Chapter 293 I dare not get close to you anymore

That night, Chen Ning was sleeping and was suddenly awakened by Qi Yue.

"Miss, His Royal Highness Prince Ding is outside."

Shen Ning woke up instantly: "It's so late, what is he going to do in the middle of the night?"

While she was speaking, she put on her coat and hurried out... As soon as she walked out of the room, she saw Xiao Nanchen standing in the yard wearing armor.

In an instant, Shen Ning guessed something: "Are you going to the battle?"

She stepped forward quickly.

Xiao Nanchen opened his arms and embraced her. "My father has ordered me to lead the Fengning Iron Cavalry to suppress the Liaodong Army. In addition, Xu Zhong will lead 100,000 troops to Pingdu City to deter the Tatars and the Oirat... You wait for me in the capital."

Shen Ning felt a little uncomfortable: "He won't listen to you?"

In fact, Shen Ning knew that Xiao Nanchen was right...killing the prince was the safest and most effective method, but Emperor Jiaping refused.

Moreover, at this critical moment, Xiao Nanchen was sent out to quell the rebellion.

Shen Ning frowned: "Isn't he afraid of chaos in the capital?"

Although the crown prince has been under house arrest and the queen has been deposed, one can guess from Chen Nian's reaction that they must have a backup plan.

Previously, the queen was caught off guard and had no way to cover up for herself and gain room for maneuver. But looking at what happened afterwards, it was clear that she had no intention of surrendering.

And Emperor Jiaping wanted to send Xiao Nanchen out at this time...

Xiao Nanchen curled his lips: "Father is afraid that I will kill the prince."

Shen Ning was silent for a moment, then reached out and hugged Xiao Nanchen.

The skin under her arms could feel the hard and cold armor, but she knew that beneath this man's seemingly cold appearance lay a warm heart.

"Be careful in everything, and protect yourself at all times."

Shen Ning looked up at him, the corners of her lips curled up: "I'm still waiting to marry you."

Xiao Nanchen pressed the person into his arms with one hand, lowered his head and kissed her... He kissed her deeply, as if he would never be satisfied...

After a moment, Xiao Nanchen let go of Chen Ning and gently wiped away the water from the corners of her lips with his fingertips.

"While I'm away, try not to go into the palace and avoid that place of trouble... Just stay home and wait for me to come back."

Shen Ning nodded: "Okay."

Xiao Nanchen looked at Chen Ning's rare well-behaved appearance and couldn't help but lower his head and kiss her again. The next moment, he turned around and strode away.

He didn't dare look at her any longer, didn't dare get any closer... Otherwise, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to move his feet...

The next day, the news that Prince Ding was going to the capital to quell the rebellion spread throughout the capital. In an instant, everyone who had been in a panic, from court officials to ordinary people, calmed down.

That’s Prince Ding, the one who has never been defeated since he started leading the army at the age of seventeen!

With Prince Ding taking action, there is nothing to be afraid of.

Shen Ning followed Xiao Nanchen's instructions and stayed at home obediently, never going to the palace again.

The Queen Mother sent someone to summon her once, asking her to come in for a talk. When Shen Ning replied that it was Xiao Nanchen who asked her to come to the palace less often, the Queen Mother never sent anyone to call her again.

I don’t know if she has figured it out or is just angry again, but the little old lady has always been in a bad mood.

It was rare for Shen Ning to have such a leisurely day. She was quite relaxed eating and sleeping at home. Therefore, when Xie Yunqing asked her to go visit her grandmother together, Shen Ning did not refuse.

The mother and daughter, along with Shen Chengxi, rode in a carriage to the General's Mansion.

In the carriage, Shen Chengxi racked his brains to talk to Shen Ning.

"The potatoes Ningning grows in Beihai are so delicious... and the yield is so high. I heard pre-orders for potatoes are already booked until next year. Ningning is amazing."

Shen Ning looked at her nose and her heart: "Brother, you are too kind."

