Crossing the Palace Fighting Fox Harem

Chapter 515: Loneliness Burns the Heart

After receiving the imperial edict, Ji Anni was a little dazed. She saw Eunuch Hua off in a daze and returned to her room.

Prince Ming asked curiously, "What is the Eastern Palace?" Ji Anni said, "It's where the Crown Prince lives." Prince Ming asked again, "Can I live with my father?" Ji Anni shook her head slightly and said, "It's a place where you will be taught the ways of being an emperor and replace your father in the future."

After saying this, Ji Anni became worried. Although Long Mohan accepted Prince Ming, wouldn't other ministers in the court object? Prince Ming has a good character, but he has inherited the fox demon blood in his body, and no one knows when it will suddenly erupt. After the general was assassinated by an assassin, the court has been in a panic. There are rumors that it was a secret order from Long Mohan. Although Long Mohan, who is seriously ill, has not officially returned to the court, he has already partially regained the power of the court, so he can make Prince Ming the crown prince.

After a while, Huarong and Yizhen came to congratulate Ji Anni and Prince Ming, and asked about the relocation. Moving to the Prince's Eastern Palace was the emperor's good intention. But Ji Anni asked Yizhen to persuade the emperor to let her stay in Xian Palace. When Prince Ming, who had a serious Oedipus complex, heard that Ji Anni was not going to move, he certainly did not want to move either. Seeing their firm attitude, Yizhen agreed. The next day, Yizhen came to pass on the message that Long Mohan did not force them and agreed that they could continue to stay in Xian Palace.

However, the guards stationed outside the Xian Palace did not withdraw. They were not there to monitor Ji Anni and Prince Ming, but to monitor the Ghost King.

Since then, Xian Palace has been more lively than before. Huarong, Yizhen, and Die'er often appear. Tianning also came once, bringing two strange palace maids. Perhaps she was deliberately avoiding Kang Xiaorong and didn't want to meet Huarong, so she rarely showed up. Concubine Gan came to visit alone, and when she talked about Xiaoxue, she still burst into tears. Later, Prince Ming's two good friends in Wenhua Courtyard, Zhuang Xiaomeng and Changsun Mingri, also reunited with Prince Ming under the guidance of Master.

Suddenly, Ji Anni felt that everything was back to the way it was before. Ten days passed peacefully, and on a calm afternoon, Ji Anni and Yizhen sat in the newly cleaned courtyard. Prince Ming and two friends were playing chess on a chessboard made of wooden stakes not far away.

Looking at the children's happy and cute faces, Yizhen suddenly said: "Every time I see Prince Ming, I wish I could have a child too, so I can experience what it feels like to be a real mother. It's a pity that this wish will never come true in my lifetime..."

As she spoke, she gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen. She had lost her ability to bear children after drinking the sterilizing drug threatened by Concubine An.

Ji Anni recalled what Hua Rong had said before, and tried to ask, "Since you like Prince Ming so much, why not adopt him as your adopted son?"

Considering the future of Prince Ming, it is much better to have the most favored concubine as a stepmother than living alone as a fox demon mother concubine in the palace. Moreover, through more than ten days of getting along, Ji Anni saw that Yizhen really treated Prince Ming as her own son. If she was willing to be the same mother concubine of Prince Ming, Ji Anni would be more than happy.

After hearing what Ji Anni said, Yizhen was not surprised, but smiled softly and said, "I'm afraid Prince Ming is unwilling."

"You are his savior, how could he be unwilling?" Ji Anni said and called Prince Ming who was far away over.

Prince Ming ran over happily, raised his innocent smile and asked, "What's the matter, mother?"

Ji Anni took his hand and pulled him to her side, then pointed at Yizhen who was sitting on the side and said, "Ming'er, from now on, you will also call Concubine Su 'Mother Concubine'."

Prince Ming was startled at once, the smile on his face disappeared in an instant, and he stared at Ji Anni in surprise.

Ji Anni had expected this reaction from him, and she slowly persuaded him, "If it wasn't for Concubine Su Cong who risked her life to save you, how could you escape Yuan Rong's control? If it wasn't for Concubine Su Cong who helped your father, how could you become the crown prince? Concubine Su Cong is your savior. She not only saved your life, but also changed your destiny. It was she who gave you a new life, and she deserves to be your mother."

Ever since Hua Rong suggested to her in the Imperial Garden that Yizhen should recognize Prince Ming as her adopted son, these words have been lingering in Ji Anni's mind. She had wanted to tell Prince Ming a long time ago, but she had never had the chance. Today, she happened to discuss this with Yizhen, and it was a good time for Prince Ming to recognize Yizhen as his adopted mother.

Prince Ming lowered his head, seeming reluctant, but did not protest loudly.

If these words had been said to Prince Ming ten days ago, he would have certainly made a fuss; but ten days later, Prince Ming seemed to have accepted the fact that his father had a new love, and his relationship with Yizhen also improved in an ordinary way.

Seeing this, Ji Anni pulled Prince Ming's hand again and said, "Ming'er, why don't you kowtow to your mother quickly?"

