Chapter 494: Chapter 494: Incompatible

Jiang Ning didn’t pay much attention to this.

They were such young children and siblings; there was no need for so many rules.

Lingzi hugged her mother’s neck and whispered, “Mom, I’m hungry.”

“Lingzi is hungry, let’s go eat.”

“I want Aunt Chunlai to feed me.”

Lingzi reached out to Chunlai.

Chunlai looked at Jiang Ning and Li Hongyuan, not daring to answer.

She knew that the Crown Prince had strict requirements for the children; once they turned one, they were not allowed to be fed by others.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince seemed not to have heard this time; he put Wenzan on the ground and said, “Go eat, and play again afterward.”

Wenzan handed his little hand to Chunlai.

Chunlai then led Lingzi with one hand and Wenzan with the other.

There were still a few palace maids left in the room, but all of them tactfully withdrew.

Only Jiang Ning and Li Hongyuan remained.

Jiang Ning sat on the edge of the bed, tidying up the children’s clothes and toys, and asked with a smile, “How has your work been going outside?”

“Not bad.”

Li Hongyuan’s gaze swept over her.

She was still the same.

Wearing a soft, fine cloth dress, sleeves rolled up to show her delicate, fair arms.

Her wrist had only a thin golden bracelet, making her skin look even fairer.

Beyond that, she had no other adornments.

Her long hair was loosely tied with a single ribbon, her slightly yellowish hair was soft and curled; her unpainted face, in the sunlight, clearly revealed fine downy hair.

She seemed so incompatible with the strict and luxurious Imperial Palace around her.

Li Hongyuan had seen countless palace women in his life, from the empress to palace maids, including his concubine mother, Concubine Jin. They were all dignified, powdered, and rouged.

Over time, it was as if they were all wearing a layer of masks.

And yet, Jiang Ning had always been free of makeup, always showing her natural face.

A rosy, soft, fresh face.

Like a baby’s.

Li Hongyuan stood beside her, watching for a while, then reached out his finger to touch her cheek.

As expected, it was as soft as he imagined.

Jiang Ning looked back at him in surprise, “What are you doing?”

“Ahem.”

Li Hongyuan met her eyes, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.

Their relationship had not yet reached such a level of familiarity and intimacy.

Not long ago, they were still mutually hostile and tense. Although he had confessed his feelings many times, she never seemed to take them to heart.

Their relationship was more like business partners than husband and wife.

His status allowed her to soar, and her intelligence, beauty, and her family’s power ensured his stability on the position of the Crown Prince.

They used and achieved success for each other.

Li Hongyuan understood that clearly from her eyes.

So he stopped saying things like he liked her.

“I heard that Wenren Zong is doing well in exile.”

“Really?” Jiang Ning hadn’t heard Wenren Thirteen’s name from others in a long time.

He was an accomplice to the traitorous King of Chen and a banished criminal.

Normally, there would be no chance for him to return.

But it was hard to say.

Generally, when a new emperor ascended the throne, he would pardon everyone, demonstrating his immense grace.

With this in mind, Jiang Ning looked at Li Hongyuan.

Would he be a benevolent emperor when he ascended the throne?

Obviously not.

Then, perhaps there was no hope for Wenren Zong to return.

“Why don’t you say anything? I thought you still had Wenren Zong on your mind.” Li Hongyuan added..