Shen Chengxi was somewhat disappointed, and continued with a dry laugh: "Ningning has now been crowned as a king, which is really amazing. I knew that Ningning's ambition was not an ordinary woman..."

Chen Ning smiled: "Brother, you are too kind... By the way, mother, grandma's birthday is coming soon. I have a red coral, which will be delivered to the capital in two days. You can give it to grandma then."

Xie Yunqing was a little surprised: "Red coral? Even if it's worth a lot of money, Ningning, even though you are the King of the North Sea now, we must not do things we shouldn't do, and don't touch things we shouldn't take. Mother has everything she needs. If you need anything, just tell me."

She was worried that her daughter had become the King of the North Sea and was collecting things there.

Xie Yunqing took Shen Ning's hand: "Mother knows that it is not easy for you to feed so many people now. If you have any difficulties, you must tell me. Don't touch things that we shouldn't touch, otherwise we will be controlled by others in the future."

Shen Ning didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Mom, what are you thinking? No one in the remote and poor Beihai Prefecture can afford to bribe me so generously... That was the last time I seized a ship from the Japanese queen. There were a lot of good things on that ship..."

Only then did Xie Yunqing breathe a sigh of relief.

Next to him, Shen Chengxi took advantage of the opportunity to say, "Ning Ning is really amazing. She can even win over the Queen of Japan!"

Not long after, the carriage stopped in front of the General's Mansion. At the door, Chen Ning's aunt was waiting there to greet them. When she saw Chen Ning getting off the carriage with Xie Yunqing, she came forward and called her "Ning Ning" all the time, showing great enthusiasm.

Xie Lingyue curled her lips and muttered quietly, "Ningning wasn't this affectionate before she became king..."

Shen Ning glanced at Xie Lingyue, who winked at her: "I'm going horseback riding with the Fourth Princess later. Ningning, do you want to go?"

Shen Ning shook her head: "Cousin, go ahead. I'll accompany my mother."

Xie Lingyue nodded: "That's right, you haven't been home for so long, you should spend more time with your aunt."

Mrs. Xie was as happy as ever when she met Shen Ningniang and the others. After talking with the old lady for a while, she felt a little stuffy, so Shen Ning left the old lady's room and went to the garden outside to get some fresh air.

As a result, not long after I sat down in the pavilion, I saw Xie Lianyu walking by.

Xie Lianyu also saw Shen Ning.

Ever since Xie Yuncheng's mother was promoted to a concubine and Xie Yuncheng became the legitimate son of the Xie family, Xie Lianyu's presence in the Xie family has become increasingly low, and now he looks depressed and frustrated.

Seeing Shen Ning, he hesitated for a moment, then bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty."

At this moment, Xie Lianyu was somewhat surprised...

It was clear that not long ago, Shen Ning was a widowed lady who was despised by everyone after returning home from the countryside, but now, in just one year, she has transformed herself and been crowned king.

Xie Lianyu had been engaged to Shen Ning. Whenever he met his classmates and friends these days, he would be teased and accused of being blind.

Some people say that Shen Ning's wisdom and strategy were unparalleled as he overcame the crisis in Pingdu City, crushed the Tatar cavalry's sneak attack plan, and shattered the Tatar Wala and Yuan Dynasty's plan to join forces to create chaos.

Some people also said that Chen Ning led the Beihai Prefecture Army to defend the dilapidated and impoverished Beihai Prefecture, and his meritorious service was outstanding.

Some people also said that the yield was astonishing, and that within the next two years, the people of Daxuan Dynasty would be able to have enough food to eat. They said that Shen Ning's contribution would last for thousands of years...

In the end, they were all praising and admiring, and then they looked at Xie Lianyu, shook their heads and sighed.

Silence is better than words...

Xie Lianyu was so embarrassed that he didn't want to go out.

But since they had already met face to face, he still had to come and say hello. After all, times were different now, and... Xie Lianyu actually wanted to ask Shen Ning about Shen Nian.

