Chapter 113 113 Silver Hair

Chapter 113

Meng Yuning smiled at him and said, "Nothing's wrong. I just felt a little nervous as I saw the palace gate approaching."

Qi Jingyan leaned forward slightly and said in a gentle voice, "Are you worried that someone will block us at the palace gate and prevent us from entering?"

Meng Yuning shook her head gently: "Your Highness is here, I'm not worried about that."

Although in the original book, Qi Jingyan was prevented from entering the palace by people from the Third Prince's faction, but Eunuch Song who was beside the Empress Dowager arrived with the Empress Dowager's seal, and he was able to enter the palace smoothly in the end.

Qi Jingyan had never had those dreams in the original book, but he was able to handle them, so it's naturally no problem now.

While she was thinking, a warm hand gently lifted her drooping face.

Qi Jingyan observed her expression and asked, "What is An Ning worried about?"

Meng Yuning leaned closer to his arms: "Your Highness, you also know that the Queen Mother hates the Meng family. Do you think she would hate me too when she sees me?"

She didn't care about these things before, but now that she is with Qi Jingyan, she naturally hopes to get the approval of his beloved family.

Qi Jingyan chuckled softly, rubbing her neck gently with his fingertips: "Silly girl, our An Ning is so kind. When grandma sees this, she will be so heartbroken."

Before she finished speaking, Yi'er, who had been listening quietly, came over. Her small hands tightly hugged Meng Yuning's arms, and she tilted her head back, her dark eyes full of seriousness. "Don't be afraid, An Ning. Grandma will definitely like you."

Seeing both the big and small say this, Meng Yuning felt warm in her heart and smiled. She reached out and pinched Yi'er's soft cheek: "Okay, with our Yi'er's words, An Ning is not afraid of anything."

Yes, even if the Queen Mother had grudges, so what? These two sincere hearts, one big and one small, were enough for her.

Qi Jingyan saw the worry disappear from her brows, and the corners of her lips also lifted. Yi'er saw that her brother and An Ning were smiling, and she also grinned, revealing a row of small white teeth, and smiled happily.

The three of them snuggled in the shaking carriage, listening quietly to the noise outside.

Mu Yun and Mu Feng rode their horses to guard the left side of the carriage, while Mu Shan and Mu Jiang guarded the right. The entire team was silent, with only the clatter of horses' hooves hitting the ground, which was particularly clear in the silent night sky.

After an unknown amount of time, Mu Yun's deep voice came from the car window: "Your Highness, we are still a hundred feet away from the palace gate."

Almost at the moment he finished speaking, a burst of hurried horse hooves suddenly came from the long street in the east.

Mu Yun's expression froze, and he whispered, "Everyone, be on alert."

Inside the carriage, Yi'er, who had been snuggling beside Meng Yuning, instantly tensed up. Without hesitation, he stood up and took down the bow and arrow hanging on the wall of the carriage. His delicate hands expertly drew the bowstring and positioned himself in front of Meng Yuning, the arrowhead pointing directly toward the door.

The young voice was full of responsibility: "Don't be afraid, An Ning, Yi'er will protect you."

Yier's small bow and arrow from those days had long been replaced. Now this small bow was customized according to his body size. Although it was not as powerful as an adult's large bow, Yier was really talented in the art of archery and horsemanship. At such a young age, he could shoot an arrow through the air from a hundred paces away.

In the dancing light, Meng Yuning vaguely saw the little boy who was not much taller than her knees, holding a bow and arrow, protecting her in the same way when she was attacked on the river on her way south three years ago.

The two figures gradually overlapped, and her heart melted. She reached out and gently stroked Yi'er's tense back, saying softly, "Thank you, Yi'er."

Qi Jingyan's broad palm immediately covered Yi'er's small hand holding the bow, and his voice was gentle but unquestionable: "Stop and sit tight."

Yi'er raised her little face, her dark eyes full of confusion: "But I have to protect Aning."

Qi Jingyan chuckled softly, "There's no need for His Highness the Seventeenth Prince to personally take action."

Meng Yuning gently pulled Yi'er back to her side and said softly, "Yes, brother is here."

Yier then put away his bow and sat down next to her, but his ears perked up, alertly listening to every movement outside the car.

The sound of horse hooves approached like thunder, and a team of hundreds of soldiers lined up across the palace road, blocking the way.

The leading general reined in his horse and shouted, "Who is so bold as to approach the palace gate during curfew?"

Mu Yun had already recognized the other party as someone from the Five Cities Military Department, but he feigned ignorance. He raised the token of Prince Shen's palace high in the air and shouted loudly in the night, "Your Highness Prince Shen has been ordered by the Queen Mother to return to the palace. Who is trying to stop him?"

The general's face was sinister, and he sneered, "The Five Cities Military Command has been ordered to guard the Imperial City. We have never received a decree from the Empress Dowager, let alone heard that Prince Shen had entered the city tonight. How dare this lunatic impersonate the prince? Come, kill him without mercy!"

