The Whole Dynasty Spoils the Tyrant's Beloved Youngest Daughter-Chapter 362 - 382: Crisis

Chapter 362: Chapter 382: Crisis
It seemed as long as Jun Ning didn’t speak, or take a deep breath, there would be no sound in the big room.
Jun Ning looked at the tense faces in front of her, her hand holding chopsticks searching for tasty dishes suddenly froze in mid-air, and remained stiff for a long time, without dropping.
Her appetite had been full, but now she had no appetite at all.
She put down the chopsticks.
The Empress Dowager sitting beside Emperor Yongning saw Jun Ning put down her chopsticks and asked concernedly, "Yiyi, what’s wrong, why did you suddenly stop eating? Is it that you don’t like today’s dishes?"
"Servants..." The Empress Dowager was preparing to have the dishes changed to ones Jun Ning liked in the past.
Jun Ning stopped her, "Grand Empress Dowager, today’s dishes are delicious, Yiyi likes them, it’s just..."
"Just what?" The Empress Dowager smiled at Jun Ning.
Jun Ning said, "Just can anyone tell me what happened? Why are you all looking so worried?"
This matter is better left unsaid openly; everyone worried in their hearts would be fine. Speaking openly, however, made everyone’s mood heavier, less appetite, and even those with appetite dared not touch the chopsticks rashly.
Silence fell among the crowd.
Considering how big Delin Palace is, even a pin dropping could be heard.
As the initiator of this banquet, Emperor Yongning couldn’t sit still, he left with a statement, "I still have memorials to review, beloved concubines, princes, princesses, please feel free," and then left.
Before leaving, he didn’t even glance at his cherished daughter whom he had longed for.
He left in quick steps.
His back seemed full of worries, it wasn’t as upright anymore, even the originally few strands of black hair had turned completely white with anxiety.
Jun Ning only noticed Emperor Yongning’s change at this moment.
Her father was only in his fifties, not yet sixty, yet his hair had turned completely white?
What on earth happened during the time she wasn’t here that caused her father’s hair to go all gray?
She got up and chased after him, "Father, wait for me." She needed to know what had happened; she wanted to help relieve her father’s burdens.
With Emperor Yongning and Jun Ning leaving, others no longer felt like staying and bid farewell to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine Hua exchanged glances, both sighed deeply.
Jun Ning chased after Emperor Yongning for a long time, finally catching up, but was stopped outside the Imperial Study Room, where Emperor Yongning refused to see her, asking Xiao Lizi to personally escort her back.
Jun Ning refused to return; she insisted on seeing Emperor Yongning.
If he wouldn’t see her, she’d wait at the door, believing if she was steadfast enough, sincere enough, her father would definitely see her.
But she waited and waited, unintentionally falling asleep at the door of the Imperial Study Room, Emperor Yongning still did not see her.
The light inside the Imperial Study Room stayed lit, Jun Ning slept outside for most of the night.
At midnight, strong arms carried her into a warm room, covering her with a thick quilt.
Jun Ning couldn’t open her eyes due to fatigue; feeling warm, she fell into a deep sleep without thinking further.
Emperor Yongning walked out of the Imperial Study Room, displeasedly speaking to Xiao Lizi outside, "Xiao Lizi, how could you let Yiyi sleep outside? How are you handling things?"
"The servant had already told the princess to return, but unexpectedly, she did not..." Xiao Lizi quickly knelt down and admitted fault, "The servant is wrong and awaits heavy punishment from His Majesty."
Emperor Yongning cast a sidelong glance at the kneeling Xiao Lizi, "Not to make an example of this again."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiao Lizi expressed gratitude for the imperial grace and stood up.
Emperor Yongning looked at the not-so-round moon in the sky and murmured, "Is this matter truly without a solution?"
Xiao Lizi stood aside, silent.
After autumn, nights became particularly long, Emperor Yongning finished reviewing the memorials and initially drafted next year’s spring farming plan, yet it still hadn’t dawned.
Feeling somewhat impatient, he wished daylight would come soon so he could convene his ministers, but the day remained dark.
Xiao Lizi advised him to sleep awhile, but he didn’t go.
Already without restful sleep for several days, most of the time, Emperor Yongning was sleepless through the night.
The next day, when Jun Ning awoke, she found herself sleeping on the dragon bed in the Imperial Study Room; she searched for Emperor Yongning like usual but couldn’t find him.
She got up disappointed, served by attendants to wash and dine.
After dining, she didn’t return to Weiyang Palace; she waited for Emperor Yongning to return from court to ask him again what had happened.
However, after court, along with Emperor Yongning came several ministers, all military generals.
But, they were mediocre military generals.
Jun Ning had heard Emperor Yongning mention these people before; they had always disagreed with Uncle Qi while he was alive.
But compared with Uncle Qi, the difference was like heaven and earth.
They couldn’t even compare to a single finger of Uncle Qi.
Usually, these people trained soldiers at the drill grounds, not seen often in the palace, what was going on today? Why did they enter the palace? And gather so completely?
It seems not only them, but also the former National Guardian General, the master who trained Uncle Qi, now at an old age of eighty-five, long retired to enjoy his twilight years, Cui Tai, unexpectedly returned?
This... this, what situation.
Is there a war brewing?
Yet Jun Ning hadn’t heard of a war upon returning.
Curiosity grew in Jun Ning’s heart; what indeed had happened to gather all these people?
She hid behind the screen behind Emperor Yongning’s dragon throne, listening intently to their conversation.
"Your Majesty, please allow this old minister to go, I am willing to wrap my body in horse skin and die on the battlefield."
"Your Majesty, we are also willing to request to go to the battlefield."
Following the former National Guardian General’s lead, all the military generals knelt and requested to battle.
Emperor Yongning thought for several days, yet still disagreed with starting a war, he said with headache, "I suppose all beloved ministers know, it is about to be winter, unlikely to win a war. Moreover, this year’s grain production is low and the national granary is not abundant, unfit for war conditions."
Cui Tai exhaled heavily several times, saying, "But not fighting will lead Bei Xia to invade the Imperial City, treading on our heads, Your Majesty!"
The last phrase General Cui Tai emphasized strongly, revealing his worry and anxiety.
Nevertheless, Emperor Yongning still hesitated, "General Cui, your loyalty I know. But, but you are now at eighty-five years old..."