Chen Nian married into the Yuan Dynasty, but now the Yuan Dynasty and Daxuan have become enemies, and Chen Nian's days in the Yuan Dynasty must be difficult.

Beihai Prefecture is adjacent to the Yuan Dynasty, so perhaps Chen Ning knows something about it.

"Xie has something I'd like to bother you with... I hope you won't mind, because I really don't know who to ask."

Xie Lianyu bowed and apologized before speaking cautiously: "My cousin is now the King of Beihai, close to the Yuan Dynasty. I wonder if my cousin has heard any news about Nian Nian...about Chen Nian?"

Chen Ning raised an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, the Shen Nian my cousin mentioned was the princess consort of the Yuan Dynasty Crown Prince Mu Huali. Not long ago, she became an accomplice to the enemy and led the Yuan army to massacre the people of Beihai Prefecture. She was shot by a stray arrow and trampled by horses' hooves... She's dead."

This one sentence caught Xie Lianyu off guard and made him stand there in a trance.

"Nian Nian, is she...dead?"

Xie Lianyu's eyes instantly turned red, and he was speechless because it was so sudden and shocking.

Shen Ning leaned forward and looked at him: "Hey, cousin, are you sad for that evil thief who betrayed his homeland and led foreign enemies to slaughter the people of our dynasty?"

Xie Lianyu had already learned his lesson and dared not give anyone a chance to criticize him. Upon hearing this, he quickly wiped the moisture from his eyes and forced an ugly, stiff smile: "How could it be, how could it be... Such an ungrateful and shameless person who slaughtered the people deserves death!"

Shen Ning smiled: "My cousin is right, I think so too."

After saying that, she didn't bother to look at Xie Lianyu's dead mother look anymore, so she stood up and left...

Just as he took a step, Xie Lianyu's hoarse voice sounded behind him.

"Chen Nian deserved to die, but the prince and she are sisters after all. Isn't it painful at all?"

Shen Ning almost laughed.

Not only was it not painful, but she killed him with her own hands!

"My cousin, what you said is truly bizarre. Her parents deceived my mother into raising this ungrateful concubine. Since I returned home, she has harbored malicious intentions and harmed me numerous times... She even assisted the evildoers in slaughtering the people of Beihai Prefecture..."

She turned her head and looked Xie Lianyu up and down, sneering, "If I still feel bad for her, I should find a mountaintop to sit down and become a Buddha right there."

Xie Lianyu was choked and speechless.

Chen Ning tutted her words, "I heard that my cousin is discussing marriage with the daughter of the Minister of Revenue... If Miss Lin knew that my cousin is so kind-hearted that he can even feel pity for someone who has betrayed his homeland and slaughtered the people, she would definitely think that my cousin is a good husband with affection and loyalty who can be entrusted with her life..."

In one sentence, Xie Lianyu's face lost all color, and he looked at Chen Ning with horror: "I didn't, I didn't feel pity for her, I..."

Shen Ning curled her lips, not hiding her disdain at all, and turned around and left slowly.

However, Xie Lianyu's experience reminded her that Shen Nian was dead after all, and she still had to tell the people she should tell.

On the way back, she rarely took the initiative to speak to Shen Chengxi in the carriage.

"There's something I forgot to tell my brother."

Shen Ning smiled and said, "It's not a big deal, but it has something to do with our family. I think I should let my brother know."

Shen Chengxi was a little flattered: "What's the matter, Ning Ning, tell me."

Shen Ning said: "Shen Nian is dead."

Shen Chengxi froze suddenly. Beside him, Xie Yunqing was also stunned for a moment, and subconsciously asked, "What happened?"

"She assisted the enemy and led the Yuan army into Beihai Prefecture, slaughtering the people of Daxuan and killing many... and then was shot to death by a stray arrow while fleeing."

Of course, Shen Ning didn't say that she did it herself. There was no need for that.

Shen Chengxi was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and pulled the corner of his mouth: "She brought all this upon herself... She made a mistake but never turned back. She went down this wrong path and she is reaping the consequences."

