When Yun Shang woke up again, it was already dark. Prince Jing was sitting on a chair reading a book. The fire in the room was bright, so he didn't feel cold at all. Yun Shang casually took a piece of clothing and put it on his body.
"The prince has left?"
Prince Jing nodded, seemingly absent-mindedly, causing Yun Shang to look at him several times.
As if aware of Yun Shang's gaze, Prince Jing put down his book and stood up, "I asked Qianyin to warm the food. If you are hungry, eat first." With that, he walked to Yun Shang.
He helped Yun Shang gather her clothes, and took a big cloak to put on her, "Although there is a stove in the house, you should not wear too little, as you may catch cold easily."
Yun Shang responded softly, raised her eyes and glanced at Prince Jing several times, "What did Wang Jinhuan say? You don't look too good."
King Jing frowned and pulled Yun Shang to sit down at the table, "Wang Jinhuan said that next month when the emperor ennobles the queen, the Emperor of Xia will come to the imperial city in person to discuss peace. But I suspect that the purpose of his coming is...
I……"
"Yeah." Yun Shang nodded. In fact, when she was in Jingyang, she knew that if the Emperor of Xia knew about the existence of Prince Jing, no matter what, he would definitely come to confirm it in person. "What are you going to do?"
A flash of thought flashed in Prince Jing's eyes, and he shook his head, "I don't have any plans yet, let everything take its course."
Yun Shang didn't speak. She knew that Prince Jing was a serious person. Although he let nature take its course, he was already fully prepared, so there was nothing to worry about.
Li Yiran is now dead. As for Hua Jing, Yun Shang squinted her eyes. Ning Hua Jing is quite interesting. She shouldn't be in a hurry, just take her time.
After getting rid of Jing Wenxi and paving the way for the mother-in-law and Chen Xi, she no longer has much to worry about in Ningguo. If she marries her husband, she will follow her husband, so she is naturally willing to follow Prince Jing.
Yun Shang smoothed her hair and smiled, "It doesn't matter, no matter what you choose in the end, I will support you."
Prince Jing raised his eyes and looked at Yun Shang. He felt that under the dim light, the woman in front of him was incredibly beautiful. He did not hide the amazement in his eyes. Prince Jing smiled and raised his hand to help Yun Shang close her arms.
She combed her hair, lowered her voice, squinted her eyes, and said softly, "Let me think about it, what I want most right now is that you give me a child, do you support it?"
Yun Shang was stunned for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and looked at Prince Jing. She raised her feet under the table slightly and stepped on Prince Jing's feet, "I'm going to talk to you about something serious. Can you be more serious? Morning.
Knowing what you look like, I would never choose to get married to you!"
"Oh? What does it look like? If you don't marry me, who else can you marry?" Prince Jing smiled slightly, as if he didn't care about Yun Shang's little actions, and looked very satisfied, "Look at how barbaric you are, except for me.
Who can stand you? Huh?"
Okay, she's savage? Yun Shang snorted. There were quite a few people who said she was savage and willful in her previous life, but in this life, everyone praised her for being gentle and calm. Even on the battlefield, most of the soldiers said she was brave.
Scheming and barbaric? Yun Shang glared at Prince Jing, "Although I am barbaric, I still have many suitors, and I was already married when I was only fifteen years old. Prince Jing is handsome and handsome, and he is admired by everyone.
God of War, he is already an old man in his mid-twenties, but he still doesn’t have a woman. Only I, the princess, looked at your pity and reluctantly accepted you. Shouldn’t the prince be grateful to me?"
Prince Jing laughed a little, but this girl was not willing to be outdone in the bickering, "Yes, yes, I should express my gratitude to the princess for her understanding and righteousness. Well, I have nothing to offer, so I can only pledge myself to you."
Yes, I am yours tonight."
Pfft... Yun Shang almost choked on her saliva. Prince Jing was really shameless for being so shameless. Just as he was thinking about it, he heard a soft voice coming from outside, "Is the princess awake? I will bring you food."
coming."
Yun Shang responded, "Send it in."
Qianyin led several maids in, placed the food on the table, and asked the maids to retreat, then said with a smile, "Princess, the emperor's secret guards haven't evacuated yet, so what's the imperial edict?"
