Empress Dowager Xiao eavesdropped outside with a panicked face. Yan Han recently had been secretly calling Chiyun Nan and Ning Zezhi to discuss things. He sent her away every time, sparking her suspicion. Just now, their conversation truly had her on pins and needles. She secretly broke into a sweat for Yan Feng, knowing full well that with his lofty temperament and integrity, he’d even refuse the throne if he knew of what had happened that year.
A hint of malice flashed in Empress Dowager Xiao's face. When she imagined the bleak fate they would face if Yan Feng lost his power, she shuddered.
A mentally disturbed Yan Feng was going through court reports in the Imperial Study, trying hard not to let himself idle. Because once he had nothing to do, he’d drown in endless pain.
“Imperial Empress Dowager Xiaoci has arrived!” the eunuch’s shrill voice echoed outside. Yan Feng frowned slightly, but walked out to welcome Empress Dowager Xiao into th
Yan Feng weakly sat on the throne. “Announce them.” Qi Shangming shouted, “His Majesty has decreed for an audience with Commandery Prince Yan and Prime Minister Ning the Imperial Study.” Ning Zezhi and Chiyun Nan entered the Imperial Study with heavy expression. After protocol courtesy, Yan Feng let them sit. Yan Feng frowned. “I know you two are here to interrogate me. If I say the incident has nothing to do with me, you two won’t believe me anyway. I’ve just returned from the retired emperor’s Jingci Palace after having reassured him that the murderer will be brought to justice. I’m asking the same from you, put some trust in me, I will find the culprit.” Chiyun Nan’s face sank. “General Chiyun shared a brotherhood with Your Majesty. Although he always did things with lack of decorum, he did not deserve to die. I don't understand, who else can hold such a mortal enmity with him that they’d only be satisfied with nothing short
Chiyun Yuexuan was scared that Chiyun Nan would pull a strict face, but to his surprise, Chiyun Nan only displayed relief and kindness. “You little brat, always acting without considering the consequences and always making people worry about you.” Yan Han hurriedly looked over at Chiyun Nan, quietly pleading for help. “It’s good that Xuan’er is fine, no need to be hard on him. Since we can't keep it from him any longer, Prime Minister, you go first.” Chiyun Yuexuan furrowed. “Is there something you’re not telling me, Father?” Chiyun Nan grew solemn. “You are not my birth son. In fact, you’re the son of the retired emperor and grandson of Prime Minister Ning. Your birth mother is the queen of the retired emperor, her name was Ning Yuetong. She gave birth to you in the Cold Palace because she was framed by vile people. For your safety, she entrusted you to your present mother.” Chiyun Yuexuan was shocked, his face puzzled. “Fathe
The atmosphere of dinner could still be considered harmonious, with Chiyun Yuexuan being the only unhappy one. Chiyun Nan gave him a painful look. “Tomorrow, I’ll go to the palace to discuss with the retired emperor about your wedding with Princess. If you want to make your marriage grand and honorable, you'd better return to the imperial clan as soon as possible. Also, it’s inevitable that people will gossip if Princess stays at the General Estate. She will move to the Commandery Prince Estate until you two get married.” Chiyun Yuexuan had always respected Chiyun Nan since he was a child and obeyed his word. This time, however, he insisted on his own opinion, “Princess has lost her memory because of a poison called the Exquisite Heartwash Pill. Since I’ve done things that hurt her before, it would be unfair to her if I marry her when she has no ability to distinguish. I have decided, I'll take her back to Fuling Pass tomorrow and talk about marriage when her memory is
Murong Zhining smiled. “There’s no need to worry. I was only poisoned by a kind of memory loss drug. It's not fatal.” Ning Zezhi then raised his cup. “This family banquet was supposed to be a happy occasion, but the atmosphere has grown a little too heavy. Let’s propose a toast and enjoy a delightful meal. My wife and I haven’t had one for many years, and these past years have been truly hard on her. Come on, to my madam. Xuan’er is our hope, there will always be hope as long as you survive.” Everyone raised their glasses to each other, and the atmosphere was no longer heavy. Ning Zezhi then turned the topic to Wu Siyuan, “I heard that General Wu has earned the appreciation of the retired emperor and will soon become Princess Jingrong’s husband. Congratulations, Commandery Prince Yan and General Wu. Prince Yan, you should let General Wu return to his ancestry as soon as possible. It’s been unfair to General Wu all these past years.”Wu Siyuan
