Chapter 609 Shield 19

After leaving the small courtyard, Ning Yan went straight to the main courtyard where the general lived. She lit some sleeping incense, knocked everyone unconscious, threw the general into the entrance of the secret passage in the small courtyard, and then went to Qi Chongji's room, carrying him into the secret room.

Moreover, judging from Qi Chongji's actions, he probably knows his father's plans. His father has married thirteen wives and concubines, and has already fathered fourteen sons. It seems like he's preparing for the day he ascends the throne so that Qi Chongji can directly appoint the crown prince. With so many sons, his father won't choose any other sons.

Even if he is wronged, it doesn't matter. If his father colludes with foreign powers, his entire family will be implicated, let alone his own son.

After arranging the two people, Ning Yan deliberately ran to the big tree where the secret guard was hiding. This person was watching from the front of the main courtyard. The general she had secretly moved from behind the house had an invisibility talisman on his body, so he naturally wouldn't be discovered.

A pebble gently struck the wrist of the leader of the secret guards. Startled, the leader immediately leaped down from the tree.

He then noticed the sound of pebbles falling to the ground to his left.

He quickly followed.

Ning Yan led the man into the small courtyard next door, where he quickly spotted the foreign man in the east room and Qi Wei, who was stuck at the door of the secret room.

Good heavens, when did this person get over next door?

No wonder he didn't find anything at the Qi family's house; the secret room was here.

He entered the secret room and, upon seeing Qi Chongji, also discovered the secret letters. The leader of the secret guards carefully put away the letters and immediately returned to the palace to request imperial permission.

Ning Yan had already run back to the palace when she led the people to the next room. She had just settled down when the secret guards arrived at Chaoyang Palace. The emperor was so busy that he usually slept in Chaoyang Palace at night.

The head of the secret guards presented the secret letter directly to the Emperor: "You said that the Grand General fainted at the entrance of the secret chamber, and Qi Chongji fainted inside the secret chamber?"

The leader of the secret guards wiped the sweat from his face. To his shame, the incident had happened right before their eyes, yet they hadn't noticed anything. If they hadn't been deliberately led there, they probably wouldn't have discovered General Qi's secret chamber in such a short time.

Looking back now, it seems that the last time he entered the study, General Qi deliberately let him off the hook because he noticed someone was watching him, just to prove his innocence. Today, he had just dismissed his subordinates and was personally watching, so General Qi assumed that the watchers had all left and went to the next room with peace of mind.

"yes."

The Emperor was also curious about how the father and son had fainted, but that wasn't the important thing right now. Soon, imperial decrees were issued one after another, and the Imperial Guards were all mobilized. In the middle of the night, the palace gates were opened wide, and the sound of horses' hooves echoed through the streets.

When Ning Yan woke up the next day, it was already past Chen Shi (7-9 AM). Gu Yu immediately reported to her mistress, "Your Majesty, something has happened to Consort Liang's family. Someone reported that Lord Qi was colluding with foreign powers. Everyone in the General's Mansion has been imprisoned, and Consort Liang has been banished to the Cold Palace."

"What? Everything was fine yesterday?"

Gu Yu chattered on and on about the news she had heard. Ning Yan finished washing up and happily went to the main hall to have breakfast with her sister.

Now that all the obstacles in front of her have been cleared, she is free of any trouble.

The matter of General Qi was resolved in just half a month. The ringleader was beheaded, and the rest of the Qi family members were exiled three thousand miles away. The emperor was merciful. The eldest and third branches of the Qi family had rendered meritorious service in resisting the enemy for the country and had long since separated from the second branch, so they were not implicated.

Everyone, both inside and outside the palace, praised the emperor.

On the day Qi Wei was beheaded, the Emperor carried several boxes to Zhu Yan Palace. These boxes were all taken from the Qi family. The Emperor picked out the best ones and gave them all to Ning Xuexian.

In the blink of an eye, Ning Xuexian's due date arrived.

The First Madam had already been brought into the palace by the Emperor to accompany her daughter as she awaited childbirth.

These past few days, the mother and daughter have been telling Ning Yan one thing: "Listen to your mother, you're not allowed to fake your death. Once your sister gives birth safely, we'll announce the truth to the world, so you can get married and find a good home as usual."

"Mother, to tell you the truth, I've grown accustomed to the Emperor's unwavering devotion to my sister. I don't want to share a husband with another woman. I'll use childbirth as an excuse to die. The world is vast, and I can travel everywhere. Please grant my wish."

"Is that really what you think?"

Ning Yan nodded.

"But it's too unsafe for a girl to go out alone."

"Oh, can I ask my brother-in-law for two bodyguards? With them protecting you, what's there to worry about?"