It has to be changed every day, but now the people are spreading the word more and more fiercely, I'm afraid it won't be suppressed soon."
Yun Shang narrowed her eyes and smiled, picked up the bowl, and saw Qianyin also placing bowls and chopsticks in front of Prince Jing, raising her eyebrows and saying, "Why haven't you eaten yet, Your Majesty?"
Qianyin giggled and said, "Earlier, the slave asked the prince if he wanted to eat first. The prince said that he wanted to wait for the princess to come with him. The relationship between the prince and the princess is really good."
Hearing this, Yun Shang raised her eyes and glared at Qianyin. This maid was too indulgent. She used to just make fun of her in front of her. Now, these days, Prince Jing doesn't seem to be as indifferent as the rumors say.
He also began to have no scruples in front of Prince Jing.
Qianyin stuck out her tongue and didn't speak again.
Prince Jing was aroused. "I have also been thinking these past two days. There are so many royal guards and secret guards protecting the notice board every day, overtly and covertly. How could the edict be tampered with?"
of?"
Yun Shang chuckled lightly, "It's just a little trick. My father was misled by the moment when the edict turned red. If the prince thinks about it carefully, he will naturally understand the mystery."
"Oh?" King Jing heard this and thought for a while before asking, "Could it be that someone tampered with the edict while writing it? It should be that a special potion was used and it would take some time for it to show up?"
With a bit of appreciation in her eyes, Yun Shang said with a smile, "It will be earlier. The paper used to write the edict is always provided by the imperial merchants. There haven't been many things recently, and this is the only thing that needs to be written. So I
When I learned that Jing Wenxi was going to be the queen, I had someone send the paper in question..."
"Your calculations are very thorough. No wonder the emperor couldn't find out. Even if the emperor figured out that the problem did not arise after the edict was posted, he would at most think that someone had tampered with the edict when it was written.
I will think about that piece of paper again." Prince Jing looked at Yun Shang with a smile, "I have married a very remarkable princess."
Yun Shang smiled slightly, immersed herself in eating, and said no more.
The imperial edict incident continued to ferment, because there was something wrong with the imperial edicts sent to various places, and the rumors were getting stronger, but it was difficult to suppress them. Even if Emperor Ning and the Jing family did not say it with their mouths, they became increasingly uneasy in their hearts.
He got up and hurriedly brought Master Wu Na and Ling Xuzi to the imperial city, and chose the fifteenth day of February to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for blessings at the altar, and let Ling Xuzi and Master Wu Na come together at the
On that day, divination was performed on the altar to predict the fate of the Ning Kingdom.
Abbot Wu Na was arranged to live in the inn in the imperial city, together with Ling Xuzi, but that day, the two of them had a fierce fight. Both of their kung fu were considered to be the best among masters. Once they started fighting, the inn became very violent.
Suffered from seedlings.
The next day, Emperor Ning arranged for Master Wu Na to live in Prince Jing's Mansion, while Ling Xuzi lived in the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Yun Shang held the chess piece and looked at the monk opposite, and sighed, "I was still counting on Ling Xuzi to talk to me, but you were lucky enough to start a fight as soon as you came. I heard that you beat him so hard that his arm was broken?"
Abbot Wu Na snorted, "That bastard Niubi, I say drink Nuer Hong, but he insists on drinking Shao Knife. We are incompatible with each other!"
Yun Shang's hand paused slightly and the corners of her mouth twitched, "Just for this?"
Abbot Wu Na nodded, "Of course, this is a matter of principle. I never drink wine as rough as Shaodaozi."
"..." Yun Shang frowned and was speechless.
Qianyin on the side also almost fell to the ground, and said tremblingly, "Why not buy two kinds of wine together, the master drinks the master's daughter's red, and the Taoist priest drinks the Taoist priest's Shao Knife..."
"Well, I didn't think of it at the time." Master Wu Na's face remained calm and he calmly paused.
"..." This time, even Qianyin didn't know what to say.
On February 15th, early in the morning, all the civil and military officials were already waiting under the altar. Because it was just an ordinary sacrifice to heaven, there were many people surrounding it. Abbot Wu Na and Ling Xuzi were sitting on the altar.
He was sitting on both sides meditating, his mouth constantly moving.
At around noon, Emperor Ning walked in wearing sacrificial robes. Everyone knelt down to greet him. Only Emperor Ning slowly climbed up the steps and walked to the center of the altar.
