The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Cheng Youning was a man after all, and holding hands was not his thing. He pulled his hand back and asked Princess Zhuoyang, "How could I have forgotten you? My grandfather has assigned me a new teacher, and I'm too busy with schoolwork to be away. Otherwise, I would have come to see you earlier. But you look very unwell. How are you doing lately?"

Zhuo Yang nodded: "Everything is the same as before, except that I want to see your little grandfather, but your little grandfather won't see me."

"If he doesn't see you, it means he's busy with something important and can't get away."

Over the past few days, Princess Zhuoyang has come to realize the reality. This is Fengqi, not their Dalang. She is no longer a noble princess. No one here is willing to listen to her anymore. She can't even order the servants around, so how can she say that she can see Wan Lianxing?

Princess Zhuoyang placed all her life's hopes and happiness on Wan Lianxing. Wan Lianxing was her childhood dream and her youthful ambition. Catching up with Wan Lianxing was her lifelong wish and eternal expectation.

How could she admit defeat? How could she allow herself to surrender? She was already living in Wan Lianxing's harem. She only needed to make a little more effort to be together with Wan Lianxing. Something that seemed far away was actually within her reach. She would not give in.

Princess Zhuoyang asked Cheng Youning for help again. This was his last straw. "Youning, please take me to see your grandfather. I haven't seen him for some time."

"Zhuoyang, don't be willful. My grandfather is really busy with all kinds of things. If he doesn't want to see you, there must be a reason for him not to see you."

"Youning, didn't you say that Fengqi has won many victories? What else does he have to be busy with?"

"Fengqi is such a big place, so it's not just about fighting. The refugees who came from your Dalang are enough to worry my grandfather."

Princess Zhuoyang, who was cut off from the news, was incredulous. "Refugees from my Dalang? How could refugees from our Dalang come to you to beg?"

"Zhuoyang, there are many things I say that you may not like to hear, but it is a fact that your father is unjust, and it is also a fact that Dalang is gradually heading towards destruction."

"How could Dalang be destroyed?" This was not the first time that Cheng Youning said that Dalang would be destroyed, but Princess Zhuoyang was still unprepared to hear such words. Her heart was filled with waves of pain and she almost suffocated.

Her father no longer cared about her life or death. The tide of fate made her serve as a chess piece in the reconciliation between Dalang and the Southern Yan Kingdom. She had long been extremely disappointed with her father, and the resentment in her heart was growing day by day, but she still could not accept the fact that her country was going to perish.

Cheng Youning came to see Princess Zhuoyang very rarely, and the two of them rarely talked about family, country and the world, so this time they just stopped talking.

Cheng Youning was good at observing people's words and expressions. He knew that as long as he told Princess Zhuoyang about the situation of Dalang and King Lang's bad policies, Princess Zhuoyang would be sad. Although Princess Zhuoyang was begging, her heart was still with Dalang. But after losing her status as a princess, Zhuoyang was an ordinary woman who could not be more ordinary. She could not write to pacify the world, nor could she ride a horse to decide the outcome of the world. All she could do was shed a few tears.

Cheng Youning came here today specifically to visit Princess Zhuoyang. He didn't want to attack her or provoke her. This reaction of Princess Zhuoyang was what Cheng Youning didn't want to see. He didn't do anything to Princess Zhuoyang. He just said a few truths that Zhuoyang didn't have the courage to face.

"Zhaoyang, if a ruler does not love his people and the people do not support him, then the destruction of your Great Lang is understandable."

Princess Zhuoyang, who was half-believing and half-doubting in the past, now believes Cheng Youning's words a little, but she still shakes her head, stubbornly unwilling to believe this impending reality.

Seeing this person like this, Cheng Youning regretted telling the truth. He had seen Princess Zhuoyang's bravery and fearlessness, but he had also seen her fragility and vulnerability. However, the words were out of his mouth and there was no way to take them back. All he could do was to persuade her kindly and reassure her, "Zhuoyang, managing the family, governing the country, and pacifying the world are all things we men should do. You are a woman, don't get involved and add to your troubles. You will become sick with worry if you cry all day long. Nothing belongs to you except your body. You have also been through the gates of hell, so you should take good care of yourself."

"Youning, I miss home."

"Home? Dalang? You can't go back. No one there will welcome you, and no one dares to acknowledge you. They won't admit that Princess Zhuoyang, who married into the Southern Yan Kingdom, is a fake. Your appearance will only make them play dumb. Instead of going back and becoming a pest that everyone hates, you might as well stay here and beg for mercy. You have enough food and clothing here, so what else do you have to worry about? If you want to know news about Dalang, you can go out and ask on the streets. There are a lot of rumors about your Dalang, but none of them are good news for you. In fact, it's better not to go out on the streets."

"Youning, your grandfather has ordered me not to leave the palace without permission."

"Of course. This is the imperial palace I begged for. How can I come and go as I please? The women in the harem are even more forbidden to leave the palace at will. You are a princess, you should understand the rules here. If you really want to leave the palace, you can ask my grandfather for permission, otherwise you will not be able to come back once you leave."

"Youning, I know I'm in a precarious situation, but your little grandfather won't see me at all. It's been so many days, and I haven't seen your little grandfather once. He's deliberately avoiding me."

"Then don't leave the palace. All the good news we beg for is bad news in your eyes. It's better for you not to cause trouble for yourself."

"Youning, can you please help me and let me meet your grandfather?"

Faced with Princess Zhuoyang's pleading, Cheng Youning was powerless.

"Hey, Zhuoyang, you don't know that I haven't been welcome lately. My little grandfather is also annoyed with me. I'm thick-skinned and I miss him a little, so I came here. Although I am the prince, I don't speak according to the rules. If I bring you to my little grandfather without knowing the consequences, who knows how he will punish you."

"Have you been in trouble lately?"

"I've gotten into serious trouble. This prince has written a letter of apology, which has been posted on the streets for half a month. Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I sent Qiao Rong to secretly copy a victory report from the border and posted it on top of my letter of apology without anyone noticing. Only then did I get away with it. Otherwise, I would have been too embarrassed to go out on the streets..."

Princess Zhuoyang sighed after hearing what Cheng Youning had done. Cheng Youning might not have known the seriousness of the ministers bribing him, but Princess Zhuoyang knew. Although the incident was over, she still felt a chill down her spine. "Youning, your grandfather really loves you. You were about to poke a hole in the sky, but he didn't bear to destroy you."