Chu Youning had not expected this.
On the very first morning of the Lunar New Year.
After entering the palace and paying her respects to Wu Qingyuan, she waited for the imperial family to gather for breakfast, only to find Chu Wenzong nowhere in sight.
Seeing Cui Zhao'an arrive with Chu Lange and Little Wukong, she could not help glancing toward the door.
As Cui Zhao'an greeted Wu Qingyuan, she spoke with an apologetic look in her eyes. "Mother, His Majesty is feeling a little unwell this morning. He feared passing his illness to everyone over the New Year, so I could only bring Ge'er and Yuan'er to wish you a happy New Year in his stead."
"Is it serious?"
Since the incident involving Chu Zhaohua, Wu Qingyuan had become thoroughly cool and withdrawn. Now, when she spoke, her voice carried a quiet composure.
"Not too serious. But seeing a physician and taking medicine on New Year's Day would be unlucky, so he can only rest in bed for a couple of days and weather this cold."
Cui Zhao'an spoke slowly.
Chu Youning, standing nearby, was somewhat surprised.
When her gaze met Chu Lange's, Chu Lange looked at her for only a few seconds before quickly lowering her head again.
She looked rather guilty.
From the looks of it, was yesterday's game so intense that my dear imperial brother's defenses shattered, and he accidentally fell ill?
After all, she had played a part in it too.
After having breakfast with everyone, sitting for a while to chat with Wu Qingyuan and Cui Zhao'an, and collecting New Year's money from her own mother and Cui Zhao'an, Chu Youning finally went to check on Chu Wenzong, carrying the tiniest trace of guilt.
Afraid of passing his illness to Cui Zhao'an, Chu Wenzong