Chapter 587: Mo Lingwei Pays a Visit

Chapter 587: Chapter 587: Mo Lingwei Pays a Visit

The gatekeeper was the one to open the doors. As soon as he pulled them apart, he saw the tall figure standing outside.

It was the noble Crown Prince, dressed in dark cyan robes. His Jade Crown was beaded with the night’s dew, which refracted the early morning sun with a cool glimmer.

Beneath the crown, his sharp, sword-like brows and fine eyelashes were dusted with frost, just like the embroidery on his shoulders.

It was impossible to tell how long Mo Lingwei had been standing there.

The gatekeeper rubbed his eyes. When he saw clearly that it was indeed Mo Lingwei, he quickly bowed and asked, his back bent, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, what brings you here? Are you here to see... to see the Chancellor?"

The gatekeeper had originally wanted to ask if Mo Lingwei was here to see the Princess.

But when he recalled the recent unpleasantness he’d heard about between the Princess and Mo Lingwei, he changed his question to ask about his master instead.

Mo Lingwei’s thin lips were pressed into a line. His eyes, clear evidence of a sleepless night, were bloodshot.

"I’m looking for Shen Ningning."

The gatekeeper hesitated. He remembered that the young master had given orders just yesterday: if anyone from the Crown Prince came looking for the Princess, they were to be turned away.

But now that the Crown Prince had come in person, the gatekeeper didn’t have the courage to refuse him entry.

He said, looking troubled, "The Princess has likely not woken up yet."

"It doesn’t matter. I will continue to wait. When she wakes, you may go and announce me on my behalf."

After he spoke, Mo Lingwei truly did remain standing at the gate.

The morning sun rose, filling the sky with brilliant light. Dew clung to his shoulders, and his gaze was unshakably firm.

Seeing this, the gatekeeper didn’t dare to stop him. He could only hurry back into the residence to inform his master.

A moment later, a properly dressed Xie Suzhi hurried to the main gate.

"Your Highness, you honor us with your presence. I was not aware and have been remiss," Xie Suzhi said, clasping his hands in a salute.

Mo Lingwei helped him up. "Prime Minister, there is no need to blame yourself. I only came to have a word with Shen Ningning. It’s nothing else. Please, feel free to attend to your own affairs."

The elegant expression on Xie Suzhi’s face did not change; he remained as deferential as ever.

"In that case, Your Highness, why not come into the residence to wait? You can have some tea."

Mo Lingwei considered for a moment before stepping inside.

In the reception hall, Housekeeper Pang brought in a pot of fine, freshly picked tea.

Having received permission, Xie Suzhi took a seat subordinate to Mo Lingwei’s.

Facing Xie Suzhi, Mo Lingwei thought of the Emperor’s demand of Shen Ningning and felt a pang of shame.

He set back down the teacup he had just lifted. "Prime Minister, there is something I wish to clarify with you first, lest you find out later and it leads to a misunderstanding."

Xie Suzhi’s expression was placid, his lips curved into a polite, appropriate smile.

"What Your Highness wishes to speak of must be the matter the Emperor discussed privately with my daughter, is it not?"

Mo Lingwei started, raising a skeptical brow. "The Prime Minister knows?"

Xie Suzhi smiled, but his eyes held a dark, cold light.

"I did not know at first. It is shameful to admit, but I, her father, often speak of how I dote on my daughter, yet when something truly happened, I only just now learned she had been so terribly wronged."

Mo Lingwei lowered his gaze, an apologetic look softening his stern features.

"My father the Emperor was inconsiderate. Shen Ningning has a pure and kind heart, which is why she agreed to his unreasonable demand. Before I came here, my father told me that he regrets his actions. I have come today specifically to apologize to Shen Ningning."

Xie Suzhi looked up. "And then?"

Mo Lingwei froze, not understanding the meaning behind his question.

The gentle detachment Chancellor Xie usually displayed was gone. In its place was a sharpness as keen as a blade’s edge.

"Even if Your Highness obtains Ningning’s forgiveness, what then? Do you intend to continue telling my daughter that you love her?"

Mo Lingwei’s jaw tightened, his dark eyes fixed on Xie Suzhi.

He enunciated each word with conviction. "I do love her."

Xie Suzhi gave a helpless smile and slowly shook his head.

"Forgive my impudence, Your Highness. You may love her, but as a father, I do not wish for my daughter to marry you after she has been so wronged."

"I have weathered the ups and downs of the court for many years, always putting the people first and honoring the Emperor. My family’s creed is to be loyal to the Monarch and defend the nation, never to harbor dissent. Yet the Emperor has grown wary of my accomplishments and contributions, seeing me as a powerful in-law who could threaten the Crown Prince’s position."

"Even if this misunderstanding is now resolved and Ningning does not mind, should she truly marry into the Imperial Palace, I fear that with the slightest stir in the Imperial Court, someone will use the ’overly powerful in-law’ argument to attack my daughter."

"Therefore, Your Highness, if you truly love her, you should learn that it is enough to see her happy and free. You should not insist on keeping her by your side. Your position is unassailable. When you ascend the throne as Monarch, you will need a good Empress, and my daughter, Ningning, is by no means suited for such a taxing role."

Mo Lingwei fell silent.

Slanted rays of light shone through a golden lotus screen. A breeze stirred, and the bronze bells beneath the eaves chimed in response.

After a long moment, he said, "I trust Shen Ningning to have her own judgment and to make her own choice. I understand and can appreciate everything you have just said, Prime Minister."

"However, how Shen Ningning ultimately chooses is not the most important thing. I still intend to apologize to her and to express my feelings. Whether she accepts is not important; I will completely respect her decision, whatever it may be."

Hearing this, Xie Suzhi lifted his chin slightly, his expression growing serious.

After a moment, he gave a slight nod and said to the housekeeper at his side, "Go to the rear courtyard and ask if Ningning is awake. If she is, have her come to the front hall. Tell her the Crown Prince is waiting."

"Yes, sir." Uncle Pang hurried away.

A short while later, Uncle Pang ran back to report. "The Princess is awake. She says she will be here shortly."

Xie Suzhi took the initiative to stand. "Your Highness, I believe there are some matters the two of you need to discuss alone. That being the case, I will not stay. I have some trivial matters to attend to at the palace, I will go handle them and return later."

Mo Lingwei rose to see him off.

When Xie Suzhi reached the entrance, Housekeeper Pang already had his carriage waiting.

"Master, if the Princess reconciles with the Crown Prince, will you still resign and go into seclusion?"

"Yes. The Emperor’s actions have left me deeply disheartened. To continue serving such a man would be an injustice to my own daughter. My two sons have already distinguished themselves at court; my absence will not matter."

He was going to the Imperial Palace this time precisely to tender his resignation.

He had already made up his mind: he would take his daughter traveling around the world to help her clear her mind.

Xie Suzhi stooped and boarded the carriage.

Inside the hall, Mo Lingwei found himself growing nervous as he waited for Shen Ningning.

’Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, she no longer has those worries. Will our relationship go back to the way it was before?’

Mo Lingwei paced back and forth in the hall, wondering how he should begin the conversation, until Shen Ningning’s figure appeared at the doorway.

"Brother, you’ve been pacing back and forth. Aren’t you getting dizzy?" The young woman, dressed in pink and white, wore a faint smile as bright and dazzling as morning dew in early spring.

Mo Lingwei froze, a flicker of joy lighting up within him.

Shen Ningning’s attitude was finally no longer as distant as it had been.