367: Return

Return

This sentence was like thunder that struck one's ears!1

Everyone in the palace was stunned.

Even Rong Jiu undetectably furrowed his brows.

Emperor Jiawen boomed, "Are you speaking the truth? Did Situ Xingchen really say that?"

The Empress hurriedly nodded. "If you don't believe me, you can ask Situ Xingchen!"

Chu Ning suddenly asked, "Her Majesty, may I know where you heard this from?"

"Of course, I personally heard it from Situ Xingchen!" At this point, the Empress couldn't care anymore and honestly admitted that she had always been keeping in contact with Rong Jin.

Situ Xingchen told Rong Jin about this matter, who later told her.

"…I know this isn't right, but… Rong Jin is only doing it for Rong Zhen, your Majesty!"

Emperor Jiawen felt his head ache.

The matter seemed to be increasingly complicated. Everyone said their own piece, and their contents were also different.

Someone was definitely lying, but he couldn't immediately find out who it was.

Seeing that Emperor Jiawen had faltered, the Empress immediately said, "Your Majesty, Situ Xingchen already knows about Rong Zhen going missing and plans to come back with Rong Jin this time to help look for Rong Zhen. Why don't we wait until all of them to come back before we ask them in person?"

Emperor Jiawen disagreed. "Chu Liuyue wants to go to Tai Yan Academy for a month. Only a third of that time has passed. If we continue waiting for her, Rong Zhen…"

"Your Majesty, Yue'er will be back really soon. She previously said that she'd only go for ten days," said Chu Ning.

This made the others surprised. It's such a rare opportunity, yet Chu Liuyue is only staying for ten days?

Emperor Jiawen stayed silent for a while before he hit the board. "Since this is so, we'll wait for all of them to come back and ask them."

The Empress finally heaved a sigh of relief in her heart as her body went weak; she almost collapsed onto the floor. With Situ Xingchen's testimony, Chu Liuyue definitely won't be able to escape! I'll make sure to skin her at that point, even if I can't kill her!

"Father, you're wise. This way, we definitely can find Rong Zhen as soon as possible, and we won't frame Lord Chu Ning for no reason. Lord Chu Ning had always been loyal to you, and it'll be bad if this misunderstanding breaks Lord Chu Ning's heart," said Rong Jiu with cupped fists.

The palace was instantly silenced. Everyone knew that this so-called 'misunderstanding' was started by the Empress.

Emperor Jiawen's gaze darkened. "Everyone, you're dismissed. Empress, please stay."

…

Walking out of the palace, Chu Ning solemnly thanked Rong Jiu. "Thank you so much for your help, Third Prince."

If not, he really would've been locked up.

Rong Jiu looked nonchalant. "Lord Chu Ning, don't stand on ceremony. I helped you just to help myself."

Chu Ning was dazed as he didn't expect Rong Jiu to be so honest. Of course, he could guess Rong Jiu's motive for coming. From start to end, Rong Jiu only targeted one person—the Empress! Especially the moment before he left the palace, his sentence had directly pushed the Empress!

And the reason for Rong Jiu doing so… was most likely due to his birth mother, Noble Lady Yin, being harmed by the Empress back then.

Even though this matter wasn't concluded with solid evidence, Chu Ning was in his prime back then, and Emperor Jiawen trusted him a lot, so he roughly knew about this.

Seeing Rong Jiu's appearance, he clearly came prepared.

"No matter what, I still have to thank you, Third Prince. I'll definitely repay you for this favor."

Rong Jiu seemed not to care about it.

The two of them briefly talked again before leaving respectively.

Chu Ning hesitated for a while and decided to go back first.

Lu Yun previously brought so many people over and made a mess at his house. He had to hurriedly go back and tidy things up. If Yue'er saw it, she would definitely be worried.

…

In the end, Chu Liuyue didn't go back with Rong Jin and the rest.

She just used one sentence to stop Rong Jin's intentions of stopping her. "I've already settled a time to go back with Lieutenant Mu. Whoever delays me needs to take responsibility."

Rong Jin had just settled his marriage agreement with Situ Xingchen, and he was in his prime. Originally, he wanted to show off his Crown Prince authority in front of Chu Liuyue, but he wasn't too full of himself. He still knew who he could offend and who he could not, so he could only let Chu Liuyue have her way.

As for Situ Xingchen, she didn't say much from start to end and stayed out of the matter. It was as if she had forgotten that Rong Jin only caused trouble for Chu Liuyue after he heard her words.

Chu Liuyue quickly returned to the Imperial City smoothly.

The moment Chu Liuyue reached home, the door was opened from the inside before she could even knock on it.

Chu Ning was standing within.

"Father, why are you at home?" Chu Liuyue saw him and was delighted and surprised. It's not his off-day today.

Chu Ning first sized her up and heaved a sigh of relief after confirming that she was unharmed. "It's great that you're back safe, Yue'er. I have something to ask you."

The father and daughter returned to the house together.

Chu Ning told Chu Liuyue about everything that had happened previously.

"…Yue'er, do you have anything to do with the Fourth Princess going missing?" asked Chu Ning uncertainly.

Chu Liuyue smiled, and her eyes curved. "Father, didn't you already say it in front of His Majesty? You said that you believe that I didn't do it. Since you've already said that, of course, it has nothing to do with me."

Chu Ning heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good; that's good. Previously, I was still worried when the Empress said that Situ Xingchen had seen you and Rong Zhen together…"

What kind of status did Situ Xingchen have? Her words had some weight to them.

Chu Ning believed his own daughter, but the matter's development seemed to be out of his control.

Chu Liuyue nonchalantly smiled. "I know about this. Before I came back, Rong Jin demanded that I take responsibility for Rong Zhen going missing just because he heard this from Situ Xingchen."

Chu Ning knitted his brows. "Situ Xingchen has no grudges against us. Why must she say this?"

Chu Liuyue's eyes sparkled. "Perhaps… she saw wrongly."

Chu Ning didn't quite believe it. What kind of person is Situ Xingchen? She definitely knows what kind of impact her words have! They would most definitely harm Yue'er! If she had really seen wrongly, she shouldn't announce it to everyone when she isn't certain. This really doesn't fit Situ Xingchen's rumored image.

"This Situ Xingchen… is weird…" muttered Chu Ning.

Chu Liuyue didn't want him to worry, so she hit his arm and delightedly said, "Father, don't worry. I know what I'm doing, and I won't let other people bully me!"

Chu Ning's worry didn't dissipate because of this. "But… His Majesty said that he wants all of you to confront each other in person when you've returned. What should we do?"

If Situ Xingchen insists that Yue'er did it…

Chu Liuyue curled her lips slightly. "It will be my pleasure."

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