to go up and talk to Wei Dongling several times, but there were too many people around her.
Seeing Jing Zhe coming over with injuries, Ruan Niang simply left Wei Dongling to the imperial doctors and wanted to go up and check Jing Zhe's injuries.
But Jing Zhe rushed into the crowd. Regardless of the occasion, he grabbed Wei Dongling's sleeve and said, "Miss Wei! Among the crown prince's secret guards, I want to take someone back."
"Okay!" Wei Dongling's voice was clear and firm without any hesitation.
Jing Zhe originally wanted to explain who the person was and what their relationship was. But Wei Dongling trusted him so much that she agreed without a second thought. Hearing her answer, Jing Zhe ran away like a shot. Ruan Niang couldn't catch up with him.
Not long after, Jing Zhe came back with Cheng Hao, who was heavily injured and wearing a black veil. He urgently pleaded with Ruan Niang, "Can you help me save him first!"
Ruan Niang was both amused and helpless, but she nodded and agreed.
As the sky gradually darkened, Yu Zixi, who had been hiding on the eaves in the dark of the crown prince's mansion, saw Wei Dongling seeing off the imperial doctors. Only then did he feel relieved and turned back to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion.
His Dongling had been forced to recognize that dog - emperor. Master would probably be even more resistant.
But what could he do? Even though she was the daughter of his enemy, his heart was full of her. He was already deeply in love. Thinking of how she thought she was going to die in the dry well, hugging his neck, crying and whispering those never - spoken love words, Yu Zixi felt his heart warmed completely.
He was determined to marry her in this life. Even if thousands of people tried to stop him on the way, he would break through the southern wall and never look back.
Mu Rongxuan personally carried the injured Wei Dongling into the carriage. His mood was heavier than going to a funeral. Looking at Wei Dongling's beautiful face, he sighed and said, "I never expected that you would be my cousin."
Wei Dongling was in a great mood. She smiled brightly at him and said, "It's a great fortune for me to have such an outstanding cousin like you to rely on!"
Mu Rongxuan was speechless for a moment and could only shake his head and smile bitterly.
Not long after the group returned to the Su Mansion, the maids and old maids from the palace came to pay their respects to her. Wei Dongling arranged for them to rest in the South Courtyard first and told them to come and serve her closely tomorrow. The women saluted neatly and went back to the South Courtyard to rest.
Fortunately, Uncle Li, Luo Xunlong, Yu Haiming, and Old Brother Qin were not seriously injured. After all, they couldn't kill the yamen soldiers.
But Old Master Su had been secretly wiping his tears after learning that the emperor had recognized Wei Dongling.
Wei Dongling quickly grabbed Old Master Su's thin hand and comforted him, "Grandpa, don't worry. I'll ask the emperor for a special permission so that I can come back to see you from time to time."
Old Master Su choked with sobs and said, "At first, we were a bit selfish. We wanted to keep you by our side. We didn't want you to enter the palace and be restricted by all kinds of rules. Royal women have never been able to choose their own marriages. But after all, you have royal blood in your veins. Moreover, we couldn't protect you well. Grandpa doesn't want to see you get hurt again and again..."
Old Master Su's sobs made Wei Dongling feel extremely heart - broken. She comforted him repeatedly, "Grandpa, you've done your best to protect me all the way. Don't be sad that I'm going to enter the palace. No matter where I am, I'll always be your niece! I'll come back sooner or later!" Besides, it was time to find out the truth about the fire in the Jingyang Palace that year.
Old Master Su nodded repeatedly. All the uncles were silent for a long time and no one said a word.
At night, just as Wei Dongling was about to go to sleep after turning off the lights, Yu Zixi climbed in through the window.
Wei Dongling was surprised and whispered, "The emperor has sent two teams of imperial guards to guard my courtyard. How did you get in?"
Yu Zixi took off his shoes and socks, then hugged Wei Dongling in his arms sideways. He whispered in her ear, "I can't sleep on this long night. I miss you so much, my wife. Even if there were two hundred teams of imperial guards guarding the door, I would still come to see you."
Wei Dongling sniffed the smell on Yu Zixi's neck and sighed softly, "Now that I've been forced to recognize the emperor, you won't blame me, will you?"
Yu Zixi gently kissed her petal - like lips and said, "Silly girl, I know you did this to protect me. It's good that you've recognized your princess identity. At least it will make those with ill intentions stop for a while. If they still want to harm you, they'll have to think twice."
He actually understood her!
Wei Dongling was both surprised and delighted. She tightly hugged Yu Zixi's neck and refused to let go. She sighed softly, "It will be difficult to see you in the future."
Yu Zixi smiled foolishly and said, "That's why I'm here. Don't worry. I'll come every night before you enter the palace."
Wei Dongling was both angry and amused. She reached out and pinched his waist. The place on Yu Zixi's body that had been stung by the poisonous scorpion started to ache faintly.
Wei Dongling felt his muscles trembling and quickly asked, "Did I hurt you?"
Yu Zixi laughed and said, "No, it's just..."
Wei Dongling: "?"
"Cough cough, my wife, I'm just thinking that after you enter the palace, what if that dog - emperor is reluctant to marry you to me? How about we... make the unalterable fact?"