Whose minister

The night wind, carrying cold air, blew against the tall bluestone walls of Mingzhou City, making a humming sound as if sobbing. The halo of the torches on the top of the city tore open a small piece of dim light in the thick night, illuminating the figures standing solemnly below the city.

Ning Lingyi reined in her horse and stopped in the shadows a hundred feet outside the city. The fatigue from days of running around was engraved in her eyes. She looked towards the sparsely lit city gate, and her gaze finally fell on the figure in the center of the crowd in front of the city gate. It was the thin figure of Shen Qingyan, the prefect of Mingzhou.

Su Qingfan looked over, cautiously pressing the dagger at his waist, and whispered, "Your Highness, Lord Shen has come in person, and the defenses on the city walls seem to have been strengthened."

Ning Lingyi did not respond immediately, but just watched quietly.

When she left Mingzhou a year ago, Shen Qingyan saw her off at the dock. At that time, she was still the precious Princess Mingzhu. Now she has returned, but she is now a fugitive and everything has changed.

Minnesota is the last hope and the biggest bet.

She took a deep breath of the cold air, squeezed her legs against the horse's belly, and urged the horse forward slowly. The sound of the horse's hooves stepping on the dust of the official road was particularly clear in the silent night.

She stopped about ten steps in front of Shen Qingyan, and the horse snorted uneasily.

The flames flickered, reflecting Ning Lingyi's thin face and Shen Qingyan's calm eyes. Their eyes met at a distance that was neither far nor near.

Ning Lingyi's voice echoed in the night wind: "Mr. Chen, are you a minister of me, Ning Lingyi, or a minister of the new emperor Guangqi today?"

As the words fell, the air seemed to freeze.

The night wind lifted the corner of Shen Qingyan's official robe. He did not move, but just looked deeply at Ning Lingyi on the horse. After not seeing her for a year, the woman in front of him had long lost the dazzling yet fragile brilliance of a pearl. Instead, she was sharpened by fate, like a sword finally unsheathed, with a restrained cold light, but unstoppable.

Shen Qingyan straightened his clothes, and in front of everyone's gaze, he lifted the front of his official robe towards Ning Lingyi and knelt down without hesitation.

His forehead touched the cold ground, making a slight muffled sound.

"Your Highness, Shen Qingyan," his voice was steady and clear, cutting through the wind. "Since the day I swore an oath under the moonlight to govern Mingzhou and nurture its people, I have been Your Highness's subject."

He raised his head, his eyes calm and firm: "This heart and this aspiration have never changed."

The words "never changed" made Ning Lingyi's tense shoulders relax slightly, and it seemed as if a heavy weight was quietly removed from her throat.

She dismounted, walked quickly forward, and offered her hand to help Shen Qingyan up: "Shen Qing, please stand up. In the past, the strong wind knew the strong grass, and now I see that your heart can illuminate the universe."

"Your Highness is full of compliments, as is the duty of a minister."

"Open the city gate and welcome His Highness into the city!" Shen Qingyan stood up and gave the order loudly.

The heavy city gate slowly opened with the sound of a capstan, and Ning Lingyi and her group finally stepped into the night of Mingzhou. The city gate closed behind her, blocking out the darkness where pursuers might be lurking.

She once again entered Mingzhou City, which had become her only place to stay. If she had not insisted on coming here a year ago, her current situation would be unimaginable.

The second day.

In the back hall of the prefectural government, a simple breakfast was already on the table.

The porridge was steaming, and there were a few light side dishes. Ning Lingyi picked up the chopsticks, but she had no taste for the food. The days of running around and the bad news about Zhaoyang had made her look tired.

There were light footsteps as Shen Qingyan walked in. He did not have the usual greeting report in his hand, but only a roll of bright yellow silk.

Ning Lingyi's eyes fell on the dazzling bright yellow. Her hand holding the chopsticks paused, and she glanced at it briefly before smiling, "Minister of Rites, Hanlin Academician, what a great favor."

"Why didn't Mr. Chen sell me out in exchange for the immense wealth that the new emperor promised you?"

Shen Qingyan gently placed the imperial edict on the table beside him. His face showed no sign of being offended, but rather a helpless expression: "Your Highness, you are joking."

He paused, his expression turning serious. "The new emperor has issued his decree. Although we've temporarily escaped the pursuit, the consequences will be endless. Now that your Highness's whereabouts have been exposed in Mingzhou, Emperor Guangqi will certainly not let this go. We must devise a countermeasure quickly to silence the gossip and deny him the excuse to openly attack us."