Strings of tears fell from Murong Zhining’s eyes. “I thought my fate was bitter, but compared to hers, it’s nothing.” Chiyun Yuexuan quickly pulled her into his arms and glared at Cai Sang. “Can’t you just stop for a while and wait until she has finished eating?” Murong Zhining tearfully looked up at Chiyun Yuexuan. “Can we help her find her family?” Chiyun Yuexuan soothed her lovingly, “Alright, whatever Ning’er wants to do, I will unconditionally support you.” The fool at the other table happily imitated, “Alright... Support...” Murong Zhining wiped her tears and chuckled aloud. Wu Siyuan, eating with his head low, occasionally glanced at Cai Sang. Chiyun Yuexuan could as if see through his mind. “Cai Sang, General Wu is going to be a princess’ husband, but I know that he has you in his heart. If you want, I will help you and make him take you in.” Cai Sang blushed. “A maid of low sta
Murong Zhining nervously grasped Chiyun Yuexuan’s hand. The latter softly chuckled. “Ning’er is also a ghost now, why are you so afraid of ghosts? My Little Tabby is such a scaredy-cat.” Murong Zhining poutily pinched his palm with her nails. “You’re so hateful. Stop scaring me, I’m already very nervous.” Chiyun Yuexuan tried to refrain himself from laughing. “My wife has the guts of a chicken and still insists on following people to catch ghosts. I'm looking forward to see how scared you’ll get when the ghost appears. It’s almost time actually, put out the torches and we’ll see it.” Du Youtian and the other soldier put out the torches. The four concealed themselves in the darkness. Before long, a metallic rumble echoed from above the basement stairs. Murong Zhining knew that someone had activated the switch in the study. Right after, there was a slight sound of footsteps on the stairs. Both scared and curious, Mu
Murong Zhining nodded. “General and I also noticed the tunnel not only leads to the openings on the city wall, but also has an end that’s deliberately blocked. Oh, there are several corpses in the basement. Do you know who they are? Do you remember a maid named Cai Shao in the Zhuang Estate?” Feng Yingfan lowered her head in ponder, her brows wrinkled tightly. “I remember her, she was the daughter of Shen Tianshun, the boss of Shen Memory Silk Villa. Shen Tianshun monopolized the silk business in the Imperial Capital for many years and earned a lot of money, making himself a target of Zhuang Cheng's behind-the-scenes master. I remembered one time Zhuang Cheng was furious when Shen Tianshun refused to pay him a sum of one million taels extortion.” She replied after some time. This seemed to have opened the door to some terrible memories. “A few days later, a sensational case occurred in the capital. Miss Shenyang simply disappea
Chiyun Yuexuan led Murong Zhining and Cai Sang to the Zhuang Estate and saw a line of people already waiting at the entrance. A man of 60 years of age bowed to Chiyun Yuexuan. “Peasant Shen Tianshun greets General Chiyun. May I ask why you’ve invited us here?” Shen Tianshun looked ruddy and good-natured, he wore a refined twilled silk dark-blue gown with leopard prints. Behind him was a woman in her fifties. She was dignified and elegant wearing luxurious jewelry, one could tell from a glance she was a woman from a rich family. Chiyun Yuexuan nodded. “You need not be courteous, Old Mister Shen. Your good moral standing and reputation have my admiration. A few days ago, I discovered the remains of a woman during my investigation in the basement of the Zhuang Estate and was reminded of the former servants’ word about your lost daughter. Therefore, I invited you and Madam to have a look. I only hope that the remains of the woman in the dungeon