Abbot Wu Na and Ling Xuzi stood up and saluted Emperor Ning. Manager Zheng on the side quickly placed the sacrifices on the altar and handed the lit incense to Emperor Ning.
Emperor Ning knelt down and bowed three times to the altar, "May the national fortune of Ning be prosperous..."
All the civil and military officials below bowed three times and then said, "May the national fortune of Ningguo be prosperous."
Then Emperor Ning raised his voice and said, "Today's sacrifice to heaven is to pray for blessings. I specially ask Abbot Wu Na and Taoist Master Ling Xuzi to guide God's will..."
Abbot Wu Na and Ling Xuzi stood up, bowed, and walked to the center of the altar. Master Wu Na held the lottery tube in his hand, and Ling Xuzi held two horns.
The pen and paper were handed over, and the results of the divination were written on the paper, and each of them handed it to the waiter beside him.
Manager Zheng took it over and read loudly, "It is not appropriate for the evildoers to deceive the country. If we can deal with them, we can ensure the prosperity of Ningguo for hundreds of years."
Emperor Ning, who was on the altar, was shocked when he heard this. He suddenly looked at Manager Zheng. Manager Zheng also trembled. He took out another piece of paper and was silent for a moment before saying, "The other piece of paper is the same."
The content is word for word..."
Emperor Ning secretly clenched his fists in his sleeves, and the officials under the altar were whispering. Although he could not hear what they were saying, he knew that they must be talking about this matter.
Emperor Ning suppressed the anger in his heart and raised his voice, "It is not appropriate for a monster to be a queen, but a country cannot live without a queen. May I ask you two, who should be the queen?"
Master Wu Na and Ling Xuzi started divination again. After a while, they wrote down the results on the paper and handed it to Manager Zheng. Manager Zheng trembled slightly, glanced at it, but was stunned again, "
The new queen should be born on the 17th day of the fifth month of the Wuxu year, and she is currently located in the southwest of the palace." After saying that, he picked up another piece of paper and said, "The same goes for the other one."
Emperor Ning was stunned for a moment. He couldn't explain the emotions welling up in his heart. He originally thought it would be Concubine Jin, but it turned out not to be the case. He remembered Concubine Jin's birthday very clearly, it should be in July...
The result of this sacrifice and prayer was completely different from what Emperor Ning had in mind, so he had to end it in a hurry. He sighed in his heart. He originally wanted to use this sacrifice to absolve Jing Wenxi of the crime of deceiving the country, but he didn't expect that it would actually happen in the end.
, and the woman who was born on the 17th day of May in the Year of Wuxu, no matter who she was, must be made the queen.
Not long after returning to the palace, I heard Manager Zheng coming to announce, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Jing and Miss Jing would like to see you."
Emperor Ning frowned and said, "Explain it."
Jing Kui and Jing Wenxi both looked very unhappy. As soon as they walked into the palace, they knelt down in a hurry. Jing Kui quickly kowtowed to Emperor Ning, "Your Majesty, someone must be framing this matter."
My dear, please ask the emperor to make the decision..."
Jing Wenxi also spoke quickly, with a hint of urgency in his voice, "Your Majesty, my daughter is definitely not a person who will cause harm to the country. Please don't listen to the nonsense of that bald donkey and that bull-nosed Taoist."
Emperor Ning's eyes fell on the two people quietly, and he spoke after a long while, his voice was calm, with almost no waves, "Jing Aiqing, that Ling Xuzi, you personally invited him, everything has been done."
Prepare, why did something like this happen? Master Wu Na and Taoist Master Ling Xuzi are like gods in the hearts of the people. Today's prayers did not avoid the people. I am afraid that within half a day, in the imperial city
Then everyone will know. The people are the foundation of the country. Even if someone is framed today, I cannot offend all the people in the world for my own selfish interests."
Jing Kui was silent for a long time and then said in a deep voice, "Wei Chen, I understand."
When Jing Wenxi heard this, he fell to the side like an eggplant beaten by frost, with a bit of fear in his eyes. She must be treated as a useless piece by the emperor and her father. She must die to comfort the hearts of the people in the world.
, even if she is immortal, if the people know that she is Jing Wenxi, it will definitely be difficult for them to move forward in Ningguo in the future.