The soldiers of the Wucheng Bingmasi quickly drew their swords, tightened the reins and rushed forward.

A cold light flashed in Mu Yun's eyes, and he brandished his sword and shouted, "Anyone who blocks my way will be killed without mercy!"

The guards of Prince Shen's palace drew their swords in an instant and formed a battle array, marching in unison as one man, protecting the carriage like an iron barrel.

Outside the carriage, the sound of swords suddenly rang out. Meng Yuning held Yi'er tightly in her arms and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, will there be a fight?"

Qi Jingyan held her hand, cupping her slightly cold fingertips into his palm, his expression calm: "Don't panic."

Just as the troops of the Five Cities Army were about to rush over, a thunderous sound of horse hooves suddenly came from the end of the long street, shaking the ground slightly.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw another cavalry of dozens of people galloping from the other side of the long street, passing directly past Qi Jingyan's convoy, brazenly inserting themselves between the two armies, and confronting the Five Cities Bingmasi head-on.

The deputy commander who led the Five Cities Military Division was unable to stop in time and almost collided with the mount of the opposing leader.

The man, his dark cloak fluttering in the night wind, whipped the deputy commander with his horsewhip, "How dare you! How dare you, you blind bastard, run into me!"

The whip was so powerful that it made the deputy commander stumble and fall off his horse. When he managed to stand firmly and looked up to see the face of the person coming, his face turned pale.

Seeing who was coming, Mu Yun smiled, dismounted quickly, clasped his fists in salute, and said respectfully, "Young Marquis."

Yu Xiao sat upright on his horse, carelessly swinging his blood-stained whip. He didn't even glance at Mu Yun from the corner of his eye. He just glared coldly at the group of frozen officers and soldiers, a hint of sneer on his lips: "Get lost."

Yu Xiao's voice sounded lazy, but when the people from the Five Cities Military Department heard it, they all shuddered and subconsciously reined in their horses and retreated.

The deputy commander had a bloody mark on his neck, which was burning with pain. He frowned and his face turned ashen.

His eyes wandered between Yu Xiao's sarcastic expression and the guards arrayed in a solemn formation at the Marquis of Cheng'an's residence, then swept over the hundreds of murderous guards at the Prince of Shen's residence. Finally, he gripped the reins tightly and squeezed out a word through gritted teeth: "Retreat."

Hundreds of officers and soldiers retreated silently like the tide.

Mu Yun stepped forward again and clasped his fists solemnly: "Thank you, young marquis."

Yu Xiao remained focused, his dark cloak rustling in the night breeze. He gently pulled the reins and retreated to the side of the road, where the guards of the mansion uniformly made way.

Mu Yun led the guards to escort Qi Jingyan's carriage to the towering palace gate.

The convoy traveled to the palace gate in silence. The imperial guards on the towering city wall held long spears in their hands and silently looked down at the movements below, but did not move.

At this moment, the side door on the right side of the palace gate slowly opened, and then a group of eunuchs carrying palace lanterns came out one after another. The person leading the way was Eunuch Song who was beside the empress dowager.

Seeing the carriage quietly parked outside the door, he handed the tray he was holding to the young eunuch behind him, hurried forward, flicked his whisk, and knelt in front of the carriage. His voice was clear and clear: "This old servant Song Tian, ​​by the order of the Queen Mother, respectfully welcomes His Royal Highness Prince Shen, His Royal Highness the Seventeenth Prince, and Miss Meng to the palace."

Hearing this, Meng Yuning's heart finally settled down and she breathed a sigh of relief.

She reached out and took Yi'er's cotton cloak, quickly put it on him, carefully tied his hatband, and then put Qi Jingyan's cloak on him. Then she pulled at her own cloak and said, "Okay, Your Highness, let's get off the car."

Qi Jingyan nodded and reached out to lift the heavy door curtain. "Thank you, Eunuch Song."

After Eunuch Song expressed his gratitude, he stood up from the ground. Mu Yun was already standing on the shaft of the carriage. He reached out to help Qi Jingyan out of the carriage, then half-carried and half-supported him down from the carriage and placed him on a wheelchair that had been lifted down from the carriage behind.

Meng Yuning followed closely behind, holding Yi'er's warm little hand: "Let's go, Yi'er."

Yi'er looked at the cabinet where the queen's tablet was placed, "An Ning, mother is still in the car..."

Meng Yuning's heart softened. She patted his head and explained softly, "Brother said that we'll welcome the Queen back after we're settled. It's snowing hard tonight, so would you mind letting the Queen rest in the carriage for a while?"

Yi'er nodded obediently, took An Ning's hand and got off the carriage. They both nodded to Eunuch Song.

The group walked in through the small door without saying much. According to regulations, the prince could only bring four personal attendants with him when entering the palace without special instructions.

