jdhmnovel Chapter 240 The Imperial Palace's Teachings
Chapter 240 The Imperial Palace's Teachings
As the sun set, its orange-red afterglow bathed the royal palace of the Nanzhao Kingdom, draping the majestic palace in a soft veil. In the imperial garden, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and a gentle breeze caused the blossoms to sway—a scene that should have been one of tranquility and peace. However, inside the imperial study, the atmosphere was unusually heavy.
Xiao Jingchuan, dressed in a black dragon robe, sat upright in the main seat of the study, his face cold and stern, his eyes revealing both authority and disappointment. Mu Qingling stood to the side, dressed in a moon-white gown, her expression concerned yet tinged with helplessness. Xiao Nanyi and Xiao Nanyao stood before them with their heads bowed, their small bodies trembling slightly, not daring to make a sound.
"Do you know your mistake?" Xiao Jingchuan's deep and powerful voice echoed in the quiet study, breaking the oppressive silence.
Xiao Nan Yi slightly raised his head, secretly glanced at Xiao Jing Chuan, then quickly lowered his head and whispered, "Father, I know I was wrong." His voice trembled slightly, and his hands unconsciously clutched the hem of his clothes, his heart filled with remorse.
Xiao Nanyao bit her lip tightly, her eyes reddening and tears welling up: "Father, I know I was wrong. We shouldn't have sneaked out of the palace." Her voice was trembling with sobs, and she felt very sad thinking about how her willfulness had worried her parents.
Xiao Jingchuan looked at the two children, his brows furrowed: "You left the palace without permission and almost encountered danger. Do you know how serious this is? If someone hadn't rescued you, the consequences would have been unimaginable!" His voice was filled with anger, but even more so with worry for the children.
Mu Qingling stepped forward, knelt down, and looked tenderly at Xiao Nanyi and Xiao Nanyao: "Yi'er, Yao'er, you are the apple of your father and mother's eye. We only hope that you can be safe and sound. The outside world is complicated and dangerous, and you are still too young to cope with it." Her voice was gentle, and her eyes were full of love and heartache.
Xiao Nan Yi raised his head, tears glistening in his eyes: "Mother, we know we were wrong, and we will never do it again. We were just curious about the outside world, and we didn't expect to encounter bad people." His eyes were filled with guilt, and he regretted his impulsiveness.
Xiao Nanyao sobbed, "We've worried Father and Mother. We really know we were wrong." Her little hands gripped Mu Qingling's clothes tightly, as if that would bring her some comfort.
Xiao Jingchuan sighed, "This time I must teach you a profound lesson. You are not allowed to eat tonight. Reflect on your behavior." Although his tone was firm, he felt a little reluctant when he saw the children's remorseful expressions.
Xiao Nan Yi and Xiao Nan Yao nodded obediently without arguing. They knew they had made a serious mistake and needed to be punished.
"Alright, you can all go back to your rooms now," Mu Qingling said softly as she stood up. A hint of reluctance flickered in her eyes, but she also understood that it was time for the children to learn to bear the consequences.
Xiao Nanyi and Xiao Nanyao lowered their heads and silently left the imperial study. Back in their room, Xiao Nanyi sat on the edge of the bed, saying nothing. Xiao Nanyao lay on the bed, sobbing softly.
"Brother, I'm so hungry and sad." Xiao Nanyao looked up at Xiao Nanyi, her eyes full of grievance.
Xiao Nanyi walked over and gently patted her back: "Yao'er, don't be sad. This is the punishment we deserve for making mistakes. We must be obedient from now on and not worry our father and mother anymore." Although his voice was still young, it carried a hint of maturity and responsibility.
Night fell, and the palace was shrouded in darkness, with only a few lights flickering. In Xiao Nan Yi and Xiao Nan Yao's room, all was quiet. They lay in bed, their stomachs growling with hunger, but neither of them uttered a sound.
After an unknown amount of time, the door was gently opened. Mu Qingling walked in carrying a bowl of porridge and some snacks. Her eyes were full of heartache: "Children, get up and eat something, don't go hungry."
Xiao Nan Yi and Xiao Nan Yao sat up and looked at Mu Qing Ling with surprise in their eyes: "Mother, didn't you say you would punish us by not letting us eat?" Xiao Nan Yao's voice was filled with doubt and anticipation.
Mu Qingling sat on the edge of the bed and said gently, "I'm punishing you so you'll remember this lesson, but I can't really let you go hungry. Eat, and then get some rest." As she spoke, she handed the children porridge and snacks.
Xiao Nanyi and Xiao Nanyao took the food and wolfed it down. Mu Qingling watched them, her eyes full of affection: "You can't be so willful anymore, okay?"
Xiao Nanyi and Xiao Nanyao eagerly took the tempting food from Mu Qingling's hands, devouring it like starving wolves. Mu Qingling sat smiling on the edge of the bed, gazing quietly at the two children, her eyes filled with boundless love and tenderness.
"You can't be so willful anymore, okay?" Mu Qingling gently instructed. Upon hearing this, Xiao Nanyi and Xiao Nanyao quickly stopped chewing and nodded repeatedly in agreement, "Mother, we know! We will definitely be obedient from now on and won't make you and Father angry anymore." Because their mouths were full of food, their speech was slurred, but their firm eyes seemed to tell Mu Qingling of their inner determination.
After the children devoured their food, Mu Qingling carefully cleaned the crumbs from their mouths, then gently pulled the blankets over them, carefully covering them so as not to wake the two adorable little ones. Having done this, she bent down and placed a soft kiss on each child's forehead, whispering, "Sleep well, my darlings, may you have sweet dreams tonight." With that, she slowly rose and tiptoed towards the door, afraid to make a sound that might disturb the sleeping children. As she reached the door, she couldn't help but glance back at the peacefully sleeping Xiao Nanyi and Xiao Nanyao on the bed before gently closing the door and leaving.
Xiao Nan Yi and Xiao Nan Yao snuggled together in their warm, comfortable bed, and soon drifted off into a sweet dream. In their dream, they saw themselves strolling through a magnificent palace with their beloved parents, laughter echoing in every corner. The sunlight warmed them, making them feel incredibly comfortable. They played and frolicked to their hearts' content, sometimes chasing each other, sometimes playing hide-and-seek, their happy moments seemingly never ending. In this beautiful dream, they no longer had to worry about their parents; their family was happy and harmonious.