"My dear, it's better to step down first." Emperor Ning said calmly. He knew that Jing Kui would not go against him because of Jing Wenxi. Once he got this power, it would be difficult to let him go.
Jing Kui kowtowed again and said, "Wei Chen, please leave." He stood up and pulled Jing Wenxi away. Jing Wenxi refused to leave and hurriedly shouted to Emperor Ning, "It's Princess Jing, she must be."
It was Princess Jing who framed me, Your Majesty, please make the decision for me."
Emperor Ning frowned slightly, looking at Jing Wenxi without any pity, "Pull it down."
The guard at the door walked in quickly, pulled Jing Wenxi who kept screaming and retreated. After dealing with the Jing family father and daughter, Emperor Ning turned around and looked at Manager Zheng, "Among the concubines in the palace,
Who was born on the 17th day of May in the year 1898?"
Manager Zheng hurriedly bent down and said, "I just checked the birthdays of the concubines in the palace. Only Yaconcubine was born on the 17th day of May in the Wuxu year. Moreover, the Qilan Palace where Yaconcubine lives is in the palace.
Southwest."
"Ya concubine?" Emperor Ning was slightly startled, but he never expected such a result. A faint suspicion arose in his heart. The Ministry of Rites was responsible for the imperial edict, but Ya concubine's brother Liu Qiyan was in charge of it.
He is the Minister of Rites. Why is this such a coincidence? Could it be Liu Qiyan’s doing?
Emperor Ning thought about it, but then shook his head and denied his idea. He had investigated Liu Qiyan's identity. He was just an ordinary farmer's child. He studied to obtain fame because his father was a scholar.
Now there are only two of them, brother and sister, and Emperor Ning has been secretly observing Liu Qiyan for a long time since he entered the court. He is an upright person and does not understand the twists and turns in the officialdom. His relationship with other colleagues in the court is not harmonious.
Even in the prosperous Ministry of Rites, he has never secretly gained any benefits for himself. Such people do not have such crooked thoughts, and they cannot do it. That Ling Xuzi was invited by Jing Kui
No matter what, Liu Qiyan has no ability to convince Ling Xuzi to help him.
Could it be Yun Chang? Emperor Ning frowned, but if it was Yun Chang, why didn't she let Concubine Jin become the queen? After all, judging from Yun Chang's reaction in the Splendid Palace that day, she wanted to make Concubine Jin her queen.
If Concubine Jin is the queen, Chen Xi can be the legitimate prince.
After much thought, he still didn't understand the secret. Emperor Ning shook his head secretly, "Let's invite concubines Ya and Liu Qiyan into the palace."
Manager Zheng nodded, walked to the door of the palace and opened the door. Just as he was about to tell the servants to do it, he saw Liu Qiyan already standing in front of the door of Qinzheng Palace, with a bit of anxiety on his face, "Manager Zheng, I have something to ask you to see me.
Your Majesty, I wonder if the Emperor is free to summon you?"
Manager Zheng smiled and said, "My servant was asking someone to call Mr. Liu, but Mr. Liu came by himself, which saves trouble." After saying that, he let Liu Qiyan in.
"Your Majesty, as soon as I opened the door, I saw Mr. Liu standing at the door asking to see him, so I brought him in." Manager Zheng said with a smile.
Emperor Ning nodded, and saw Liu Qiyan kneeling down suddenly as soon as she walked into the palace, "Your Majesty, Wei Chen's sister was born on the 17th of May in the Wuxu Year, but she is just a peasant girl, although because of her father's
I can read and write, but it is difficult for me to be a queen. To be a queen, you should be virtuous, virtuous, dignified and elegant, but my sister does not meet any of them. I hope the emperor will not make my sister a queen. In this world, the seventeenth day of May in the year of 1898
There are many people, and there must be someone who can take on this important task.”
A flash of surprise flashed in Emperor Ning's eyes. Liu Qiyan was Yabi's elder brother, so he knew about Yabi's birth date. Moreover, he was present at the sacrifice ceremony earlier. He was afraid that as soon as Abbot Wu and Ling Xuzi told her the birth date, they would know it.
Ya concubine, that's why I have this request. But shouldn't ordinary people be very happy when they hear that their sister can become a queen? Why...