So Mu Yun, Mu Shan, Su Yang disguised as a guard, and Mu Jiu, the four of them followed Qi Jingyan's wheelchair.

Mu Jiang, Mu Feng, Doctor Tang, and another guard served as Yier's entourage.

Meng Yuning was accompanied by Mu Ying, Mu Li, Meng Jin and Qiu Lian.

The group walked silently in the dark night and headed straight for the Cining Palace.

After the palace gate was closed again, Yu Xiao took the guards and rushed away just as they had come.

The guards of Prince Shen's mansion stood in the cold wind, waiting quietly.

The road to the Cining Palace was unusually quiet, and there was no further trouble until we arrived outside the palace gate.

Meng Yuning was curious, so she moved closer to Qi Jingyan and asked quietly, "Your Highness, how did it go so smoothly?"

She remembered that in the original book, after Qi Jingyan entered the palace, the third prince who was staying in the palace hurried over with his men and spoke a lot to Qi Jingyan who was in a wheelchair. He seemed to be concerned about him, but in fact he was sarcastic.

How come I don’t see anyone today?

Qi Jingyan smiled at her and said, "Some people are busy at their houses and have no time to care about me entering the palace."

Nanny Tao and Cai Yuezhao were standing at the palace gate, anxiously looking out. When they saw the group of people appearing at the courtyard gate, they both exclaimed in surprise, "Here they come, here they come."

Nanny Tao turned around and went back to the palace to report, her face beaming with joy: "Empress Dowager, they are here. The two princes have arrived."

Cai Yuezhao, dressed in a plain robe, rushed to the gate of the courtyard, bowed hastily to the two princes, and then hugged Meng Yuning, who had not yet recognized her, tightly in her arms, her voice choked with sobs: "A Ning, you're finally here!"

When Meng Yuning realized who the person in the monk's robe was, her eyes suddenly turned red and she hugged her back tightly: "Sister Zhao!"

Cai Yuezhao felt the coldness on Meng Yuning's cheeks and quickly loosened his arms. He held her hands and said, "It's too cold outside. Come with me into the hall."

Eunuch Song also stepped forward and said in a gentle voice, "Your Highness, Little Highness, Miss Meng, the Queen Mother has been waiting for you since early morning."

Hearing this, Qi Jingyan and Yi'er were anxious and stepped forward first. Meng Yuning followed closely behind, held by Cai Yuezhao. The group hurried across the courtyard.

Arriving at the palace gate, Mu Yun and Mu Shan steadily lifted Qi Jingyan's wheelchair and stepped up the stone steps. Yi'er and Meng Yuning followed suit, while the rest of the group waited outside.

As soon as they entered the hall and walked around the rosewood carved screen, they all stopped in their tracks.

The empress dowager, with her hair full of silver hair, was supported by Nanny Tao, leaning on a crutch in one hand and moving tremblingly towards the palace door.

Seeing the people who suddenly came in, she was stunned for a moment, her skinny fingers tightly grasping Tao Mama's arm, and she said in disbelief: "But Yan'er and Yi'er?"

In just three years, the once graceful and elegant empress dowager had become as hunched as a candle in the wind.

Qi Jingyan's heart ached, his eyes bloodshot. He suddenly leaned over from his wheelchair and knelt on the ground, his knees hitting the floor with a dull echo. "Grandmother, your unfilial grandson is back."

Yi'er stayed where he was, staring blankly at the old woman's wrinkled face. After a while, he suddenly rushed over like an arrow, carefully holding back his strength and throwing himself into the empress dowager's arms. His sobs instantly broke the silence in the hall: "Grandmother, Yi'er misses you so much!"

Yi'er had already restrained his strength, but the empress dowager was old and weak, and was still knocked back a step by him. Fortunately, Eunuch Song and Nanny Tao held her firmly, so she did not fall.

The Queen Mother threw away her cane and, with trembling hands, she held up Yi'er's small face, which had lost its baby fat, and examined it carefully: "Is this really my Yi'er? Am I dreaming?"

Yi'er grabbed the Queen Mother's hand and put it on her face, crying, "Grandma, it's Yi'er, Grandma, touch it, Yi'er is real."

The Queen Mother suddenly hugged Yi'er, who had changed so much from three years ago, and burst into tears: "My dearest, I finally see you."

Qi Jingyan crawled a few steps on his knees, came close to the empress dowager, and hugged her. He didn't say a word, but his shoulders trembled slightly.

The Queen Mother raised her hand and patted his back gently: "You evil creature, you evil creature, you still remember to come back..."

Meng Yuning stood quietly beside the screen, looking at the three generations of grandparents and grandchildren hugging and crying, and her eyes also became wet.

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The author has something to say: I'm going out of town tomorrow and will be on the bus all day, so I'm taking a day off. See you the day after tomorrow (October 1st) in the evening~

I wish the babies a happy holiday and a happy National Day [heart]