Chapter 294 Nunnery

Shen Anan raised his eyebrows slightly.

After a long while, Eunuch An spoke again helplessly, "Princess, I really don't know. Even if you put a knife on my neck, I still don't know."

Shen Anan stood up from the chair, walked forward a few steps, and looked down at Eunuch An, "Then let me ask it another way. Was the death of Concubine Shu designed by the emperor to frame Shen Yunbai's father?"

Eunuch An was silent for a moment and nodded slowly.

"After so many years, the Emperor feels guilty towards Concubine Shu."

Shen Anan's eyes were slightly cold, and her face was full of sneers, "Feeling guilty, but trying to kill Xiao Yuan?"

"No." Eunuch An immediately shook his head. "The Fourth Prince is the Emperor's biological son. How could the Emperor kill him? It's just... just..."

"It was just that in order to let the son of his beloved woman ascend to the throne, he had to make some choices, and Xiao Yuan, like the former Concubine Shu, was a part of him that he had abandoned."

Eunuch An was speechless.

After a long while, he slowly exhaled and whispered, "There is another reason. That year, the man who fled the palace with the fifth prince who was still in his infancy was hunted down. The man died for the fifth prince. According to the investigation of the royal secret guards, the assassin was sent by the Qi family, so..."

The emperor had grudges against the Qi family and the fourth prince.

"Is there any evidence?"

Eunuch An was stunned and shook his head slowly. "I am just a eunuch serving the emperor and listening to his words. How can I know what is evidence or not? But it is said that the assassins bit their tongues and committed suicide. There is no witness or physical evidence."

"There is no witness or evidence." Shen Anan repeated, his tone cold, "So they executed the mainstay of the court and banned General Qi from returning to Beijing for life?"

Eunuch An remained silent. This was not something that a servant like him could comment on, although he also felt that what the emperor did was... inappropriate.

"How long has that woman lived in the palace?"

"About two years, at most."

"How favored is it?" Shen Anan asked.

Eunuch An looked up at her and said, "As long as she is here, the other concubines in the harem can hardly see the emperor. However, except for Concubine Shu, Concubine Shu and the emperor are a young couple, so there is still a special relationship between them."

mutual affection? Shen Anan sneered, it's almost as if she has some use value.

Therefore, that person had indeed been favored for two years, but it was hard to say whose bloodline Chen Tian was actually descended from.

"One last question. Was it the Emperor's idea that Concubine Shu stayed at Xiangjue Temple?"

Eunuch An pursed his lips.

"The emperor didn't say so, but he didn't stop it either. After all, that person made such a big fuss that the emperor could only turn a blind eye."

Only after seeing Lord Shen and her son would she stop acting like a demon and stay peacefully in the palace. The emperor was obsessed with her at that time and had no choice but to compromise.

Shen Anan sneered, "So, what Yang Wen said in the hall that day was all true?" Except for the words that slandered the emperor later, everything about Concubine Shu was true.

Eunuch An shook his head vigorously, "No, the emperor did not favor her in front of the seriously ill Concubine Shu, she is just talking nonsense."

Shen Anan glanced at him and said, “I’m not a fool. I have the ability to distinguish right from wrong.”

Eunuch An wilted like an eggplant hit by frost.

Shen Anan turned around and was about to leave.

He was startled, and hurriedly staggered a few steps to chase after him, "Princess, what should I do?"

Shen Anan kept walking without turning back and said, "Keep it, I said I won't kill you."

＊

Xiao Yuan was processing official documents behind his desk. Hearing the noise, he raised his eyes slightly and caught a glimpse of a light green figure. He curled the corners of his lips slightly but did not move.

But after a long while, there was no movement over there. He couldn't help but frown slightly. He raised his head and saw her standing behind the screen, staring at him without blinking.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Anan curled her lips, walked up behind him, and gently hugged his back, "Nothing, I just suddenly wanted to hug you."

