"The Emperor ntioned it to occasionally," Song Yanqing replied. "I am truly grateful and moved to tears that the Empress is still alive and I can see her again."
At that mont, An Ning noticed that Song Yanqing’s eyes were a bit red.
"Does everyone else know as well?" An Ning asked without much emotion.
After all.
She wasn’t entirely willing to return either.
She and Song Yanqing only shared a slight revolutionary friendship.
Of course, Song Yanqing’s feelings for her were surely more than that.
Song Yanqing regarded her as a savior, naturally, his feelings were a bit more profound.
"No, apart from the Emperor, only I know at the mont."
"Gu Xingchuan doesn’t know?" An Ning raised an eyebrow.
At that mont, she understood. If Gu Xingchuan knew, he would have co looking for her long ago.
"The Emperor didn’t allow to tell Lord Gu."
"Ruotong?"
"She doesn’t know either," Song Yanqing answered.
An Ning smiled a bit, "Aren’t you going to marry Ruotong?"
Clearly with a hint of sarcasm.
Song Yanqing pressed his lips together.
His face seed a bit red.
But with so many bruises and purple marks on his face, it was hard to tell.
Song Yanqing said in a low voice, "One cannot disobey the Emperor’s order."
"Is marrying Xie Ruotong also Xiao Jinxing’s order?" An Ning asked.
"No," Song Yanqing replied.
An Ning frowned.
So she really couldn’t understand why Xie Ruotong would reunite with Song Yanqing.
From what she knew of Xie Ruotong,
Lin Qianyu’s death would have rendered her completely hopeless about relationships.
And the only person Xie Ruotong might still marry was Gu Xingchuan.
The two could possibly make do as a couple based on friendship.
Just to have a companion in old age.
"It’s..." Song Yanqing’s face turned red, "I can’t say it in front of Princess Youyou."
"So..." An Ning raised an eyebrow, "You were slept with by Xie Ruotong."
"..." Song Yanqing stared blankly at An Ning.
On one hand, surprised she could guess so quickly.
On the other, genuinely impressed by how unreserved she was in front of Princess Youyou.
"Seems like I guessed right," An Ning spoke to herself.
Otherwise, it would be hard to find any reason for Song Yanqing and Xie Ruotong to reunite.
Thinking of it, getting into bed with Song Yanqing was probably accidental for Xie Ruotong.
Then, continued accidents led to marriage.
Which is quite nice.
Xie Ruotong was too lonely.
Now Song Yanqing could marry Xie Ruotong again, he would probably cherish her with his life.
"Did you co just to see ?" An Ning asked.
"Partly, and also to invite Princess Youyou to class," Song Yanqing answered.
"What class?" An Ning asked.
"The Four Books and the Five Classics, as well as Court Etiquette and such," Song Yanqing respectfully said. "The Emperor said that if the Princess is interested, I can also teach her so political strategies."
"Is he crazy!" An Ning blurted out.
"..." Song Yanqing dared not speak.
In this world, only the Empress dared to speak so rudely about the Emperor.
"No need to study," An Ning said bluntly. "She won’t learn it."
"Princess Youyou is very smart," Song Yanqing countered.
"Is she learning well?"
"Princess Youyou is just too young now, restless, but once she’s a bit older, she can learn well," Song Yanqing spoke earnestly.
A bit older.
She won’t be in the Imperial Palace anymore.
An Ning didn’t voice it; she suddenly changed the topic, "Are you also teaching Anqi?"
"Yes, I am,"
"At the sleeping quarters now?"
"Waiting at Qixi Palace for Princess Youyou."
"I’ll go see her." An Ning got up.
Song Yanqing didn’t stop her.
Quickly followed behind her.
Because Qixi Palace and Xiaoxiang Palace are adjacent, An Ning arrived quickly.
At the doorway,
She paused slightly.
The Anqi in her mories was just a one-year-old little girl, dressed in red, with a fair little face, who could call her ’mother.’
Song Yanqing could also see the Empress’s emotional fluctuation, remained silent.
Just quietly accompanied her.
Also knew, for the Empress, leaving so silently back then, she naturally felt deeply guilty towards Anqi.
On the contrary, An Youyou, knowing nothing, innocently urged, "Mommy, don’t be afraid, Sister Anqi is a good person, unlike that old witch."
An Ning snapped back.
Took a deep breath before entering Qixi Palace.
As soon as she went in.
She saw an adorable little girl sitting on the soft couch in the pavilion, writing with a brush.
The spring breeze caressed her hair.
Her little face looked serious, unsteady in the mory and now utterly different.
Anqi was only six, but she seed to already have the makings of a distinguished lady.
An Ning’s eyes slightly reddened.
There was still so guilt towards Anqi in her heart, which made her emotions fluctuate a bit.
An Youyou frowned.
Why did it suddenly feel like Sister Anqi was her mommy’s real daughter?
Why did mommy look so peaceful when she saw her?
But when she saw Sister Anqi, her eyes were brimming with tears.
Anqi also noticed soone entering the courtyard at this mont.
She calmly put down the brush in her hand and gracefully stood up.
Then she walked to An Ning.
Before An Ning could react.
She saw Anqi suddenly kneel on the ground, performing a standard etiquette, "Your child pays respects to mother."
An Ning’s heart tightened.
Anqi knelt on the ground, looking up, smiling brilliantly at An Ning.
An Ning’s eyes slightly moved.
A tear fell involuntarily.
She slowly asked, "What did you call ?"
"Mother."
"Who taught you this?"
"It was Father," Anqi explained. "Father told last night that mother would return to the palace today, and co to see with Youyou. Father said when I see mother, I must pay her respects."
An Ning swallowed.
Xiao Jinxing seed to have precisely orchestrated her every move.
"Stand up," An Ning bent over, helping Anqi up.
"Thank you, mother," Anqi got up.
Her eyes kept looking at An Ning, her smile very sweet.
Yesterday, Father said her mother would return, she was really overjoyed.
She always thought her mother had passed away.
After all, everyone said the Empress Hejing had already sacrificed herself on the battlefield.
But Father said mother had returned.
She just believed it was true.
And she really liked the mother in front of her.
She looked just like Youyou.
Gave her an inexplicable sense of closeness.
Completely different from how Imperial Concubine felt for her.
Even though Imperial Concubine treated her well too.
"Mother, co sit," Anqi warmly invited.
Letting her rest in the pavilion.
An Ning nodded.
The pavilion was evidently Song Yanqing’s teaching place.
At this mont, there were two soft couches and two square tables.
One for Anqi, one for An Youyou.
An Ning glanced at Anqi’s calligraphy.
Such good handwriting, even though An Ning practiced diligently for many years to perfect her own, it might not be as good as Anqi’s standard.
Song Yanqing’s talent can always be trusted.
An Ning admired her, revealing a smile full of auntly affection.
"The Emperor personally taught the Princess to practice writing," Song Yanqing suddenly said. "The Emperor said, he couldn’t let the Princess’s handwriting be as ugly as the Empress’s."
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