Chapter 48 What about the Carefree King?
Yu Zhaoning was licking the remaining cream off the small spoon when she suddenly stopped.
A hint of curiosity flashed in her big, dark eyes as she secretly glanced at her grandmother beside her.
Grandmother Yuan Hua's expression remained unchanged; she merely gently rubbed the rim of the teacup with her fingers, her eyes revealing understanding.
"Announce."
Yuan Hua spoke calmly.
Soon, a woman dressed in a plain palace dress walked in gracefully.
Consort Duan was without makeup today, and her plain face showed signs of fatigue.
But his back was straight, and there was no fear in his eyes, but rather a resolute look.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty."
Consort Duan walked into the hall and respectfully performed a grand salute, her movements impeccably standard.
Everyone present held their breath, expecting what followed to be cries and pleas for mercy.
After all, her son, Yu Jinghong, was one of the most promising princes to inherit the throne, but now a four-year-old girl had beaten him to it. How could she, as his mother, be willing to accept that?
However, Consort Duan did not cry or make a scene, nor did she blame anyone. Instead, she bent down and kowtowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, I have come today with a request. I beg the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty to grant it!"
Yuan Hua put down his teacup and raised his eyelids slightly: "Speak."
Consort Duan raised her head, her gaze fixed intently on the sky, and said, word by word, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you grant me permission to take my son, Jinghong, and leave the palace to settle outside!"
What?
Upon hearing this, even the usually composed Luan Xue couldn't help but show a surprised expression.
Yu Zhaoning subconsciously opened her mouth wide.
[Holy crap! What kind of plot twist is this? Giving up? Just like that? This doesn't fit the typical palace drama formula!]
Consort Duan's body trembled violently.
Is that His Majesty's voice?
Why did it suddenly pop into her mind?
She looked up in horror at the little girl being held in Luan Xue's arms, her heart pounding wildly.
She wanted to ask, but it felt like something was blocking her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word!
They could only watch helplessly as Yuan Hua slowly picked up the tea and gently blew on the steam.
Why?
Yuan Hua's voice revealed no emotion.
"Jinghong is only ten years old now, which is the age when he needs to be taught. There are the best tutors in the palace, and there are plenty of resources. It is not too late for him to leave the palace and establish his own residence after he comes of age and stays in the palace for a few more years."
Consort Duan took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and kowtowed again.
"Your Majesty, it is not that I wish to leave, but my son Jinghong has recently developed hysteria!"
"He often talks nonsense, wakes up in the middle of the night, and occasionally does things out of control. The imperial physicians have come to see him, but they are helpless. I am worried that his illness will offend His Majesty and the noble ladies in the palace, so I have dared to request to leave the palace."
She looked up, her eyes instantly reddening, tears welling up, on the verge of sobbing.
"Your Majesty, I have found a renowned folk healer for Jinghong. He lives near my family home. I wish to take him back to the palace for treatment and never return. I beg Your Majesty to grant my request!"
These words were spoken with heartfelt sincerity, accompanied by tears.
Luan Xue, who was standing nearby, already understood about 70-80% of what was going on.
Hysteria? That's probably fake.
Consort Duan was trying to use this method to completely extricate her son from this vortex.
She could see that with her mother and Zhao Ning around, the second prince had no chance of ascending the throne. Rather than suffer a miserable end in the future, it was better to retire now and save her life.
This woman is truly intelligent, and she has truly devoted herself to her son.
Yuan Hua naturally saw through this as well.
She stared at Consort Duan quietly for a long while before slowly speaking.
"Since you have made up your mind, it would be unreasonable for me to refuse."
She nodded slightly: "Your Majesty, I grant your request."
The moment she received permission, Consort Duan relaxed completely, as if all her strength had been drained away. She kowtowed again, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Empress Dowager!"
Yuan Hua didn't look at her anymore, but turned to look at his granddaughter, who had a serious expression and was trying her best to play the role of a qualified emperor.
"Your Majesty, the Second Prince has left the palace, and according to ancestral rules, he should be granted a princely title. What title do you think would be appropriate?"
Yu Zhaoning immediately perked up.
She stood with her hands behind her back, pacing back and forth a couple of times, her little brows furrowed, looking as if she were seriously contemplating matters of state.
[What kind of king should I appoint? What if he has a prestigious title, sounds like he has a lot of military power, and then uses it to recruit soldiers?]
[A wise king? He's not wise at all! He has a terrible temper. Last time, because a tutor punished him by making him copy books, he secretly burned off half of the tutor's beard! The tutor was so angry that he didn't attend court for three days!]
puff!
Luan Xue almost burst out laughing.
Burning the Grand Tutor's beard? This Second Prince is really something...
Such a promising young man!
[Got it!]
Yu Zhaoning's little eyes lit up. She stopped and said in her childish voice, "How about we name him the Carefree King?"
She rested her chin on her hand and added seriously, "From now on, let him live a carefree life as a leisurely prince, that wouldn't be bad at all!"
At this point, she changed the subject.
"As long as he doesn't cause trouble, I guarantee that I will not mistreat them, mother and son!"
A satisfied smile finally appeared at the corner of Yuan Hua's eyes.
She looked at Consort Duan: "Prince Xiaoyao, what do you think of this title?"