Yizhen said hurriedly, "Forget about the kowtow. I cannot bear the prince's kneeling. Your Highness, I dare not have any other extravagant requests. I only have one wish. In the future, can I call you "Ming'er" like your mother did?"

Prince Ming looked up at Yizhen's gentle smile, but did not answer, just kept his head down.

It was not until Ji Anni tugged at his sleeve that he nodded awkwardly.

Seeing Prince Ming nod, Yizhen and Ji Anni both breathed a sigh of relief. For their own reasons, a slight smile appeared on the corners of their mouths.

The next day, Yizhen obtained the imperial edict from Long Mohan to confer the title of Consort of the Same Mother as her.

Eunuch Hua came to Xian Palace again and read out the contents of the imperial edict aloud in front of Ji Anni, Yizhen and Prince Ming.

From then on, Yizhen began to call Prince Ming "Ming'er", and Prince Ming gradually began to call Yizhen "Mother Concubine". However, Yizhen came to Xian Palace less often than before. Once she didn't show up for three consecutive days. Ji Anni was a little worried and asked Huarong. Then she heard that Long Mohan's condition worsened, and Yizhen waited in front of the imperial bed day and night, so she couldn't get away.

When Prince Ming heard that his father's condition had worsened, he hurriedly asked to visit him. So Ji Annie agreed to let Hua Rong take Prince Ming to visit Long Mohan.

The reason why Ji Anni didn't go herself was because there were still many people in the palace who were afraid that she was a monster. Even if she was not forced to stay at home, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, she usually would not go out.

However, until the early morning of the next day, Prince Ming, who had gone to visit Long Mohan, had not returned yet, and Ji Anni was a little anxious.

Later, when Hua Rong came to Xian Palace to deliver breakfast, she told her that Long Mohan's condition had improved after meeting Prince Ming, and she hoped that Prince Ming would stay with her for a few more days.

Ji Anni thought that she was just a fake mother, but the other party was Prince Ming's real father. They had been separated for a long time, and they should reunite. Besides, Long Mohan was seriously ill, and if Prince Ming's company could make him better, it would be great.

Ji Anni, who had no reason or position to object, agreed silently.

Just like that, the Xian Palace, which was once bustling with activity, suddenly became deserted.

Yizhen and Prince Ming stayed in Long Mohan's palace day and night. Only Huarong came to deliver meals to Ji Anni on time. In the huge palace, when you look up, there are only birds flying by, and when you look down, there are only insects crawling. I don't know what to do every day. No matter what I do, I can't calm down. Time seems very long.

Huarong noticed that Ji Anni was fidgeting and asked, "Are you feeling lonely, Madam?"

Ji Anni was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer.

Hua Rong said softly, "Everything has a price. Your Majesty's loneliness now is the price for Prince Ming to ascend the throne in the future. Prince Ming can finally live with the emperor in intimacy and harmony. This must be the common wish of the emperor, Prince Ming, and even Zhao Ji. Your Majesty, Prince Ming is not your child. Instead of keeping him by your side to relieve his loneliness, it is better to set him free and let him live with his real relatives."

After hearing Hua Rong's words, Ji Anni was even more speechless.

I have to admit that Hua Rong's words always sound reasonable and I can't find any reason to refute them.

What is she to Prince Ming? Even though she once wanted to replace Zhao Ji and be his mother, the motherly love she could give was insignificant in front of the real father. Moreover, Prince Ming now has Yizhen, his "concubine from the same mother", so her significance to Prince Ming becomes even smaller. She believes that the gentle and kind Yizhen will definitely treat Prince Ming better than she does.

The reason why Prince Ming was attached to him was just because he was attached to Zhao Ji's body. But Zhao Ji was no longer in this world. Being obsessed with her body was like being obsessed with an illusory ghost, which was harmful and useless. As long as he stayed away from him, Prince Ming could accept the fact that Zhao Ji had disappeared sooner. For Prince Ming, this was the best way.

If this loneliness was the price to pay for the future of Prince Ming, it was not a heavy price, and Ji Anni was willing to endure it. However, what really made her feel uneasy was another vague feeling - whether it was Yizhen or Huarong, they had gradually become distant from her.

An unprecedented loneliness occupies my empty heart.

One night a few days later, Ji Anni was lying in bed soundly asleep.

The night breeze blew gently outside the window, and the leaves made a rustling sound. There was nothing unusual in the quiet night.

However, Ji Anni suddenly opened her eyes—and woke up without any warning!

"What's going on..." She sat on the bed and subconsciously pressed her forehead. Not only her forehead, but also her back was covered with cold sweat.

At that moment just now, she seemed to feel a mysterious force suddenly piercing her forehead, causing her to suddenly open her eyes.

There was an ominous smell in the wind, as if it was an evil spirit, which made Ji Anni feel a little suffocated.

She hurriedly put on her clothes, got out of bed, opened the window, and carefully sniffed the strange smell in the wind.

The cool night wind outside the window brought a slight smell of evil.

"Is there a monster in the palace?"

He raised his head and stared at the direction where the evil spirit came from, which was the West Palace where Shui Furong was.

After Xi Wei died, Shui Furong had not appeared. Ji Anni became more and more uneasy and decided to go over and take a look.