Ning Lingyi put down her bamboo chopsticks and looked at him: "Judging from Mr. Chen's expression, I believe you have a good plan?"

Shen Qingyan didn't answer directly. Instead, he pulled out a pre-written memorial from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "I have the audacity to draft a petition for Your Highness. Your Highness, please take a look and see if it is feasible."

Ning Lingyi took the memorial and unfolded it.

Shen Qingyan's clear and elegant handwriting came into view. She read it line by line, and a hint of understanding flashed across the depths of her eyes.

"That's right. Just follow this and present it to my good brother, the Emperor."

*

Capital city, Purple Palace.

The morning light in Mingzhou had not yet faded, but the morning bell of the Purple Palace had already rung.

Emperor Guangqi Ningyan sat on the throne with a frown on his face. The piles of memorials on his desk seemed to carry a heavy burden of anxiety. Prime Minister Wang and several important ministers stood solemnly at the steps with their hands hanging down.

A eunuch hurried in and bowed as he presented a memorial: "Your Majesty, an urgent memorial from Princess Mingzhu has arrived, eight hundred miles from Mingzhou."

Emperor Guangqi's eyes sharpened: "Read it!"

The eunuch unrolled a memorial, and a shrill voice echoed through the hall: "Your sister Mingzhu respectfully reports: Your Majesty, Father, is in poor health, and as your daughter, I am deeply concerned. I have heard that there is an ancient temple at Lingshan in the southeast, renowned for its efficacious prayers. Your sister, Zhaoyang, and I, deeply concerned for your father, have braved the dangers of leaving the capital and journeying south. We wish to personally visit Lingshan and pray for your father's speedy recovery. This is the deepest love of a son, and your sincere heart is evident..."

The eunuch's voice was flat as he continued, "The journey was long, and unfortunately, I was separated from my sister, the Emperor Zhaoyang, along the way. I was worried day and night. Fortunately, God was merciful and we finally arrived in Mingzhou, where we unexpectedly found an ancient temple with extremely efficacious spiritual power. After much reflection, I have decided to stay here for a while, to light a perpetual lamp for my father, to pray devoutly for his blessing, and to fulfill my wish as a child."

At this point, the eunuch paused, his voice rising slightly. "I humbly acknowledge that my brother, the Emperor, has just ascended the throne and is preoccupied with numerous affairs. Although I am in seclusion, my heart is always with the country. With this humble gesture, before the ancient Buddha and the indigo lamp, I wish to offer my sincere wishes for the Emperor's well-being."

"When your father's health improves, or if we can find the whereabouts of your sister, Princess Zhaoyang, I will return to the capital to report back in full compliance with proper etiquette. I am in tears as I write this letter, and I don't know what to say."

After the memorial was read, silence fell in the hall.

Emperor Guangqi's face turned pale blue against the backdrop of his dragon robe.

What a kindhearted man! What a prayer for blessings and warding off disasters! He turned his escape and refusal to be arrested into a filial act that moved heaven! He also blamed Zhaoyang's disappearance on an accident during his visit to Lingshan, leaving him with no reason to lash out!

He suppressed his surging anger and murderous intent.

If he were to send troops to arrest her, even if the memorial was made known to the world, he would be disregarding the bond between brothers and failing to understand the filial daughter's heart. How would the world discuss him as the new ruler? Not to mention that the world already had considerable objections to his ascension to the throne.

After a long while, he finally squeezed out a sentence from between his teeth: "The emperor's sister is truly filial and concerned about the country and the people."

He took a deep breath and said, "Issue this decree: Princess Mingzhu is a woman of pure filial piety and benevolence. She prayed for the Emperor and the nation's fortunes, and her heart is truly pitiful. I grant her one hundred taels of gold and order the Mingzhou authorities to take good care of her, ensuring she rests in peace. After praying for blessings, she will be escorted back to the capital immediately to marry the Khan of Beishuo. No delay is allowed!"

"Also, order all prefectures and cities across the country to assist in the search for Princess Zhaoyang."

He couldn't touch her for the time being, but marrying Beishuo was the final destination he had planned for her. "Did you really think you couldn't do anything to me?" Mingzhu.

At this time, Prime Minister Wang stepped forward and said in an old voice with worry: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing."

"The soldiers you led to the capital have been causing trouble, forcing people to buy and sell goods, assaulting and injuring civilians, and even breaking into homes at night and abducting women. Public resentment is boiling over, and I fear a major uprising."

Emperor Guangqi's temples were throbbing, and the rage he had just suppressed suddenly flared up again. Western Qiang! Western Qiang again! These insatiable jackals!

