Chapter 186 The Heir Apparent of the Earl's Mansion 9

Ning Yan, feeling bored, started wandering around the palace.

However, things are not peaceful in the palace today.

Just as he stepped out of the Holy Palace, a beautiful young palace maid bumped straight into him.

Ning Yan: ...I'm outta here!!

The little palace maid fell to the ground with a thud, crying out, "Ouch! My back! My lord, please help me up, I've twisted my back!"

Ning Yan: "...No, how dare you ask me to help you up? Do you think you're the emperor?!"

Her bodyguard: ...But, what does this have to do with the Emperor? Why make such a comparison?

After Ning Yan finished speaking, she glared at the little palace maid who had tried to seduce her and then walked past her.

The palace maid was dumbfounded: Wait, who is this person? Such a beautiful and vibrant woman, with unparalleled beauty right in front of him, how could he really bear to leave?

Do you know what it means to cherish and protect a beautiful woman?

As she strolled around, she ended up in the Imperial Garden. The royal garden was somewhat desolate in winter. Ning Yan had only been wandering around for a short while when she encountered two young palace maids. Seeing the expression on one of them's face when she saw her, which resembled that of a wolf seeing its prey, Ning Yan was so frightened that she turned and ran away.

Damn it, what's going on today?

Did we disturb the palace maids' hideout?

He had only walked about 300 meters when a concubine walked towards him, followed by two maids. Before he could turn around, she had already seen him.

"This must be Lord Ning."

Ning Yan bowed to the other party. Because the emperor did not enter the inner palace, and the Shengji Hall had made an example of the concubines several times, the concubines dared not send anything to the front. Therefore, she did not know most of the concubines in the palace.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"I have long heard of your talent and ability, but I never expected to meet you today. You are indeed a man of great talent."

Ning Yan: "Your Majesty is too kind. I am not worthy of such praise. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

After saying this, he bowed again, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and immediately left.

Consort Zhao sighed as she watched Ning Yan's retreating figure. "No wonder the Emperor is unwilling to enter the harem. With Ning Yan's looks, even I, if I were the Emperor, would be tempted by her beauty!"

Ning Yan, who hadn't gone very far and had exceptional hearing, almost tripped over her own feet and fell flat on her face!

Forget it, today isn't a good day for wandering around. I should head back to the Holy Palace first. It's better to be with the Emperor than with those inexplicable women.

Before even reaching the Holy Palace, they encountered several officials who had just finished their meeting, the one in the lead being none other than Prince Su.

She was curious when the Emperor would make a move against this Prince Su, but at a glance, she understood.

When the court session ended, Prince Su's appearance was perfectly normal. But in just over half an hour, he showed signs of certain death. And this happened after he had been in the Hall of Supreme Harmony for less than an hour—the Emperor had secretly given him a slow-acting poison!

Very well, the original owner's wish has been fulfilled so simply.

Now all she can do is cover her chest and cling to life.

Well, this seems a bit difficult at the moment.

But to be honest, it's not that difficult!

Anyway, at worst, she can just run away with the emperor's little brat. I don't believe he'd have the heart to kill her!

Ning Yan stood by the roadside and bowed to Prince Su and several other officials.

Prince Su smiled gently, "Lord Ning, you may dispense with the formalities. I was just saying yesterday that I would like to invite you for a drink sometime, and I didn't expect to meet you in the palace today. I wonder if you would grant me that honor?"

Ning Yan: You're almost dead, so I definitely have to give you face.

The other ministers looked down on Ning Yan, a favored minister, and left without even giving her a glance.

"Look at what Your Highness says. It is my honor to drink with Your Highness. I would never dare to disobey Your Highness's orders."

Prince Su was satisfied. "Very well, then I will host a banquet at the Prince's residence in three days. Lord Ning must come!"

Ning Yan nodded.

Let's go. While we're at it, let's see if there's anything good at Prince Su's residence, and take it all for him.

This guy took the original owner's life in her past life, and she felt a little uneasy about letting him die so easily.

Having achieved his goal, Prince Su left. Ning Yan watched him walk away, and the smile on her face vanished as she turned around.

I really don't understand why such a fake person has so many ministers supporting him!

Yes, Prince Su gave her the feeling that he was extremely fake!

He smiled gently, but there was no real smile in his eyes. Every gesture and every word he uttered was an act!

Spending too much time with people like that could lead to them using you as a scapegoat at any moment. Stay away from such people to save your life!

The two spoke softly, but since they were outside the Holy Palace, Xiao Li heard them clearly. Therefore, when Ning Yan came in, Xiao Li asked, unusually, "Are you really going to his residence for a banquet?"

“Prince Su is officially one of your people, and so am I. Shouldn’t I go to keep my appointment with him?”

Furthermore, he is a prince, while I am merely a lowly third-rank official. If I do not go, wouldn't that offend Prince Su?

With the Emperor backing me up, he naturally wouldn't directly target me, but dealing with my family would be far too easy for him.

What can I do if I don't compromise?

The Emperor has been treating her kindly lately, which has emboldened her, and she speaks very casually.

Xiao Li: ...Never mind, let him do whatever he wants. Anyway, Prince Su is not far from death.

Today, unusually, when it was time to finish her shift, the Emperor did not keep her any longer. She finished her shift on time, left the palace, returned to her residence, and went straight to her courtyard.

Cuizhu stood in front of the courtyard gate waiting for her. Ningyan put her arm around her and walked into the house. "It's so cold outside. You don't need to wait outside. What if you get frostbite?"

Have you prepared your wedding attire?

Cuizhu: "The wedding dress is finished. I'll make two more outfits in the next few days, and that should be enough. Anyway, it's not like I'm getting married, so I can make them whenever I want."

"After four more days of rest, I will hold a banquet for you to take a concubine."

In more particular families, when a concubine is taken, several tables will be set up to show the household that this is the master's concubine and everyone should show her respect.

Those who weren't particular would simply change into new clothes, serve tea to the mistress, and that would be it.

Cuizhu had no objection; after all, she was the prince's woman, and she would do whatever the prince said.

"Your Highness must be tired from your shift today. I'll have someone bring up your dinner right away. After you eat, I'll have a maid give you a good massage to help you relax."

"Okay, you can use it with me too."

A favored concubine should naturally be pampered.

He even had his favorite concubine sleep with him at night.

The guard reported the news to the Emperor with a bitter expression.

Xiao Li, known for his bloodthirstiness, tyranny, and cold-bloodedness, had a face as cold as ice!

I never expected him to be so impolite. He slept with me before even formally taking a concubine. Ha, ha!

"Keep an eye on it."

The guards quickly withdrew.

The Emperor's mood has been noticeably off lately, and the source of this is Lord Ning. It's clear that the Emperor has taken a liking to Lord Ning, but the person in question is acting as if he knows nothing about it. This is really putting the secret guards in a difficult position.

In fact, Ning Yan wasn't completely ignorant; she was just fearless because she was confident in her abilities!

Thank you Lily for the 2500 Qidian Coins!