After all, they grew up together, even though they became enemies later, but at this moment, Shen Chengxi was still filled with sighs.

Xie Yunqing was silent for a long time, then he sighed deeply: "It's all fate."

Seeing that the carriage was about to arrive at Xie's house, it suddenly stopped. Xie Yunqing frowned: "What happened?"

The driver was a little nervous: "Madam, Miss... Your Majesty, these are the imperial guards from the palace."

Royal Guards?

The next moment, Shen Ning heard someone outside speak.

"Send the Queen Mother's order and summon the King of Beihai to the palace for an audience."

Shen Ning frowned slightly, lifted the curtain, and saw the Queen Mother's gold medal in the hands of the commander of the Royal Guards in front of the carriage. After a pause, Shen Ning got out of the carriage.

"Ningning."

Xie Yunqing lowered his voice and asked, "Didn't Prince Ding tell you to try not to go into the palace?"

Shen Ning hummed: "But this is the Queen Mother's decree."

In the past, every time the Empress Dowager summoned her, she would ask the eunuchs and palace maids to go to the Shen residence to pass on the message. She had never been summoned to an audience by this method. In this situation, either something happened to the Empress Dowager, or there was chaos in the palace, and the Empress Dowager needed her to come to the palace immediately.

No matter what the situation is, she has to make this trip. Moreover, even if it is unreasonable, can she disobey the order?

"Take good care of mother... mother, I'm leaving first."

After saying something to Xie Yunqing, Chen Ning got off the carriage. Outside the carriage, July, who had just recovered from his injuries, immediately followed and accompanied Chen Ning into the palace with the Imperial Guards.

After entering the palace gate, before reaching the Cining Palace, Shen Ning was taken directly to the bedroom of Emperor Jiaping by Nanny Gui.

Inside and outside the bedroom, the palace servants all looked terrified. It was not until they entered the inner hall that Shen Ning realized that Emperor Jiaping had vomited blood and was unconscious.

The director of the Imperial Hospital and Ye Heng were both present, as was the Queen Mother. Seeing Shen Ning come in, the Queen Mother raised her hand and called her over.

"This matter is of great importance and cannot be made public, so I have summoned you to the palace... Ningning, go and see what the emperor's illness is."

Shen Ning responded quickly, without any hesitation, and went to wash her hands immediately.

While washing his hands, the director of the Imperial Hospital whispered to Shen Ning about Emperor Jiaping's illness: it seemed like poison but it wasn't, and he suspected it was a Gu.

Shen Ning's heart sank suddenly.

She thought of the poison that Xiao Nanchen was infected with last time.

She placed her hand on Emperor Jiaping's wrist and carefully felt the pulse beneath her fingertips... It was chaotic, sometimes weak and frail, sometimes restless and agitated. It was indeed very similar to the pulse Xiao Nanchen had felt when he was poisoned.

The court attendant whispered, "How did the Seventh Prince get rid of the poison? Your Majesty, the situation is critical now. I'm afraid that after His Majesty wakes up..."

Before the court envoy finished speaking, a hoarse cough suddenly came from the dragon bed, and then Emperor Jiaping opened his eyes.

The Empress Dowager was delighted and hurried forward, supported by Nanny Gui. "Emperor, you're awake. How do you feel? Are you feeling unwell?"

Emperor Jiaping's eyes froze for a moment, then he coughed twice and waved his hand: "I'm fine, why are so many people gathered here?"

The director of the Imperial Hospital exchanged glances with Shen Ning and said tentatively, "Your Majesty was previously vomiting blood and unconscious, and now..."

"I'm fine, I'm just angry. Let these people go away. It makes me upset."

Wei Daban looked at the Queen Mother cautiously.

The Empress Dowager was helpless and was about to ask everyone to leave when she heard the next sentence from Emperor Jiaping: "Call the Empress. I only need the Empress to take care of me..."

With just one sentence, the expressions of everyone in the field changed drastically.