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Lu Liangwei walked over and stared at her in bewilderment as well.

Frowning at his stubborn sister, Long Yin asked, “What do you mean, it was your fault?”

Ji’er bit her lip and bowed her head. “I’m in love with Lil Qi, and I want to marry him…” Her voice trailed off.

Long Yang and Lu Liangwei were speechless with shock.

Long Yin was just as appalled as he stared at her.

Ji’er was still so young, but she was already declaring that she was in love with Lil Qi…

Chief Physician Lin and Steward Chen wanted nothing but to disappear from the place.

What had they just heard?

Did the Third Princess just say she was in love with Chu Qi and wanted to marry him?

She had practically been raised by Chu Qi alone!

They were too horrified to look at the Emperor and Empress’s faces.

Yaoyao was dumbfounded as well.

She had not expected Ji’er to reveal her feelings to their parents so suddenly.

However, when her eyes went to Lil Qi lying unconscious in bed, she suddenly understood why she was saying this.

If Big Bro Lil Qi had not been unconscious, he would have fled today.

Although Ji’er had said last night that she would not ask Father to decree Lil Qi as her prince consort, she had not given up on her feelings for Lil Qi either.

Now that Lil Qi was in a coma, she must be overwhelmed with guilt.

Lu Liangwei was the first to collect herself. She bent down and pulled Ji’er to her feet, then smoothed out her hair and said gently, “Let’s continue this conversation in my palace, my girl.” With that, she took her hand and started to head outside.

Ji’er glanced over her shoulder at Lil Qi on the bed and said anxiously, “But Lil Qi’s not awake yet…”

“There are plenty of people who can take care of him. Don’t worry.” Lu Liangwei’s voice was soft, but there was also an assertive edge to it.

Seeing that even her usually gentle mother had gotten a little vexed, Ji’er did not dare to argue.

Long Yang gave Chief Physician Lin and Steward Chen a few instructions and checked on Chu Qi one last time before finally leaving with Lu Liangwei and their children.

Grand Phoenix Palace.

None of them spoke after returning to the palace, and a gloomy silence hung over their heads.

Ji’er sneaked an uneasy peek at her parents’ faces.

Lu Liangwei massaged her forehead, still unable to digest what Ji’er had said in the South Conquering General Mansion.

Throughout those five years when Lil Qi had been away, Ji’er had not shown any unusual behavior. For that reason, she thought that Ji’er had gradually gotten used to Lil Qi’s absence and had gotten less attached to him with time.

Never had she expected that Ji’er would end up forming an idea like that in her mind.

The scene of Ji’er feeding Lil Qi his medicine in the General Mansion came to her mind again, and all of a sudden, her heart felt heavy.

It seemed that her children had grown up and developed their own worries and secrets without her noticing it.

Just then, Long Yang spoke with a frown, “Ji’er, regarding what you said in the General Mansion just now—we’ll pretend we didn’t hear it and you never said it, so don’t ever bring it up again.”

He believed that Ji’er must have said those words on impulse.

Ji’er furrowed her brow and replied, “But I’m serious—I wasn’t acting on impulse.”

The veins on Long Yang’s forehead bulged as he struggled to stifle his anger. “Do you know what you are saying?”

“Of course I do.” Ji’er could not stop herself from getting defensive. “I’m grown up, and I know what I’m doing.”

“Long Ji’er!” Long Yang boomed, looking as if he was about to explode any second.

Lu Liangwei hastily pressed a hand over his and shot him a disapproving look. “Can’t you listen to her without getting angry?” She then turned to Long Yin and Yaoyao. “Go take your father for a walk in the imperial garden.”

“Yes, Mother.” Long Yin got to his feet, knowing that his mother wanted to talk to Ji’er alone

Yaoyao immediately went up to Long Yang and took his arm affectionately. “Father, the plum blossoms in the imperial garden have bloomed. Let’s go and admire them together.”

Long Yang was in no mood to admire flowers.

However, he nodded as he did not want to reject his children’s good intentions.

He left Grand Phoenix Palace accompanied by Yaoyao and Long Yin.

Once they were gone, Ji’er slumped in her seat like a deflated balloon.