无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

Jiang Ning hugged him, wiping away his tears, and gently said: “Don’t cry, Xiaoqian. Your Fifth Imperial Uncle didn’t betray his promise on purpose; he was forced to make that choice.”

“I hate Third Imperial Uncle and Third Aunt. They stole our home.”

“Shh, you can’t say such things in the palace.” Jiang Ning used a handkerchief to wipe away his tears. “Even if your Fifth Imperial Uncle is not the Crown Prince, he still loves you the same.”

Li Tingqian said: “I want to live with Fifth Imperial Uncle and Little Aunt.”

“When you grow up, you can move out of the Imperial Palace and live wherever you want.”

Being the emperor’s eldest grandson and so young, the Emperor would never let him leave the palace.

After coaxing him for a while, he finally stopped crying and sat by Jiang Ning’s side, holding a food box and snacking.

Gradually, his smile returned.

As it got darker, Jiang Ning estimated that Deshan would be awake now and must be frantically searching for them. She told Xiaoqian that she would take him back to the Supreme Palace.

Xiaoqian’s smile vanished in an instant.

He stopped eating the snacks.

His little head drooped.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Ning asked with a smile.

“Little Aunt, I don’t want to go back. Little Aunt, Can I go out with you?” Li Tingqian pleaded with his big eyes.

Jiang Ning’s heart softened, but she had no right to take him out of the palace.

Without permission, they couldn’t even leave the palace gates.

“Be good, Xiaoqian. I can’t take you out of the palace on a whim. If you want to leave, I’ll ask your imperial grandfather tomorrow. If he agrees, I can take you home.”

Li Tingqian obediently nodded and followed her back to the Supreme Palace.

As Deshan massaged his neck, he anxiously looked around. Seeing Jiang Ning and Li Tingqian return, he immediately approached and glanced at Xiaoman.

Xiaoman was calm and collected.

She didn’t care about anyone except Seventh Miss.

If anyone dared to provoke her, they would get another punch.

At the entrance, Xiaoqian still looked back and said eagerly, “Little Aunt, don’t forget to ask imperial grandfather tomorrow.”

“I definitely won’t forget.”

“Your Highness, let’s go back. The Princess Consort is waiting for you,” the eunuch Deshan bowed and said, taking Xiaoqian’s hand and walking into the Supreme Palace.

Li Tingqian shook off his hand and gloomily followed.

Upon returning to his living quarters, Princess Consort Ma was already waiting.

“Your Highness, have you said anything to the Princess Consort of Yu?” she asked coldly.

Her temperament was completely opposite to the warmth she displayed in public.

Li Tingqian replied, “No.”

“No? Then why didn’t you let Deshan follow you?”

“Deshan is useless. He couldn’t even beat Xiaoman. It’s not my fault,” Xiaoqian said.

Princess Consort Ma said: “Your Highness, since the Emperor and Empress entrusted us with your upbringing in the East Palace, we cannot spoil you excessively lest you develop bad habits. Since you were disobedient today, you’ll stand in the courtyard for an hour and miss dinner. This is for your own good, so that others can’t say we failed to teach you proper etiquette.”

“I won’t stand,” Li Tingqian refused. “Do you dare hit me?”

“You are the esteemed emperor’s eldest grandson; how could I lay a hand on you?” The Princess Consort’s face was cold. “But don’t forget, your Fifth Imperial Uncle is guarding the Imperial Mausoleum. If you misbehave, the Crown Prince only needs to lift a finger to end his life. Your Little Aunt will face the same fate too.”

Li Tingqian’s little face turned deathly pale.

His mouth tightened, and tears welled up in his eyes.

“What are you waiting for? Go stand now!” the Princess Consort shouted. “From now on, you’re not allowed to meet Princess Consort of Yu, and if you do, you must not talk nonsense. Or else you know the consequences!”

She stretched out her hand and pushed him hard.

Li Tingqian’s tiny body staggered and fell to the ground..