Chapter 227 I Really Didn’t Lie to You

When going to bed at night, Xiao Ning folded the white handkerchief neatly and placed it next to his pillow.

There was a faint cold fragrance lingering at the tip of her nose.

It's particularly reassuring.

Maybe it was because I received Shang Xi’s letter today, or maybe it was because of this faint cold fragrance.

Xiao Ning dreamed of Shang Xi.

In the dream, Her Royal Highness the Princess still looked the same as she did two years ago.

Standing in the Ten-Li Pavilion, he looked at her with tears in his eyes, then smiled and called her, "Xiao Ning."

Xiao Ning strode forward and hugged the person tightly in his arms.

The voice was hoarse: "Princess..."

The person in her arms hugged her back tightly, crying even more loudly in his voice.

"Why did you come back just now..."

"I miss you so much……"

Xiao Ning closed his eyes and hugged him tighter, "I miss you too..."

Then the two kissed.

The scene in the dream changed, and the two of them lay down together on the big bed in Hengwuyuan.

Xiao Ning suddenly woke up when the princess pulled her belt.

She looked at the rooftop, breathing heavily.

Consciousness gradually emerged from the dream.

Xiao Ning pressed his forehead, frowned and swallowed twice. His mouth was dry and there was no saliva at all.

Instead, my throat became drier and more uncomfortable because of swallowing.

Xiao Ning lifted the quilt, propped himself up and got out of bed, walked to the table, picked up the teapot on the table, tilted his head back and poured it into his mouth.

It's cold tea that's been left overnight.

But Xiao Ning didn't care about these things and drank up the remaining tea in the teapot in two gulps.

The cold tea relieved her discomfort to a great extent.

Xiao Ning sat at the table for a while, supporting his forehead with his hand, then simply got up and left the barracks.

I can’t sleep anyway, so I might as well go out for a walk.

The cool breeze took away the last trace of dryness from her body.

As I walked, I vaguely heard light footsteps coming from a certain direction.

Very light.

If it weren't for her good hearing, she would hardly be able to hear it.

But the patrolling soldiers don't deliberately suppress the sound of their footsteps.

so……

Someone sneaked into the camp?

Xiao Ning narrowed his eyes and listened carefully to the sound to determine the location. After determining the direction, he lightened his steps and quickly headed towards the source of the sound.

It was a group of men in black.

He avoided patrolling soldiers and sentries all the way and sneaked out of the camp.

Xiao Ning followed them.

When they were hiding and about to avoid the last sentry, Xiao Ning shouted: "Come here!"

Then he rushed forward and blocked their way.

The men in black quickly formed a team and protected one person in the middle.

The man in black raised his knife and slashed at Xiao Ning, obviously intending to force Xiao Ning to retreat before the soldiers arrived.

Xiao Ning came out to relax and did not bring any weapons.

But even with her bare hands, she was not afraid at all.

She even faced forward as the blade came towards her.

However, before the fight began, a familiar voice shouted, "Stop!"

It’s Shen Zhiyi.

He was worried that the man in black would hurt Xiao Ning who was unarmed.

As soon as Shen Zhiyi spoke, the man in black and Xiao Ning stopped at the same time.

The man in black put away his knife and stood aside.

Xiao Ning looked at the man in black who was surrounded by other men in black.

"General Shen, dressed like this late at night, strolling around with people, what do you want to do?"

As they were speaking, the patrolling soldiers had already arrived here, holding their knives, wanting to kill the man in black.

But Xiao Ning raised his hand to stop him.

Shen Zhiyi lifted his black hood, walked out from the guards, and came in front of Xiao Ning.

Under the moonlight, the young man was handsome, with a faint smile on his lips.

There was no embarrassment of escaping and being caught.

He lowered his eyes slightly and smiled at Xiao Ning, "I have something important to attend to and will be away for a while. General, can you please let me go?"

Xiao Ning: "What's the important matter? Tell me, if it makes sense, I won't stop you."

Shen Zhiyi thought for a moment and said, “If I say I want to return to Beijing to fight for the throne, will you believe it?”

Xiao Ning: “…”

Does she look like a fool?

"Since Supervisor Shen is unwilling to tell me the truth, I'm sorry."

Shen Zhiyi: “I really didn’t lie to you.”

Xiao Ning said nonchalantly: "Oh, then I can't let you go, because I also want to be the emperor, and we are competitors now."

Shen Zhiyi curved his lips and smiled.

"Is this true?"

Xiao Ning: "It's just as true as you said."

Shen Zhiyi asked, "When you become emperor, can you give me a high-ranking official position?"

Xiao Ning: “…”

No buddy, are you addicted to acting?

Seeing that he couldn't get anything out of him, Xiao Ning didn't want to talk any more to this lunatic. He took two steps back and raised his hand, signaling the soldiers to suppress the man first.

The man in black beside Shen Zhiyi kept his hand on the hilt of the sword. When he saw the soldiers coming forward, the sword was unsheathed, making a clanging sound.

The soldiers also drew their swords and stared at each other vigilantly.

Be ready to fight at any time.

Shen Zhiyi raised his hand to stop the guard who wanted to take action.

They were in the military camp now, and with so few people like them, it would be impossible for them to get out safely if they were discovered.

The soldiers took Shen Zhiyi and others away and put them under guard.

Xiao Ning went back to the room and lay back on the bed.

But I couldn't fall asleep.

She picked up the handkerchief beside the pillow, unfolded it and covered her face with it.

A rich, cold fragrance enveloped her.

The irritability in my heart dissipated a little.

Xiao Ning gradually fell asleep, and in a daze, he dreamed of Shang Xi again...

The morning horn woke Xiao Ning up.

The handkerchief covering her face had already fallen beside the pillow.

Xiao Ning got up, washed, and tidied himself up, then ate his meal. Then he made another bowl of rice and took it to find Shen Zhiyi.

Shen Zhiyi was detained separately from the others.

He was tied to a chair and kept in the same position all night, which made him a little stiff.

Coupled with the uncomfortable insomnia, his eyes turned red, his eyelids were dark blue, and some stubble appeared.

He looked very haggard.

Xiao Ning placed the bowl of rice on the table and circled around Shen Zhiyi, clicking his tongue from time to time.

Shen Zhiyi didn't seem to have a bad temper.

He asked in a hoarse voice, "What are you looking at?"

Xiao Ning said, "I see that the number one young master who was once praised by everyone can now be in such an embarrassing situation."

Shen Zhiyi's lips curved, "Can you give me a sip of water? I'm a little thirsty."

Xiao Ning stood opposite him with his arms folded, unmoved.

"Tell me your true purpose, and I will not only give you water but also food."

Shen Zhiyi: “…”

He said it last night, but she didn't believe it.

Shen Zhiyi thought for a moment and made up a story, "Actually, the letter my father sent me yesterday said that the Shen family must pledge allegiance to the Second Prince, and asked me to go back and interact with him before he ascends the throne, so that I can rise to prominence in the future."

It came out so easily.

Xiao Ning didn't quite believe it.

But after thinking about it, it seems that there is no other possibility except this reason.

It's impossible that he really wants to fight for the throne.

He is a child of an aristocratic family, why should he fight?

If the Shen family wanted to fight for it, the aristocratic families would not agree.

It will only get more chaotic then.

Moreover, she felt that these aristocratic families had such great power that they almost surpassed the imperial power. They were simply uncrowned kings and there was no need for them to become emperors. Not only would it be a thankless task, but if foreign enemies attacked, the first person to be killed would be the emperor.

As for the aristocratic families.

The new emperor still has to rely on them to help govern the country.