The Whole Dynasty Spoils the Tyrant's Beloved Youngest Daughter-Chapter 459 - 460: Emperor Yongning Can’t Hold On Anymore

Chapter 459: Chapter 460: Emperor Yongning Can’t Hold On Anymore
In order to brush off those eavesdroppers outside, Jun Ning and Qi Xiao put on a show and observed the situation outside the door. Only after seeing the figure leave did they end their act.
By this point, Jun Ning was already so tired that her waist and back ached, and she had no desire to speak further.
Qi Xiao saw her lie sprawled on the bed like a salted fish, not as decisive and sharp as she used to be, but instead like a fatigued sister-next-door. It made him feel a bit closer to her.
He did not immediately get up to go to the emperor’s study to handle state affairs but instead lay down next to Jun Ning. He turned his head to glance at Jun Ning and explained under her somewhat puzzled gaze, "A bit tired, just resting for a while!"
Jun Ning’s expression relaxed a bit, but a faint, almost imperceptible trace of disappointment flashed across her face.
She felt disappointed at Qi Xiao’s intentional avoidance of approaching her.
Qi Xiao seemed oblivious to Jun Ning’s emotions. He looked at the crimson bed canopy above and suddenly spoke to Jun Ning beside him, "Ah Ning, after the war with Bei Xia ended, you sent another group of troops to the border of Yu Country, didn’t you?"
This matter was something Jun Ning had not mentioned to others.
She indeed had intentions of attacking Yu Country, always recalling how Yu Country sabotaged Dong Chu Country during its toughest times, even when battling Bei Xia.
A gentleman cannot let such animosity go unavenged.
She planned to launch an attack on Yu Country when the weather warmed up a bit.
After experiencing the last battle, she became more convinced that the soldiers of Dong Chu Country were trustworthy and capable—taking down a small Yu Country was no problem at all.
"Seeing you didn’t deny it, is that an admission?" Qi Xiao waited a long time without hearing Jun Ning’s answer, so he asked again.
Jun Ning nodded, "Indeed, that was my intent."
"I..." Qi Xiao hesitated a bit as he looked at Jun Ning’s face and said, "Ah Ning, no, Your Majesty, can I apply to join the battle?"
After the grand enthronement ceremony, Jun Ning was now veritably the emperor.
However, the title had not yet been decided and needed to be chosen gradually.
Qi Xiao, although Jun Ning’s husband, was also a subject and could not neglect propriety because of their marriage.
Jun Ning, however, wished for him to neglect propriety, as it signified their close relationship and mutual trust. Such politeness made them seem distant.
She sighed and said, "Xiao Er, you may. It’s just..."
It’s just they had just gotten married, and he was eager to leave—is that appropriate?
Jun Ning felt very conflicted.
Qi Xiao knew Jun Ning’s concerns at that moment and said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will leave in half a month, not immediately, and will not leave you with a mess to deal with."
"Alright, I permit you to go."
As they brought up the matter, Jun Ning suddenly felt invigorated. She sat up from the crimson wedding bed, picked up a lychee beside her, peeled it, and ate it.
After pondering for a while, she said seriously, "Xiao Er, if you can subdue Yu Country this time, there’s hope that you could inherit your father’s honor and become the new generation National Guardian General of Dong Chu Country."
"I will fight with all my might, for myself and for..." The word ’you’ got stuck in Qi Xiao’s throat, and he couldn’t say it for a long time.
Jun Ning did not pursue whom else he was fighting for in the sentence; she merely patted his shoulder, saying, "I’ve always thought highly of you, but I must remind you of one thing: come back alive."
Upon hearing these words, Qi Xiao thought Jun Ning cared about him.
Unexpectedly, Jun Ning added, "I don’t want to be a widow!"
"......" Alright then!
Qi Xiao nodded, "I will definitely come back alive."
...
The matter was tentatively agreed upon. Half a month later, Qi Xiao set off with his troops. Jun Ning did not make a grand send-off but stood on the highest tower, watching the soldiers under Qi Xiao’s leadership disappear from her sight.
She held a letter in her hand.
Written by Qi Xiao, asking that when he returned, they should have a good talk. Some things needed to be openly discussed, clarified, and understood, so life could continue.
Jun Ning knew what he was referring to; it was about their marriage. Perhaps he did not want it to continue as it was.
He wanted to achieve military merit, earn the title of National Guardian General, and inherit his father’s glory. He also wanted to sever ties and return to a free life, not bound within the grand palace, known as prince consort.
Jun Ning really disliked this letter. After reading it, she tore it into pieces and threw it down from the tower.
Fragments of paper fluttered in the air, drifting gracefully, looking both free and poignantly beautiful.
Thus, she could pretend never to have received this letter, oblivious to Qi Xiao’s thoughts or the incident that transpired.
She could continue living her life in peace.
But not quite in peace. Jun Ning kept thinking about this unfortunate matter for several days before returning to her normal state, continuing to attend to all kinds of trifles in court with diligence.
She previously thought that by developing Dong Chu Country’s economy and finishing the war with Bei Xia, there wouldn’t be much left to do, and she would have much more leisure time. However, in reality, she didn’t get idle at all. Instead, she faced even more tasks.
Bei Xia had indeed kept its promise by marrying Fei Yuque over. She had to figure out how to settle Fei Yuque and complete the post-war economic recovery while preparing for spring sowing.
There were too many things to be busy with.
Every day, Jun Ning was so busy she couldn’t find a spare moment, yet at this time, Emperor Yongning couldn’t hold on any longer, vomiting blood daily and being in a constant state of unconsciousness. His moments of lucidity were very few, and the Imperial Physician said he could last at most another half month.
Upon hearing this, Jun Ning couldn’t care about anything else anymore. She cried like a child, went to find Emperor Yongning, held his hand, and said, "Father, no, you can’t leave, you can’t abandon Ah Ning..."
——
Bei Xia had indeed kept its promise by marrying Fei Yuque over. She had to figure out how to settle Fei Yuque and complete the post-war economic recovery while preparing for spring sowing.
There were too many things to be busy with.
Every day, Jun Ning was so busy she couldn’t find a spare moment, yet at this time, Emperor Yongning couldn’t hold on any longer, vomiting blood daily and being in a constant state of unconsciousness. His moments of lucidity were very few, and the Imperial Physician said he could last at most another half month.
Upon hearing this, Jun Ning couldn’t care about anything else anymore. She cried like a child, went to find Emperor Yongning, held his hand, and said, "Father, no, you can’t leave, you can’t abandon Ah Ning..."