Return of the Pearl

Chapter 113 Requesting to Leave the Palace

Jianjia Palace

Recently, Xiao Yun has been extremely fond of the sweet and delicious chestnuts, and Qianlong has shown great patience, peeling the chestnuts for her one by one very carefully.

At this warm moment, the twelfth prince walked in quietly. Before his eyes, there was a picturesque scene, with harmonious and beautiful music. The cheerful laughter filled the air, forming a very strong and sharp contrast with the cold and lonely atmosphere of Kunning Palace. Even when his mother had not been deposed, there had never been such a heartwarming scene in the depths of the twelfth prince's memory.

The twelfth prince walked calmly to the front of Emperor Qianlong, then knelt on both knees and said respectfully and reverently: "Your son pays his respects to the emperor."

At this moment, Emperor Qianlong was concentrating on peeling chestnuts for Xiao Yun. His movements did not pause at all because of the arrival of the twelfth prince. He said in a calm tone, "No need for formalities. What do you want to talk to me about?"

However, the Twelfth Prince remained kneeling, not rising. The intelligent and perceptive Xiao Yun immediately spotted the conspicuous fingerprints on the Twelfth Prince's neck. A wave of emotion welled up in her heart, and she whispered to Lu Zi, who was beside her, "Eunuch Lu, quickly go get the medicine and apply it to the Twelfth Prince."

After receiving the order, Xiao Luzi immediately turned around and quickly went to the palace to look for the medicine bottle. It was such a small detail that made the Twelfth Prince's mind suddenly clear. He knew very well that Eunuch Lu was a man in front of the emperor and had a noble status, but Concubine Xian could order him around so easily, and he was even more righteous than her own palace servants. Isn't this situation enough to explain some problems?

Eunuch Lu also acted quickly. He seemed to know everything about Jianjia Palace and found the medicine box in Jianjia Palace without any effort. This scene made the Twelfth Prince more certain that the Emperor really regarded Jianjia Palace as his own home. Here, everything seemed so natural and harmonious.

Qianlong seemed to completely ignore the twelfth prince who was still kneeling on the ground. Instead, he handed the freshly peeled chestnuts to Xiao Yun's mouth. His voice was so gentle that it seemed to drip water. "Yun'er, try it."

Seeing this, Xiao Yun couldn't help but blush shyly, and said with some embarrassment, "The twelfth prince is still here."

Qianlong seemed to have just woken up from a hazy dream. He slowly turned his head and cast his gaze on the twelfth prince. "Why haven't you stood up yet?"

The twelfth prince looked at Qianlong's disregard for him, his heart filled with sadness and loss. He looked at the intimate actions between Qianlong and Xiao Yun, and a bitterness surged in his heart. In his eyes, the emperor seemed to be completely immersed in the warmth with Xiao Yun, and he seemed to have become a redundant existence.

He secretly wondered whether his position in the emperor's father's heart had become so insignificant, and he couldn't help feeling sad and helpless about his situation. At the same time, he was confused and sad about Qianlong's attitude, and an unspeakable grievance surged in his heart.

A strong feeling of sadness suddenly surged in the heart of the Twelfth Prince. This sadness surged in his heart like a tide, immersing him in a deep sorrow. He stood up slowly, his movements seemed a little slow, as if every movement was carried with endless heaviness.

At this moment, Xiao Luzi had quickly taken back the medicine. He was eager to apply the medicine to the twelfth prince, but the twelfth prince gently dodged and held the ointment steadily in his hand.

The twelfth prince turned to look at Xiao Yun, with a hint of gratitude in his voice, "Thank you, Noble Concubine Xian."

After saying this, he slowly turned to Qianlong, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "Your Majesty, I have something I want to talk to you alone. I wonder if you have time?" His words revealed a hint of expectation, a hint of nervousness, and a hint of unspeakable desire.

Qianlong seemed to be completely unaware of this and sat there quietly with no expression on his face. His eyes wandered into the void and he seemed to be lost in some kind of thought. His lips were tightly closed and he did not say a word. In response to the Twelfth Prince's words, he neither explicitly stated that he had time nor that he did not have time. He just remained silent, as if time had stopped at this moment.

At this moment, Xiao Yun slowly stood up. A trace of fatigue appeared on her beautiful face, just like the faint clouds in the sky. Her voice was soft but clear to everyone's ears, "Hongli, I'm a little tired. I'm going to go back inside and lie down for a while. You can chat with the Twelfth Prince."

Upon hearing this, Qianlong's eyes immediately filled with concern. His gaze followed Xiao Yun closely, and he hurriedly asked, "Tired? Then go and have a good rest. I will go in and accompany you in a moment."

Xiao Yun nodded slightly and patted Qianlong's hand gently. The movement was so gentle that it seemed as if she was stroking a delicate flower. "Don't worry, you should comfort the twelfth prince." After that, she turned around and walked towards the inner hall alone with light steps. Her skirt swayed gently with her steps, like a blooming flower swaying in the breeze.

The moment Xiao Yun turned around, Qianlong's eyes followed her back until she disappeared behind the door. He then withdrew his gaze, his heart full of concern and love for Xiao Yun.

Qianlong was still sitting there, peeling chestnuts attentively, his fingers dancing nimbly, his movements skillful and natural, as if he was immersed in them, forgetting everything around him. He was concentrating on peeling chestnuts, as if his world at this moment was only the chestnuts in his hands, and every movement was full of his care and concentration.

After a long while, Qianlong slowly raised his head and cast his gaze towards the twelfth prince. There was a hint of inquiry in his eyes, and he said in a low and powerful voice: "Tell me, what exactly do you want from me?" There seemed to be an invisible majesty in his words that made people dare not ignore it easily.

The twelfth prince gripped the medicine bottle tightly, his hand trembling slightly, as if the bottle weighed a thousand pounds. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly, and then he said slowly: "Your Majesty, I do not want to stay in this palace anymore. I voluntarily request to leave the palace. I beg Your Majesty to grant my wish."

As soon as these words left his mouth, Qianlong suddenly stopped peeling the chestnuts. His hand stopped in mid-air, and the chestnut rolled to the side. He raised his head, his eyes as sharp as torches, staring intently at the twelfth prince, his eyes full of confusion and puzzlement, "Why?"

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