But he couldn't let the world know that he had joined forces with the Western Qiang, otherwise how could he keep the throne?

"I understand. I will order them to be punished and sent back to their place of origin." Emperor Guangqi remained calm, comforted everyone, and waved his hand to let everyone leave.

The news seemed to have wings and flew into Changle Palace in the first time.

Ning Lingli was playing with a newly acquired red gold hairpin with her fingertips. When she heard the news from Mingzhou, her hand paused slightly, and the hairpin fell lightly on the dressing table, making a crisp sound.

"Going to Mingzhou to pray for father? My sister is always so considerate. Even though she is thousands of miles away, she never forgets to show her filial piety."

She slowly stood up, her brocade skirt spreading across the blue bricks like flowing clouds. Her voice was as gentle as spring water, yet with a hint of chillness. "It's just that the journey is long, with mountains high and rivers long. I wonder if your body can withstand such a journey. If you were truly concerned for your father's health, why would you have to travel all the way to Mingzhou when there are so many famous temples and monasteries in Chang'an?"

"I hope that my sister's feelings are as pure as you said in the memorial. Otherwise..." She paused and slowly inserted her hairpin into her bun. "When I return to the capital, I will definitely ask Sister Mingzhu how wonderful it is to be surrounded by green lamps and ancient Buddhas."

*

There are still aftershocks in the Zichen Palace.

"Send the message to General Xiqiang." He almost gritted his teeth as he gave the order.

Soon, the burly figure of the Western Qiang general entered the hall, his cold and fierce aura on his face as he perfunctorily saluted. "Your Majesty, why did you summon me? When will Princess Zhaoyang depart? Our Qiang King's tent is waiting impatiently."

Emperor Guangqi suppressed his disgust and said, "Princess Zhaoyang unfortunately encountered an accident while traveling south. She fell into the water and disappeared. Her whereabouts are still unknown."

"Missing?" General Xi Qiang raised his thick eyebrows, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. "Your Majesty, are you playing a trick on our Qiang King? You want to see him alive or dead! You think you can just dismiss him with a single word of missing?"

"General, calm down."

"Princess Zhaoyang has indeed met with an unexpected tragedy, and I am deeply saddened. As an apology, I would like to select ten noble ladies of outstanding character and appearance from among the royal family and bestow them upon the King of Qiang and the generals..."

"A daughter of the royal family?" General Xiqiang interrupted him abruptly with a harsh sneer.

"Your Majesty, our Qiang King wants the eldest princess, the biological daughter of your father, the Empress! Not one of those royal daughters who are separated by countless bloodlines and have only the title in name only!"

He took a step forward, his leather boots rubbing against the polished gold bricks. His voice was filled with undisguised threat: "Princess Zhaoyang is gone? All right. But don't you still have a queen, Your Majesty? You will give birth to a legitimate princess in the future, right?"

"If I cannot bring Zhaoyang back today, Your Majesty, please keep this account in mind. When your eldest princess reaches the age of marriage, I will personally send her to the court of the King of Western Qiang to serve as his concubine, as compensation for today's loss!"

After hearing these words, Emperor Guangqi wanted to smash his head with an inkstone!

presumptuous!

But the Xiqiang general seemed about to provoke him, and asked, "Does Your Majesty want the whole world to know that you betrayed your country and sold your daughter?"

Emperor Guangqi stared at General Xiqiang's face, his chest heaving violently. In the end, he could only squeeze out a few words from between his teeth: "Okay. I'll make a note of it."

General Xiqiang then hummed with satisfaction, which was considered as his approval of the mortgage.

That afternoon, several eunuchs, holding imperial edicts stamped with imperial seals, rushed out of the palace and headed for the royal family residences in various parts of the capital. The heavy doors of the mansions were knocked open, and accompanied by the sharp sound of the imperial edict, bolts of lightning struck those secluded households.

"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: A daughter of the imperial clan, surnamed Ning, gentle and kind, with dignified character and appearance, is hereby granted marriage to the Western Qiang. Preparations must be made immediately, and the journey will commence soon. No delay is allowed. This is my decree!"

The peaceful capital city was suddenly thrown into turbulent waves.

Panic cries, angry scolding, desperate pleas...

It broke out deep in those tall courtyards, yet was tightly covered by the heavy red doors. One after another, quietly prepared plain sedan chairs, carrying the girls whose fate was already determined, drove towards the terrifying distance in the dusk.

For a while, everyone in the royal family of the capital was in danger and in a precarious situation.