"That's why I went by myself,"
Chu Qianli said with a mischievous smile. "If I had told him beforehand, he certainly wouldn't have agreed."
Feng Jinrui looked dejected. "I wanted to go too. I could have protected you."
"But I don't need your protection. Besides, Fulong and Funing are with me."
"But..." Feng Jinrui looked at her again, almost in tears!
"But I don't want to be emperor at all! You demoness, you and Big Brother go off to live a life of leisure, yet you want to leave me behind, trapped in this imperial palace. You... you are so heartless!"
If he weren't a grown man, Feng Jinrui would have cried.
He knew that once his elder brother completely dismantled the medicinal soldier legion and subdued or killed Nangong Shuya, his elder brother would take the demoness and leave.
He had known this all along!
He was just unwilling!
"I am also... I am also a part of your family." Why didn't they take him along?
These words were spoken with such grievance.
Even Chu Qianli could hear the heartache in them.
"I originally didn't plan to tell you. I was afraid you'd give yourself away."
"What do you mean?" Feng Jinrui's face lit up with surprise.
Did they have another plan?
Did this plan include taking him with them?
"It won't be long," Chu Qianli gently patted his shoulder. "Jinrui, you're not cut out to be an emperor... cough, I don't mean you're stupid, I just mean you're not suited for it. So... trust me, you'll soon be out of this suffering. Trust me!"
"But..."
"I really can't tell you right now. Just continue to stay in the palace and handle matters as you are."
"You know I'm not suited to be an emperor." Didn't she just say that herself?
If that was the case, why did she want him to stay in the palace?
"Yes, yes, someone knows better than me that you're not cut out to be an emperor, so someone will definitely help you."
Chu Qianli leaned closer to him, her voice very soft. "Don't you trust me?"
"I..." He really wanted to trust the demoness. He had long considered the demoness as one of his own.
But he didn't know what the demoness was planning.
He also didn't know how much longer he would have to stay in the palace.
He wanted to go to the battlefield with his elder brother, fight Nangong Shuya together, and save the medicinal people.
He didn't want to stay in the palace for another moment.
"I really can't tell you, you'll give yourself away. But trust me, I will save you from this inferno very soon. As long as you sincerely handle the affairs of the state, you will return to our side soon."
"Really?" Feng Jinrui still didn't quite believe it. Could something so good happen?
But she was the demoness!
How could he not trust the demoness?
"Really, trust me. Now, hurry back." Chu Qianli patted his shoulder again.
Although Feng Jinrui was unwilling, who could he blame? He trusted Chu Qianli so much.
He was finally persuaded by Chu Qianli to go back.
After watching Feng Jinrui leave, Chu Qianli continued towards the palace gate.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she exited the palace, she was stopped again.
"...Ninth Uncle?"
Seeing Feng Dingchu sitting on a tree drinking, Chu Qianli felt a sudden pang of guilt.
"Ninth, Ninth Uncle, why are you sitting here alone?"
"What? You don't want to see me?" Feng Dingchu lowered his gaze, staring at her figure, which clearly had something to hide. "Or are you afraid that I would hear everything you said to Feng Jinrui, word for word?"