Yan Feng picked up Murong Zhining, who had fainted, and placed her behind the screen in the innermost part of the imperial study, where there was a soft couch for his temporary rest. Yan Feng's gaze on Murong Zhining's face was a mixture of jealousy and heartbreak.Qi Shangming was called into the imperial study, and when he saw Murong Zhining on the couch, he said in horror, "Your Majesty ... are you roughing up Princess Feng Yi? How did she ..."Yan Feng said angrily, "Are you blind? The clothes on her body sharp, I am this kind of beast in your imagination? Outrageous, you say scolding cloud Yuexuan gave her eat what ecstasy ... forget forget forget, I with a dead person to bother what?"Qi Shangming lowered his voice, "Your Majesty is telling Princess Feng Yi about General Chiyun's death? Alas Your Majesty ...""Shut up! I can't lie to her for the rest of her life! Go ask Imperial Doctor Gao to come, the princess is weak, take this opportunity to mend her
Murong Zhining pity, "This deep palace women, body can not help, really poor! Cui Beauty is just a little crazy in words, and not guilty of this!"Cai Sang pouted and looked at Murong Zhining with disgusted eyes, "You're the only one who's kind, you're the only one with a good heart, everyone else is evil! No wonder the General called you Little Lady Dong Guo, you can't be cruel to a wolf that almost took your life, let alone a human being!"Shouting Yun Ping looked at Murong Zhining, the corners of her mouth presenting a light smile of unknown meaning.Saying goodbye from Ming Hui Palace, Cai Sang raised her hand to beckon the warm sedan chair, and Murong Zhining stopped her, "Locked up in the house all day long, I want to take a walk, get some air on one side, and look at the scenery in the meantime!"Cai Sang will rebuke Yun Ping returned a box of snacks, handed to the accompanying small eunuchs hands, straightened the Murong Zhining body fox fur, help her
Su Li stuffed a handkerchief into Shouting Yun Ping's hand, poured a cup of hot tea and handed it forward, "The slave girl thinks that Princess Feng Yi's visit to the capital this time around may not be for the purpose of hooking up with the Emperor. Could she really just be bent on visiting Tai Fei Hui?"Shouting Yun Ping gritted her teeth and said, "The fact that she accepted His Majesty's tenderness so heartily doesn't say everything?"While the two were talking, Chengfu shouted from the courtyard, "Your Highness, Princess Feng Yi seeks an audience."Su Jie softly said, "Your Highness, it's true that when you speak of the devil, the devil arrives. If the empress is upset, the slave girl will go and return to her."Shouting Yun Ping sat up and straightened her hair, "Let her in."Murong Zhining and scolded Yun Ping met the salute, smilingly handed over a round-shaped gold lacquered wooden food box, "Feng Yi today went to visit aunt mother, for her to
The little palace maid pulled open the palace door of Qingren Palace and welcomed Murong Zhining into the courtyard, "So the princess is looking for her ah? She was chastised by the emperor and has been paralyzed in bed, afraid ... of being crippled even after her injuries are healed. She originally even here can not live, to move to a more dilapidated compound, only because of the heavy injury, the eunuch in charge let her get well, then move away."Cai Sang sucked in a mouthful of cold air, "After receiving a mere ten strokes of the board, where would she be crippled? Lead the way, we, Princess Feng Yi, are going to visit her."The little courtesan respectfully led the way in front, "Princess does not know, this court cane, is a move that can kill a person, if you are unlucky, a few strokes down on the life are gone. Princess inside please!"Cai Sang pulled Murong Zhining stopped in the courtyard, from a compartment with a broken hole in the window, came out Cui
Yan Feng hurriedly stepped forward and personally picked up Butcher Du and Yin, motioning them to the seats. He roared out violently, "The singing stops first!" The gongs and drums on the stage came to a grinding halt, and there was silence all around.Cui Mengrui did not bother to put on her shoes, jumped up from the chair, bent her knees and saluted, "Your Majesty ... my concubine was just watching the theater here for a while, and it was the two of them ... themselves who came together to want to serve my concubine. "Yan Feng helped Murong Zhining to sit down on a chair, went up and kicked Cui Meng Rui's calf, and Cui Meng Rui's knees buckled and she fell to the ground.Murong Zhining anxiously held Yin's hand, "Mother don't panic, speak slowly. What's going on? How did you guys provoke Beauty Cui?"Yin mumbled, "I don't blame the Empress Mother, it's me who doesn't know the rules and didn't give her a seat. Your Majesty, please don't be angry, we are jus
