Chapter 352 The Crown Prince Selects a Consort

Shen Cong's deep gaze fell on her fair face.

"You noticed too?"

Li Nanke's heart skipped a beat, and he leaned forward, getting closer to Shen Cong.

He lowered his voice and said, "It's been four years. Every autumn, His Majesty's health begins to decline, and he becomes extremely thin."

The imperial physicians couldn't find any cause for the illness, so at the end of October, he went to the Luoyang Imperial Palace for recuperation. He looked like he could die at any moment...

She stuck out her tongue and made a dying motion.

The girl, who was about to turn fifteen, still had a round and cute face, with bright and lively eyes that looked like grapes soaked in the morning dew of spring.

When she smiles, the corners of her eyes curl up into crescent moons, making her incredibly adorable.

Shen Cong looked dazed.

The little girl who used to rush into his sedan chair with her hair in two buns and her round eyes has grown into a young woman in the blink of an eye.

"Ninth Brother? What are you thinking about?"

Shen Cong snapped out of his daze and saw Li Nanke staring wide-eyed, her fair little hand waving in front of him.

Her bright red lips were slightly pouted, carrying a hint of complaint.

"Ninth Brother, are you even listening to me?"

Shen Cong barely managed to concentrate and gave a soft "hmm".

Li Nanke continued, "I've noticed that whenever His Majesty is in good health, you vomit blood, and the blood curse kicks in."

But as autumn arrives, His Majesty's health begins to decline, while your health will improve significantly, especially in the last two years.

The feeling was very strong, like you two were using one life, he used it for half a year, and you used it for the other half.

Shen Cong pursed his thin lips slightly.

He had long harbored this doubt in his heart.

"The blood curse that Prince Chen placed on me and the Gu poison in my brother's body must be related in some way, which is why we are experiencing this phenomenon now."

Li Nanke's eyes lit up.

“I also thought of that, but unfortunately Prince Chen is dead, so we have no way to verify it, and His Majesty is unwilling to tell you the truth.”

When the emperor was mentioned, Shen Cong fell silent.

Over the past four years, he and his elder brother have spoken less and less, and even when they do talk, it's just a conversation between a ruler and his subject.

Sometimes he would be so dazed that he thought the favor his elder brother had shown him all those years was something from a past life.

"Has Xie Xuanxiao still not found any useful information?"

Li Nanke asked.

For the past few years, Xie Xuanxiao has been hiding in the shadows, investigating the poison in the emperor's body and the imperial edict from back then.

Shen Cong said, "Xie Xuanxiao sent a message back saying that we still need to find a way to enter the imperial mausoleum, but the mausoleums of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are sealed in a special way."

Unless the imperial tomb is blown open, there's simply no way to get in.

Blowing up the imperial tomb is of course impossible.

Li Nanke asked, "Is Ninth Brother still unable to find that ring-shaped thing I mentioned before?"

Shen Cong shook his head.

“In the past few years, I have searched through all the things left by my mother repeatedly, and I have even asked all the old servants who served her back then.”

There were no clues at all, and...

He paused for a moment before speaking softly: "I discovered that my brother's men are also secretly searching for the old servants who served my mother back then, presumably also looking for the key to open the imperial mausoleum."

Li Nanke said, "So His Majesty's men didn't find more information than you did."

Shen Cong nodded.

Both of them fell silent.

Even after discovering that Shen Cong shared a life with the emperor, there was no solution.

The trail went cold with Prince Chen.

As for the imperial tomb, you can only enter if you find the key.

Li Nanke mustered his spirits and patted Chen Cong's arm.

He smiled and said, "I have a feeling that this matter will definitely be resolved in no more than six months."

Shen Cong raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly.

"intuition?"

Li Nanke nodded, "Of course, Ninth Brother, don't you trust me?"

Shen Cong stared at her intently.

The girl's thick, black hair was styled into a high bun and tied with a jade hairpin.

It was the jade hairpin he made himself.

Beneath her hair bun was a red ribbon with a delicate golden ball tied to it, which swayed gently, making a soft, crisp sound, exuding an indescribable cuteness and charm.

Over the years, he has given her many pieces of jewelry, but this girl's favorite is this exquisite hairband.

A hint of a smile appeared in Shen Cong's eyes as he said in a deep voice, "Of course I believe you!"

Li Nanke smiled, revealing two small dimples.

"It's getting late, I have to go home. See you tomorrow, Ninth Brother."

"See you tomorrow."

As Li Nanke walked through the passageway and turned into the front courtyard of Jingxing Courtyard, he saw Shen Xu strolling leisurely over with his hands behind his back.

Shen Xu is fifteen years old this year. He has grown a lot taller in the past few years and is much fairer than when he was first found.

He has completely grown into the appearance of Li Nanke in his dream.

"What a small world," Li Nanke muttered to himself, then turned and walked toward the alleyway beside him.

Before she could even step into the alley, a force suddenly grabbed her hair ribbon from behind.

As the exquisite ball made a sound, her scalp tightened, and she couldn't help but hiss.

She covered her hair, turned around, and glared angrily.

"What is Your Highness doing?"

Shen Xu twirled around with his hair ribbon, his chin slightly raised, exuding a hint of arrogance.

"I really don't understand why you wear that gold ball headband all the time. How can a gold ball be prettier than a pearl?"

Li Nanke's pretty face darkened, and she reached out to snatch the hairband.

"Give me back my hairband!"

Shen Xu dodged backward, hiding the hairband in his hand behind his back.

Li Nanke missed her target and nearly bumped into him.

She barely managed to stop herself, took two steps back, and glared at Chen Xu.

"What does Your Highness intend to do?"

Shen Xu squeezed the golden ball with his hand and pouted.

"Gold and silver utensils are too vulgar!"

Li Nanke suppressed his anger and said coldly, "It's just a personal preference. I just like the gaudy gold and silver."

"If Your Highness finds this an eyesore, please return the hairband to me. I'll stay far away from you."

Shen Xu stepped forward, pressing Li Nanke back against the wall, and snorted coldly.

"Li Nanke, what have I done to offend you? You've never given me a kind look in the past few years."

Your words are always sarcastic and cold; do you really think I have a good temper and will always indulge you?

He glared coldly at Li Nanke, his eyes carrying a hint of warning.

Li Nanke stood against the wall, coldly staring back at him.

"Is that so? Perhaps it's Your Highness's imagination. If Your Highness feels uncomfortable, I will try my best to avoid you in the future."

Shen Xu angrily kicked the wall twice.

"That's it! You won't even give me a perfunctory reply. Do you think I, a dignified crown prince, should have to put up with your attitude?"

He suddenly narrowed his eyes and shrugged at Li Nanke, as if thinking of something.

"I also want to stay away from you, but alas, we are about to become husband and wife."

Li Nanke, I advise you to be more polite when you speak to me in the future.

"After all, the husband is the head of the household; if you displease me, I can divorce you."

Li Nanke's expression changed.

"What did you say? What husband and wife? Who wants to be your husband and wife?"

Shen Xu smiled with particular smugness.

"Of course it's you and me. You don't know yet, do you? Father and Mother are already choosing a Crown Princess for me."

And you....."

He reached out and pinched Li Nanke's chin, looking at her fair and rosy face with satisfaction.

"Li Nanke, you are the Crown Princess chosen by my father for me!"