Money!
Yes, it's about money!
The matter of losing the bet with Jun Ning has almost been settled by now.
Emperor Yongning lost!
Regarding his own loss, Emperor Yongning did not outwardly show blame, disappointment, or helplessness toward the Empress. After all, it was his own wager; he chose to place the bet, and losing it was no one's fault but his own.
However, under the pretense of treating Jun Yu's injuries, caring for Jun Yu, and later finding a teacher to enlighten Jun Yu with studies, he managed to obtain a thousand taels of gold from the Empress!
It shows that he still blames the Empress in his heart.
The Empress could no longer leave Jiaofang Palace, and she had essentially lost control over the harem. Calling her an Empress in name only wasn't an exaggeration.
But, nominally, the seventeenth prince was still her Empress's son.
As long as the political conflict between Dongchu and the Northern Barbarians remained unresolved, this fact couldn't change.