Yan Feng looked back at the rising Kong Ming Lantern, nodding his head and smiling slightly, "Last year, I picked up a broken Kong Ming Lantern in Wan An Palace. I have not been willing to throw it away. On that lantern, wrote let me blocking words, but I will still take out from time to time to enjoy playing, even more and more fascinated by the lantern. I also heard that the condensed child rely on a few lamps, opened the Yongning city gates. So, I like the lanterns more and more!"Murong Zhining looked up at Yan Feng with a surprised expression, "What kind of Kong Ming Lantern is it that makes the Emperor unable to throw it away? Oh ... Feng Yi knows." She reached out and covered her mouth.Cui Mengrui summoned up her courage, pulled Qingxin forward, and performed a big salute, "My concubine sees Your Majesty!"Yan Feng furrowed his sword brows and said indifferently, ''Be free! Which palace are you the master of? I've seen you look somewhat familiar!"Mur
Murong Zhining jiaojiao stroked the tips of her hair, "Your Majesty is not making it difficult for Feng Yi? Feng Yi is not well educated and her eyesight is clumsy. It's better for the Emperor to tell us the origin of this phoenix robe!"Yan Feng laughed, "If Ning'er didn't know where this phoenix robe came from, she must have been looking at me with anticipation, wanting to eagerly reveal the answer. But on Ning'er's face, there is clearly full of confidence." The way he looked at Murong Zhining's eyes was undisguisedly full of appreciation.Cai Sang spoke up more, "The princess just said that this phoenix robe, was worn by the Empress of Northern Yan during the grand ceremony."Wen Quan took his sleeve and wiped his saliva, "This dress ... princess wear, only beautiful ..."Yan Feng laughed out bashfully, "Who says Wen Quan is a fool? I'm the first to stand up against it, and he's clearly extremely discerning."Murong Zhining personally brewed a cup o
Murong Zhining poked Cai Sang in the head, "Little money grubber! If I'm not wrong, one box is rewarded to me, inside is nothing but some antiques and paintings. The other box, is the reward for my parents and adults, is a box of gold and silver treasures."Yin rubbed her hands uneasily, "Never, never, your adoptive father and I, what virtues can we have? We've only adopted you for less than a year, and accepting another reward from the Emperor and General would be a blessing. As you know, Ning'er, we're all country folk, and our fortune is thin!"Murong Zhining's eyes flooded with tears, "Who said you guys are country people? You are my adoptive parents, and after my breast-mother died, you gave me a home to shelter me from the wind and rain. Your care once warmed Ning'er's lonely heart. Lord Mother, you deserve it, so take it with a clear conscience!"Yin firmly said, "The houses and fields rewarded by the general are enough for our family to be well fed and clot
Yan Feng was so touched that he couldn't help but have his eyes redden, "Mrs. Du is truly a kind-hearted person, and Wenquan is considered to have a good home. In the future, I will allocate a sum of silver to the Du family every year for Wenquan's upbringing." Murong Zhining and Cai Sang took hands and smiled at each other with relief.The eunuchs from the Imperial Catering Room, delivered the New Year's Eve dinner, and Yan Feng said, "Ning'er, you accompany your family to eat the New Year's Eve dinner for me. I'm going to follow the usual practice and go to Jing Ci Palace to have dinner with the Supreme Emperor! I will return later to join you for the vigil!"Qi Shangming draped a black sable fur over Yan Feng and helped him out of Qi Xiang Palace's courtyard.Du Tu Fu sighed, "This palace is really grand, the Emperor really talks about ostentation! This New Year's Eve dinner, boy, more than thirty dishes, how can we finish it?"Cai Sang laughed, ''What is