Chapter 174: Taking Advantage of the Situation

Seeing that she remained silent, everyone stopped asking questions.

Ling Qing, who was following at the end, felt a little more worried.

If his Highness knew that he was not the only one in this huge capital city who had set his sights on Chen Ningyuan, he would probably be so anxious that he would jump up and down on the spot.

He needs to think carefully about how to organize his language.

Tell Xie Wanzhou about this matter in a tactful and polite manner.

"We're here." Lao Guai's voice sounded, "This courtyard is the best and quietest courtyard in Ningle Tower. It's perfect for Madam Shen to stay for a short period of time."

As he spoke, Lao Guai looked at Shen Ningyuan and sighed silently.

This courtyard was originally prepared by Ji Yunnuo for Shen Ningyuan.

Everything in the yard was arranged according to Shen Ningyuan's preferences.

But what I didn’t expect was that the first person to move in was Cui Jin.

Lao Guai couldn't help but worry about Ji Yunnuo.

"Thank you, shopkeeper."

Shen Ningyuan thanked him and let Cui Jin and his two brothers enter the yard first.

After the three of them went in, Shen Ningyuan looked at Lao Guai and whispered, "Thank you, shopkeeper. Please prepare a pot of sake for me and have the waiter deliver it to this yard."

Lao Guai knew that Chen Ningyuan had sent him away because he must have something very important to discuss.

"Boss, I'll go right away."

After nodding, he turned around and left tactfully.

After Lao Guai walked away, Shen Ningyuan turned to Ling Qing.

"Go back and tell your Highness that I owe him a favor for rescuing my mother today. If he needs me in the future, I will definitely help him."

Ling Qing smiled and said, “Miss Shen, you are too polite.”

“My Highness doesn’t want anything else, as long as Miss Shen treats my Highness better next time she sees him.”

Shen Ningyuan: “?”

"To be honest," Ling Qing sighed, "Every time Miss Shen speaks coldly to Your Highness, Your Highness feels uncomfortable for a long time."

Shen Ningyuan: “…”

I'm a little speechless, but I don't know where I'm speechless.

Shen Ningyuan forced a smile, "Okay, I'll pay attention next time."

After Ling Qing left, Shen Ningyuan simply rolled her eyes.

He muttered, "The master and servant are like sick people. They don't even check their brains before going out?"

After complaining, Shen Ningyuan turned and entered the yard.

At this time, Shen Haobai and Shen Haoyue were surrounding Cui Jin and asking her questions.

After seeing Shen Ningyuan coming in, Cui Jin quickly asked, "Yuan'er, who is helping us behind the scenes?"

“It’s Xie Wanzhou.” Shen Ningyuan said truthfully.

"The former crown prince?" Cui Jin was surprised. "How did he know that I was imprisoned in that dungeon?"

Chen Ningyuan shook her head, "I'm not very clear either. It was only at the Queen Mother's palace banquet today that Xie Wanzhou told me that my mother has been imprisoned here."

"Yuan'er, did you go to the Queen Mother's palace banquet?"

Shen Ningyuan nodded, but her expression was a little strange.

Seeing this, Cui Jin immediately guessed something and asked, "Yuan'er, do you... already know?"

Shen Ningyuan nodded, "Yes, I know everything."

Upon hearing this, Cui Jin's face immediately turned cold.

He said angrily, "She said she would never have any contact with me again. Why is she looking for my daughter now?"

Shen Ningyuan comforted helplessly: “Mother, it happened many years ago. Now that the great aunt is willing to give in and ease the relationship with you, why don’t you also follow the steps?”

Cui Jin was even angrier than before, "Why should I take this step?"

"Obviously, she threatened me and got so angry that she said she wanted to break off relations with me." Cui Jin became more and more angry as she spoke. "Now, with just a few words, she wants me to forgive her. Don't even think about it!"

Seeing Cui Jin so angry, Shen Ningyuan had to give up the idea of persuading her.

After all, this was a private matter between Cui Jin and Queen Mother Cui, and as a junior, it was not easy for her to interfere.

At this time, after listening to the conversation between the two, Shen Haobai and Shen Haoyue were already confused.

"Mother, sister, what are you talking about?" Shen Haobai scratched the back of his head, "What is the relationship between Queen Mother Cui and my great aunt?"

Shen Haoyue thought for a moment, and finally expressed his guess, "Could it be that the Queen Mother is our great aunt?"

"How is that possible?" Shen Haobai immediately denied this guess, "I have lived for more than 20 years. How could I not know whether there is such a relative?"

But as soon as the words fell, Shen Ningyuan nodded with certainty, "Second brother guessed correctly, the Queen Mother is our great aunt."

"What?"

"impossible!"

The two said in unison.

I don't believe this at all.

"It's true. Queen Mother Cui is my mother's aunt." Cui Jin emphasized: "My dear aunt."

Now, it was the two of them who lost their composure.

Shen Haobai and Shen Haoyue looked at each other, and saw the same shock and disbelief in each other's eyes.

Who would have thought that their family actually had such a relative.

"Mom, what's going on?" Shen Haobai asked Cui Jin in horror.

Cui Jin sighed helplessly, and then told everything that had happened between her and Queen Mother Cui.

During this time, Lao Guai came in and brought two pots of sake, then politely left.

It was not until Cui Jin finished explaining all the causes and consequences that Shen Haobai and Shen Haoyue looked at each other, too shocked to know what to say.

After being stunned for a long time, Shen Haobai felt a chill on his back.

After a while, he said with fear: "No wonder, every time I go to court, I feel that the look in His Majesty's eyes is full of murderous intent and hatred."

"I always thought that I was too young and couldn't handle the emperor's majesty..." Shen Haobai became more and more scared as he spoke, "I didn't expect that my feeling was right."

Chen Haoyue also said hesitantly: "Me too... almost. The first time at the poetry gathering, His Majesty suddenly showed up. He looked at the other young men with a look of satisfaction and appreciation. Only when he looked at me did he glance at me and then looked away."

"So all this," Shen Haoyue looked at Cui Jin dimly, "So all this is because of Dad, who snatched Mom from him!"

After saying this, the two brothers said in unison: "Your Majesty has been very generous by not punishing Dad for the revenge of stealing my wife!"

Cui Jin rolled her eyes at the two of them and said, "What are you talking about? Your father and His Majesty, they have a pretty good relationship, right?"

"Mom, are you sure?" Shen Haoyue obviously didn't believe it.

Cui Jin paused and said nothing.

The room was quiet for a while before Shen Ningyuan broke the silence.

He asked, "Mother, now that my great aunt has lowered herself to make peace with you, what are your plans?"

Cui Jin pursed her lips and said in a sullen tone, "What else can I do? Of course we should reconcile. I only have this one aunt. What's more, before your grandfather died, he specifically asked me to take good care of her."

After hearing this, Shen Ningyuan knew that Cui Jin also cared a lot about her aunt, Queen Mother Cui.

It's just that over the years, I've been unwilling to bow my head for the sake of face.

Thinking of this, Shen Ningyuan said, "Mother, in a few days, my great aunt will hold another vegetarian banquet. Why don't you take this opportunity to go to the palace and reconcile with my great aunt, and replace her with the fake one at home?"