Xiao Yuan touched her hand in front of him and pulled her to sit on his lap, "Then hug me as much as you want."

She nodded slightly and snuggled into his arms.

Xiao Yuan noticed her abnormality and pushed her away, "Unhappy?"

She shook her head slightly and snuggled into his arms again, "Xiao Yuan, I feel so sorry for you."

How did he spend the rest of his life?

He gently embraced her and stroked her black hair, "It's all in the past. From now on, my wife will love me, and I won't be pitiful anymore."

Hearing this, Shen Anan couldn't help but lowered her head and laughed.

Seeing her smile, Xiao Yuan smiled and hugged her to review the documents together.

After Shen Yunbai's death, many important positions in the court became vacant. The emperor and Xiao Yuan were both keeping an eye on them, and these days were a tense time.

Shen Anan looked at the documents and frowned slightly.

Even though Qingyue said that, the emperor still hasn't given up on Chen Tian. He really has deep feelings for Chen Tian's mother.

Could it be that Chen Tian is really his son?

She leaned against Xiao Yuan and fell asleep unknowingly.

Hearing her even breathing, Xiao Yuan gently put down his pen, picked her up by the waist and returned to Wutong Garden.

These days, she became more and more sleepy, and the imperial physician could not figure out the reason. She also looked very healthy, which made Xiao Yuan feel a little uneasy.

Mo Xiang made the bed, and Xiao Yuan gently put her down and covered her with the quilt. He did not leave, but sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her quietly.

Now he has a soft spot and someone who cares about him.

Shen Anan was not sleeping well, and she hugged the quilt and turned inside.

Xiao Yuan chuckled and sat for a while. Suddenly he remembered something and stood up to search for something in the house.

Finally, under Shen Anan's pillow, she found the booklet that she had treasured these days.

She didn't let anyone see it, and Xiao Yuan always acted as if he didn't care in front of her, but recently her memory seemed to be up and down.

At the Fifth Prince's banquet that day, she framed Shen Yunbai, and her memory and logic were exceptionally clear.

Xiao Yuan took the booklet, looked at Shen Anan, then looked at the booklet again, hesitated for a while, and then slowly opened it.

This look lasted half an hour.

When he turned to the last page, his fingertips trembled slightly, his slightly drooped eyes were a little misty, his face was tightly stretched, and his lips were tightly pursed.

The booklet is half paintings and half text, recording everything that happened in the past and present. She even marked the time and place on it.

She remembered everything clearly, including their daily intimacy in the study.

Xiao Yuan stroked the line of words with his hand, and his heart felt as if it was being torn into pieces.

We were people who risked our lives for each other. Even if we don't remember it in the future, we will remember that we love you.

The edge of that page of paper had long been curled, showing that it was being read every day.

So, she loved him based on this booklet, and the design of the Fifth Prince's Mansion that day was also thanks to this booklet.

Shen Anan opened her eyes half asleep and half awake, and saw Xiao Yuan holding a book with his head slightly lowered.

Her sleepiness immediately disappeared and she snatched the book back at an extremely fast speed.

Xiao Yuan was silent for a moment, and when he raised his eyes, he only had a faint smile, "So, Madam likes you so much?"

Shen Anan said nothing, and lay back down with the book in her arms, her back facing Xiao Yuan.

"Go to sleep. I won't watch anymore." He covered her with the quilt, half of his body leaned against her side, and closed his eyes slightly. The room was very quiet, with only the shallow breathing sounds of the two of them.

＊

Li Huaiyan was lying on his back in the yard admiring the bright moon, with two beautiful maids serving him. One massaged his shoulders, the other one massaged his legs. From time to time, they picked up one or two fruits and put them into Li Huaiyan's mouth. He was really free and easy.

There were footsteps behind me and a maid brought some wine.

Li Huaiyan stretched out his hand, but there was no movement behind him. Instead, a low sobbing sound was heard, which sounded mournful and sad.

He suddenly sat up straight and looked back.

