The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir

Chapter 57: The throne's turbulent future

By the time they arrived at the large residence's entrance, Ji Man already felt as if she was going to collapse. The inner part of her thighs felt a burning pain from being rubbed against the saddle. Her hairstyle had come undone and her fine black hair was hanging loosely behind her back. Fortunately, she had caught her wooden hairpin before it dropped.

Ning Yuxuan seemed to be in a much better mood. He gently helped her down from the horse. Seeing that she wasn't able to stably stand by herself, he half-supported and half-carried her. In a pleased tone, he said, "You look really pitiful right now."

Ji Man took a deep breath, then she pushed his hand away and leaned against the doorway to stand by herself. After putting her hair up into a bun at the back of her head, she coolly said, "It wouldn't be appropriate for this servant to appear in front of the others in this disorderly state, so this servant will return to her room first."

After saying this, she gritted her teeth and started walking away. Although her legs still felt weak, she didn't want to stay here and make a spectacle of herself.

This rotten guy simply didn't understand how to caringly treat other people. Or perhaps, he just didn't pay attention to someone's well being if she wasn't in his heart. Ji Man sighed. The road to accomplishing Noble Consort Nie's expectations and Nie Sangyu's wish was a long one.

The person behind her didn't chase after her. After Ji Man passed through a small garden, she turned around to look. Seeing that there was no one behind her, she grimaced in pain as she sat down by a rock garden to rest for a while.

"Is Jue-er okay?"

"Ning Mingjie protected him. The third prince is fine."

"It's inevitable that Zhe-er would feel unhappy over what happened today. With each passing day, the empress's faction becomes increasingly powerful. In contrast, Nie Clan's influence has significantly dropped since that last incident. This emperor sometimes worries about the future. If Zhe-er becomes the emperor, will he allow for Jue-er's continued existence? After all, he should feel a sense of brotherhood." A voice that was neither loud nor soft traveled over here from the other side of the rock garden.

Hearing this conversation, Ji Man's entire body stiffened.

Although she wasn't familiar enough with the emperor's voice to recognize it, once she heard that person address himself as "this emperor", her neck felt chilled. She had just wanted to stop here to rest her feet. Why did she end up overhearing the emperor's conversation with a member of his inner circle?!

Regardless of whether or not this discussion was important, she wouldn't be able to keep her head if someone found out that she had overheard this conversation. Ji Man tried to breath quieter. She looked around to check what objects might make a sound if it was disturbed and carefully avoided them as she crouched down behind a large rock.

The emperor continued to speak with the minister. It seemed as if they planned to spend the afternoon here. Ji Man felt extremely annoyed at them. Why weren't they more careful? They should have posted guards around the perimeter to stop people from coming over here and overhearing the emperor's conversation!

But, as she turned this thought over in her head, she remembered that other than Pengshu, all of the other court ladies and eunuchs had been sent away to experience farm life. And, the guards were standing outside of the main courtyard. There really shouldn't be anyone else in this inner area. Ji Man sighed. She could only blame her bad luck.

The two people on the other side of the rock garden went from talking about governmental affairs to family matters. The emperor rather ruefully sighed. "If this emperor could live another ten years, I would definitely make Ninglu empress."