"So, you'd already made up your mind, hadn't you?"

Ning Xuexian felt annoyed. When did her younger sister become so opinionated?

Oh, I remember now, it's been like this ever since she entered the palace to be used as a shield for her.

Ning Yan sat calmly in the chair, holding a bunch of grapes in her hand, occasionally eating a couple. "Sister, you have someone you like, and the Emperor likes you too. Your future is something to look forward to."

But how many women in this world marry someone they love and who loves them in return, just like you do?

"Then find someone who likes you too. My sister is so beautiful, she's sure to meet someone who's right for her."

"Oh dear sister, to be honest, I'm a womanizer. It would be a waste for me to marry only one man. I want to find many, many men. Sister, tell me, which man in this world would want to marry someone like me?"

Ning Xuexian was shocked. She had never known that her younger sister had such thoughts. In her excitement, something suddenly flowed out from below.

Li Xia exclaimed, "Quick, Her Majesty has wet herself! Help Her Majesty change her clothes!"

Ning Yan jumped up. "What? She peed? My sister is about to give birth! Quickly go and fetch the imperial physician! Li Dong, go and inform the Emperor."

"Sister, let me help you back to the delivery room. We're getting ready to give birth."

...

After six hours of labor, Ning Xuexian finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Only then did the people in the imperial court and the inner palace realize that Consort Xue was not actually being confined by the emperor, but was simply keeping it a secret from everyone to protect her pregnancy.

Consort Shu was merely a shield pushed out by Consort Xue.

Now that Consort Xue has successfully given birth, Consort Shu has also disappeared from the palace.

Yes, Ning Yan compromised. She had no choice but to compromise. Her sister wouldn't let her brother-in-law be her bodyguard, and she wouldn't let her go out and have fun. Her mother even wanted to introduce her to a promising young man. How could this be allowed?

Therefore, after she left the palace, the imperial decree bestowing upon her the title of Princess arrived at Minister Ning's household.

Ning Yan now has the title of Princess Chaohua and a fiefdom, although the fiefdom consists of only one county with a population of just a few hundred thousand.

But all the taxes go to her, so she'll never lack money in her life.

Moreover, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the next emperor will be the child born to her sister, so how could her nephew not protect her?

Therefore, Ning Yan arrived in Ju'an County as soon as she received the imperial decree.

She personally drew up a blueprint and arranged for the construction of the princess's mansion, while she took the two secret guards bestowed upon her by the emperor and went on a journey across the world.

Every world has its own treasures, such as food, drink, clothing, and rare fruits, vegetables, and seeds. She wants to buy some of these, not too much, but enough, in case she wants something in another world and can't find it.

When the young prince was one year old, the emperor hinted to the royalists that Consort Xue should be made empress, and the young prince should be made crown prince.

At the time, many people in the imperial court opposed it.

The Prime Minister openly took sides and supported making Consort Xue Empress, and Consort Xue ascended to the position of Empress smoothly.

The emperor understood that the prime minister was doing this out of consideration for his life. After that, he became more and more adept at ordering the prime minister around. The prime minister was also very happy with the emperor's trust and worked even harder.

...

The emperor was a benevolent and wise ruler who never killed innocent people indiscriminately, cared for the people, and was diligent in his duties and loved them.

He was determined to improve the lives of the people, and Ning Yan also wanted to help this good emperor and brother-in-law, so she took out corn seeds from the Divine Palace and began to plant them on a large scale in her fiefdom. When the little prince was four years old, she presented these corn seeds to him.

Upon learning that corn could yield a thousand catties per mu, the Emperor was overjoyed and rewarded Ning Yan with ten thousand taels of gold and a special gift.

So much so that Ning Yan was astonished when she received this special gift.

“Princess Chaohua, Her Majesty the Empress has been thinking of you a lot, and the Emperor often mentions you. Even the young Crown Prince asked me to pass on a message, asking the Princess to come back to the capital to visit when she has time.”

The reason the young prince talks about her so much must be because his sister keeps praising him.

But her dear sister, why does she tell the Emperor everything?!

“These people…”

The eunuch delivering the decree smiled slightly, "These ladies were specially selected for you by His Majesty with great care. They are all obedient, sensible, and know how to serve others. Princess, please enjoy them."

Ning Yan: ...No, she just casually mentioned it because she wanted to travel around.

She wanted to suggest that her father-in-law take the person back with him.

But when she met the eager gazes of the men, she swallowed her words.

"Then, please convey my thanks to the Emperor on my behalf, sir."

Well, fine, she'll accept them. It has to be said, the Emperor understands her heart. These four men each have their own unique characteristics, and they're all scholars. It just so happens that she needs someone to manage her assets; these men can all work for her.