The woman's eyes were filled with sadness and despair, her face was red, and she was looking at him in disbelief.

“…”

Li Huaiyan's head buzzed and he subconsciously brushed away the maid who was still massaging his legs, and dodged the beautiful girl who was almost lying on him and rubbing his shoulders.

"You...I..." He stuttered for a few words before finding his voice again, "Why are you here?"

The woman sniffed, as if in a dead silence after despair, and numbly walked forward, filled the glass with wine, and handed it to Li Huaiyan, "This is the wine that the Duke ordered."

Li Huaiyan took it blankly, wiped her tears, turned around and left.

"Hey, wait." He leaned forward and grabbed her wrist at an extremely fast speed.

"You all step back."

The two maids bowed and left immediately.

Li Huaiyan finished the glass of wine, threw it on the small table, and got off the recliner. "How did you get in? Didn't Lord Zheng forbid you to leave the house?"

Zheng Yueer raised her red rabbit eyes and said, "I climbed over the wall. I wanted to see you, but I didn't expect that Li Guogong was surrounded by maids and concubines. I'm sorry to disturb your pleasure. I'm leaving now."

As she said this, she was already crying and sobbing violently.

“…”

Li Huaiyan frowned and wanted to reach out and hold the girl in his arms to comfort her, but then he remembered that she was a lady from a wealthy family, and stopped abruptly.

"No, I... that's because I'm a little tired from the recent court duties, so I want to relax."

Zheng Yue'er said nothing, but just kept crying, very sad, "My father wants to send me to a nunnery, I sneaked out today to say goodbye to you."

Li Huaiyan frowned when he heard this, "Don't worry about this matter, I will help you solve it with your father."

Zheng Yue'er shook her head and said hesitantly, "I hanged myself to refuse the marriage, and I'm famous throughout the capital. No one will be willing to marry me. If I stay in the mansion, I will tarnish the reputation of my brothers and sisters and be hated by others. It's better for me to go to a nunnery. It's the best way out for a woman who doesn't want to get married."

Li Huaiyan became furious when he heard this. This was simply a fallacy.

Zheng Yueer wiped her tears and tried to stop crying, "I'm sorry, I lost my temper."

"I came here today because I have something to say to you. Otherwise, even if I go to the nunnery, I will still feel regretful and find it difficult to calm down."

"you say."

Li Huaiyan frowned and looked at her, his heart was a little confused, but he tried hard to suppress it and never showed it.

Over the years, he had met girls who made his heart beat faster, but he was a playboy by nature and it was difficult for him to settle down. He was content to stay in the backyard in order not to delay the pursuit of girls, and he never thought about getting married.

The same goes for Zheng Yue'er. He likes girls who are gentle and considerate, but he can never say that he is loyal to her until death. He believes that he will never be as devoted to her as Xiao Yuan in this life.

Zheng Yue'er seemed to have mustered up a lot of courage. "That day at the banquet at the Yongning Marquis' Mansion, I... fell in love with you at first sight. I know you are playful and I am just one of your prey, but I... I can't control my heart..."

She lowered her head, her ears turned red, and her face was full of tears. "You came to me because of my marriage with the fifth prince, right?"

Li Huaiyan's throat seemed to be blocked by a ball of cotton wool. He pursed his lips tightly and was unable to speak.

Zheng Yueer smiled sadly, "I know everything. You are on the side of the Fourth Prince and don't want my father to marry and join forces with the Fifth Prince. You are just using me."

"..." Li Huaiyan's face was shocked, "I'm sorry."

Zheng Yue'er shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I... like you, so I am willing to be your chess piece. Even if my father hates me and my family doesn't accept me, I won't regret it."

Li Huaiyan looked at her deeply.

So she chose the extreme method of hanging herself on the day of the arranged marriage, was it because of him?

While he was in a daze, a force came up and hugged his waist tightly. Li Huaiyan's whole body stiffened and he lowered his eyes to look at the top of the woman's head.