Emperor Ning glanced at Liu Qiyan and then said, "Although your sister is not a lady, she is still a sensible person, and she is law-abiding in the palace. Why don't you want her to be the queen?"
Liu Qiyan smiled bitterly, "Empress Yabi is Wei Chen's younger sister. Wei Chen naturally knows what kind of person she is, and Wei Chen is a bit aloof and has no friends in the court. If my sister makes a careless move, Wei Chen will
I can't even protect her name. I just want my sister to be safe for the rest of her life, and I don't want her to be rich."
Emperor Ning was silent for a moment, thinking to himself that this Liu Qiyan was actually a sober person.
Just as I was thinking about it, I heard Manager Zheng walking in, "Your Majesty, Concubine Ya is here."
Emperor Ning nodded, "Pass it on."
The door was opened, and Concubine Ya walked in. She was wearing a blue palace dress and a blue cloak. She looked very elegant. When she saw Liu Qiyan kneeling in the palace, she was stunned for a moment before leaving.
He knelt down behind Liu Qiyan and said, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Ning responded, thinking that the sacrifice and prayer had just ended, and he was afraid that Yaconi still didn't know about it, so he said, "Today's sacrifice and prayer, Master Wu Na and Ling Xuzi divination said that the new queen should be born on the 17th day of the fifth month of the Wuxu year.
He is located in the southwest of the palace."
Hearing this, the concubine was shocked. She raised her head, with a bit of fear in her eyes, and then she quickly fell to the ground, "Your Majesty, I beg you to take back your life. I am a shameless concubine with no virtue and incompetence, and I cannot bear this responsibility."
"Oh?" Emperor Ning raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard this. Liu Qiyan said this, and Yaconi also said the same. These two brothers and sisters have the same temperament. "Tell me, why is it so difficult to take on this role? Who is it?"
Where is the best candidate?”
The concubine pondered for a moment and then said, "I am just a peasant girl. If the people in the world knew that the emperor married a peasant girl as his queen, they would definitely be upset. Moreover, I know when the millet is planted and when the wheat is planted."
When will I take it in, but I don’t know how to be a queen, please ask the emperor to find out clearly." After a pause, he continued, "As for the choice of queen, I don’t dare to say anything, but among the concubines in the palace, Concubine Jin is gentle and gentle.
She is a virtuous person and treats the concubines in the palace gently, and Concubine Jin is the daughter of the former Taifu, born into a well-known family, and now has a young prince, so she should be the first choice."
Emperor Ning tapped his hand slightly on the table, and his smile became brighter and brighter, "Oh? That's what my beloved concubine thinks..." After saying that, he looked at the two brothers and sisters kneeling below, and there was something in his heart.
Some thought.
What Liu Qiyan and Liu Qingya said is not untrue. Ya's concubine's birth is indeed a bit low, but there are certain benefits to being born like this. At least, there is no need to worry about the monopoly of relatives, and it is precisely because there is no prominent family support.
, I'm afraid these two people are more attentive. Liu Qiyan is somewhat talented, but he doesn't know how to adapt. But because of his temperament, there is no worry about him forming a private party.
And Liu Qingya...
Emperor Ning looked at the woman kneeling down. Liu Qingya's appearance was not outstanding among the concubines in the harem. She could be considered very ordinary. However, she was gentle, considerate and could always make him feel relaxed.
He is considered unique in the palace. He has a docile temperament, has a good relationship with the concubines in the palace, and is considered smart.
Concubine Jin... Emperor Ning paused slightly. Although Concubine Jin was his favorite in the harem, Concubine Jin was by no means a good candidate for a queen. Concubine Jin had a cold temperament and was a bit stubborn, so she did not like the palace.
The twists and turns of the struggle, and the current Yun Shang and Prince Jing have always been a worry in his heart... He can protect her glory for a lifetime and keep her favored forever, but he cannot let her become the queen.
Thinking of this, Emperor Ning curled up his lips and said with a smile, "Liu Aiqing and my beloved concubine have put me in a difficult position. This time the sacrifice was on the altar, and all the civil and military officials knew about it, and
The people are also watching. If you don't respect God's will, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to explain it. My beloved concubine doesn't have to shirk the blame. I will issue an edict later and make my beloved concubine the queen..." (To be continued)